KEZ will bring a little cheer to the airwaves
All those stories complaining that radio stations start playing Christmas music too early?
All is forgiven.
Phoenix radio station KEZ 99.9 will play Christmas songs beginning at 7 p.m. until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Beth McDonald, the host of KEZ’s morning show, announced the station’s plans Monday.
This time it feels right.
After all, people are cooped up at home (or should be), trying to stay safe from the novel coronavirus pandemic. A little Darlene Love singing “Winter Wonderland” might go a long way right now.
“People are asking us to play it, let’s play some,” McDonald says on the station’s website. “You know me, I love Christmas music. I listen to ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ all year. If it helps people, let’s do it.”
‘There’s just some kind of comfort with Christmas’
In a later interview McDonald said, “I think Christmas always makes people feel pretty good. They’re inside right now. They’re with their kids. Kids are a little concerned about what’s going on. Everybody’s concerned about what’s going on. There’s just some kind of comfort with Christmas.”
Typically local stations start playing Christmas music in early November (and, of course, stores start a lot earlier than that). But holiday music is a ratings bonanza for radio stations. It probably won’t hurt this time of year, either.
Besides, only a hardened cynic would switch from “Linus and Lucy” at a time like this.
McDonald said that her sister put up
Christmas lights Sunday at the house she shares with their mother.
“We’re in kind of an unusual spot right now,” she said. “Maybe we need something to make us feel good.”
‘We’re all trying to figure out what we can do’
Elsewhere on KEZ’s site it says that, as McDonald suggested, listeners are in the mood for a little holiday spirit.
“Several KEZ listeners have reached out by email, phone, and social media to request to bring back some Christmas Music during this very odd and somewhat scary time,” it says.
“Maybe it helps you entertain the kids. … Maybe it inspires you to put your Christmas lights back up to spread cheer to your neighbors. … Or maybe it gives you a bit of peace, comfort and hope.
“We’re all trying to figure out what we can do, and we hope that playing KEZ Christmas Music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday helps in some way.”
It can’t hurt.