P1 Media Group’s annual Christmas Music Research reveals the Nation’s Favorite Holiday Hits. P1 Media Group, a global leader in media research and strategy, today announced the results of its annual Christmas Music Research Study.
The survey examined the appeal of the 100 most-played Christmas songs from the 2024 holiday season (as tracked by Mediabase) among U.S. radio listeners likely to tune in to all-Christmas music stations. Here are the Top 25 Best Testing Holiday Hits:
🎵Highlights Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” remains America’s number one Christmas song for the eighth time in nine years. “Christmas classics are set to rule the airwaves once again this holiday season,” says Ken Benson, Partner and co-founder of P1 Media Group.
“According to American radio listeners who frequently or occasionally listen to all-Christmas music stations, the timeless favorites continue to resonate year after year.”
The Holiday standards dominate the Top 100 with six versions of “Frosty the Snowman“ and “Let It Snow,” and five versions of “Sleigh Ride.” Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, and Andy Williams each have four songs in the Top 100.
🎄P1 Christmas Music Study 2025
The average scores for men and women were nearly identical (within a half point). Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” was #1 overall for Women, while “Carol of the Bells“ by Lindsey Stirling ranked #1 for Men, and the David Foster version of the same song was ranked #2.
Top testing Christmas songs by age group:
- 25-34 “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” Kenny G (first year tested)
- 35-44 “Carol of the Bells,” Lindsey Stirling (first year tested)
- 45-54 “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Andy Williams was #1 again.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” (2013) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (2014) are the two highest-testing original Christmas songs from the 2000s, ranking #16 and #76, respectively.
Favorability remains strong:
- 57 of the Top 100 songs tested 75 or higher (out of 100).
- 98 songs tested 70 or higher.
Listeners’ preferences on when all-Christmas Music should begin shifted slightly this year:
- 28% Mid November (23% 2024)
- 23% Early November (31% 2024)
- 23% Thanksgiving (28% 2024)
- 31% Early November (23% 2024)
- 18% Early December (22% 2024)
- 8% mid-December (2% 2024)
Nearly half of listeners want Christmas radio music to continue through New Year’s Eve.
- 48% on New Year’s Eve (52% in 2024)
- 31% December 26th
- 10% Christmas Day
- 5% December 27th
- 5% some other time
Streaming habits:
- 61% listen to music via streaming daily
- 28% a few days per week
🎅The full report can be downloaded at www.p1mediagroup.com