It’s the most wonderful time of the year…especially if you like Christmas music. From jingling bells to sleigh rides to chestnuts roasting, you’ll hear the sounds of the season all over town.
 
Whether you’re shopping for groceries at Oleson’s, grabbing tools at Home Depot, shopping at Captain’s Quarters downtown, or visiting a local dentist, you’re going to hear Mariah Carey, Mannheim Steamroller, Bing Crosby and Pentatonix.
 
At Lite 96.3, the season started Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when the station went to an all-Christmas music format. For 24 hours a day, seven days a week until Dec. 25, the station’s playlist consists only of holiday music.
 
“We survey listeners, and the majority says (to start) the day after Thanksgiving. It’s become a phenomenon,” says Diane Hansell, the brand manager for the station. “Listenership almost doubles at Christmas.”
 
Trish MacDonald Garber, CEO of MacDonald-Garber Broadcasting, which owns the station, says the tradition started in the days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. The station actually began airing holiday songs late that month on an occasional basis, before turning to all Christmas music following Thanksgiving. “That was the first year we went full bore, wall to wall. We received a fantastic response. It became our model,” she says.
 
As far as sales of holiday tunes, Tom Schmitt, store manager at FYE in Grand Traverse Mall, says anything new is a big seller at his store. “People are looking for new (Christmas) music each year,” he says.
 
This year, that list includes Eric Clapton, John Legend and Brett Eldredge. “Pentatonix is probably the most popular new one,” says Schmitt of the group’s latest holiday offering, Christmas Is Here.
 
And if you think the holidays start early, FYE starts stocking holiday music as soon as it is released, typically in late September. The store begins playing it in earnest in November, and it becomes more prominent in the mix as the calendar turns closer to Christmas.
 
Schmitt admits that it can be a bit much after a while. “I hear it all day. I just kind of block it out,” Schmitt says with a laugh. “The problem is it’s the same 40 songs. People either love it or hate it.” His personal favorite? “I always enjoy Brian Setzer’s (holiday recordings). It’s a good store CD, it’s upbeat.”
 
Many stores swear by Christmas music.  “We’re dispensing Grandma Betsy’s hot spiced cider in our outdoor foyer [now] until Christmas,” says Maurie Allen, owner of Captain’s Quarters. And accompanying a cup of cheer is non-stop holiday music. “We have a wide array of thousands of Christmas songs.”
 
“It puts people in the mood, gives them the Christmas spirit,” says Victoria Hundley, store manager at Nifty Things in downtown Traverse City. She likes the fact that holiday music crosses all genres, from country to pop, classical to jazz. “That’s why we have a five-disc changer.”
 
Local musician David Chown says he always mixes in some holiday classics during his live performances this time of year. “I like Christmas music. I’ve got a repertoire (of it) to play. I like the Vince Guaraldi stuff.”
 
And it’s not just at Christmas. “I might be on a gig and play ‘Linus and Lucy.’ I play it year round. It makes people happy – everybody likes it.” 

But do they? A Consumer Reports survey indicates 23 percent of Americans dread holiday music.