The holiday season is best known for Christmas music, a soundtrack that returns every December to dominate playlists and charts globally.
This year, however, the competition has taken a dramatic turn — one that has music fans and critics buzzing.
For a long time, Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you’ dominated the Christmas music scene and its opening lyrics instantly evoked the Christmas season.
But this December, Wham!’s beloved classic “Last Christmas” managed to dethrone Carey’s all-time favorite from the Billboard Global 200, marking a milestone shift in the holiday dynasty.
As the festive season approaches, so does an annual takeover of playlists globally.
Because – Christmas music isn’t just nostalgic – it’s one of the most reliable mints in the music industry.
Streaming platforms have turned these songs into annual revenue cycles, with plays skyrocketing every November and December.
Here are the standout artists who have turned the Christmas season into a perennial payday that resonates with millions year after year.
Michael Bublé rules the Christmas charts
Michael Bublé is dominating the holiday streaming charts, consolidating his status as a modern Christmas music legend.
His festive collection – led by the perennial favourite ‘It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas,‘ is estimated to bring in around $16 million in recent festive periods, backed by huge streaming numbers and a strong presence on global playlists.
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’
Since its release in 1994, Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has become an annual revenue engine.
The iconic hit generates a reported $1.8 to $2.2 for Carey each holiday season.
With lifetime royalties rising to over £44 million and continuing to grow.
Wham!’s billion-stream bonanza
With over 1.66 billion Spotify streams, Wham!’s ‘last christmas’ has earned approximately $6.6 million on the platform, making it one of the highest-grossing party songs in music history.
Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’
Ariana Grande has broken into the Christmas music elite with ‘Santa Tell me,’ a modern holiday anthem that now earns more than £1.7 million each year, standing tall among all other Christmas hits helmed by classic artists.
Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’
Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmas time generes has amassed almost £12m over its lifetime, proving that even low-key Christmas acts can become lasting revenue assets.
How did carols become such consistent revenue giants?
The answer is pretty straightforward, holiday classics don’t go away – they simply go dormant.
Thanks to streaming platforms, these numbers 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 the radio or CDs. Today. Billions of streams keep royalties flowing year after year, ensuring artists and their estates earn effortlessly, season after season.
