Radio station 95.7 Star FM (KKSR) became the first radio signal in the region to flip to an all-Christmas music format at 5 p.m. Friday.
Kurt Luchs, vice president/general manager of New Northwest Broadcasters in Kennewick, a six-station cluster that includes 95.7 Star FM, explained the move:
"It's been a pretty tough year for many people. With holiday music being like audio comfort food -- totally upbeat and associated with warm, happy family experiences -- we figured it would be nice to start Christmas a little early this year. The holiday season didn't used to kick off until after Thanksgiving. That has shifted year by year until lately it's been starting right after Halloween. All we've done is to move the fun up by one day."
The station will play Christmas music through Dec. 25.
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Every year, my favorite radio station is hijacked by Christmas music -- six weeks before Christmas! It's not that I don't like Christmas, it's just that I'm not ready to give up my classic rock, every year, to start stressing about it.
It's bad enough that stores and every other type of media start "selling" Christmas at the beginning of fall! Now every time I try to turn to the best radio station of its kind in our area, I'm reminded of the money I don't have to buy the presents I need to buy for a holiday that is a long way away! It sure doesn't put me in the holiday spirit!
Why so early? Why not a week before Christmas when snow is falling and the real meaning of Christmas is felt? Is it always necessary to cater to the consumer? I understand that the Christmas format attracts a new crowd of listeners, but do these stations realize how many loyal listeners they lose for these couple months? One day I'm enjoying great music and the next I'm forced to either listen to Christmas music 24/7 or switch stations
Fast focus: '50s classic
Fast focus: '50s classic
My mother took my brother and I to see White Christmas at the Benton Theatre in 1954. Now after seeing the movie countless times over the years, it still remains my favorite Christmas movie. The story covers music, comedy and great dance numbers. Irving Berlin's songs Count my Blessings Instead of Sheep, Sisters and White Christmas are classic treasures. Hearing Bing Crosby sing White Christmas brings back fond memories of holiday seasons of the past and is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit.
-- Sandra Meigs, Richland
12 radio stations in Tri-Cities, Yakima sold for $6 million
12 radio stations in Tri-Cities, Yakima sold for $6 million
A Fargo, N.D., radio owner is paying more than $6 million to purchase 12 stations in the Tri-Cities and Yakima currently owned by New Northwest Broadcasters.
Ingstad Radio Washington agreed to purchase — at a discount — more than $16 million in debt owed by Seattle-based New Northwest Broadcasters from a creditor, CIT Group, said Jim Ingstad, principal of Ingstad Radio Washington.
Ingstad runs Radio Fargo Moorhead, a group of six stations covering Fargo and nearby Moorhead, Minn.
Christmas concert set at Fort Walla Walla
Christmas concert set at Fort Walla Walla
The Fort Walla Walla Museum will hold an old-fashioned Christmas concert featuring the Oregon Trail Band from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Walla Walla museum, 755 Myra Road.
The music includes familiar folk favorites as well as traditional Christmas music featuring harmonic, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer guitar and keyboards.
Admission to the museum is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, $3 for kids 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and younger.
Light opera changes name to reflect more breadth of offerings
Light opera changes name to reflect more breadth of offerings
The Richland Light Opera Company has decided to change its name to reflect its true nature, which is performing all types of musical theater.
"After a great deal of research, we confirmed that the companies that began as Light Opera changed their name to reflect what they actually do, which is musical theater," said Jo Brodzinski, an RLOC spokeswoman.
"We found this to be true in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Pittsburgh. Thus we will become Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre."
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