When Does Christmas Music Start on the Radio?

Ahhh, the age old question – when does Christmas music start on the radio?

Generally, radio stations will start playing Christmas music from the start of December and really start ramping up mid-December, with the true culmination being the week of Christmas.

Any radio station worth their salt knows what their listeners want and will start introducing Christmas music when most of their listeners are expecting it. Start too early and you risk turning listeners away, start too late and people in search of festive tunes will lock in elsewhere.

When is it acceptable to play Christmas music on the radio?

For some the question is not “when does Christmas music start?” but “when is it acceptable to start playing Christmas music?”. Now, this is a truly interesting question.

The lovers and haters of Christmas music are truly split. Just check out the graphic below from YouGov UK on when adults in Britain think it’s acceptable to start blasting Christmas tunes.

Some people will swear that as soon as it hits November 1st that it’s fair game to start blasting Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas. For others, Christmas music on Christmas Day is barely accepted and definitely not outside of Christmas Day.

Best radio stations for Christmas music

You don’t care what the haters have to say, you’re in the mood for some Christmas music right now. Where can you listen? We have the answers.

Here are the best Christmas radio stations.

Santa Radio

Are you the sort of person to keep listening to Christmas music well into January? Then look no further than Santa Radio.

Santa Radio is playing the best in Christmas music 24/7.

Christmas Radio

Do you start counting down to Christmas Day from July onwards? Then Christmas Radio is for you. This radio station proudly displays a count down to Christmas year round. Start listening to Christmas Radio and start getting excited.

Radio Christmas

This one is a good one. Radio Christmas is a charity radio station raising money for Street Kids Direct.

Street Kids Direct work with street-living children and youth, and with vulnerable families to prevent living on the street. Street Kids Direct is run entirely by volunteers.

It couldn’t get better – get in the Christmas mood and support a good cause.

My Holidays Etc

If you’re into every holiday then checkout My Holidays Etc. This radio station plays holiday-appropriate music for each holiday of the year. That’s Valentines, St Paddy’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, Halloween, Christmas and more!