Pre-Thanksgiving Christmas songs

As the Beach Boys sang, “Christmas comes this time each year,” and so does the wall-to-wall holiday music at KOST-FM (103.5). Friday at 8:30 a.m. the station’s “Sounds of the Season” began with Barry Manilow’s version of “White Christmas,” and the theme will continue through Dec. 25. KOST, which plays holiday songs from contemporary artists as well as classics by Gene Autry, Andy Williams and others, began its tradition of nonstop seasonal music in 2001.

“I thought it was an appropriate time, after 9/11,” said program director Stella Schwartz. The ratings have borne that out. After last year’s switch, KOST jumped from No. 11 in the market to No. 4. In 2005, the holiday fare pushed it to No. 1 for the season.