‘Twas the morning of the eleventh. November to be exact. Another Friday start, and Veterans’ Day at that. But a change was coming as the city would go, to Magic 104.1 for holiday music on the radio.
At 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov 11, Oklahoma City’s variety station Magic 104.1 became OKC’s Christmas music station. The first Christmas song of the season was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Christmas favorites ranging from classics such as Andy Williams’ “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” to new hits such as Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” played throughout the season. This year, the City of Yukon’s Christmas in the Park continued its sponsorship with the station.
“I think for this group of listeners, the adults, it takes us back to childhood, fond memories, it makes you feel good,” KMGL Programming Director and On-Air Host Steve O’Brien said. “I think it’s why we do it every year. We get a lot of phone calls and a lot of good responses from it.”
Magic 104.1 started playing Christmas music in the mid-90s with just a sprinkle of holiday music mixed in with their regular variety. This changed in 2004 when the holiday music shifted to weekends only. After 2006, KMGL switched to all-day every day Christmas music, and the same carries through to the current year.
“Many years ago, a lot of radio stations used to do the same thing. Other stations in the past have tried it, but I think KMGL and its loyal listeners know that, come Christmas time, they turn on Magic and listen to Christmas music,” O’Brien said. “We experimented, we started just nights and then just weekends. And the more we dabbled it out, the more we thought it’s better to go full-blown, all-out Christmas, and it was more consistent for the listeners.”
Magic 104.1 isn’t the only station that tried 24/7 Christmas music before, but has been the most successful. Stations came and went, but Magic has stayed on top and is currently the only station in Oklahoma City that plays continuous holiday music.
“I did think we would rise on top,” O’Brien said. “We have the heritage and the history, I think people know they can count on the Christmas music on KMGL. Maybe another radio station tries it and that’s fine, but it seems like the stations that have tried it only try it for a year or two and then they go right back. For KMGL, I see us continuing with our Christmas tradition for years to come.”
The holiday music was scheduled to play through Christmas Day. The station’s normal music variety from the ‘80s through today was scheduled to return on Dec 26.

*Special thanks to Programming Director Steve O’Brien and host Dave McKay for inviting me to tour the station.