Christmas Music Takes Over Charts: Why Festive Songs Dominate 2024
The Enduring Power of Christmas Music
As December arrives each year, a familiar phenomenon sweeps across streaming platforms, radio stations, and shopping centres worldwide: Christmas music reclaims its throne. As the holidays approach, Christmas songs have been climbing back up the charts, with 13 of the top 20 on Billboard’s Global 200 chart being holiday songs as of early December. This annual tradition demonstrates not only our collective nostalgia but also the remarkable staying power of festive melodies that bring warmth and joy to the season.
Understanding the Christmas music phenomenon reveals fascinating insights into cultural traditions, streaming economics, and the challenge of creating new holiday classics in an era dominated by decades-old favourites. Whether you’re a dedicated fan who starts listening in November or someone who waits until Christmas week, festive music has become an inescapable part of the season.
Mariah Carey’s Unstoppable Christmas Reign
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is currently #2 on the Global 200 chart, making it the top holiday hit. This song has become synonymous with Christmas, dominating playlists, charts, and radio airwaves every holiday season since its 1994 release. The track’s enduring success isn’t accidental. Carey aimed for “something timeless” while working on the song, wanting it to feel like a modern classic.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” sets a new mark for the most time spent at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, with 48 million official U.S. streams earned in one week alone. The song’s financial success is equally impressive, generating millions in royalties each December and cementing Carey’s status as the undisputed Queen of Christmas.
Classic Christmas Songs vs Modern Contenders
Six out of the thirteen holiday songs in the top 20 were released between 1946 and 1963, making them 70 years old on average. Songs like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” return to prominence each year, demonstrating remarkable longevity.
However, newer artists are making their mark. Ariana Grande has a big modern festive hit, with sparkly 2014 single “Santa Tell Me” landing as the UK’s eighth most-streamed Christmas track with 232m streams. Michael Bublé’s 2011 take on “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” comes in at Number 6 with 257m plays, making it the highest-placed modern Christmas song.
Fresh Christmas Releases for 2024
2024 is closing with new Christmas recordings from modern artists spanning pop, R&B, hip-hop, K-pop, jazz and rock, with artists like Lady Gaga, RAYE and Laufey putting inventive spins on famous carols, while FIFTY FIFTY, Coco Jones and GloRilla released brand-new anthems.
Laufey released a Christmas EP titled “A Very Laufey Holiday” in 2024, bringing her light, airy tone to Christmas classics. Sabrina Carpenter’s 2023 holiday EP “Fruitcake” reentered the Billboard 200 at No. 10, benefiting from her newfound status as a household name and her newly released Netflix holiday special.
Why Christmas Music Matters to Listeners
Christmas music serves purposes beyond mere entertainment. It creates atmosphere, evokes memories, and provides comfort during the darkest days of winter. Artists aim for “timeless” and “nostalgic” sounds to ensure lasting holiday song popularity. For many families, certain songs become inseparable from treasured traditions and childhood memories.
The streaming era has democratised access to festive music, allowing classic songs to reach new generations while giving emerging artists platforms to introduce fresh holiday material. Despite 100 slots on Billboard’s Holiday 100 chart, there are only two 2024 songs currently charting, demonstrating the challenge of breaking through the dominance of established classics.
The Future of Festive Music
As streaming continues to reshape the music industry, Christmas songs provide valuable lessons about longevity and cultural resonance. While creating a new holiday classic remains extraordinarily difficult, the annual return of festive favourites demonstrates music’s unique power to mark time, connect generations, and bring joy during the season of celebration. Whether classics or new releases, Christmas music will continue to soundtrack our December traditions for years to come.