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Hark, 2 FM Stations Sing, and Christmas Fills Air

3 min read

Do you hear what I hear?

Well, if you’re listening to Little Rock FM stations KURB or KHKN, it’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas.

In fact, both stations are sounding completely like Christmas, as they have been since Thanksgiving and before. KHKN, known as Big 94.9, started playing all holiday music on Nov. 18, and KURB, aka B98.5, got into the spirit at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The result has been the opposite of a war on Christmas, more a reveling in tidings of comfort and joy. And while some might think November was a bit early to haul out the holly, Program Manager Jeff Cage of Big 94.9 and Program Director Randy Cain of B98.5 say their listeners were eager.

“We had a lot of people reach out and ask about it,” Cage said. “They were excited and ready to get into the holiday spirit early.”

Cain said Christmas music became KURB’s top request in November. “Leading up to our launch, it was the question we were asked most often on our request line, when attending local events, and via Facebook and email.”

Both said that advertisers, too, were keen to reach shoppers early, before the most frantic days of rushing home with their treasures. “We have several advertisers who join us every year to sponsor the holiday music,” Cain said, “and a lot of our local advertisers share B98.5 by featuring us in their businesses, retail stores and shops.”

Cage, a radio veteran since 1989 who has worked for station owner iHeartMedia Inc. since 2005, said advertisers realize that customers and workers are listening.

“They want the Christmas crowd and the at-work crowd,” he said. “A lot of workplaces play Christmas music all day, and advertisers look to connect with those listeners. We had tremendous listener feedback last year, and ratings proved a success as well.”

This is KURB’s sixth year of playing nonstop Christmas music during the season, although like most other stations it has mixed some chestnuts into its regular programming since 1991. Cain described the station’s regular format as “today’s hits and yesterday’s favorites,” where audiences hear pop hits from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, along with contemporary artists like Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Adele.

KHKN, in its second year as a seasonal all-Christmas station, regularly plays what Cage described as “Little Rock’s greatest hits,” specializing in ’70s and ’80s rock and pop hits by acts such as Journey, the Eagles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson and the Police. Both stations will return to regular programming on Dec. 26.

The two stations are taking slightly different approaches, with Big 94.9 focusing on “Christmas music that everyone knows and grew up with,” Cage said. “You can sing along with all your favorite artists.”

B98.5 is mixing the old favorites with “Christmas hymns and seasonal religious titles you’ll be singing in church,” as well as more recent holiday treats from Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts and “our American Idol, Kris Allen,” Cain said.

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