Christmas comes early to 103.1 The Wave
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If you tune in to 103.1 The Wave this week, you might be surprised to hear the Talking Heads and REM replaced by Dean Martin and Brenda Lee crooning holiday classics.
State of play: After years of alternative and new wave hits from the 1980s and '90s, the station suddenly switched to all Christmas music on Tuesday as it shifts to a "new format" on Jan. 1, program director Rob Riesen told Axios.
- "People like Christmas music in Salt Lake City. I know it's a little bit early, but ... we figured we'd just get an early jump on it," Riesen said.
Catch up quick: The carols and holiday earworms launched three months after The Wave terminated its on-air talent in July, Riesen confirmed.
Yes, but: The station had made significant audience gains as of early 2024, Inside Radio reported at the time.
What they're saying: "We've given it a good seven years, and the station's really ... never moved the needle. And so we're gonna look at doing something else," Riesen said.
- "...Stations, you know, if they don't have the ratings ... you don't get the revenue."
What's next: KLO-FM has plans for Jan. 1, 2026, but Riesen isn't revealing them.
- "It'll be a good surprise," he said.
The intrigue: The station, now known as "Christmas 103," likely is the first in the nation to flip to all-holiday music, Riesen said.
- "There'll be other stations that follow suit," he said. "Christmas is big, and I think everybody needs a little smile on their face nowadays."
My thought bubble: It's early October, and I've already lost whamageddon.
The other side: My kid and I were supplied with a memorable soundtrack for our tour of local Halloween houses: