Now ye're talking - to Christmas FM!

seamus wrote: »

Why do you shut down on 26th? Why not the 30th?

Its a 30 day temporary license and we spend one of the days on test broadcasting. So when we launch it sounds professional.

Also we try to leave on a high with people wanting more.

beertons wrote: »

What's your favourite non Christmas song?

It changes daily, I used to be a professional DJ so i love hearing songs for the first time so my car has tune in or spotify on. Although mostly I listen to Audiobooks to be honest. At the moment here's whats on my record player (yes Vinyl) in my house. I've a feeling its not for the masses.

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Hi, Ronan.

Fair play on the fundraising for Temple Street this year. A very worthy cause that is often overlooked.

May I ask how you choose your playlist for the station? I enjoy flicking to the station on the build up to Christmas, but I do find the playlist fairly repetitive. (I don't mean that in a "you're always playing Christmas songs" way!)

Are there a particular set of Christmas songs that you feel meet what the station is slot, and therefore exclude other Christmas songs?

One example I would give is an album called "Funny Looking Angels" by Smith & Burrows. Is an album of Christmas* songs, some of which are beautifully done, in particular "Only You". I'm sure there are plenty of other artists that have done similar Christmas albums that could be added to the playlist.

Finally, your station introduced me to "Feliz Navidad" and for that I am eternally grateful

So there are 5 online stations and only one on FM radio. Each plays a particular type of music to do with Christmas.

Our research shows the average person only listens in for about 15-17 minutes at a time on average and in the car was the most popular location. During that time they want to hear the "Best" Christmas music. So its a balance between Mariah Carey and the Pogues on repeat and catering to those who listen the whole day while in work.

Smith & Burrows hadn't heard of them before. Youtubed them though. The issue there is its more pop than Christmas music, it is above love not Christmas. We are very wary of ending up like other stations, who already cater to pop music. At the risk of sounding controversial. Back in the Mid 90's Pulse FM sounded so unbelievably different to all other radio stations. Now days, stations all sound the same in my opinion and you could hear the same song on nearly any station in Ireland and it wouldn't be out of place. If we get confused for any other station then we are more likely not to get the license renewed. So we let the commercial stations play pop music and we play cheesy Christmas music.

Call me Al wrote: »

Why have you never played Chrissie Hynde's song 2000 Miles? I mean it has to be the BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER.
I clearly now expect it to be song number 1 played this week after my intervention. :-)

Yes this song is on the playlist for the last few years in one form or another.

Nokia6230i wrote: »

it's a necessarily evil

Haven't been called that before. But thanks for the support.

Mint Sauce wrote: »

What would have to be the minimum amount rasied, to remove Mariah Carey 'All I Want For Xmas' from the Play List?
.

Ah here, See its not possible to keep everyone happy. Next it will be all mentions of Religious holidays.

Bob Harris wrote: »

Ronan is off-air it seems.

Sorry about that. Day Job.

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

Ronan for president! :pac:

I haven't even done dragons den yet.

TallGlass wrote: »

Can I do a show?

Depends, If you work in Radio and have lots of on air experience then that helps and get in touch for next year.

If you haven't Adrian Nolan teaches a Radio training course and uses our Studio which could be a nice Xmas present to someone. We've picked up some presenters who've done that course.

https://christmasfm.com/training/

artanevilla wrote: »

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please?

The cashier says son there's not enough here

donkeykong5 wrote: »

That's funny because you played it last year. ?.

Erm if you say so, but i'd guess it probably was another presenter. Thats definitely not Friday Night party music that I try to play on my show I'm afraid.

Belfunk wrote: »

Will Lisa Hannigan - The Christmas Waltz be on the playlist this year?

Looking forward to launch ðŸ‘

I'm not sure to be honest, it was there last year and the guys in charge of playlists are still tweaking this years list.

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

I know this wont be popular, but could you end Christmas Fm New Years day instead of the 27th Dec, for me and many others Christmas goes until the New Year.

Could be a bit difficult to ask the staff to give up their new years eve as well so that they have a clear head for the final day. For the Volunteers that work the 30 days in a row without a break, i think the few days off is an absolute must. Remember they have to go back to their real make a living jobs straight after Christmas.

Christmas FM will still be on the app, just no live DJs and no FM license as the license period is strict.

Also while some are keen to hear Christmas FM, many need to "find" us and add us to their presets by wandering on the dial for a song they like so being on early helps us get the audience and hence the donations.

5 Mins till we go live.

AllForIt wrote: »

You station may be a charitable organization but I'd argue if you were really charitable you's raise funds some other way that doesn't market xmas as if it were magic, cause it isn't.

To be clear we are a non for Profit rather than a charity. The Charity Partner this year is a Children's Hospital Called Temple Street. We think they do amazing work. We want to use the airwaves and the internet to tell people about it.

On the back of commercialism - We demand nothing back we just ask, we don't charge to tune in or listen. Many many people tune in and never donate to us or the charity. Thats not a problem, the more listeners that listen the more awareness of Temple Street Hospital that happens.

I completely understand that Christmas and many other times of the year are stressful for people. We don't intend to add to this and as said before not participating is easy - don't volunteer and don't tune in.

Look we are aiming to make €100,000 this year, on the back of €1,300,000 we've made in the past decade for charities. It sounds like you might have ideas on how you can raise similar fund's in other manners. I can only encourage you to take massive action and focus your attention on that to make those idea's happen. We do our best in the ways we know how and we are passionate about radio and frankly choose to enjoy Christmas.

Its certainly not my place to offer advice in this representative capacity on Boards. But my personal philosophy is I avoid negative influences and people (regardless of their bloodline). And I find serving others makes me feel good so I do it. Even cheesier than Christmas is that when you give good vibes out there, they tend to come back. That might be the most hippiest thing I've ever said.

An example is spending a few hours in the past being on the radio Christmas Day, instead of being with my Family. I choose to do some work to volunteer on air, because I love doing it. And I had a lovely text in from a person who was home and lonely, having a turkey sandwich and we had a great conversation. I think we made each others day and it was such a privilege being in the back ground in so many homes.

I really hope something nice happens in the next month for you and maybe this will be a happy Christmas. And I hope you understand we are a radio station not the entire season.

god's toy wrote: »

Quite clearly you rate 'Bob and Doug Sing 12 Days of Christmas' as a D rated song, As I almost never hear it, this is shocking and deserves to an A rated xmas song the world over !!!

I'm sure i heard one of the other presenters play that last year. We have a lot of kids listening so we try not to promote beer too much:)

Also it has to compete with Straight No Chaser...