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Created: July 14, 2017
Update December 2021: I quit cable TV since my original blog in 2017. Now I have a new setting to enjoy Christmas music. I tune my TV to Pluto’s Christmas channel (free). The TV is on mute, and I play my own Christmas music through the home theatre system. This is the best setup so far.
Update November 12, 2020: Comcast now has a Classic Christmas channel via digital Music Choice channels. All the classic tunes and pretty pictures. Read more about it below – comment #14789. Thank you for posting!
### original post below ###
I love Christmas.
Music is very important for us Christmas lovers. Along with decorations and the smell of pumpkin spice, music is the element that will hold Christmas together. I like classic Christmas tunes that make me feel happy and sentimental. Classic Christmas music takes me back in time. I own 70+ Christmas CDs. I bought my first Christmas CD from BMG CD Club 20-30 years ago. Remember BMG? Columbia House? I used to buy records from them. Good times.
Every Christmas season I tune my cable TV channel to Sound of the Seasons, a part of the Music Choice channel line-up. They play commercial-free Christmas tunes. I enjoyed that channel every year. Then something happened.
They started to play Christmas songs by young artists such as Brittany Spears, One Direction, In Sync… Then last year, they rarely played classic tunes, but most of the songs they played were teeny-bopper, hip hop Christmas tunes, some songs with deep heavy bass – as if I’m at Run DMC concert.
YO BABY, YO BABY YO~!! SOME-BODY SCREAM~!!
NO~!!!
So, I stopped listening to that God-awful channel.
Look at this abomination. Britney Spears is a beautiful and talented young lady. But that’s not Christmas.
To sum up – Christmas music should sound like Christmas. Christmas music should NOT make me feel like I’m in the middle of a breakdance battle. Don’t drop the bass on the yule log.
PLEASE BRING BACK
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
FOR THE OLD TIMERS
Happy holidays 2021~!!!
Since that blog post, I quit cable TV.
Now I play my own MP3’s
On my TV, I tune to Pluto’s Christmas channel on mute (Pluto is a free TV app). They show beautiful Christmas scenes. But I don’t like their music. So, I play my own music.
That works for me. I shall shoot a video of my setup.
I hope you find a way to enjoy classic Christmas music.
Hello, I’ve been reading through these posts. I agree with all of you. My family and I have listened to music choice sounds of the seasons for years. We are disgusted they switched to that awful modern trash. Thankfully, we had access to the app with the classic Christmas channel. Unfortunately, our cable provider suddenlink this past year has dropped music choice in favor of an alternative music provider. We have now lost all access to music choice and the classic Christmas music. The new suddenlink channel is awful!
Do any of you have advice or could you help me access music choice classic Christmas again? I cannot imagine Christmas without the beautiful music that filled my childhood. This year has been bad enough. We need a little Christmas right this very minute!
For reference, I looked up the YouTube videos but couldn’t find the ones you mentioned.
[email address removed] Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Zachary
Hi
1.
You can go to youtube and search for “classic Christmas music”.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=classic+christmas+music
2.
Also something like this
https://www.accuradio.com/christmas-music/
3. Finally, my personal indulgence…
Los Angeles radio station Kost 103.5 FM plays Christmas music during the holiday season. I don’t get this station from where I live. So, I listen online. In this case, I enjoy this station because I get to hear the station jingle, the DJ, and the commercials. It feels different when I listen to Christmas music live on the radio. I don’t like commercials most of the time, but… I guess I enjoy the nostalgic feelings.
https://www.iheart.com/live/kost-1035-los-angeles-193/
I also randomly search for radio stations around the US.
Right now, I am listening to Webe 108 (Connecticut). They play Christmas music all season long. https://www.webe108.com
Different states have different flavors. It’s interesting (to me). It’s a fun way to spend a glorious Sunday morning.
Happy Holidays.
Hello Christmas lovers!
I have some good news for customers of Comcast, of which I am one. They now have digital Music Choice channels, one of which is Classic Christmas! It is basically OnDemand, but with continuous pretty pictures and mostly the old playlist we all know and love. So far, I have heard Eddy Arnold, Jo Stafford, Doris Day, Julie Andrews, Stan Kenton, Mannheim Steamroller, The Ray Conniff Singers, Mitch Miller, Steve and Eydie, Gene Autry, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and more!
What is nice about this is that the pictures are continuous, not like the regular “holiday” channel where half the time you see the Music Choice logo. There are some classic pictures from that channel, but there are new pictures too. Some very pretty trees and pets, gotta love that.
The only thing I am not thrilled about this playlist is that it does sometimes sneak some more pop in. Also, you will hear some songs from the 90s. That is not classsic to me, but whatever. For instance, Celine Dion. And Alan Jackson (?) I suppose that is fine every now and then, but if that is what I wanted, I would turn on the holiday channel nonsense. The only other thing I do not like is that there is a panel on the right hand side that you can’t seem to turn off or minimize.
But overall, I think you will be very pleased to be able to turn on your TV and see and hear your old favorites. FINALLY! I know that as of last year, DirectTV had this on their specialty channel list, but I am not sure about this year. (And by the way, as I am typing this, I am listening to Mitch Miller sing Must Be Santa. This is vintage classic Christmas!) Now Comcast has it. I know that Time Warner and Cox are very large providers throughout the United States, so if you have those, check them out. Comcast is such a monopoly as it is around here that many of us are probably using it. (Now Robert Goulet’s December Time is on!)
I still do not understand Music Choice not putting these songs on their regular channels, especially given the popularity of the previous format. To me, the easiest thing would be to put them either on the soft rock, easy listening, or solid gold oldies channel. Right now, the channel called romances has Latin themed holiday music and one of the country channels is now playing all Christmas. So, if they wanted to, they could. Perhaps if they see the popularity of this channel they will find a way to put it back on the regular channels next year. Or, not. They may see this as a popular destination and never change it. It did not sit well with me how we were all dismissed for wanting it back and forced back to an app for these past several years. Also, unlike most providers they refused to give their customers what they want. But for now, we have this channel, and we have it for at least this holiday season.
I hope this blesses you as much as it is me. Believe it or not, this music was such a part of my Christmas season that it was something I looked forward to every year. It was always special to me to wait up past midnight to hear the change. The music is peaceful, pleasant, and makes me feel better. It has been a rough year for everybody. Mine was filled with an unexpected loss on top of isolating, uncertainty about jobs, etc. So, it is nice to have an old friend back on my TV who will make me feel a little better at a moment’s notice. I hope it does for you, too. If you can get this channel, enjoy it for all you can. If not, hopefully your cable provider will bring it on next year.
Oh. Thank you very much for keeping touch. I updated my blog post according to.
Since then I cancelled cable TV. I don’t miss cable TV. But, classic Christmas music channel sounds sweet.
Music Channel used to play some good songs that was not in my collection. I would hear some random classic tunes for the first time – and that would drive me crazy. It was a good time. Good to know some companies are bringing them back.
Glad to do it, John. You are like a lot of people who are cutting the cord. It is outrageous. What is nice is that with things like Netlfix, Hulu, etc. playing right on Comcast, we can downgrade our packages and at least keep some things we like and have cheaper options overall. That is what I did. I can get enough with the new streaming services and basic cable.
I enjoyed hearing some of the music I never heard before, too. That is why I enjoy the classic Christmas format. I haven’t heard some of the familiar songs yet, although I have only listened for a few hours. One of my favorites was the instrumental of Feliz Navidad by Michael Carney. I haven’t heard that yet, but I am hearing a lot of the old favorites. I never heard Hollywind and Wood before, and their instrumentals are beautiful as well. And then there are fun songs like “My Favorite Time of Year” by Peter Cincotti. I heard that yesterday.
For those of you who do not have cable access, there are some nice compilations on Youtube. Someone actually did a 2 hour recreation of Music Choice classic Christmas and said they would be doing a second one. Also, if I hear some obscure tunes that come up, I will post them so that you can look them up on Youtube.
Download the Pandora App. It’s free and you pick who you want and don’t want to listen to. ?
I miss the easy listening stations they had on the radio in the 70s and early 80s.there haven’t been none in philly for about 25-30 years.they used to play the best Christmas music like Percy Faith, Montavani, Boston Pops,Living Strings, James Last, Hollyridge Strings,and other orchestras and also played Sinatra, Como, Ray Coniff, Nat King Cole,Mathis, etc. I have most of this music on cd but there is a different feeling when it’s played on the radio or on the cable.and the worst thing is when they stop playing Christmas at 12am Dec 26. they should play thru the entire holiday including New Years Day
Hi
Yes. It is different (feeling) when they play them on radio compared to playing mp3 off mobile devices. I also miss easy listening stations. These days are gone in most part.
I also don’t like how they stop playing Christmas music at midnight Christmas day. No Christmas music is allowed past midnight. Heavens no.
Additionally, there are plenty of winter songs such as jingle bells, winter wonderland, sleigh ride, let it snow… those are not Christmas songs but they celebrate Winter. Those winter songs should be heard throughout the season. Anyway…
It is depressing… we sound like grumpy old man… because we are old. I don’t like changes, but what can we do? It’s time for the next generation to enjoy on their own terms. I guess I will do with cd’s and mp3s. We’ll be ok. Just don’t get sick and go with the flow. I told my friend the other day that I wish I can have 30 more Christmases. God bless you.
Thank you for visiting. Happy new year. 🙂
Totally agree about cutting off Christmas music at midnight, except for us on the west coast that means 9 p.m. Absolutely asinine.
Also totally agree on the winter songs. They should be played all winter.
Music choice has an easy listening station but they don’t play any Christmas music till Christmas Day only .cant you expand that for a few weeks before Christmas thru New Years.for us people over 50 we like instrumental Christmas music and nobody plays that on the air anymore.
I have some of the best news we all have heard since 2015. I was just at a relative’s house who has DirectTV. We were scrolling through the channels, and they have extended Music Choice. They have more MusicChoice channels than does Comcast, which I have. They have a channel, and it is called “Classic Christmas”. It is the classic channel we all know and love. In the almost two hours I listened, I heard Mitch Miller, Keely Smith, Andre Kostalentz, Eddy Arnold, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, RandyVanHorne Singers, Ray Conniff Singers, Walter Schumann, Neil Diamond, Doris Day, Mel Torme, Al Martino, Steve Tyrell, John Pizzarelli, Kay Starr, and a few others who escape me right now. So, if you have DirectTV, it’s on now! If you don’t, like me, I am looking into getting it. I would like to see what Comcast offers up. At the very least, we know their playlist still exists and is alive and well on other cable providers. So, there is hope we will see it again on all of our TVs.
I felt like I had seen an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. The songs and music still exist. The only thing is that they don’t have the pretty graphics, it’s plain. But for now, I wouldn’t care. I just want my old music back.
Enjoy DirectTV viewers! Just curious-anyone with other providers willing to write and call, or do whatever we need to do on social media to get the music back on all providers? I’m game.
I remember some more-Mannheim Steamroller, Tony Bennett/Count Basie Band, Kate Smith, John Schneider, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Debby Boone, Perry Como,and Percy Faith. All SOTS Classic favorites!
Oh… This means some cable companies are actually listening to us customers.
This is interesting. I don’t see why rest of the cable companies wouldn’t follow that. You are right, we should write and let them know.
Hm… (thinking…)
Thank you for letting us know. Good info.
You’re quite welcome. I feel like now there is at least a starting point. Now that we know that the channel and the music exists somewhere, it is just a matter of either convincing our individual providers to get that channel, even if for the holidays. Or, the bigger challenge-getting MC to listen to us.
Consumer campaigns can be effective. There have been television shows saved from cancellation, Betty White’s career was resurrected due to fan support, there have been many instances. I saw the negative feedback on the MC Facebook page after the change. There were many of us who wanted to see the old format continue. I saw a simple solution to this problem, the easiest just moving the Classic Christmas to a different channel. Not an app on a phone. I can’t see why there isn’t room for all of us. MC is now geared towards the 13-35 demographic (that is their claims, anyway). But you know who is spending money on larger items and can get better advertisement? Mostly people outside of that demographic. And why have other channels which are not brining in that demographic? Because there is room for everyone. I do believe that we could see the music back somehow on a MC channel during the holidays. Now it is just a matter of making our voices heard. There’s almost a whole month before the holiday music comes on. And if they made the switch to the lousy in December the other year, they can certainly do it again.
You can get Christmas Classics on the Music Choice App “All Christmas” 🙂
I want CLASSIC Christmas Songs, not this contemporary garbage !!!….
I want classic Christmas also
I think that music choice decided to be politically correct these days like so many others. That why there are so many rap and contemporary singers, the older population has trouble finding anything that represents the wholesome past. I only hope music choice knows the young don’t listen to TV anymore.
I agree, it almost seems they do it out of spite!
You say there will be Halloween music in October .YOU LEFT OUT THE DATE IN OCTOBER.. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE MIND READERS?
here are the Xmas songs I’m gonna e-mail Santa
Santa on the roof top
Heat miser
War (the war is over) by other artists like cellin dion or m. Ethridge, the Beatles . That group maroon 5 are HORRIBLE and that’s the only version you play. They sound like scorched cats.
Also where is the Christmas music on the soft rock channel like you used to play?,
.
Music Choice Please bring back your old Christmas playlist this November!
I want classic Christmas also
Last year I DVR’ed a 4-Hour block of SOTS Christmas in July and I am glad – it was the classic track list. As everyone knows, last Christmas was garbage (ever since they converted the format to classic “holiday” and incorporated all the newer progressive junk) and it seems this Christmas in July is EXACTLY the same track list as last year’s classic “holiday”’playlist. So SOTS May be effectively dead to those of us who like the traditional set lists. Those are gone gone gone. Glad I have the stuff from last Christmas in July. Hey Musuc Choice – WAKE UP!!! The music is crap now.
Well the joke was certainly on me this year. I was all geared up to record a large chunk of the good “Christmas in July” playlist to play at Christmas and they did indeed swap it to the terrible newer stuff.
We sure are going to miss it. The old playlist was such a big part of our holiday enjoyment.
I know.. sucks. I hope you will find an improved way to enjoy your Christmas music. You must continue with your tradition. Good luck.
Thank you John. What’s nice is there is someone on Youtube that made up a SOTS typed Christmas list and even a Christmas in July list. I encourage everyone to look them up, they’re very nice. I did see that they changed to their Christmas in July graphics, but the rotten music is being played. I don’t know if anyone noticed this either, but it’s the same songs over and over again. I don’t even know if I would mind this as much if we could hear some of the great songs, but they don’t. Music Choice is just dialing it in. Last year they had some very nice Memorial Day music like the stuff they had for the recent Independence Day music, which I do like. This year, they had party music. A five-year-old knows you don’t play Madonna music to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. But that’s what they did.
That was supposed to be under your comment to me at the end of the thread.
Ok Music Choice, you win, I won’t listen to your “Holiday” Christmas music anymore!
There is no more sentimental journey into Winter wonderland anymore (On music choice).
Music Choice is now taking us to Yo MTV Rap Christmas.
I emailed Music Choice about this in 2016, and said I was going to listen to other venues. Some director or producer emailed me back saying, “sorry you feel that way”. I doubt very many people who like pop or hip hop music even listen to Music Choice Sounds of the Season!
I know. Young generation is likely to get their Christmas music from some other funky services.
I feel that Music Choice is for older home owners who leave their TVs on as background music, to set the mood… homey mood.
Thank you for visiting 🙂
I can’t stand what you’ve done music choice! I wrote a nice letter advising you to stop and you got worse!! I made my own damn music choice program! And its everything I hope for and more!!
Same here. I created my own classic Christmas playlist. It contains thousands of Christmas songs I like. I have copies at work, home, and in my car.
Maybe we are old. Maybe majority of population prefer hip hop (R&B) Christmas music. Sad.
YES, yes… Thank you. It is comforting to have your confirmation.
Yes, I realized that we get 2 months of God awful, Hip Hop Christmas tunes (Nov-Dec). It’s disgusting. I guess we are old, and we don’t understand..
I don’t like it.
I DVR the Christmas in July (like a 4 hour block) and then just play that at Christmas. I miss the traditional holiday imagery but it only takes a few hip hop notes in the background to jar me out of the Christmas mood. LOL
Yes! That’s what I do. Hahaha.
You are absolutely right. They totally screwed it up. Best I can tell – the classic Christmas music will be the Christmas in July playlist and the newer garbage is reserved for what is now called “Holiday,” which is the November-December playlist. So we get 2 weeks of great music (July) and 2 months of god awful music (Nov-Dec). I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to notice it is horrible now.
I am afraid that we are all sorely disappointed. The format just changed an hour ago for us on the East Coast, and it’s the new, lousy rotation. It isn’t even the nice Christmas in July themes pictures. It started off with Mariah Carey. I turned it immediately. It’s the nice Christmas pictures, but with the lousy music. What we knew is officially gone. What’s frustrating is that they could somehow accommodate all of us that helped make that channel the success that it was on Christmas. You know that they used to advertise that it was in the top 15 cable networks in the weeks of November and December. It was doing just fine the way it was. I cannot imagine that this format will attract the teenagers that they are hoping for this time of year. At least we had it for two weeks or so.
You know, none of this matters to the people that make these decisions, but sometimes it is just more than music to people. I have really bad health problems and have had them for years. When I discovered the SOTS around 10-11 years ago, it was something that really helped me to cope, especially with the holidays. I looked forward to the music changing, it was a thing that made November and December special. The music was calming and peaceful, it reminded me of happier, healthier times. I know I can go on Youtube and listen to the songs individually, but it’s not the same. What the Christmas SOTS used to be was really something special that helped me like few things could in this life. I haven’t even enjoyed Christmas as much these past couple years. It feels like something is missing. I know I had Christmas before and will have Christmas after, but something is just missing. There’s plenty else missing in my life. It was something nice that I could look forward to, and it’s gone now. I really miss it, and I am really disappointed tonight. At least we had it for a little. Now it doesn’t look like it’s ever coming back.
Thank you for your time. I hope you have your own classic Christmas music collection.