Hall Communications’ WROZ (The Rose) Lancaster, Pa., isn’t only the surprise winner in the Small Market AC category of Radio-Info.com/25+’s first Holiday Format Reader’s Poll, it’s also a different sounding AC station.

As heard on several occasions since coming out of holiday music, The Rose sounds comfortably planted in the bright AC position that many modernizing ACs are shooting for, but not all accomplish.

Besides delving into some ’80s titles that you would more likely expect on a Hot AC or Adult Hits station—especially at lunchtime and on Flashback Friday—there’s also a slightly more current/recurrent feel than comparable stations. Like a lot of AC programmers, PD/middayer Michael C. Anthony says the change has been ongoing since the station relaunched in 2000 with a more upbeat mix, but has moved forward again in the last year or two as a result of Katy Perry, Rihanna, Usher, Lady Gaga, etc.

WROZ began Christmas music this year a week before Thanksgiving—which had been its typical launch date. It kept the holiday music going through Dec. 29. "We got a lot of positive feedback," says Anthony. "Many listeners make it a point to let us know that the week between Christmas and New Year is when they can finally relax and simply enjoy the holidays."

Here’s WROZ, which bills itself as "an upbeat variety of the '80s, '90s and today," at 11 a.m. on Jan. 11. The station’s current on-air promotion is soliciting listeners’ “New Year’s Rose-olutions,” in conjunction with Saladworks and other sponsors. “We’ll select entrants… and match them up with local experts who will provide complimentary products and services,” says the station site.

Club Nouveau, “Lean On Me”
Kelly Clarkson, “Mr. Know It All”
Sugar Ray, “When It’s Over”
Katy Perry, “Firework”
Timbaland f/Onerepublic, “Apologize”
Adele, “Set Fire To The Rain”
Orianthi, “According To You”
Dave Matthews Band, “Crash Into Me”
Pink, “F***ing Perfect”
Matchbox Twenty, “How Far We’ve Come”
Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (staged by Anthony as a sneak preview of the all-request “Lunch Bunch”)
Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying”
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way” (listener request to kick off “Lunch Bunch”)
Aerosmith, “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)”