We've already given you suggestions on how to celebrate big holidays on your radio station. But what about the smaller stuff? You know...the obscure, occasionally silly holidays most people don't know about? Niche holidays like Sidewalk Egg Frying Day, Left-Handers Day, or even Frankenstein Day! There are so many out there.
If you're looking to incorporate the fun of a niche holiday into your radio station programming, there are several celebrations we recommend. Take a look at the list below and plan accordingly for when the date rolls around!
1. Women Rock! Day (January 3)
Start the new year off with girl power glitz by honoring this rockin' holiday! Blast some classic jams from Joan Jett, Heart, Pat Benatar, or Janis Joplin for your listeners. You can even spice things up with tracks from modern female rockers like P!nk, Hayley Williams (Paramore), or even Olivia Rodrigo.
2. Get Out Your Guitar Day (February 11)
No piano ballads, no electronic beats...only guitar! Whether you prefer acoustic or electric music, celebrate this niche holiday by playing iconic guitar music on your radio station. You could make it specific kinds of guitar music as well: like guitar music with the best solos, slow/fast strumming, or love songs played on guitar.
3. Marching Music Day (March 4)
Time to get in line, raise some flags, and march. Marching Music Day happens during - of all months - March! You could spend the day playing recordings from local school marching bands in your area, famous marching bands everyone knows, or modern music that incorporates marching band-esque sounds. (For example: "INDUSTRY BABY" by Lil Nas X)
4. Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day (March 27)
This is a fun one. The world of country music has some pretty wild song titles out there: like Craig Morgan's "Redneck Yacht Club," Kenny Chesney's "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," or even Meghan Patrick's "Bow Chicka Wow Wow." Make your audience go "yee-haw" with the craziest titles you can find!
5. World Theatre Day (March 27)
If you're not into country music, you could also celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27. Crank up the drama on your station by playing some showtunes from your favorite Broadway musicals! If not tracks from original cast recordings, you could also play some Broadway covers from established artists - like Frank Sinatra's "Send In the Clowns," which comes from Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music
6. New Kids on the Block Day (April 24)
Time to break out those old New Kids on the Block CDs and memories! The boy band is so iconic, they even have their own niche holiday that falls on April 24. We want to hear nothing but New Kids songs on your station: "Step By Step," "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," and "Please Don't Go Girl!"
7. International Jazz Day (April 30)
There's nothing better than some smooth jazz to go along with a warm April day. Play some old jazz standards like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong or modern maestros like Esperanza Spalding or Herbie Hancock to help your audience get in the groove of International Jazz Day.
8. National Play Your Ukulele Day (May 2)
The ukulele is such an underrated instrument. Thankfully, it has its own national holiday on May 2! Show the tiny song-maker some love by playing your favorite ukulele-led songs over your radio station. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is a popular one, but we also recommend Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," Train's "Hey Soul Sister," and Panic! at the Disco's "I Have Friends in Holy Spaces."
9. Relive Your Past by Listening to the First Music You Ever Bought No Matter What It Was No Excuses Day (May 15)
Yes, this is a real holiday. Hold nothing back - play those 2006 Taylor Swift songs or Backstreet Boys tracks, no matter how embarrassing you think it is! We recommend participating in this goofy celebration on May 15 if you're able to include guests into your radio show. You can have callers tell you what music they first bought as a kid, then play their tunes on air!
10. Global Beatles Day (June 25)
Considering how big this band is in rock 'n' roll history, it's no surprise the Beatles have their own holiday. Whether you prefer their clean-cut tracks like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" or later classics like "Come Together," show off your knowledge of Beatles history with this niche holiday.
11. International Reggae Day (July 1)
Thank goodness this underrated genre of music has its own holiday - and right in the middle of the summer, too! While your listeners relax on the beach, play them some Bob Marley and Peter Tosh music to accentuate the heat.
12. Uncommon Instruments Awareness Day (July 31)
Every song nowadays either has a guitar, piano, or some sort of electronic sound featured within it. Shine a spotlight on those forgotten instruments - like accordions, chime bells, bagpipes, and hang drums - on this little-known holiday by playing songs that showcase them! If you need help finding songs, we recommend starting here.
13. National Duran Duran Appreciation Day (August 10)
Play all your favorite Duran Duran jams - from "Hungry Like the Wolf" to "Girls on Film" - on this niche holiday. If you have a radio station that specifically plays 80s music, we definitely recommend celebrating National Duran Duran Day!
14. Radio Commercial Day (August 28)
A niche radio holiday that doesn't involve playing music. Instead, this celebration focuses on the stuff in between: commercials! You could honor this occasion by playing old school radio jingles or funny modern day ads on air. You could even have audience members submit radio commercial pitches of their own for a contest!
15. National One-Hit Wonder Day (September 25)
An ode to those who only got 3-4 minutes of fame, National One-Hit Wonder Day is made for playing songs like "Somebody That I Used to Know," "Take On Me," "Closing Time," and "Funky Town." Some of our personal favorites are "Kung Fu Fighting" by Bus Stop and "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats.
16. Punk for a Day Day (October 25)
Feeling early 80s, late 90s, or early 2000s nostalgia? Channel your inner punk, emo, or scene kid with this niche holiday that's close to Halloween! Make sure to play some songs by The Ramones, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, or Fall Out Boy to make your audience smile. And hey...no one will know if you break out some skinny jeans and a studded leather jacket in your studio.
17. Perpetual Youth Day (November 30)
Similar to Relive Your Past by Listening to the First Music You Ever Bought No Matter What It Was No Excuses Day, this holiday celebrates the stuff you listened to in your younger years. Spend the day playing nothing but killer throwbacks, as well as the stuff you adored as a kid! We're talking Disney tracks, boy bands, and cartoon theme songs galore!
18. World Techno Day (December 9)
If you run an electronic or dance radio station, you may already be aware of this December holiday. Pump it up with hard-hitting techno beats that will make your audience move their body.
19. World Choral Day (Second Sunday in December)
This nifty holiday will make you want to sing with your friends in harmony! It also appears in December, when choral music is all the rage due to the winter holiday season. You could either stick to Christmas choir music, or play some pop, rock, and indie songs that incorporate choirs into them. If you're a bigger radio station, we also recommend featuring some local choirs on air, or hosting a high school choir contest!
20. National Violin Day (December 13)
Another holiday celebrating the uncommon instrument, but this time, an instrument that's celebrated within classical music. If you're not into playing old violin concertos on your station, we recommend finding modern music that features violin or fiddle. "Come On Eileen," Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire," and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band all fit the bill.
Looking for more niche music-related holidays you can observe on your station? Check out a complete list of dates here. In the meantime, have fun celebrating and happy broadcasting!
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Article Image: Pages of a red calendar flipping. (BrianAJackson via DepositPhotos.)
