Mariah Carey’s holiday season has arrived early in California, where one radio station has replaced its usual lineup with nonstop Christmas music nearly two months before Santa’s big night.
Coachella Valley station 92.1 MeTV FM is airing holiday songs around the clock through Dec. 27, with hopes of putting listeners in a “better mood” as the festive season approaches.
“Listening to holiday music is one of the most cherished traditions around the holidays as people prepare for time with family and friends,” 92.1 MeTV FM owner Brad Fuhr said Tuesday.
“So we wanted to get a head start on it today, election day, to put people in a better mood,” he added.
The station typically plays soft pop and classic hits from past decades. For now, however, that regular programming is taking a break until after Christmas.
In its place, listeners will hear a continuous rotation of holiday favorites from stars including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Carey, whose Christmas hits have become staples of the annual holiday countdown.
The station is owned by KGAY Palm Springs Media, which also operates 103.1 FM and 106.5 FM.
The California station is not the only broadcaster starting its Christmas programming early. Stations such as 106.9 FM in Louisville, Kentucky, and 93.3 FM in Cincinnati, Ohio, also switched to all-holiday music immediately after Halloween.
Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has become one of the holiday season’s most lucrative songs. According to Forbes, the singer reportedly earns about $2.5 million in royalties from the track each year.
Her other seasonal favorites include “Christmas Time Is in the Air Again” and her cover of Darlene Love’s 1963 classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”