P1 Issues America's Top 100 Christmas Songs 2024

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, November 5, 2024

P1 Media Group

P1 Media Group's annual Christmas Music Research has arrived. The media research and strategy firm, surveyed radio listeners nationwide who were likely to listen to an all-Christmas music radio station during the holiday season. We tested the appeal of the 100 most-played Christmas songs from the 2023 Holiday Season, according to Mediabase.

Key Findings:

"Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms remains America's #1 best-testing Christmas song for seven of the past 8 years. "Christmas music's appeal remains as strong as ever amongst American radio listeners who listen to All Christmas stations 'frequently' or 'sometimes' and personally enjoy Christmas music on a local radio station during the holiday season," says Ken Benson, Partner, and co-founder, of P1 Media Group.

• The Holiday standards dominate the Top 100 with five versions of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town, "Sleigh Ride," and "Winter Wonderland" making the list.

• Three Artists, Amy Grant, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams, have four songs in the Top 100.

• Women score Christmas music on average four points higher than Men. Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" is the #1 tester for Women, while Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" is #1 for Men.

The top testing Christmas songs by age are:

• 18-24 "All I Want for Christmas is You" Mariah Carey
• 25-34 "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" Michael Buble with Burle Ives version a close second.
• 35-44 "Ring Christmas Bells" Ray Conniff
• 45-54 "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" Any Williams.

Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree" from 2010 and Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" 2014 are the two highest-testing original Christmas songs from the 2000s, ranking #51 and #54, respectively.

The favorability of Christmas music remains strong. Seventy of the Top 100 songs tested with an appeal score of 75 or higher on a 100-point scale, and 95 songs tested 70 or higher.

More say Christmas Music should begin in early November this year than last.

• 31% Early November (up from 23% last year)
• 17% Mid November
• 28% Thanksgiving (27% in 2023)
• 22% early December
• 2% mid-December

Most Christmas music lovers, 52% (60% in 2023 and 48% in 2022), want Christmas music programming to stop on New Year's Eve.

• 14% Christmas Day
• 22% December 26th
• 7% December 27th
• 52% on New Year's Eve
• 3% some other time

America's Top 100 Testing Christmas Songs 2024

1. "Jingle Bell Rock," Bobby Helms (1957) 82.70 18-54 Score
2. "Holly Jolly Christmas," Burl Ives (1963) 82.36
3. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Andy Williams (1963) 82.34
4. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Brenda Lee (1964) 82.22
5. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Jackson 5 (1970) 81.74
6. "Feliz Navidad," Jose Feliciano (1979) 81.70
7. "Holly Jolly Christmas," Michael Buble (2011) 81.35
8. "The Christmas Song," Nat King Cole (1960) 80.80
9. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Leann Rimes (2004) 80.77
10. "It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas," Bing Crosby (1945) 80.75
11. "Carol of the Bells," Mannheim Steamroller (1984) 80.62
12. "All I Want for Christmas is You," Mariah Carey (1994) 80.35
13. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Frank Sinatra & Cyndi Lauper (1992) 80.27
14. "Sleigh Ride," Ronettes (1963) 80.20
15. "Ring Christmas Bells," Ray Conniff (1962) 80.03
16. "Sleigh Ride," Amy Grant (1983) 79.95
17. "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch," Thurl Ravenscroft (1966) 79.89
18. "We Wish You a Merry Xmas," Bing Crosby (1992) 79.86
19. "Winter Wonderland ," Amy Grant (1963) 79.79
20. "Jingle Bells," Frank Sinatra (1957) 79.49
21. "Linus and Lucy," Vince Guaraldi Trio (1964) 79.29
22. "Carol of the Bells," David Foster (1997) 79.25
23. "Last Christmas," Wham (1986) 79.21
24. "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," Andy Williams (1965) 79.10 2
25. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Dean Martin (1959) 79.06
26. "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996) 78.94
27. "Jingle Bell Rock," Brenda Lee (1964) 78.83
28. "Sleigh Ride," Leroy Anderson (1952) 78.77
29. "Sleigh Ride," Air Supply (1987) 78.72
30. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Frank Sinatra (1963) 78.55
31. "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," Frank Sinatra (1967) 78.54
32. "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," Harry Connick Jr. (1963) 78.52
33. "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)," Darlene Love (1963) 78.47
34. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Burl Ives (1950) 78.46
35. "It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas," Perry Como (1951) 78.32
36. "Jingle Bell Rock," Hall & Oates (1984) 78.21
37. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Gene Autrey (1949) 78.16
38. "Winter Wonderland," Andy Williams (1965) 78.15
39. "Sleigh Ride," Johnny Mathis (1958) 77.95
40. "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)," Mariah Carey (1994) 77.80
41. "Deck the Halls," Percy Faith (1954) 77.68
42. "O Tannenbaum," Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965) 77.63
43. "Run Rudolph Run," Chuck Berry (1958) 77.57
44. "Frosty the Snowman," Ray Conniff (1959) 77.45
45. "It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas," Johnny Mathis (1986) 77.41
46. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," The Carpenters (1978) 77.39
47. "Jingle Bells," Ray Conniff (1959) 77.29
48. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Amy Grant (1992) 77.28
49. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Amy Grant (1992) 77.15
50. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Harry Connick Jr (1993) 76.92
51. "Underneath the Tree," Kelly Clarkson (2023) 76.61
52. "Frosty the Snowman," Willie Nelson (1979) 76.44
53. "Deck the Halls," Nat King Cole (1960) 76.41
54. "Home for the Holidays," Perry Como (1954) 76.24
55. "Santa Tell Me," Ariana Grande (2014) 76.16
56. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Mariah Carey (1994) 76.15
57. "This Christmas," Train (2015) 75.99
58. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa," Jackson 5 (1970) 75.97
59. "Christmas Baby, Please Come Home," Michael Buble (2011) 75.85
60. "Here Comes Santa," Gene Autry (1948) 75.78
61. "White Christmas," Bing Crosby (1942) 75.68
62. "Last Christmas," Taylor Swift (2007) 75.60
63. "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," Dean Martin (1964) 75.47
64. "The Little Drummer Boy," Harry Simeone Chorale (1958) 75.45
65. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Crystals (1963) 75.25
66. "Winter Wonderland," Air Supply (1987) 75.25
67. "Wonderful Christmastime," Paul McCartney (1979) 75.23
68. "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Carrie Underwood (2007) 75.11
69. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Bruce Springsteen (1981) 75.09
70. "Frosty the Snowman," Jimmy Durante (1952) 75.04
71. "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," John Lennon (1971) 74.96
72. "Up on the Housetop," Gene Autry (1957) 74.94
73. "O Holy Night," Kelly Clarkson (2003) 74.93
74. "Winter Wonderland," Johnny Mathis (1958) 74.91
75. "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Martina McBride (1999) 74.72
76. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Jessica Simpson (2000) 74.66
77. "Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season," Andy Williams (1963) 74.36
78. "It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas," Michael Buble (2011) 74.09
79. "Home for the Holidays," Carpenters (1970) 73.57
80. "Here Comes Santa Claus," Elvis Presley (1957) 73.24
81. "This Christmas," Donny Hathaway (1968) 72.96
82. "Santa Baby," Taylor Swift (2007) 72.88
83. "Holly Jolly Christmas," Lady A (2012) 72.86
84. "Blue Christmas," Elvis Presley (1957) 72.28
85. "Santa Baby," Madonna (1987) 71.98
86. "Last Christmas," Backstreet Boys (2022) 71.81
87. "White Christmas," Drifters (1954) 71.77
88. "Where Are You Christmas," Faith Hill (2000) 71.40
89. "Chipmunk Song," Chipmunks (1958) 71.32
90. "Little St. Nick," Beach Boys (1964) 71.22
91. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," 'N Sync (1998) 71.17
92. "Do They Know It's Christmas," Band Aid (1984) 70.92
93. "Christmas Canon," Trans-Siberian Orchestra (2001) 70.87
94. "Winter Wonderland," Eurythmics (1987) 70.54
95. "Please Come Home for Christmas," The Eagles (1978) 70.28
96. "Wrap Me Up," Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor (2023) 67.05
97. "All I Want for Christmas," Vince Vance (1990) 66.73
98. "Someday at Christmas," Stevie Wonder (1967) 66.55
99. "Step into Christmas," Elton John (1973) 63.49
100. "DJ Play a Christmas Song," Cher (2023) 60.78

iHM Names Hillman EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary David Hillman iHeartMedia appoints David Hillman as its new Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary. In this role, Hillman will be responsible for overseeing all legal affairs at iHeartMedia, including compliance, regulatory matters, and corporate governance. He will also lead the company's Government More

Cumulus Flips KRBE-HD2/Houston to ''Nash Icon 104.1'' KRBE-FM-HD2 (NASH Icon) in Houston Cumulus Media launches Houston's newest Country station, "Nash Icon 104.1" on KRBE-HD2, airing iconic Country music from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s, and today. Nash Icon features artists such as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, and Texas' own King of More

Audacy Appoints Jenny Nelson as Chief Marketing Officer Jenny Nelson Audacy promotes Jenny Nelson to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. In her new position, she'll lead all marketing functions across the organization, including brand and design, research, B2B marketing and activation, and corporate communications. Nelson will also continue to support Audacy's local and More

103.7 KEYN/Wichita Names Dave Wilson as Morning Host Dave Wilson Audacy names Dave Wilson as morning host on Classic Hits 103.7 KEYN in Wichita, KS. He'll be heard weekdays from 6-10am CT, beginning April 28. Wilson began his radio career as the Operations Manager in 1989 at station KNSS-AM & FM. Over the years, he's held key roles across several media companies, More

Jesse & Anna Join 92.3 WIL/St. Louis as Morning Hosts Jesse Tack and Anna Marie 92.3 WIL (New Country 92.3) in St. Louis names Jesse Tack and Anna Marie as the Hubbard Radio outlet's new morning hosts, beginning Monday, April 28. Most recently, they co-hosted on WUBE-FM (B-105) in Cincinnati since 2022. Tack, a veteran host with WUBE since 2008, became Assistant Program Director in More

Jose Roman Joins The Podglomerate as Lead Editor Jose Roman The Podglomerate, a podcast production company, adds Jose Roman to its team as Lead Editor. Roman will report to Chris Boniello, Vice President of Production Services, and will oversee editing and post-production for the company's expanding lineup of client podcasts. His responsibilities will include guiding More