Christmas Music Takes Centre Stage in 2025 with Record Streams and Fresh Releases
The Growing Importance of Christmas Music
Christmas music has become more than just a seasonal soundtrack—it’s a cultural phenomenon and economic powerhouse that shapes the entertainment industry each December. As the calendar flips to December, Christmas music enters full takeover mode with streams jumping and legacy staples reclaiming top slots on holiday charts, whilst a fresh slate of 2025 releases elbows for space on the big playlists. Daily listening now peaks during the morning commute and late evening, making this season’s soundtrack one of the most competitive—and diverse—in years.
Mariah Carey Reigns Supreme Once Again
On iTunes, the current number one Christmas song right now is All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. The track’s dominance shows no signs of slowing, with Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ adding 200 million streams in the first three weeks of December. Notably, it has held the number one spot on Spotify’s global charts every Christmas Day since 2016, marking eight consecutive years. The anthem has amassed over $60 million in royalties and continues to fetch an estimated $2–3 million annually.
A Wave of New Christmas Albums in 2025
The 2025 holiday season has brought an impressive array of new Christmas music releases. 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year, with both longtime favourites and fresh voices bringing new albums, deluxe editions, and festive soundtracks to fans everywhere. For the a cappella fan, Pentatonix released yet another holiday album with ‘Christmas in the City,’ across 18 tracks celebrating the magic of cosmopolitan life around the holidays and showcasing the group’s vocal athletics.
Country icon LeAnn Rimes released ‘Greatest Hits Christmas,’ a mesh of classics and some of her best-known songs from her past holiday albums, with new collaborations like Aloe Blacc on ‘That Spirit of Christmas’ and Gavin DeGraw on ‘Celebrate Me Home.’ Brad Paisley’s ‘Snow Globe Town’ boasts eight originals and eight covers, with real charms found in ‘Lit,’ ‘That Crazy Elf’ and the title track.
Streaming Trends and the Christmas Music Phenomenon
The headline for 2025 is simple: Christmas music is bigger, earlier, and broader. Mariah Carey’s classic hit ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has officially reentered the Billboard Hot 100 after accruing almost 10 million streams (up 252% week over week) from October 31 to November 6. This marks one of the earliest points that Christmas music has dominated the charts.
Modern standards from Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, and Ariana Grande round out the top tier alongside classics like ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,’ ‘Last Christmas,’ and ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ Holiday tracks compound differently than regular songs—they don’t stream constantly but spike massively once a year, every year, forever.
What This Means for Music Lovers
Christmas music’s enduring appeal demonstrates the power of nostalgia combined with modern innovation. The 2025 Christmas music landscape reflects a blend of timeless classics and modern reinterpretations, with the resurgence of traditional carols like ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ and ‘Jingle Bells’, alongside new releases from artists such as John Legend, Sabrina Carpenter, and David Bisbal. Whether you prefer classic carols or contemporary interpretations, the 2025 season offers something for everyone, proving that Christmas music remains an essential part of holiday celebrations and a significant driver of the music industry’s year-end success.