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From Radio Insight: One of the busier markets for morning show changes in recent months has been San Antonio, in particular at the Cox Media Group cluster. Now two more changes have taken place. At Country “Y100” KCYY, Tucker ‘Frito’ Young and Katy Dempsey have departed after exactly three years with the station. The duo joined the station on January 6, 2022 from Bryan Broadcasting CHR “Candy 95” KNDE College Station TX where they hosted mornings, while Young was cluster Operations Manager and Dempsey was PD. Frito Young originally joined Bryan Broadcasting as a news reporter in 2003 before rising to Promotions Director in 2005 and OM/PD in 2008. After leaving in 2017 for a position outside radio, he returned five months later as Director of Operations and returning to mornings. Dempsey joined KNDE as a weekend host in 2011 before quickly moving up to middays. She moved to mornings alongside Young and added Promotions Director duties in 2013 and rose to Program Director following his first departure in 2017. Dempsey began her career at Cox Media Houston. Meanwhile at sister Hot AC “Hits 105.3” KSMG, the station has begun airing the “B98.5” WSB-FM Atlanta based “Ted, Drex & Kara” in mornings becoming the third market for the show. Hosted by Tad Lemire, PJ ?Drex? Rener, and Kara Leigh, the show has been in its current form since May 2017 when Drex joined and Leigh was promoted from producer to the female voice on the show. Lemire has hosted mornings at WSB-FM since January 2016 after previously hosting mornings for the company’s KRAV Tulsa and WEZN Bridgeport CT. He also spent many years in the Providence market at WSNE and WCTK. Drex previously hosted mornings at WSTR Atlanta, WNKS Charlotte, and WHBQ-FM Memphis. Leigh has been with Cox Atlanta since starting as an intern in 2002 and previously held roles including nights at WSB-FM and middays at defunct Rhythmic CHR ?95.5 The Beat? WBTS. The show began being heard on “Mix 96.5” KRAV Tulsa in July 2024. At KSMG, the duo fill the opening created by the exits of Tony Cortez and Jenny Lee in November. Cortez was then rehired in late December to host mornings at Cox Classic Hits 101.1 KONO-FM with Tory Christopher sliding from mornings to middays to succeed the retiring Steve Casanova. more

From Radio Insight: Quu Inc. has announced the addition of Alan ‘Whiz’ Jurison to focus on special projects and innovation. Jurison most recently was a Senior Operations Engineer for iHeartMedia’s Technical Operations Group where he was the company?s lead on HD Radio, RDS and metadata service. He began his career at Pilot Communication Syracuse NY as a teenager where he developed the technical aspects of the first remote voice-tracking for stations in distant cities. After graduating college he spent eleven years at Citadel Broadcasting Syracuse where he led IT and engineering projects for the company including the integration of ABC Radio and the transition to Cumulus Media. He was with iHeartMedia from 2012 until exiting in the company’s November layoffs. He also serves on the NAB Radio Technology Committee (NABRTC), and the National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) and is presently the chair of the IBOC Standards Development Working Group (ISDWG) and was past-chair of the Metadata Usage Working Group (MUWG). He will report to Quu Senior Director of Technical Services Joe Marshall. Jurison commented, ?Throughout my career, I?ve been passionate about elevating radio technology and helping the industry understand the critical role of metadata, especially in the digital dashboard. Joining Quu is an incredible opportunity to build on that mission. I?m eager to contribute to this talented team?s efforts to strengthen radio stations? relationships with their listeners and advertising clients.? Quu CEO Steve Newberry said, ?Alan?s innovative mindset and technical expertise make him an exceptional addition to Quu. His vision aligns perfectly with our goals to help radio boost ratings and generate new revenue through visual solutions that engage and retain audiences.? more

From Radio Insight: Cox Media Group Hot Talk “102.5 The Bone” WHPT Sarasota/Tampa has unveiled a revised weekday lineup. The Mike Calta Show will continue to anchor mornings from 6-10am with its “After-show” from 10-11am. After the end of the “Roger & JP Show” in mid-December, JP Parise will now host a solo show from 11am to 1pm. Parise and co-host Roger Luce continue in mornings at sister Classic Rock 102.3 WBAB Babylon NY where they celebrated their 25th anniversary today. Moving to 1-4pm will be current afternoon co-host John Senning. Senning was previously part of the Drew Garabo Show, which will move back from 2-6pm to 3.7pm. The first hour will overlap with Senning, while Maurice ‘A Cat Named Mo’ Jovan will become Garabo’s new co-host as opposed to hosting his own show from 6-8pm. This is what we've been working for! Can't wait to listen to @TheJohnSenning this afternoon and then share time with him on-air at 3. I'm so proud of this young man. Truly a dynamic, charismatic, & talented radio host. Congrats, brother! https://t.co/MSzkWtWK3E — Drew R. Garabo (@DrewOnTheRadio) January 6, 2025 Change for Radio Personalities is inevitable. Change being ?good? is rare. M-F from 4-7 I?ll be on with @DrewGaraboLive on @1025TheBone Thank you @DrewOnTheRadio for not only trusting, but requesting I join you in Afternoon Drive. pic.twitter.com/VZSl1g8nZp — Maurice Jovan (@ACatNamedMo) January 6, 2025 more

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia/Chicago taps Michael Mason, Maria Palmer and Matt Harris as the new morning hosts of "The Morning Mosh Pit" on WCHI (Rock 95.5), effective immediately, weekday mornings from 6-10am. Mason is a long-time producer for Premiere Radio More...

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia has announced promotions within its executive ranks, emphasizing its commitment to multicultural markets. Nicky Sparrow is appointed as the new Executive Vice President of Multicultural Sales, and Dee Dee Faison will take over as Vice President of Multicultural Partnerships and Alliances. Both More...

From Radio Online: The Radio Mercury Awards, the sole competition dedicated to recognizing excellence in radio and audio creative work, has officially opened its call for entries for 2025. Celebrating its 34th year, the competition is set to introduce an array of new categories reflecting the evolving More...

From Radio Insight: Audacy has promoted Ryan Cooley to SVP/Market Manager for its Portland cluster. Cooley is on his third stint at the company’s Portland stations where he started as an Account Manager in 2005 before rising to Local Sales Manager for Sports “1080 The Fan” KFXX in 2009. After spending nine months at sister “95.7 The Game” KGMZ San Francisco in 2011-12, he returned as KFXX’s General Sales Manager July 2012 before rising to that role for the entire cluster as well as Director of Events until August 2016. Cooley then spend five years at Audacy Boston as a Senior Account Executive until departing in November 2021 to spend five months as Director of Client Success & Business Development for BrkThru, which he then left to return to Audacy Portland as General Sales Manager in March 2022. He commented, “I?m honored to be named Audacy Portland?s next Senior Vice President and Market Manager. I started with this incredible group of stations 20 years ago and being entrusted with the opportunity to help this team reach its full potential is something I don?t take lightly. This team is truly special, these radio stations are iconic and the people here are the heart of everything we do. Together, we?re excited to build on this legacy and continue shaping the future of radio in Portland.? Audacy Regional President Doug Abernethy added, “?Ryan?s leadership, extensive broadcast experience and love for the Portland community make him a valuable asset to the market. We look forward to seeing him take on this new role and guide the Portland team to achieve even greater success.? Cooley succeeds Kim Martinez, who exited the company last November to join Amaturo Sonoma Media Group in Santa Rosa CA as Market Manager. more

From Radio Online: WZZK (104.7) in Birmingham launches the all new "Rick Burgess Show" with Rick Burgess, Greg, Speedy and Adler. After 30 years of the "Rick and Bubba" show, the program wrapped up in December playing best "ofs" while WZZK got everything in place to launch the new show. WZZK continues as the flagship Station More...

From Radio Online: Audacy has teamed up with Claritas to unveil a new multi-touch attribution solution at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. This partnership aims to revolutionize how broadcast and digital audio campaigns are measured, providing advertisers with enhanced insights into More...

From Radio Online: VSiN, a network for sports betting media, has announced its return to SiriusXM, starting January 17. The collaboration will see VSiN's round-the-clock sports betting content air nationwide on SiriusXM channel 158 and on the SiriusXM app. VSiN President and Chief Business Officer Brian Musburger expressed More...

From Radio Online: News/Talk WFDF-AM (910 AM Detroit) adds "Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno" to its morning programming, airing live weekdays from 6-9am ET. This marks the 50th affiliate for DelGiorno's show since joining Premiere Networks' national lineup in October, 2024. The show promises a mix of news, political More...

From Radio Insight: As first hinted in our 1/5 Domain Insight, iHeartMedia Hip Hop ?104.1 The Beat? W281AB Mountain Brook/WMJJ-HD2 Birmingham has moved to 103.1 W276BQ Birmingham replacing Rock ?103.1 The Vulcan?. iHeartMedia had been leasing 104.1 since July 2011 from Richardson Broadcasting Company, which owns Talk/Blues/R&B Oldies 1400 WJLD Fairfield/Birmingham and will once again be heard on W281AB. WJLD had been rebroadcast on Christopher Johnson?s 94.1 W231DE Birmingham, but its current CP identifies Red Mountain Ventures leased Regional Mexican ?El Patron? 1450 WZGX Bessemer as its future parent signal. No programming changes accompanied the Hip Hop format’s move to 103.1 as it continues to feature The Breakfast Club in mornings, Way Up with Angela Yee in middays, WRGV Pensacola FL based Arielle McSwain in afternoons and The Bootleg Kev Show at night. The flip marks the end of the Rock “Vulcan” brand that had debuted in January 2013 after a previous incarnation existed on 105.5 WVVB from December 2006 to July 2009. The station had been carrying the syndicated Walton & Johnson morning show. In the November 2024 Nielsen Audio ratings, ?104.1 The Beat? has a 2.3 share. ?103.1 The Vulcan? was at a 1.0. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 103.1 the Beat (@1031thebeat) more

From Radio Online: BIN: Black Information Network appoints Terry Foxx as its new Vice President of News and Content. Effective immediately, Foxx will oversee the network's newsroom operations and lead its team of journalists in crafting news content and original programming. Foxx brings a wealth of experience to his new role More...

From Radio Online: After days of stunting, KRAO, previously known as Hot AC "MyRadio 102-5" in Colfax, WA, has unveiled a new Classic Hits format as "102.5 KRPL." The station, which had been playing "Whipped Cream" by Herb Alpert andamp; The Tijuana Brass on loop, revealed its format flip on January 6 at 7am, ending More...

From Radio Insight: Nikky SparrowiHeartMedia has announced the promotions of Nicky Sparrow to EVP/Multicultural Sales and DeeDee Faison to VP/Multicultural Partnerships and Alliances with both reporting to President of Multicultural Business and Development Tony Coles. Sparrow has been with iHeartMedia since 1999 and has served as SVP/Multicultural Sales since March 2021. She previously was Market President for the company’s Jacksonville FL cluster from 2016-2021, and New Orleans from 2014-16. She also has held sales leadership roles at the company’s clusters in Tupelo MS, Memphis, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee FL. In her new role she will be responsible for “driving results for advertising partners by leveraging iHeartMedia?s unparalleled assets including broadcast radio, podcast, digital, data and events platforms as well as The Black Effect Podcast Network and My Cultura Podcast Network serving multicultural audiences across the country.” Faison joined iHeartMedia in October 2020 as Director of Client Partnerships. She previously served as Promotions Director for MediaCo R&B 107.5 WBLS New York and has held roles at Sony Music and Initiative Media. Her role will now include “building and driving best-in-class comprehensive partner programs, including the development and execution strategy to further expand and scale iHeartMedia?s strategic multicultural initiatives.” Coles said, ?We?re excited to officially elevate Nicky and Dee Dee to our executive team. These talented leaders bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that will be instrumental in driving our mission forward of connecting our clients and partners with iHeartMedia?s multicultural audiences.? more

From Radio Insight: NRG Media Country “Froggy 98.1” KFGE Milford/Lincoln NE has announced the promotion of Cory Edmondson to Program Director. Edmondson, who hosts middays at the station, has served as APD/MD since his arrival in September 2022. He previously has used the on-air name Cory Daniels at stations including KFLS Klamath Falls, KKNU Eugene, and KINK Portland OR, KKWF and KMTT Seattle, KTHK Idaho Falls and KKOA Hilo HI. He will take the day-to-day programming reins of KFGE from Steve King as King will focus on his Operations Manager duties for NRG’s Lincoln and Omaha properties. King commented, “?I don?t think there is anyone more deserving than Cory to lead the charge for Froggy. Now all he has to do is get rid of all his Deadhead stuff and stop attempting to look like Blake Shelton.? more

From Radio Insight: Cumulus Media Sports “The Ticket” 1310 KTCK Dallas/96.7 KTCK-FM Flower Mound TX has made a minor lineup revision as morning hosts “The Musers” cut their show down 5:30-10am to 6-9am. Co-host Gordon Keith tweeted, “In case you missed the announcement. New weekday schedule. Musers Pre-Game 5:35-6AM. Musers 6-9am. I know it seems odd to change in our 30th year, but we want to keep doing this for as long as we can, and this helps us do that. Much love.” Craig Miller shared a similar sentiment, “We’ve been waking up really early and doing the longest show on the Ticket for 30 years. For the three of us to extend our shelf life, we needed to cut things back a little bit.” Keith, Miller, and George Dunham will continue to be followed by “The Invasion” hosted by Donovan Lewis and Matt McClearin, whose show will absorb the the 9am and continue to run until 1pm. more

From Radio Insight: iHeartMedia’s “Black Information Network” has announced the addition of Terry Foxx as Vice President of News and Content. Foxx moves to BIN from his current role as Director of Talk Programming for iHeartMedia San Antonio & Austin overseeing News/Talk 1200 WOAI San Antonio and Sports duo ?Ticket 760? KTKR San Antonio and ?1300 The Zone? KVET Austin which he has held since October 2023. Foxx has also served as Director of Programming & Audience at University of Texas Public News/Talk 90.5 KUT-FM Austin, Brand Manager for Radio One’s duo of Sports 610 WFNZ and Hot AC ?Mix 107.9? WLNK Charlotte, holding roles as Program Director for ESPN Radio, ?92.9 The Game? WZGC Atlanta, ?93.7 The Fan? KDKA-FM Pittsburgh, and Adult R&B ?92Q? WQQK Nashville, and working on-air at a number of major market stations including ?K104? KKDA-FM Dallas, ?B96? WBBM-FM Chicago, and 95.5 WPLJ New York. BIN President Tony Coles commented, “I am excited to have Terry join BIN: Black Information Network. In today?s rapidly changing media landscape, the role of news in shaping public discourse has never been more important. We?re confident his contributions will strengthen our position as a leader in delivering inclusive and impactful news and content to our audiences.? Foxx stared, ?I am thrilled to contribute to the growth and success of BIN: Black Information Network. BIN is a vital platform for amplifying diverse voices and delivering trusted, relevant news to our communities. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact and further strengthen the connection between BIN and the audiences we serve.? more

From Radio Insight: VSiN programming will return to SiriusXM on Friday, January 17. The Sports Betting network will air 24/7 on SiriusXM channel 158 and its app bringing the network back to the service after previously being available from 2017 until 2020. The network will also be launching a new nightly show on SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” from 7-10pm weeknights starting tonight. ?VSiN Live on Mad Dog Sports Radio” will be hosted by Patrick Meagher and Dustin Swedelson featuring sports talk and betting-focused content while games are in progress. VSiN President/Chief Business Officer Brian Musburger stated, “We?ve always understood the importance of the SiriusXM platform for sports fans and betting enthusiasts and are thrilled to deliver the unique sports betting content this engaged and growing audience is looking for ? straight from the entertainment and gaming capital of the world in Las Vegas. Distribution on SiriusXM is a critical component of our expansion strategy and helps solidify VSiN?s position as the nation?s largest sports betting network.? VSiN EVP/Talent and Programming Steve Cohen, who joined the company after previously serving as SVP/Sports Programming at SiriusXM said, “I?m thrilled to be working with the great team at SiriusXM again and excited that this agreement will allow us to collaborate on wagering and fantasy sports content that will entertain their national sports audience. ?A great first example of this collaboration is the daily show we?ll be jointly producing for Mad Dog Sports Radio, and we look forward to delivering additional first-in-class sports talk programming together.? SiriusXM VP/Sports Programming Eric Spitz followed, “The demand for sports wagering content continues to grow and VSiN is a leader in this space. We?re very pleased to offer our listeners access to VSiN shows and personalities 24/7 on their dedicated channel and are excited to work together on a new exclusive show on Mad Dog Sports Radio that will deliver sports fans the kind of smart, insightful content they want and expect.? more

From Radio Insight: Following the death of Tom Kent last June, his “Tom Kent Radio Network” ceased operations at the end of 2024. Kent first entered the syndication business in 2002 with the formation of the TKO Radio Network where he hosted the nightly Oldies show ?Hall of Fame Coast to Coast? and the 1970s centric weekly show ?Into The 70s?. He would sell the company and resign from the network in 2007, but launched the ?Tom Kent Radio Network? the following year. Claiming over 600 affiliates a few years ago, among the offerings still produced by TKRN included the Classic Hits ?24/7 Fun? network where Kent hosted afternoons, the nightly ?Tom Kent Music Magazine?, and custom tracked ?TK Daily Download?. Kent also hosted the following weekly shows: ?My 70 more

From Radio Insight: Bloomberg Audio and Key Networks are launching daily “Bloomberg Business of Entertainment” segments for all formats. The 60 second daily segments will be anchored by Bloomberg’s Lisa Mateo and Karen Moskow covering “the ever-changing habits of how media is consumed – from movies to music – in a compelling and revealing one-minute listener-friendly format as well as the challenges and struggles of film, cable television, streaming media, social media, and more.” The segments will include a 60 second spot as well. Bloomberg Radio Syndication head Michael Lysak said, “The entertainment business has always been fascinating to watch, but it has never been at a more crucial crossroads than it is today. The storyline of the industry itself has all of the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster.” Key Networks COO Dennis Green added, “Bloomberg?s team continues to add content that interests its listeners with the new Business of Entertainment feature. The team at Bloomberg will bring the stories that make news in this area to light. We look forward to stations adding this important content to their lineups.? more

From Radio Insight: Maria PalmeriHeartMedia Rock “Rock 95.5” WCHI-FM Chicago has launched “The Morning Mosh Pit” as evening host Maria Palmer joins Matt ‘Marris’ Harris and Michael Mason. Palmer has been with WCHI-FM since shortly after its launch in the Fall of 2020. She previously has served as Music Director and night host at Alternative “106.5 The End” WEND Charlotte and was a weekend/fill-in host at Alternative “DC 101” WWDC and Country 98.7 WMZQ Washington DC. Matt ‘Marris’ HarrisMarris spent seven years at Cumulus Peoria prior to joining iHeartMedia Chicago in 2017 as Promotions Director for Hip Hop 107.5 WGCI and Gospel 1390 WGRB. He moved over to the morning show producer role at WCHI-FM in 2023. Mason joined the station last August. He previously has served as a producer for Premiere Networks’ Delilah and Clay Travis & Buck Sexton, hosted mornings at Townsquare Media Country 99.1 KUAD Fort Collins CO, nights at “98.9 The Bull” KNUC Seattle, and stations in Portland and Richmond. Michael MasonThe station is promoting features such as ?Top 5 Things to Know,? ?Rock Talk,? ?Fun To Your Head? and Palmer’s on-air/social-media ?Thirstday?. iHeartMedia Chicago Regional SVP/Programming James Howard commented, “We have assembled an insanely talented group to entertain Chicago?s incredible rock lifestyle fanbase. We are excited to deliver truly compelling content every morning on ROCK 95.5.? Palmer’s move to mornings fills the opening following Angi Taylor’s exit in iHeart’s last round of staff cuts across the country in November. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rock 95.5 Chicago (@rock955chi) more

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From Radio Insight: Longtime Jacksonville morning personality Eden Kendall has exited Renda Broadcasting’s “99.9 Gator Country” WGNE-FM Middleburg/Jacksonville FL to join WJXT-TV. Kendall began in Jacksonville in March 1995 when she joined “The Big Ape Morning Zoo” at CHR 95.1 WAPE. She and fellow WAPE morning hosts Steve Sutton and Amadeus would would depart the station in late 2006 prior to joining WGNE in June 2007 following the expiration of their non-compete. Sutton exited the show in April 2022, which leaves just Amadeus in place. Kendall will rejoin WJXT-TV’s River City Live that she previously co-hosted from 2015 to 2022, but this time focusing exclusively on the television show that airs weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00am. In a statement she commented, “Two and a half years ago, I was doing ‘River City Live” and the radio show both. It was a really long day. I wanted to focus on this one thing for the first time in a long time.” more

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From Radio Insight: Sheila Callahan & Friends Inc.’s Mountain Broadcasting signed-off its pair of stations in Missoula and Hamilton MT at the end of 2024. The company operated Hot AC “Mountain 102.5” KMSO Missoula/106.3 K292GH Hamilton and Classic Hits “107.9 The Drive” KHDV Darby/Hamilton and 103.7 K279CP/KMSO-HD2 Missoula. The company launched 102.5 in 1985 as Easy Listening KUEZ. It would change calls to KMSO in 1987 and then gradually evolve through 1990s to AC and then Hot AC. KHDV would sign-on in 2006 with Country before flipping to Classic Hits in 2013 and adding a simulcast on K279CP in 2015. Callahan has served as General Manager of the company for its 40 year history, with her husband/co-owner Max Murphy holding the roles of CFO and Sales Manager. Murphy is a second generation owner in the market as his father Chet Murphy co-founded 910 KYSS in 1959 and then added 94.9 KYSS-FM as the first FM in the market in 1969 until selling the stations in 1979. A statement on the KMSO website a message states, “Thank you, western Montana for forty wonderful years. As we say good-bye to our Mountain 102.5 FM family of wonderful staff, sponsors and listeners, please know that we are incredibly thrilled and humbled that you made us part of this community for four decades. It has been our pleasure to serve our listening area with news, information and entertainment. We have shared exciting fun, heartbreaking moments and historic events with you. We would not trade that time for anything. We send our very best wishes to all our friends, colleagues and clients. We wish you a wonderful New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.” more

From Radio Insight: After three and a half years in mornings, Ben Ealy exited Verstanding Broadcasting Country 104.7 WAYZ Hagerstown MD at the end of 2024. Ealy joined the company in September 2021 and took over mornings in May 2022. Ealy previously spent six months hosting middays at Withers Broadcasting Rock 106.7 WZZL Paducah KY prior to joining the company. Afternoon co-host Katy Dickinson, who co-hosted mornings at the station from 2010 to 2014 and then returned in 2023 as afternoon co-host, is now leading “Mornings with Katy”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radio Ben (@radiobenonair) more

From Radio Insight: Longtime iHeartMedia Cleveland host Jimmy Malone is joining Media-Com Inc. Talk 100.1 WNIR Kent/Akron OH to host “Malone Mondays” on “The Morning Buzz” from 7-10am on Mondays. Malone will join WNIR’s rotating group of hosts that join Joyce Johnson and News Director Phil Ferguson each day. He previously spent 39 years at what became iHeartMedia Cleveland originally joining “Majic 105.7” WMJI as a contributor in 1985 before rising to morning co-host in 1991. He would remain on the WMJI morning show until February 2021 before moving to host a twice weekly morning show on sister 1350 WARF Akron and a Saturday morning show on WMJI for a year and then hosted the 9am hour on News/Talk 1100 WTAM Cleveland from April 2022 until his exit last August. more

From Radio Online: In a strategic move to bolster its leadership ranks, Mid-West Family Madison has promoted Randy Hawke to General Manager and Lyndsey Bishop to Vice President of Business Development, effective immediately. These appointments are part of the company's broader initiative to enhance More...

From Radio Insight: I suppose it could have happened in the U.S. But it was listening to the UK?s Magic Radio on Christmas morning that I heard Sonall Shah say it. Much of the 11 a.m. hour was devoted to two things: listener shout outs to whoever was doing the cooking in the household and more highlights from a week-long interview with James Corden and Ruth Jones about the final episode of Gavin & Stacey airing that night. But Shah did tease that ?this year?s No. 1 Christmas song is on the way for you.? That was Wham!?s ?Last Christmas,? which, after famously losing the 1984 Christmas No. 1 battle to Band Aid?s ?Do They Know It?s Christmas?? was the Christmas No. 1 this year for the second year in a row. It now has nine weeks at No. 1 in the UK, although George Michael did not live to see them. In the U.S., ?Last Christmas? never charted at all in 1984. Columbia worked ?Do They Know It?s Christmas? to Top 40 radio, but since ?Careless Whisper? had just charted, and ?Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go? was only a few months old in America anyway, it did not promote ?Last Christmas? to radio. The only evidence I can find of a PD reporting “Last Christmas” is Tony Waitekus at WCIL Carbondale, Ill., and that was two years later. On Billboard?s Hot 100, ?Last Christmas? has only gotten to No. 3 in recent years, behind the juggernaut of Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee. At AC radio, however, it pulled into Mediabase?s No. 1 most-played gold title for the last week of the holiday season, displacing ?Feliz Navidad? by Jose Feliciano. (That song, with no significant other versions, has an advantage over ?Last Christmas,? where airplay could also be split by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, the Backstreet Boys, the Glee cast, and Jimmy Eat World.) Make no mistake, though. ?Last Christmas? was one of the inescapable records of Christmas 1984. My road trip that year was from Washington, D.C. to the Berkshires, and all three Wham! songs were unavoidable. Living in L.A. at the time, Wham were already a known entity that had been played on KIIS and even KROQ. In the rest of America, there was the excitement of three career singles within weeks of each other. A few other thoughts about ?Last Christmas? from 2025?s vantage point: It?s interesting to be hearing it just a few weeks after the ?yacht rock? documentary. The official keepers of the genre have never issued a ?Yacht or Nyacht? ruling, but if the bounciness of ?What a Fool Believes? is a key measurement in whether a song is ?Yacht Rock,? ?Last Christmas? certainly has that. There?s no ?70s rock or session player connection, another of their factors, but Wham! did make inroads at Urban radio far beyond any Doobie Brothers single, going to No. 8.* It probably couldn?t happen now. In 1984, Top 40 was the arbiter of new Christmas music. It didn?t contribute a major new song every year, but having two new Christmas songs explode on to contemporary radio was a big deal. With AC having assumed that role, only a few new songs (mostly covers) are given even a handful of spins every year. After a decade, streaming has made Kelly Clarkson?s ?Underneath the Tree? and Ariana Grande?s ?Santa, Tell Me? into top 10 songs in Billboard but only No. 84 and No. 211 respectively at AC. Top 40 was also in the peak year musically of its mid-?80s resurgence with the power to anoint a holiday song immediately. It was a different story in 1994 when Mariah Carey was one of the few superstars Top 40 had, and the format didn?t even exist in many markets. That?s why CHR was so grateful to have ?All I Want for Christmas (Is You)? at the time. When the format rebounded, it became a song of greater potency with each year. Or maybe it would happen now, but differently. ?Careless Whisper? was a fast-breaking hit during a time of year that is effectively closed off to new music now. In the streaming era, where singles come from albums less sequentially?no more ?Wake Me Up? in fall, ?Whisper? in winter, ?Everything She Wants? in Spring, ?Freedom? in summer?the first two Wham! hits would have happened in even shorter order. Perhaps ?Last Christmas? would happen now because of streaming and, unlike 1984, not off the chart radar. Who knows if ?Everything? and ?Freedom? would have been singles at all? Artist excitement means a lot, and we have less. Since the ?70s, a lot of new Christmas music has come from artists either in an imperial period (Elton John, Carey, Clarkson, Ed Sheeran) or bursting into it (Wham! Grande). Between ?Nonsense Christmas? and her Lindsey Stirling duet on ?You?re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,? Sabrina Carpenter didn?t really have any impetus to force a new holiday song in between two other chart climbers from ?Taste,? but imagine if she did. We?re going to have questions about Christmas music for the next month. It could certainly be the timing of December Nielsen PPM ratings measurement, which included a few less days than last year, but many stations were off by a few shares from last year. (It must now immediately note that those stations were still up sharply from November and a lot of stations would love to have only a 9-share.) Detractors have been expecting the all-holiday format to lose some of its potency in the streaming era for years. We?ll know more in a few weeks when the special Holiday ?23 ratings come out. Again, any discussion is almost certainly going to be about an 18-share vs. a 14-share. But there were a few prominent AC and Classic Hits stations that decided not to switch format this year, and a market (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale) where no station went all-Christmas. There?s no question that the 40-year-old ?Last Christmas? has relevance at holiday time, and so do the even older songs that join it in the top 10 from ?The Christmas Song? to ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree.? When streamers want ?Jingle Bell Rock,? they choose Bobby Helms over Daryl Hall & John Oates.* Still, recent years have seen many stations refreshing their holiday playlists only by going back to long-ago holiday albums by pre-rock crooners, ?60s MOR acts, or even Percy Faith and Ray Conniff. Many holiday stations added nothing new to the library this year. In the early days of the holiday radio takeover, a few stations tried a more contemporary Christmas, and the results were decisively against them. But it?s a generation later, and I still wonder if radio is right, or just in retrograde.* At this writing, the top 16 songs on the Hot 100 are holiday titles, none of them currents. Even though holiday music is not quite as big as last year, other contemporary formats, particularly Top 40, continue to suffer during the holidays, and having nothing new to play seems like a significant part of it. If there is an artist on a Sabrina-like hot streak next year, some thought should go in to creating a holiday song that can break through at Top 40, Hot AC, and AC. Otherwise, there’s a chance of the next Christmas classic starting as a streaming outlier. more