How early is too early?

Okay, you probably know what I'm talking about here. I love Christmas... but come on!

As you may have noticed, not one, but two radio stations in Kansas City are now playing all Christmas music, all the time. That's right, it's November 2nd. Three weeks before Thanksgiving. Almost two months before Christmas day.

One station, Star 102, started playing holiday tunes on Halloween. As you got your little ghosts and goblins dressed up for trick or treat, you could listen to Silver Bells. That just doesn't seem right.

The other station in the Christmas music wars, 98.1 KUDL, started the yuletide jams less than 24 hours later. As one of their DJs told me: "Hey, we don't want to be sacrilegious. On the day of Halloween is a bit ridiculous."

I agree. But the day after Halloween seems a little silly too.

I think I'm in the most common group of people. I don't want any Christmas songs (or Christmas anything, for that matter) until after Thanksgiving. But there is a method to this madness. Basically, the holiday season is extremely important for both KUDL and Star 102. They have to be the "Christmas Station." And starting too late can be worse than the Grinch. Last year, Star 102 started playing Christmas tunes late and ended up getting creamed in the ratings.

So, no one's taking any chances this year. DJs at both stations told me they know they'll lose some listeners right now. They're getting nasty calls and E-mails. But when all those folks are ready to listen to holiday jingles, they know they can tune in to both stations.

I'll do just that, as I do my Christmas shopping on December 14th. Or 20th. Or 23rd. Hey, I love the holidays. It's just that I like the 12 days of Christmas, not the two months of Christmas.