Every year, Christian radio stations make space in their playlists for Christmas music, in fact many of them switch to all Christmas music. With such a short season, getting your Christmas single added can be a high impact opportunity both for the current year and years to come.
We reached out to several radio programmers across the country and asked:
- Do you prefer originals or covers?
- Does your regular format still matter during Christmas?
- When is the ideal time to submit?
- Any other tips for artists planning a Christmas release?
Their responses offer a goldmine of insight. Here’s what we learned:
Originals Have the Edge But Covers Still Work (If They’re Great)
Most programmers agreed that while covers are welcome, they’re already saturated with them. You’re competing with classics and core artist versions already familiar to listeners.
“We have 100 versions of each classic Christmas tune. Anything with a different title is a breath of fresh air.”
“We only need so many versions of ‘Silent Night.’”
“Unless it beats the original… don’t bother sending it.”
That said, familiarity still matters, especially with Christmas listeners who may be tuning in for the first time all year. A creative twist on a cover can still land well, especially if it’s well-produced and radio-friendly.
Format Still Matters Even in December
While stations are a bit more flexible around Christmas, most still prefer songs that fit their sound, especially for new adds. That means if your regular sound wouldn’t make it onto their station, your Christmas single may not either.
“Yes, format matters. We like to stick with what we play — other than the classics.”
“We expect to go outside the lines a bit, but stick with our CCM sound.”
“We like to keep consistency between Christmas and the rest of the year—with some holiday flare.”
Don’t Wait!
Across the board, programmers agreed that the Christmas music window is short, and timing your submission right is crucial.
- Best time to submit: Late October through early to mid-November
- Too late: December 1st and beyond
“We start building our logs early to accommodate the holidays.”
“December is too late—most of the music is pre-scheduled by then.”
“If you send too early, I may forget about it. Too late, and you miss a full week of a 3.5-week season.”
There’s a Need for Canadian Christmas Music
Several programmers specifically mentioned the lack of strong Canadian Christmas songs. If your track qualifies as CanCon (MAPL), that could be a huge bonus.
“We definitely need a better variety of Canadian Christmas music. It’s pretty thin.”
“Qualified Christmas CanCon is really needed. Send us LOTS!”
“This category is hard to populate from year to year.”
Ready to release a Christmas single?
Make sure your song is professionally recorded, well-timed, and paired with a clear, radio-ready pitch.
Need help getting your song to stations across Canada? That’s what we do at Ten16 Entertainment. Reach out to see how we can help.
