Christmas music driving you nuts? Why holiday playlists are everywhere

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If it began to sound a lot like Christmas earlier than usual this year, it wasn’t your imagination.

Even before Halloween ended, people on Spotify started creating playlists filled with songs about winter and the holidays – things like mistletoe, snow, and gifts.

Spotify reported a 60% increase in holiday playlist creation in the U.S. during October compared to last year. Many users even began building these playlists as early as the summer months.

According to Talia Kraines, Spotify’s editorial lead for pop music, people listen to Christmas songs because they evoke positive feelings and fond memories, and right now, we could all use a little comfort. She believes Christmas music simply makes people feel good, which is why it’s so popular during challenging times.

Christmas songs dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, taking eight of the top ten spots. The top five songs were all well-known holiday favorites, including classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and Wham!’s “Last Christmas.”

Americans streamed holiday music 27% more this year than last, reaching a total of 8.3 billion streams, according to data from Luminate, a company based in Los Angeles.

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More people are listening to holiday music than ever before, and they’re starting earlier in the year, likely thanks to the rise of music streaming services.

Technology has caused a shift in how we listen to Christmas music. Before streaming services, people typically played Christmas songs on CDs, records, or listened to them on the radio during the winter.

However, the popularity of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music really changed things by giving people access to huge collections of songs whenever they wanted.

New music services started offering and promoting holiday playlists, helping people find festive songs and build their own seasonal collections.

Dave Bakula, from Iconic Artists Group, explained that people used to switch between several Christmas albums while decorating for the holidays or wrapping gifts. He believes the convenience of having all music instantly available through streaming services is a wonderful benefit.

Entertainment & Arts

Mariah Carey is celebrating a huge milestone: her iconic Christmas song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has finally hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – a quarter-century after it was first released!

For musicians and record labels, holiday music also has taken on growing importance.

Vince Szydlowski, who leads commerce at Universal Music Enterprises – the division of Universal Music Group that manages its music catalog worldwide – explained that he begins preparing for the annual holiday music campaign as early as January.

According to Szydlowski, the holiday season is incredibly important for UMG and its artists, and for some established acts, it could significantly impact their overall yearly success.

Universal Music Enterprises recently promoted Elton John’s classic 1973 Christmas song, “Step into Christmas.” The song was included in the Amazon Prime Video holiday film “Oh. What. Fun,” which features Michelle Pfeiffer.

John created social media videos featuring the song, and they became incredibly popular, racking up over 100 million views.

Thanks to these efforts, the track’s audience increased by 44% this year compared to last year, as reported by Universal Music Group, using data from Luminate.

Szydlowski explained that the campaign aims to further increase the visibility of their content during the holiday season.

Music

Brenda Lee’s beloved Christmas song, ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,’ has reached number one on the charts 65 years after it was first released. Lee commented, “A truly great song will always endure.”

Most of the Christmas songs Americans know and love are quite old, which makes it hard for new holiday tunes to become popular.

As a music critic, I have to say Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” isn’t just a holiday staple – it’s officially made history! Billboard just confirmed it’s now the longest-running number one song ever on the Hot 100 chart, holding the top spot for an incredible 21 weeks. It’s a record that truly cements its place as a pop culture phenomenon.

The holiday season is especially meaningful for veteran artists such as Brenda Lee, whose classic version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” continues to be a popular song each winter.

In November 2023, at age 79, Lee became the oldest woman ever to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her version of the song. This happened 65 years after the song was first released, according to UMG.

Singers like Nat King Cole, famous for songs like “The Christmas Song,” and Dean Martin, who passed away in 1995, are also beloved for their holiday performances. Martin’s version of “Let It Snow!” is particularly popular in the winter.

Another source of appeal for Christmas music is that it‘s timeless.

According to Jimmy Edwards, president of Iconic Artists Group, the music isn’t tied to fleeting trends. Instead, the songs focus on universal themes like love, hope, and family, evoking memories of loved ones and past holiday seasons.

According to Edwards, this music appeals to everyone, from the very young to the very old – just like Nat King Cole sang in ‘The Christmas Song,’ about enjoying it ‘from one to ninety-two.’ He believes the strong emotional connections people form with this music last a lifetime, highlighting the positive and heartwarming feelings it evokes, which is why it’s so beloved.

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2025-12-24 14:05