Utah Radio Station Launches Christmas Music in october, Ending ‘The Wave 103.1′ Format
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – A Salt Lake City-area radio station unexpectedly switched to an all-Christmas music format on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, marking the end of its seven-year run as option station “The Wave 103.1.” KLO FM 103.1, licensed in Coalville and serving northern Utah, debuted “Christmas 103,” playing holiday standards 24/7, including Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
The station will offer a commercial-free music block daily from 9 a.m.to noon.
“We realize it’s a little bit early to do Christmas music,” said Rob Riesen,program director and operations director for Capital Broadcasting,which owns KLO and KBZN (“Now 97.9”). “But, there are plenty of listeners who will enjoy the seasonal music whenever they can hear it.”
The change comes after KLO’s alternative format failed to gain traction in the Salt Lake City market, achieving a 0.9 market share in August’s Nielsen ratings, according to Radio Insight. In comparison, KSFI-FM (FM100.3) held a 7.4 market share during the same period.
Riesen confirmed the station let go of its on-air staff in July. Capital Broadcasting plans to introduce a new format after the holiday season, though details remain undisclosed. “it’s going to be exciting,” Riesen said.
Bonneville International, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, typically begins playing continuous Christmas music on its stations, including FM100.3,in November.
