P1 Media Group Updates The Best Holiday Hits List

P1 Media Group and MRC Data have again tested the appeal of the 40 most-played and 40 most-streamed Christmas songs from the 2020 Holiday Season, a total of 60 unique songs, according to BDSradio, one of MRC Data's most widely used tools showcasing airplay, sales, and streaming side-by-side. 

P1 Media Group conducted a survey with radio listeners nationwide likely to listen to a local all-Christmas music radio station this holiday season.

For the fifth consecutive year "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms is America's #1 testing Christmas song. "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," said P1 Media Group Partner and co-founder Ken Benson.

"As we often see, there is lots to learn when we compare radio airplay to on-demand streaming data, even with holiday music. Understanding streaming data can help broaden the appeal of your station," added MRC Data Head of Independents Haley Jones.

A total of eight songs from the Top 40 most-streamed songs list tested better with likely Christmas radio listeners than eight songs from the Top 40 most-played songs list. The data suggests these eight songs can be played more on all-Christmas radio stations:

• Frank Sinatra - Jingle Bells (ranked #47 on the 2020 BDS Airplay chart)
• Jimmy Durante - Frosty the Snowman (#50)
• Perry Como - It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas (#69)
• Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run (#70)
• Earth Kitt - Santa Baby (#78)
• Dan Hathaway - This Christmas (#84)
• Michael Bublé - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (#182)
• Nat King Cole - Deck the Halls (#1,119)

The Holiday Classics rule the Top 20 including "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "two versions of "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Jingle Bell Rock," and three versions of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" from 1994 is the newest song in the Top 20.

There are six new entries on the list for 2021:

#19 Amy Grant - Winter Wonderland
#32 Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
#35 Jackson 5 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
#36 Earth Kitt - Santa Baby (Madonna's version was #55 in 2020)
#53 Faith Hill - Where Are You Christmas
#56 Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka

Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me," 2014, and Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree" from 2010 are the two highest testing original Christmas songs from the Millennium ranking #46 and #48.

🎅The Christmas Music Top 40: