Radio stations switching to all-holiday music formats delivered dramatic audience growth in 2024, with Average Quarter-Hour (AQH) listening among Adults 18+ jumping 34.4% and Cume persons rising 17.7% during the December holiday period compared to January–September, according to Katz Media Group’s analysis of 102 stations in Nielsen PPM-measured markets.
The National Retail Federation’s October 2025 Holiday Consumer Survey reveals that families with children are the primary engine of holiday spending. These households plan to spend an average of $743—up 4.6% from $710 last year—on gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items.
Overall household spending is projected at $890, just shy of last year’s record $902 but still among the highest in a decade. Parents are notably more generous: 98% intend to buy gifts for family (vs. 95% of all adults), and they are significantly more likely to purchase for friends (79% vs. 68%), coworkers (54% vs. 34%), and other recipients (58% vs. 43%). This expanded giving network reflects both larger social circles and heightened emotional investment in the season.
Katz’s newly released Holiday by the Numbers report underscores radio’s unmatched ability to reach and influence holiday shoppers at critical moments. Audience levels spike 3% on Thanksgiving Eve—a key pre-Black Friday trigger—positioning stations to capture consumers when purchase intent peaks.
The advertising impact is quantifiable and substantial. Nielsen data shows that consumers who hear three or more radio ads during the season are 159% more likely to visit a store and 300% more likely to make an online purchase.
Forrester Research and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) report that brands using radio see 22% higher in-store foot traffic. MRI-Simmons consumer profiling reveals that heavy radio listeners are disproportionately active across retail, dining, and charitable giving—making them prime targets for holiday campaigns. Perhaps most importantly, 79% of adults consider radio a trusted information source, far outpacing other media in credibility.
For advertisers, the return on investment is compelling: radio delivers a documented $17 in sales for every $1 spent during the holiday season.
Here's a confirmed list of stations already airing non-stop holiday music, grouped by state/market. All flipped on or before November 1 unless noted:
- Colorado: Star 101.5 KSRC (Denver) – New this year; sister to Cincinnati's Star 93.3
- Georgia: Lite 105.7 WLTC (Columbus)
- Kentucky: 102.3 The Rose WXMA (Louisville) Mix 106.9 WVEZ (Louisville) – Louisville now has two all-Christmas stations
- Mississippi: Mix 98.7 WJKK (Jackson)
- Nebraska: Star 104.5 KLMS (Lincoln) Star 107.7 KSRZ (Omaha)
- New York B95.5 WYJB (Albany) 100.3 WHUD (Peekskill / Hudson Valley) – Flipped Halloween night
- Ohio: Star 93.3 WAKW (Cincinnati) – Flipped October 31, Warm 98 WRRM (Cincinnati) – Usually joins early November
- Oregon: Warm 106.9 KWPK-FM (Bend / Sisters)
- Pennsylvania: Happy 92.7 WPPY (York / Lancaster) – Also on translators 93.7 & 95.3
- Texas: Magic 106.5 KAGC (College Station / Bryan)
- Utah: Christmas 103 KLO-FM (Salt Lake City / Coalville) – Flipped October 7; earliest in the nation
- Virginia: 105.3 The Breeze WNOH (Hampton Roads / Norfolk) – Midnight Nov 1
- Wisconsin: Mix 105.1 WMHX (Madison) – Flipped Nov 1Others flipping Nov 1Star 102.5 WTSS (Buffalo, NY) – 20-year tradition 96.1 The Breeze (Albany market stations)
Multiple iHeart, Audacy, and Pillar of Fire Christian AC stations nationwide