• Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" stands as the most-played Christmas song on Spotify, amassing over 1.8 billion streams and generating more than $9.1 million in revenue for the first time.

• "Last Christmas" by Wham! follows closely as the second most-streamed Christmas song, earning over $7.6 million in royalties.

• Other top earners include Ariana Grande’s "Santa Tell Me," a newer addition to the top 10, and Brenda Lee’s "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree," which has also recently been updated with a Spanish AI rendition.

A recent study unveils the most popular Christmas songs and the exact earnings of their artists, including a world-record breaker.

The research, carried out by the leading music instrument education site, Ted’s List, analyzed Spotify's most-streamed Christmas tracks. Using the Playlist Miner by Spotify, they compiled a list of the top 100 most popular songs. They then examined the royalty income on the official artist's page as of November 2024 based on an approximate rate of $0.05 per 10 streams.

The Top 10 Earning Christmas Songs

The study highlights that Mariah Carey's timeless hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" tops the list as the highest-earning Christmas song, bringing in approximately $9.1 million in royalties from Spotify. With over 1.8 billion global streams, this festive anthem has become a seasonal staple. Despite its modest debut at 12th place on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994, the song has since soared to become the most-played Christmas track on Spotify.

Following closely is Wham!'s "Last Christmas," which has earned the group around $7.6 million in Spotify royalties. Released in 1984, the song was famously kept from the number one spot by "Do They Know It’s Christmas," which also featured George Michael. Nevertheless, "Last Christmas" has been streamed over 1.53 billion times, making it the second most-streamed Christmas song on Spotify.

In third place is Ariana Grande’s "Santa Tell Me," which has generated over $5.3 million in streaming royalties. Although the 2014 hit peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, it has amassed over 1.06 billion streams on Spotify.

Brenda Lee’s "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" ranks fourth, earning more than $5.1 million in royalties. Originally released in 1958, this holiday classic has garnered over 1.02 billion streams.

Michael Bublé’s rendition of "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas" follows. Streamed over one billion times, it has earned Bublé more than $5 million in Spotify royalties since its 2011 release. The song, originally written in 1951, has been covered by many artists, but none as successfully as Bublé.

Sia’s "Snowman," a more recent addition to holiday playlists, ranks sixth with $4.8 million in royalties from over 979 million Spotify streams. This track is the standout hit from her 2017 album "Everyday is Christmas."

Bobby Helms’ "Jingle Bell Rock," released in 1957, holds the seventh spot with approximately $4.8 million in royalties. The rock 'n' roll holiday classic has over 971 million Spotify streams and remains a festive favorite.

Andy Williams’ "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" has earned over $4.2 million in Spotify royalties. Despite never reaching number one, the song has been streamed over 849 million times and peaked at no.5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2020.

Justin Bieber’s "Mistletoe," released in 2011, lands in ninth place, generating around $3.8 million in royalties from over 773 million streams.

Rounding off the top 10 is José Feliciano’s "Feliz Navidad," which has earned approximately $3.3 million from 670 million streams.

"Although these are huge amounts of money, they really are the gold dust of the streaming platforms. An artist has such an infinitesimal chance of appearing in this list, that we must always remember the 99% of artists who are making incredible music, but are not being heard.”

- Robert Emery, a professional conductor and Founder of Ted’s List

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Ends

Methodology

How did we objectively discover our findings?

Methodology of Data Collection

The analysis of popular Christmas songs on Spotify is based on data sourced from Spotify Playlist Miner and Spotify's curated playlists. These tools provide insights into the streaming habits of users, focusing on playlists that prominently feature the term “Christmas." The number of streams, accurate as of 18 November 2024, was calculated for each hit. Only the version of the song with the highest number of streams, and therefore the highest earning capability, was considered.

Criteria for Song Selection and Stream Count

Songs are selected based on their streaming frequency and inclusion in popular playlists. This approach allows for an accurate assessment of which tracks resonate most with listeners during the holiday season and which of those tracks are earning the highest.

Understanding Royalty Calculations

Streaming royalties are calculated based on the number of plays a song receives, with artists earning a fraction of a cent per stream. This model, while modest per play, accumulates significantly for songs with high streaming volumes, particularly during peak holiday periods.

The Financial Impact of Streaming Royalties

For many artists, Christmas songs represent a lucrative revenue stream. The recurring nature of holiday music consumption ensures that these tracks generate consistent income year after year, contributing to the financial stability of artists and their estates.

The Economic Significance for Artists

Sources

Spotify

Spotify Playlist Miner

Conclusion: The Future of Christmas Music in the Streaming Era

As streaming platforms continue to dominate the music industry, the future of Christmas music appears promising. Emerging trends suggest a blend of classic and contemporary tracks will continue to captivate audiences, ensuring the genre's relevance in modern times.

Predictions for Upcoming Holiday Seasons

Contact Robert Emery or Ted's List

Reach out to Robert Emery, Founder of Ted's List, for more comments:

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Years As A Professional Musician