Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday tune “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the most-streamed holiday song ever recorded. As of December 12, 2023, this festive anthem has surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify, translating to an estimated $7.8 million in royalties from this platform alone.
In the realm of holiday music, Carey’s song leads the pack in streaming numbers, with Statista reporting that Wham’s “Last Christmas” and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” follow at a distance in the rankings. The list is dominated by modern pop Christmas hits, though classical holiday tunes also find a place in the streaming world.
Regarding streaming royalties, artists like Carey typically earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream, influenced by factors such as the streaming platform and subscription type. A new royalties model proposed by Spotify for 2024 aims to address some of the complexities and challenges in this space, including provisions for stream count thresholds and penalties for fraudulent streams.

To Stardom
The song, penned by Carey and Walter Afanasieff and released in October 1994, consistently secures top positions on the Billboard charts each November and December. This perennial favorite signifies the commencement of the holiday season for many, often heard across various media platforms and public spaces.
Mariah Carey, a Long Island, New York native, is renowned for her expansive five-octave vocal range and a string of chart-topping hits since her debut in the 1990s. With a musical upbringing and an early start in singing, Carey moved to New York after high school to chase her musical dreams. Her journey included time at beauty school, backup singing for Brenda K. Starr, and eventually, a career-defining moment when a demo tape reached Tommy Mottola of Columbia Records. This break led to multi-platinum albums and Grammy awards, with Carey’s 1995 album ‘Daydream’ marking a shift towards R&B and rap influences in her music.
Carey’s discography spans various genres, including pop, R&B, gospel, and Christmas music, along with acting roles in movies and a stint as a judge on American Idol. She also ventured into writing, authoring a memoir and children’s books.
The enduring popularity of Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” nearly three decades after its release, underscores the lasting appeal of this holiday classic in the streaming era. From its humble beginnings in 1994 to becoming a streaming juggernaut, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” encapsulates the spirit of the season in every note. Year after year, this song not only tops charts but also ignites a festive mood worldwide. It’s more than just a holiday track; it’s a lucrative musical legacy that continues to grow.