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Poll: When is it acceptable for radio stations to start playing Christmas songs?

Is it too soon to be hearing Wham! or Mariah Carey back on the air?

CHRISTMAS FM RETURNED to the airwaves at the weekend bringing festive songs on a full-time basis, if that’s what you want. 

But when is it okay for other radio stations to start playing the Christmas hits in advance of the 25th? Is it too soon to be hearing Wham! or Mariah Carey back on the air? 

So today, in the spirit of the season, we’re asking: When is it acceptable for radio stations to start playing Christmas songs? 


Poll Results:

1 December (5407)
8 December (3259)
Christmas week (1361)
I wish they never played them (981)
Before December  (700)

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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 9:09 AM

    I will listen to any radio station playing Christmas songs as long as it’s not 2FMs breakfast show with them three gob/sh/it’s that 2 fm dragged up from the bottom of the barrel. They have to be the worst ever presenters on radio since radio first started. Please bring back Radio Nova from the 80s. Now they were what you called professional DJs.

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    Mute Billy Davies
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 9:56 AM

    @Brian Kelly: 2fm at the weekend mornings is the worst. Total cråp.

    80
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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:50 AM

    @Brian Kelly: Tis hard to listen to that’s for sure. Donnacha O Callaghan you could listen to but the other two…. Sweet baby jeebus…. painful…

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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:53 AM

    @Billy Davies: I’m afraid 2FM is WAY down the league of good raido these days. It’s the presenters! I like the music and I like Tracy Clifford she’s good. As for the rest of daytime radio….. trash!!!!

    16
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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:59 AM

    @Thomas Meaney: OMG! That horrible voice of Doireann!!!! They should kick her back to Spin Radio as nobody really listens to that station. She has the most toxic voice ever!!!! She’s like a kid that never grew up. Pure brutal on Radio.

    26
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    Mute Alan Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 1:26 PM

    @Brian Kelly: Bring back Phantom 105.2 FM. Now that was a great radio station.

    18
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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 1:38 PM

    @Alan Byrne: ye! Another good station. I also loved Sunshine Radio back in the 80s.

    18
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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 8:52 AM

    Whenever they like, I just won’t tune in, retail workers must be sick of it already

    116
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    Mute Kevin Maughan
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 6:53 PM

    @Frainc Ó Broin: Yes we are.

    12
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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:48 AM

    Any Xmas song I hear I’ll switch stations .. not a bah humbug but it’s repeat repeat repeat day in day out. Xmas week is time enough.

    57
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    Mute Premier Fitters
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 8:43 AM

    Hmmmm I think that horse has bolted lol

    52
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    Mute JustBEERbarry
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 8:48 AM

    Never

    47
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    Mute Adrian Versey
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:36 AM

    I absolutely hate 2FM. Unfortunately it’s on in work and I have no choice but to listen.
    I often think poor old Gerry Ryan would hate the way the station has developed.

    41
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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 4:51 PM

    @Adrian Versey: same here! It’s absolutely dreadful in the morning with them 3 tools and even worse after with Jen Zapp!

    13
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 8:58 AM

    What do you think of journal Xmas polls

    1. Stuff the turkey hole with holly
    2. 5 golden km
    3 NEPHET
    4 I strongly disagree
    5 amaze balls

    50
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    Mute Liz O'Neill
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:22 AM

    The radio you can switch off and select music if your own taste on Spotify or a CD. It’s those working in retail I feel most sorry for.. and it’s not even good music. Crappy arrangements, poorly mixed, of trashy Christmas pop hits are the norm these days. Whatever happened to Christmas Carols? One doesn’t have to be a born again Christian to enjoy the beauty and simplicity of ‘Away in a Manger’ or the exuberance of a perfectly harmonised choral rendition of ‘Hark the Herald…’.

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    Mute JustBEERbarry
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 1:43 PM

    @Liz O’Neill: it’s places like big BIG retailers playing covered versions of the songs because they won’t pay for royalties that are the worst. Imagine hearing Michael Buble covers ALL DAY LONG since the start of November.

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    Mute Liz O'Neill
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 4:49 PM

    @JustBEERbarry: I can imagine that would be absolutely horrendous.

    12
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:02 AM

    December 1st is time enough for anything Christmas related.

    25
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    Mute Jj
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:11 AM

    1st of December, that’s when you can start opening the advent calendar and scoffing the chocolates

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    Mute Ciarán FitzGerald
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 12:03 PM

    Sure look we need something to look forward to this year. I’m going to try get into the Christmas spirit

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    Mute michael walsh
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:04 AM

    September

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:20 AM

    What i can’t stand is they play the same ones every year DUH . No what i mean is Fairy Tale Of New York, Last Xmas, I wish it could be… etc etc etc. Sure what else is there I suppose but how they gonna keep that up for 3 weeks now they’ve started.

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 2:46 PM

    I want to hear Cliff Richard singing We’re all going on a summer holiday, between now and 8th January.

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    Mute Stu Cullum
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 9:42 AM

    Really? Do people care about this ?

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 9:52 AM

    @Stu Cullum: About your comment? Probably not…

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 11:16 AM

    too late for that! Today FM Played the first one, thanks Ian, was it Monday…

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 10:49 AM

    Last week of November is good

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    Mute Roger Bond
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 12:39 PM

    Anytime after Halloween..

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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Dec 2nd 2021, 7:13 PM

    August.

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