The holiday season is best known for Christmas music, a soundtrack that returns every December to dominate playlists and charts around the world.
This year, however, the competition took a dramatic turn, one that left music fans and critics in stitches.
For a long time, theAll I want for Christmas is you dominated the Christmas music scene, its opening lyrics instantly evoking the festive season.
But, this December, the beloved classic from Wham! “last Christmas” managed to dethrone Carey’s all-time favorite from the Billboard Global 200, marking a landmark change in the party dynasty.
As the holiday season approaches, so does the annual global playlist takeover.
Because Christmas music isn’t just nostalgic, it’s one of the music industry’s most reliable hit machines.
Streaming platforms have turned these songs into annual revenue cycles, with streams skyrocketing every November and December.
Here are the most notable artists who have turned the Christmas season into an everlasting payday, earning millions year after year.
Michael Bublé dominates the Christmas charts
Michael Bublé is dominating the holiday streaming charts, cementing his status as a modern Christmas music legend.
Its festive collection, led by the eternal favorite “It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas,” is estimated to gross around $16 million over the past few holiday periods, supported by huge streaming numbers and a strong presence on global playlists.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
Since its release in 1994, Mariah Carey’s film “All I want for Christmas is you” has become an annual revenue driver.
The iconic hit generates between $1.8 and $2.2 for Carey each Christmas season.
Lifetime royalties have exceeded £44 million and continue to grow.
The windfall of a billion streams from Wham!
With over 1.66 billion Spotify streams, Wham!’sLast Christmas’ earned approximately $6.6 million from the platform, making it one of the highest-grossing party songs in music history.
“Santa, Tell Me” by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande broke into the Christmas music elite with ‘Santa Claus, tell me‘, a modern Christmas anthem which now grosses over £1.7 million each year, ranking alongside all other classic artist-led Christmas hits.
Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas”
That of Paul McCartney Wonderful Christmas Generates has raised almost £12million over its lifetime, proving that even low-key Christmas trails can become sustainable revenue assets.
How did Christmas songs become such consistent revenue giants?
The answer is pretty simple: Holiday classics don’t disappear, they just hibernate.
Thanks to streaming platforms, these songs now live on an annual cycle: plays skyrocket every November and December, then decline until the next season arrives.
Gone are the days of relying only on radio or CDs. Today. Billions of streams keep royalties flowing year after year, ensuring artists and their estates earn effortlessly, season after season.
