Nearly two months ago I was catching up on some retail therapy when I happened to take notice of something very annoying and abysmal being played throughout the stores: Christmas music. Now I want you readers out there to pay attention to today's date, and then notice how long ago I heard said music. Two months ago would have put the date not even to Halloween, thus making it way to early in the year to be busting out holiday jams.
With that being said it was no surprise to learn that seasonal album sales are at an all time low- lacking fans and buyers across the United States. 2007 was the last successful year for seasonal music which included noteworthy releases from artists such as Josh Groban, whose album 'Noel' held steady on the Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks. Currently vendors have seen a multitude of substandard holiday releaes which have failed to attract an audience. At this point not even a popular artist has been able to captivate retail shoppers.
Currently, the biggest new holiday release is country singer Faith Hill's "Joy to the World," which slipped one place to No. 17 on the Billboard 200 in the week ended November 30. Other Christmas titles on the Billboard 200 include Irish singer Enya's "And Winter Came..." at No. 18, Elvis Presley's "Christmas Duets" at No. 28, Harry Connick, Jr's "What a Night! A Christmas Album" at No. 33, and the multi-artist compilation "The Essential NOW That's What I Call Christmas" at No. 40.
It is unfair to blame the lack of sales entirely on the artists; many factors have affected the dwindling interest in seasonal music. The beginning of December brought about an announcment from The National Bureau of Economic Research that America has officially been suffering from a recession for a year, garnering fear and anxiety in holiday shoppers. Many have drastically cut back splurging on luxueries such as cds, "the decline comes amid a dearth of big Christmas album debuts, as well as a slide in overall music sales and an economic recession."
Yes, the economy is bad, really stinking bad. But even if that weren't a factor is there really a need to actually purchase a Christmas c.d? Listeners can hear their favorite holiday tunes before the time to celebrate has even approached. If it's not being broadcast at the local shopping mall or grocery store it is played 24/7 on radio stations- literally. Take, for instance Houston's own Sunny 99.1- they begin their non-stop holiday broadcast the day after Thanksgiving. For an entire month they cram holiday music down the throat of those so inclined to listen. I am by no means a Scrooge. I love the holiday season and all of the festivities that go along with it. And yes when the time is right I will break out my soundtrack to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas', but not before Thanksgiving and certainly not before it is cold (ok may be holding my breath on that requirement.) Bottom line: October is for Halloween, November is for Thanksgiving, and December is for Christmas. Any other order is unnecessary and makes me cranky!
6 comments:
The week before Thanksgiving my girlfriend set up the Christmas tree. I was thoroughly peeved.
However, I do understand that some people get so excited about the holiday spirit - it just so happens that Thanksgiving is in the way of it.
I noticed Christmas things right after Halloween in stores. Now that I don't like, because it is obvious that it's a marketing ploy. I don't blame them because there are plenty of people willing to buy things for Christmas that early.
But I do, really do, hate Christmas music.
The main reason why you have seen chritsmas items in stores a little sooner this year than previous years is because of the present state of our economy. Huge franchizes like walmart, and others realized that the buying power for this holiday season wouldnt be as strong as latter years. So their mission was to extend the time frame of holiday shopping to allow people to save money to purchase things for the holidays. Honestly, I first noticed holidays items in the stores when i went shopping for my sisters birthday present, and her birthday is September 17. We live in a crazy capitalist world. Dont fall for the hype!!!
As much as I always love Christmas, I also can't stand seeing Christmas items in the stores the day after Halloween. I do like Christmas music, but I don't listen to it until it is Christmas time and NOT during Thanksgiving. I also think it is very obnoxious seeing commercials for holiday sales during the month of November even before Black Friday. It just annoys me, but Merry Christmas to all!!
I hate Christmas music, it drives me insane...unless of course Elvis is singing then it's awesome. That asside, no one needs to be measuring the economic resession on CD sales. No one buys CDs anymore, atleast I don't. Well, I buy blank CDs to burn, but that's it. And whoever's playing Christmas music during Halloween should probably get a calendar.
I guess I may be a little more understanding about the whole Christmas hype because my parents practically lead the Christmas Day parade. What I mean is I grew up with two parents who absolutely obsess over Christmas. The lights start going up on the house right around Halloween—they have to be ready to be turned on the night of Thanksgiving. And honestly, many of our Thanksgiving family portraits have been taken in front of the Christmas tree! (Sick, huh?!)
The marketing campaigns that show up in stores so early are targeted at people like my parents. My mother is one of the ones to rush out to fight the crowds on Black Friday. She does this not to get the best deals but because it puts her in the Christmas spirit. I don’t mean to dog on my mother, but perhaps her spending habits. During this time of year, spending money has become associated with “the Christmas spirit” or some kind of artificial happiness. And this year, with a desperate economy, it comes as no surprise that the marketing campaigns began that much earlier.
I agree with Joshua. The economy is two-steps away from the dreaded word -- depression. Retailers pushing Christmas are relying on buyers association with the warm-fuzzies that should accompany Christmas shopping. Is it right, probably not, but what else can they do? Everyone is hurting right now. And, for the record, I don't see the point in an entire CD of Christmas music either.
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