I know it's not Halloween, yet, but things are getting pretty exciting around here! Look what Scott McCreery sent me!
Ken
Hi All! I know it's not Halloween, yet, but things are getting pretty exciting around here! Look what Scott McCreery sent me! Details on how you can win "Christmas With Scotty McCreery" coming soon!
Ken
20 Comments
Hi All! I haven't done this in a while, and since we're getting close to putting our station back on the air (just a few weeks away), I thought I'd revisit a blog I wrote several years ago about who we are (and why). Before I go any further, I want to thank you for the continued support! Thanks to social media (and you can connect with me through the links on the homepage), I’ve been able to connect with thousands of Christmas music fans and friends! To be honest, I'm more than a little humbled by the success of this station. You have all had a major part in making one of my biggest wishes come true! For those who don't know, The Sounds of Christmas is an Internet Christmas radio station. For those who haven't discovered Internet radio, yet, it simply means it's like a radio station, but available online instead of through a traditional radio. And as far as I'm concerned, it's a lot better. I am a huge fan of Christmas music, and I always have been. Increasingly over the years, I had become more and more disillusioned with the way those traditional radio stations went about playing Christmas music. Year after year, they seem to roll out the same 100 songs right around Thanksgiving, and play them all over and over until Christmas Day. It's no wonder that so many people groan when this begins each November. And now, many of these stations are starting closer to the beginning than the end of November (yet still playing the same tired list of songs). There are tons of great Christmas CDs out there, and most seem to get ignored, while Bing's "White Christmas" and Nat's "Christmas Song" get featured seemingly every hour. Don't get me wrong, I love Bing Crosby and Nat "King" Cole. I love Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Andy Williams, Judy Garland, Johnny Mathis and the Chipmunks, too. But there's a lot more than just those standards, and I can't be the only one that loves all the rest of the Christmas music. Like Mannheim Steamroller, for example. They actually sponsored us for the first few years, celebrating a brand new Christmas CD each year. Each year, those releases shot up the charts! More than anything, that should show these other stations that people love the new Christmas music as well as the old. If that didn't underscore my point, how about Josh Groban? His first Christmas CD, which debuted in 2007, sold so well it broke records held by Elvis Presley! In fact, it went on to become the best-selling CD of the year! Not just the best-selling "Christmas" CD, but the best-selling CD, period. And not to blow my own horn, though it's my blog and I should be allowed to do that here, the Sounds of Christmas quickly became the top new Christmas station on Live365 every year, since the debut in 2007 (over hundreds of competing stations, many of which are on year-round). Note: The Sounds of Christmas is considered a "new" station each year because we don't broadcast all year long, just from November 1 through January 6. And we only start on November 1 so that you can start listening whenever you're ready. Listeners to the Sounds of Christmas last year got to hear new holiday music from singers and bands as diverse as Justin Bieber, Vanessa Peters, Jars of Clay, Jordin Sparks, David Archuleta, Michael Buble, She and Him, Jackie Evancho, Cyndi Lauper, the Cast of GLEE, Paul Anka, Carole King, Sleeping At Last, Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, Rockapella, the Grip Weeds, Benjamin Utecht, Percy Sledge, Roy Holliday, My Morning Jacket, Kathy Troccoli, Jim Brickman, Mindy Gledhill, Leo Sayer, Bowling For Soup, Lisa McClowry, the David Crowder Band, Melinda Doolittle, Roger McGuinn, Scott Bradlee, Scott Weiland, Vanessa Carlton, Josh Carterer, Los Straitjackets, Smashing Pumpkins, Green River Ordinance, Javier Colon, Little Big Town, Chicago, Expose, Eddie Floyd, Donny Osmond, Scarlett Johansson, FFH, Kelly Clarkson, Jack Johnson, Meaghan Smith, the Wiggles, Matt Wertz, Schuyler Fisk, Victoria Justice, Matthew West, the Steve Miller Band, Tommy Emmanuel, the Blenders, Eddie Money, Iggy Pop, the Cast of Elf-The Musical, Sean Quigley, Sara Bareilles, TobyMac, Bryan Adams, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Hey Monday, Uncle Kracker, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Plain White T’s, Moat Jumper, Kutless, Richard Marx, Little River Band, Luanne Hunt, Brian Wilson, Belles and Whistles, Billy Burnette, Katrina, BoDeans, John Zorn, Toby Keith and Sammy Hagar, Weatherstar, Natasha Bedingfield, Keb Mo, Patty Smyth, Kimberley Locke, the Kings of Christmas, Sarah McLachlan, Smalltown Poets, Shonen Knife, Clarence Clemons, the Killers, Owl City, Chanticleer, Paul Carrack, Tony Bennett, John Legend, Lady Gaga, the bird and the bee, Cast of Jersey Boys, the Bandana Splits, Lee DeWyze and Red Wanting Blue. To name a few (and apologies to anyone I left out)! In total, the Sounds of Christmas playlist is now over 7000 tracks (and that's without adding in much of the new music still on the way this Fall). As much as I love Bing's "White Christmas", having such a wide and diverse playlist means it doesn’t get played every hour on the hour. Besides, Bing has lots of other great Christmas songs. In fact, almost every artist I've mentioned has more than just one Christmas song. Even the Wiggles. It seems really short-sighted, and a dis-service to Christmas music fans, to ignore that and just play the same ones over and over. After all, if you love one particular Christmas song that much, odds are you own it and can play it whenever you want, right? This station was something I've wanted to do for a long time, and thanks to Mannheim Steamroller, I've been able to make it happen. Now, I'm starting to get ready to do it again. And if you'd like, I'd love to have your help! First, if you are a singer or in a band, and you've recorded a Christmas song, make sure I know about it! Leave a comment here or send me a message so I can get it and look into adding it to our playlist. Please note, I don't add everything that gets sent. I've been in the radio industry for over twenty-five years, and I feel like I have a grasp on what works and what doesn't. I know sometimes that's a matter of taste, but that's how it is. I only add music that seems to fit with what the station is. You can get a little of a taste of that by check out the top hundred songs from last year. That said, what have you got to lose? Through Live365, we've got an International audience of at least 5 million, and when your song plays, there's a link to Amazon and iTunes. You'll be reaching an audience that is already online, and that loves Christmas music. That's just one click away from a sale! Potentially, it's one click away from 5 million sales! Not in a band but still want to help? Even though it's on the Internet, the Sounds of Christmas is still a radio station. And just like traditional radio stations, we're able to run based on advertising. So if you run or work for a company that would like to reach a really big audience who are, as I already mentioned, online and just a click away from buying your product, let me know! I try to keep the ads down, allowing the music to be the focus. That is, after all, what people come to the Sounds of Christmas for. So there aren't a lot of slots to fill. And I'm every bit as picky about the ads as I am about the music. This is a family-friendly radio station, so your ad, service and/or product need to be family-friendly, too. I didn't think I needed to say that, but after all the porn-related friend requests I get, I wanted to be sure. That said, if you'd like to publicize your business and draw people to you, your website and your products and services (which will even be open online on Christmas Day), leave me a comment or send me a message and I'll get you all the details. Once the spaces fill up, that will be that. You can also let your friends know about us! Just mention us to friends and family who love Christmas music. And if you hear something that you really like, please check out the artist and at least consider buying their song or CD! Without them, there would be no Sounds of Christmas! You don't have to buy anything, of course. The best way you can support us is by listening! We'll be back on November 1 with thousands of great Christmas songs, including new holiday music from Scotty McCreery, the Polyphonic Spree, Richard Marx, Rod Stewart, Celtic Woman, Judy Pancoast, Whitney Wolanin, the New Royalty, the Empty Pockets, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Blake Shelton, Lunch at Allen’s, Train, Chris Mann, Colbie Caillat, Lady Antebellum, Rita Coolidge, Tracey Thorn, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Eleventyseven, Sufjan Stevens and Olivia Newton-John (with John Travolta)! Thanks again for your continued support!
And may you always believe in Santa Claus! Ken It's getting really busy over here, as we get ready to go back on the air (November 1st). Here's another taste of what's to come, from our ever-growing list of new 2012 Christmas music! ![]() This one was just officially announced this week! Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, together again with a brand new Christmas album! And if this wasn't enough on its own, this one also features guest appearances by James Taylor, Chick Corea, Cliff Richard, Kenny G, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand! ![]() Celtic Woman are also returning with a brand new Christmas album! You can click on the picture at the right for some details, and also find out if they're going to be near you when their Christmas Celebration tour kicks off December 1! ![]() Richard Marx gave is a Christmas EP last year, and he's back now with an entire album of Christmas music! You can click on the picture on the left and hear a medley of tracks from this album. Last year, his version of "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" was one of the most popular songs on the Sounds of Christmas (finishing at #13 in our top 100 at the end of the season)! ![]() This is another one we got a tease of last year. Judy Pancoast is back with her second Christmas album! I know for many, her original "The House On Christmas Street" has become an annual favorite. And I already love the songs I've heard from this (and am sure you will, too)! By the way, you can click on the picture on the right, and get details on Judy's upcoming House On Christmas Street tour! ![]() I'm also excited about the new one coming from Tracey Thorn (of Everything But The Girl)! This includes a couple of originals, as well as a diverse batch of covers from Joni Mitchell, Jack White, Randy Newman, Dolly Parton and Scritti Politti (just to name a few)! It also includes "Sister Winter", which Tracey gave away to fans a couple years ago! Of course, there's lots more to come! And I've no doubt that there will also be some surprises from singers and bands who just, on the spur of the moment, get caught up in the spirit of the season and send us a song!
Are you starting to get excited? You know I am! I can't wait to play all of these, and so much more! Thanks so much for stopping by! And may you always believe in Santa Claus! Ken |
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