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Music is essential for a lot of people (like me) to get into the festive mood of Christmas.
To fulfill this need, most radio stations typically start to play Christmas-themed music from the 1st of December.
This post provides a comprehensive list of radio stations to listen to Christmas music as well as tips on the best ways to enjoy them.
Quick Summary
In this post, we will discuss:
- When does Christmas music start playing on radio stations around the world
- Some great picks for year-round Christmas radios
- Top picks for XM Christmas radio stations
- Some frequently asked questions (FAQs)
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
When Does Christmas Music Start Playing on Radio Stations Around the World?
To start off, it’s important to note that there’s no set rule as to when a radio station can play Christmas music. As a result, you may find that some radio stations start playing them earlier, depending on where you are in the world.
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There also exist evergreen Christmas music radio stations that play Christmas music all the time, regardless of what the time of year is. We’ll go over these radio stations later on in this post.
For now, let’s look at when Christmas music typically starts playing on radio stations across the world:
North America
In North America, most radio stations will start to promote Christmas festivities straight after Thanksgiving.
Hence, you can expect to hear songs like “Last Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is You” pretty much immediately after Thanksgiving day.
Most radio stations in North America will usually start playing Christmas-themed music after the 1st of December. However, some select stations can start playing them as soon as after Halloween as well.
United Kingdom
In the UK, it’s interesting to see when radio stations start to play Christmas music because they have a sort of informal contest every year.
Each radio station is looking to see how soon it can play Christmas songs without it being termed as “too early”.
Hence, in most cases, you’ll be able to hear Christmas songs play over the radio as early as November.
Other Countries
When it comes to most other places in the world, they follow the same trend as in North America with most of them starting on the 1st of December.
However, there do exist some exceptions.
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| For example, the Philippines is notorious for playing Christmas songs on their radio waves much earlier than most other nations. In the Philippines, you can hear Christmas music on the radio as early as September. On the other side of the spectrum, countries such as Uruguay and Argentina are typically very late to the party. They usually wait until Christmas day itself to play Christmas-themed songs and jingles. |
What If I Want to Listen to Christmas Music All Year-Round?
If you search online enough, you’ll most likely find Christmas-themed radio stations that play that type of music all year round.
While this may not be an appealing idea for most people, if you’re the type that wants the Christmas mood in June, it’s certainly possible.
Some great Christmas-themed online radio stations are
- North-Pole Radio: This radio station is incredible because not only does it play Christmas music all year round but it’s also commercial-free.
- Radio Christmas: This is another great option for commercial-free Christmas music. The great thing about it is that it’s run by volunteers to collect funds for needy and vulnerable children in Central America.
- Evergreen Radio: This is another great option that picks great old-school Christmas songs as well as a healthy mix of contemporary renditions.
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Top Picks for XM Christmas Radio Stations
If you have an XM digital receiver, then you have easy access to satellite radio stations.
Please note that you’ll need a SiriusXM subscription to access the radio channels that we have listed below. To set up your SiriusXM subscription, you’ll need to program your XM digital receiver.
To do this, you must first turn to channel 0 on your digital XM receiver. Utilize its knob or arrow keys to navigate to channel 0. Once you’re at channel 0, your digital XM receiver should display your SiriusXM ID on its digital display.
You can then use this ID to log into your account and start enjoying Christmas radio stations.
Our top picks for the best XM Christmas radio stations are
- Jolly Christmas: Plays some of the best upbeat holiday songs.
- Holiday Traditions: Your go-to hub for traditional Christmas music and jingles.
- Hallmark Channel Radio: Classic and cozy Christmas music.
- Holiday Soul: Soul and RnB hit for Christmas.
- Holiday Pops: Classic Picks for Christmas Carols.
- Holiday Instrumentals: Instrumental Holiday music.
- Holly: Latest Christmas hits.
- Jingle Jamz: Holiday Hip-Hop, Rap, and RnB.
- Jazz Holidays: Old-school and contemporary Jazz Christmas picks.
- Cool Jazz Christmas: Smooth contemporary Jazz Christmas music.
- Acoustic Christmas: 24/7 acoustic holiday music.
- Holiday Chill-Out: Cozy and lowkey Christmas music.
- 70s/80s Holidays: Christmas hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
- Kids Christmas: Child-friendly Christmas songs.
Interested in troubleshooting your radio problems? Check out our complete detailed guide and FAQs here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some great Christmas songs?
Here are some top picks for the best Christmas songs that have been hand-picked by all members of our team:
- All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey
- Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
- Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
- Joy to the World – Andy Williams
- Last Christmas – Wham!
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Frank Sinatra
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Michael Bublé
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry
How long does Christmas radio usually last?
In most cases around the world, Christmas radio usually lasts about a month. In fact, it lasts a little less than a month since most radio stations stop Christmas-themed broadcasts usually on the 27th of December.
However, some radio stations are known to stay in the festive Christmas mood until the new year.
Can I request other songs during Christmas broadcasts?
That entirely depends on the radio station and the show that’s currently running. In most cases, if you can’t request regular songs during a specific broadcast, the RJ (radio jockey) will announce it and let you know.
What if I want to listen to regular music during Christmas?
That’s really not an issue. In most cases, you’ll still be able to find many radio stations that continue with their regular broadcasting without getting into the Christmas spirit.
If you live somewhere where you can’t find such radio stations, then you can get a subscription to a streaming service such as Spotify, iTunes, or Amazon Music.
Wrapping Things Up…
Christmas is a magical time of the year and it only makes sense that you have Christmas-themed music on your radio to further reinforce the festive mood.
What’s your favorite Christmas-themed radio station? What’s your favorite Christmas song? Tell us in the comments section below.
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