These Kansas City radio stations are playing Christmas music
As you’re doing your Christmas shopping in the Kansas City metro, be prepared to hear a lot of Mariah Carey and other artists with holiday classics.
The beginning of December is usually when radio stations switch over to playing more holiday music. Some stations, though, started playing holiday tunes before Thanksgiving.
Whether or not you’re the biggest fan of Christmas music, it certainly invokes emotion into those listening, according to Kansas and Missouri researchers.
Some stations are playing Christmas music around the clock, while others will play it at select times. Here are the Kansas City-area stations that we know have been playing Christmas music with as the Holidays are underway.
94.9 KCMO FM
The classic hits station flipped over to the Christmas tunes on Nov. 25, according to the station. The last day for Holiday music on the station will be on Christmas day.
102.1 BOB FM/KCKC
BOB FM got a head start on the Christmas vibes, as they started playing holiday music Nov. 17, according to Program Director and Afternoon On-Air Personality Natalie Rush during an interview on MyKC Live. She said they are taking it by a week-by-week basis with how much Christmas music will be played.
“We’re starting with at least once an hour, every single hour, 24/7. As the season grows, we’re going to add more,” Rush said. The station recently became a BOB FM station, and Rush said 102.1 doesn’t want to interrupt what BOB FM has to offer for listeners.
BOB FM is an on-air brand for radio stations across the county that plays hits from 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
KANU 91.5 - Kansas Public Radio
As Christmas creeps closer, the holiday tunes will get more spins on KANU, according to Cordelia Brown, Music Director of Kansas Public Radio.
From Dec. 1 to 5, the station will play 25% Christmas music, 50% from Dec. 8 to 12, 75% from Dec. 15 to 19, and almost 100% on Christmas week, Brown said. Dec. 29-Jan. 1 will see roughly 25% holiday music.
The station also plays Hanukkah music in the rotation. KPR typically plays jazz and classical news, alongside its news coverage.
Did we miss any stations? Feel free to let us know at ralexander@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
