Over the next few weeks as the holiday season approaches, many radio stations will prepare for the the onslaught of changes that will take place between December 26 and January 2. This list will compile all the stations we at RadioInsight are monitoring for pending format changes.
This is NOT a list of all stations currently airing Christmas music. For a list of all stations that have flipped to Christmas music for the season visit 100000watts.com.
December 23 – Clear Channel Classic Hits “My 100.1 & 98.3” WSWR-FM and WXXR Mansfield, OH will begin simulcasting sister News/Talk 1400 WMAN as WMAN-FM and WWMM.
December 21 – 90s Hits “Gen X Radio 97.3” WGEX Bainbridge/Albany, GA will become CHR “97.3 Hit Music Now“.
December 20 – Clear Channel Country “Twister 93.3” KTWI Omaha has dropped its name and imaging in favor of Christmas music as “Jingle 93.3“. No confirmation of a format change yet.
December 20 – “Radio Fiesta” 590 WAFC Clewiston, FL and its 100.5 translator will become “True Oldies Florida“.
December 20 – 106.7 K294AZ Eureka, CA has dropped its simulcast of sister “99.1 Kiss-FM” KJNY. The translator is now being fed by 95.1 KMDR-HD2 and is stunting with all U2 music.
December 20 – 96.5 WBGI-FM Wheeling is stunting with Construction Sounds as it prepares to become Country “Biggie 96.5“.
December 20 – Hot AC “Hits 106.1” KLMI Rock River/Laramie, WY has a countdown on its website hyping “Big Changes Coming To Radio In Laramie on January 2”
December 19 – CBS AC “102.9 Lite-FM” WLTE Minneapolis will become Country “Buz’n 102.9” on December 26 at 8:00am.
December 18 – Crain Media’s “Big Rock 93.3” KKSP Little Rock will become “Fresh Talk 93.3“.
December 17 – News/Talk 95.3 WPLZ Chattanooga will drop its format on January 1. Brewer Media has registered two Country oriented domain names for the station.
December 16 – 540 WWCS Pittsburgh will become “Fox Sports 540” on January 1.
December 8 – After stunting as “Christmas 103” since November 15, 103.1 KVFG Victorville, CA will become Classic Hits “103.1 The Route” on December 26 at 6:00am.
December 5 – After stunting with Christmas music, Clear Channel’s 1480 WDAS Philadelphia will become Urban Oldies. The station had previously been Spanish CHR “Rumba 1480”
December 3 – Gulf South Communications is merging its two Country stations in Dothan, AL. The airstaff of 96.9 WDJR is moving to recently acquired 95.5 WTVY-FM. 96.9 will go All-Christmas on December 5 before debuting a new format after the holidays.
December 2 – Clear Channel will realign the programming on two of its Columbia, SC AM’s on January 3.
November 30 – “99.1 Groove-FM” CJGV Winnipeg has dropped its Smooth Jazz format for Christmas tunes and will relaunch as AC after the 25th.
November 28 – 910 KNEW and 960 KKGN San Francisco will shuffle their Talk lineups and names on January 3.
November 26 – “100.7 K-Rock” CHNK Winnipeg has flipped to All-Christmas and will become Standards “The Lounge“.
November 24 – 1410 CKSL London, ON will become Comedy “Funny 1410” on January 1.
November 21 – Rhythmic AC “Movin 104.9” KMVV Sterling/Anchorage, AK has become All-Christmas as “Rudolph Radio“. The station has the added benefit of being the closest All-Christmas station to the North Pole.
November 20 – Oldies 570 KVI Seattle will return to Talk on January 2.
November 16 – Previously silent 106.3 KBJX Shelley/Idaho Falls, ID has returned to the air under new owners, Rich Broadcasting. The station is currently running Christmas music branded as “106.3 The Elf“.
November 11 – 97.7 WQEZ Cheboygan, MI has signed on as “Santa 97.7“. Station owner Del Reynolds has registered Easy977WQEZ.com for use after the holidays.
November 11 – Townsquare Media Classic Hits “94.3 Max-FM” KMAX-FM Fort Collins, CO has gone all-Christmas with “Santa 94.3” branding.
October 31 – Clear Channel Hot AC “92.1 My-FM” WLTQ Sarasota has dropped its branding and gone all-Christmas as “Santa 92.1“. Clear Channel has registered a number of domains indicating the station will become “92.1 The Coast” following the holidays.
October 28 – Greater Media AC “Magic 105.1” WMGC Detroit has become “Christmas 105.1“. With morning host Jim Harper retiring on December 23 and a few domains registered earlier this year, we would not be surprised to see a new format after the holidays.
