Love it or loathe it, Triangle radio listeners are getting twice as much Christmas music this year.
Two local stations this week switched to all-Christmas format, WRAL-FM 101.5 and WRDU-FM 106.1. Last year, WRAL was the only one.
As always, the quest for higher ratings drives the decision, especially with advertisers slashing spending. This is WRAL's third annual switch and last year ratings rose 38 percent among its target demographic, women aged 25 to 54, said program director Barry Fox.
"We lose a few listeners, but we gain many more," Fox said. "We were receiving a lot of calls and e-mails [this year], asking when we were going to start. Then when we made the switch, we got some complaints."
But this year in particular, with the tough economy, fans of Bing Crosby, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and others want music that brings back fond memories, Fox said. "It puts them in a happy mindset," he added.
Fox admits that with another station in town playing all-holiday music, there are only so many fans to go around. But WRAL's adult-contemporary format the rest of the year makes the transition easy on its listeners. The station is owned by Raleigh-based Capitol Broadcasting.
WRDU had been a country station until its recent switch, but plans to convert to a conservative talk station on Jan. 1 featuring Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and others. Officials with WRDU and its parent corporation Clear Channel didn't return calls seeking comment.
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or 
Comments
WRDU Continues to go downhill
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 00:33 — joeblow3I can remember when WRDU was a great radio station. But that was before they got bought out by ClearChannel. Then they went from a great rock station, to a mediocre rock station, to a country station, and now to a Christmas music station. And coming soon, yet another corporate propaganda station!
Start playing after
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 20:20 — hockey101Start playing after Thanksgiving. Let's enjoy Thanksgiving first. Playlist sucks. Who wants to hear the same songs over and over the same day.
More modern Christmas music
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 17:09 — ThePRGuyI'm not opposed to Christmas music but would welcome more modern renditions from contemporary artists. Let's loosen up the playlist a little bit.