Christmas Songs 2024: New Releases and Timeless Classics Dominating the Charts
The Enduring Power of Christmas Songs
As December arrives each year, Christmas songs flood streaming platforms, radio stations and shopping centres across the globe. These festive melodies have become an integral part of holiday celebrations, connecting generations through shared musical traditions. The holidays are here, which means Christmas music has fully infiltrated the charts, radio and mall speakers alike. In 2024, the Christmas music landscape continues to blend beloved classics with innovative new releases, offering something for every festive taste.
2024’s Fresh Christmas Releases
2024 is closing with a bevy of new Christmas recordings from modern artists spanning pop, R&B, hip-hop, K-pop, jazz and rock. Some of those artists — Lady Gaga, RAYE and Laufey, to name a few — put their own inventive spins on famous carols, whilst others have crafted entirely original festive anthems. This season already has a host of all-new, all-original holiday tracks to choose from, some with a classic sound and others giving seasonal songs a modern twist.
Notable 2024 releases include Jennifer Hudson’s first Christmas album and Kelly Clarkson’s latest festive offerings. Propelled by a slap bass, saxophone and bright harmonies, Jimmy Fallon and the Jonas Brothers’ ‘Holiday’ collaboration is a funky standout from this year’s releases. The diversity of 2024’s Christmas music demonstrates the genre’s continued evolution whilst respecting traditional holiday themes.
The Reigning Champion: Mariah Carey’s Dominance
Taking the top spot as the most-streamed Christmas song on Spotify is none other than Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ This song has become synonymous with Christmas, released in 1994. The song is the No. 1 hit song in the U.S. on Christmas Day, it’s spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 chart, and is the current No. 1 song in the country on that chart.
Carey’s holiday classic continues to break records three decades after its release. The song sets a new mark for the most time spent at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart since its 2013 inception, spending a record 21st week atop the tally, with 48 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending Dec. 19.
Timeless Classics Still Topping Charts
Alongside Carey’s modern classic, traditional Christmas songs continue their annual chart dominance. Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ has been a Christmas favourite since its release in 1958, with a rock ‘n’ roll twist and an infectious rhythm, it’s no wonder this track has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ is a timeless hit that has charmed listeners since its release in 1984, with 1.77 billion streams.
It’s interesting to note that most of the songs on the Billboard 100 on Christmas week are Christmas classics that were released decades ago. This phenomenon demonstrates how certain Christmas songs transcend temporal boundaries, becoming more popular with each passing year rather than fading into obscurity.
The Significance for Music Lovers
The continuing popularity of Christmas songs reflects their unique cultural position. These tracks serve as annual touchstones, evoking memories and creating new traditions. Billboard presents the 25 best new seasonal tracks from artists of all genres and backgrounds, and some or all of these tracks might just end up becoming new favorites that you’ll return to for yearly listening. Whether listeners prefer nostalgic classics or contemporary interpretations, the Christmas music catalogue continues to grow, ensuring the festive season remains musically rich and emotionally resonant for audiences worldwide.