Two weeks ago on this page, we posted this list of questions, soliciting your desires regarding enLighten’s playing of Christmas and seasonal melodies … and your responses continue to flow in:
- When should enLighten begin playing Christmas seasonal melodies?
- How much . . . what percentage to begin with?
- How much of each hour would you like devoted to Christmas music by December 15th?
- Is it acceptable to include secular melodies like White Christmas and Jingle Bells when sung by the same Southern Gospel artists you hear on enLighten year-round?
- Is there a place for songs about Santa and Rudolph in the enLighten playlist?
- If you find holiday seasonal favorites acceptable, what percentage should be played vs. the sacred carols?
- When would you like enLighten to begin playing all Christmas/holiday music?
- Christmas is on a Tuesday this year – should enLighten continue playing seasonal melodies past Christmas night?
- How long past? All the way into the following weekend?
- If “yes” to the questions above … what percentage of the total mix should seasonal melodies occupy during this after-Christmas period?
Your votes for the most part are not very different than what you told us when we posted a similar set of questions on this page in November of 2006, the first Christmas season that we were available in XM Radio’s satellite service.
Unless you’re reading this prior to November 27th … you’ve noticed these glorious melodies beginning to be heard. As relates to Question #1, 97% of the responses were split almost evenly between starting on Thanksgiving Day or the day after and December 1st. So, I’m more or less taking the middle ground … partly because we find ourselves on constant overload and battling to keep on schedule.
Regarding Question #5, asking your view on enLighten including songs that place Santa and Rudolph on pedestals just somewhat lower than our Lord, I frankly am a little surprised that such a large percentage of you have no problem with our playing them. Here’s what one listener wrote: “If the parents have not taught their children that are of the age of accountability about the true reason for the season, there is little that enLighten can do about It. Play the songs the children know and love.”
Relating to this and Question #6, another listener wrote … “All of the classics are fine, but Santa and Rudolf have their own channels” … which is the direction the Holy Spirit continues to lead me to go.
This same listener also suggested … “It would be nice to not ‘put Christmas away’ right after the 25th, but keep it going until the weekend. I am an over-the-road trucker and listen quite often, so thanks for helping to keep ‘my mind stayed on thee’ as I drive.”
A large percentage of those writing expressed much the same desire in varying degrees … that we continue playing the Christmas carols and seasonal favorites beyond the 25th. So, having heard from very few who wish it to “go away” quickly, we’ll keep a fair percentage in the mix at least through the 30th.
Finally … as you would expect, the questions about “how much” receives answers that were as widespread as we could possibly do … all the way from going to all-holiday at Thanksgiving and continuing all the way through New Year’s … down to playing hardly any except on a few days right at Christmas.
While quite a number responded with extended comments on each or most questions, many simply gave “yes,” “no” and percentage answers, which was just fine. Whichever way you replied, thank you for taking the time to do so.
Then, from Jim, we received this one-line comment: “I support Sirius XM Channel 18 and have for many years!!! Let God lead you!!!” And, that my dear listeners I shall do again this year, guided by combining all of your personal tastes and desires as expressed through your E-mails and telephone messages. Throughout my more than 50 years of programming and managing radio stations, my goal has been to satisfy as many of the listeners as much of the time as possible … as achieving a 100% consensus is an impossibility.
May you rejoice in His love this day, as you revel in the beauty of this most glorious time of the year!
Marlin
