''Jingle Bell Rock'' Tops P1's 2025 Christmas Song Rankings

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 2:42pm CT

P1 Media Group

P1 Media Group has released its annual America's Top 100 Christmas Songs study, revealing that Bobby Helms' 1957 classic "Jingle Bell Rock" remains the nation's favorite holiday song for the eighth time in nine years. The 2025 survey measured the appeal of the 100 most-played Christmas songs from the 2024 season, as tracked by Mediabase, among U.S. radio listeners who frequently tune in to all-Christmas music stations.

"Christmas classics are set to rule the airwaves once again this holiday season," said Ken Benson, Partner and co-founder of P1 Media Group. "According to American radio listeners, the timeless favorites continue to resonate year after year."

Lindsey Stirling's 2017 rendition of "Carol of the Bells" ranked second overall and was the top-testing song among men, while Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" led among women. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams held the No. 1 spot among listeners aged 45-54. For younger audiences, Kenny G's "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" topped the 25-34 group, and Stirling's "Carol of the Bells" also led the 35-44 demographic.

Holiday standards continue to dominate, with multiple versions of "Frosty the Snowman," "Let It Snow," and "Sleigh Ride" featured throughout the Top 100. Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, and Andy Williams each appeared with four songs on the list. Modern holiday originals also earned recognition - Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree" (2013) and Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" (2014) ranked highest among 21st-century releases at Nos. 16 and 76, respectively.

The study also found that listeners remain enthusiastic about Christmas radio: 57 of the Top 100 songs scored 75 or higher out of 100, and nearly half of respondents said they prefer stations to continue playing holiday music through New Year's Eve.

P1 Media Group conducted the online survey November 1-2, 2025, among 400 U.S. radio listeners aged 25-54 across the top 50 markets. All participants reported listening to Christmas stations frequently and rating their enjoyment of holiday music seven or higher on a 10-point scale.

The full America's Top 100 Christmas Songs 2025 report is available at p1mediagroup.com.