Carey’s Christmas Streams 2024 – The Record-Breaking Season
Every year, Mariah Carey’s Christmas catalog proves to be more than just music—it’s a global phenomenon that continues to define the holiday season. December 2024 was no exception, as Carey’s iconic songs shattered previous records, reached millions of new listeners, and reinforced her legacy as the Queen of Christmas. From her popularly known “cash cow” “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has become synonymous with holiday celebrations, to powerful hymns like “O Holy Night,” her music inspires nostalgia, joy, and connection worldwide.
Her festive discography not only dominated streaming platforms but also played a central role in commercials, holiday movies, family gatherings, and of course, shopping malls, making it an integral part of the modern Christmas experience.
If you’re not into numbers and accolades, well, the article has now finished for you—just know she did good and better than ever, and explore our other great articles. For those of you dying to find every number, every record shattered, let’s do this!
The Juggernaut: “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
The crown jewel of Mariah’s Christmas catalog, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” continued its reign in December 2024, achieving incredible milestones:
Certification Triumphs: The song reached 16× Platinum in the US, 13× Platinum in Australia, and 9× Platinum in the UK, highlighting its global appeal and unparalleled popularity, with new certifications continuing to roll in across the globe.
Chart Records: It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an astounding 18 non-consecutive weeks, making it Mariah’s longest-charting No. 1 song and surpassing her other record-breaking hits like “One Sweet Day” (16 weeks) and “We Belong Together” (14 weeks). It’s now en route to becoming the song with the most weeks at No. 1 once it reaches 20 weeks, reclaiming the torch Mariah held for over 20 years with “One Sweet Day.”
Streaming Milestones: On Christmas Eve, the song set a new personal record, racking up 24,946,899 streams, second only to Taylor Swift’s 25.2 million streams for “Fortnight” in April 2024. In December 2024 alone, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” added over 226 million streams, cementing its status as a perennial favorite. It currently sits at #94 on Spotify’s Most Streamed Songs of All Time with over 2.159 billion streams.
Historical Impact: With each Christmas season, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” inches closer to becoming the biggest song of all time across sales, streaming, and charts. Beyond numbers, it has become a cultural touchstone, played in holiday movies, shopping malls, and family gatherings worldwide.
Merry Christmas: A Timeless Album
The album that started it all, Merry Christmas, remains a staple of the holiday season. Its achievements in December 2024 include a continued resonance with both new and longtime fans. The album has become synonymous with the holiday spirit, featuring tracks that have shaped festive traditions worldwide. Whether playing in the background during family gatherings or being performed in school choirs and community events, Merry Christmas has ingrained itself in cultural celebrations. Its blend of traditional carols and contemporary hits has inspired countless artists to follow in Mariah’s footsteps, redefining what a modern holiday album can be.
Sales and Certifications: Approaching 25 million copies sold worldwide, it’s one of the best-selling holiday albums in history. The album was certified 9× Platinum in December 2023, and it’s likely on the verge of becoming Mariah’s third Diamond album, joining the ranks of legends like Whitney Houston and Shania Twain. Beyond its sales, the album’s influence extends far beyond numbers, inspiring a resurgence of holiday albums by contemporary artists and shaping the way modern holiday music is created and marketed.
Billboard Success: In December 2024, Merry Christmas climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200, moving an equivalent of 76,000 copies through sales and streaming. Its enduring popularity showcases its timeless appeal, making it a cultural cornerstone of the holiday season.
Streaming Highlights for Christmas Classics
Mariah’s catalog saw remarkable streaming numbers in December 2024, showcasing her enduring appeal across generations. Compared to other artists, Mariah’s dominance during the holiday season remains unparalleled, as her streaming numbers consistently outperform even the most popular contemporary holiday tracks. In fact, her catalog’s growth from previous years highlights an upward trajectory, with December 2024 bringing a 15% increase in total streams compared to 2023. This solidifies her position as not just a seasonal favorite, but a cultural phenomenon that continues to gain momentum annually.
“O Holy Night”:
- Peak Streams: Achieved 1,424,388 daily streams on Christmas Eve.
- Monthly Total: Gained over 10 million streams in December, reflecting its timeless emotional resonance.
- RIAA Certification: Certified Platinum, further proving its popularity among fans.
Here’s the updated text to include in the section for “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”:
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”:
- Peak Streams: Reached a daily peak of 4,949,058 streams on Christmas Eve.
- Monthly Total: Garnered 45+ million streams, solidifying its status as a fan-favorite holiday anthem.
- Surpassing the Original: Mariah’s rendition has already surpassed Darlene Love’s original version in popularity and streams.
- RIAA Certification: Certified Platinum in the US back in 2022, showcasing its enduring appeal among holiday music fans.
“Joy To The World“:
Peak Streams: Surpassed 254,572 daily streams on Christmas Eve.
Monthly Total: Accumulated over 2 million streams, continuing to inspire listeners with its joyous rendition.
“Oh Santa!” (feat. Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson):
- Certification Status: While the song has not yet been certified, it continues to gain momentum and recognition surpassing 116 million streams on Spotify
- Peak Streams: Logged 1,829,114 daily streams on Christmas Eve.
- Monthly Total: Added 15 million streams, in December benefiting from its star-studded collaboration and modern appeal.
“Sleigh Ride”:
- Peak Streams: Logged 125,491 daily streams on Christmas Eve.
- Monthly Total: Added 1,084,278 streams during December, continuing to captivate listeners with its playful rendition of the Ronettes’ classic.
“Fall in Love at Christmas”
- Peak Streams: Achieved 271,734 daily streams on Christmas Eve.
- Monthly Total: Accumulated 1,937,156 streams in December, showcasing its growing appeal as one of her most recent originals.
Merry Christmas II You: December Streams
Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas II You demonstrated its potential even as a less beloved addition to her holiday catalog. Despite not achieving the iconic status of Merry Christmas, the album still captured attention, earning over 38 million streams in December 2024. Tracks like “Oh Santa!” and “Christmas Time Is In The Air Again” led the charge, achieving standout numbers.
“Oh Santa!” alone accounted for 15 million streams, supported by its lively and contemporary arrangement, while other tracks, such as “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus” featuring Carey’s soaring vocals, brought over 313,349 streams, proving that the album’s legacy persists in smaller but meaningful ways. Additionally, “Christmas Time Is in the Air Again” accumulated 447,898 streams, and “When Christmas Comes” attracted 348,375 streams, reflecting a blend of Carey’s powerful voice with traditional holiday melodies.
While the album may not rival its predecessor, its steady streaming performance highlights how Mariah’s commitment to holiday music resonates across varying tastes and traditions, cementing her as a key voice of the season.
And because Mariah leaves no stone unturned, on New Year’s Eve, Mariah Carey once again proved she is the soundtrack to not just Christmas but also New Year celebrations. Her rendition of Auld Lang Syne streamed an impressive 64,851 times on Spotify on the last day of 2024. This significant figure underscores her music’s ability to resonate with listeners well beyond December 25th, solidifying her place in not just Christmas playlists but also as a fixture in year-end festivities. Carey ensures the world rings in the New Year with her inimitable style and vocal brilliance.
Cultural and Financial Impact
Mariah Carey’s Christmas catalog is more than just music—it’s a global cultural phenomenon that continues to shape the holiday season.
Economic Powerhouse: Media reports from the past two months have highlighted that Mariah reportedly earns $3 million annually in royalties from All I Want for Christmas Is You alone. Additionally, based on our earlier 2024 analysis of platform and tier revenue per stream, her Christmas catalog is estimated to have garnered around $2,352,533 USD from streaming platforms in December 2024 alone, with over 400 million streams during the holiday season. This does not include digital song sales, with All I Want for Christmas Is You once again reaching the #1 spot on worldwide iTunes during the holidays, nor the sales of the Merry Christmas 30th-anniversary re-releases, which featured physical formats such as cassettes, vinyl, and CDs. On top of these streams and sales, her highly successful Christmas tour continues to be a cornerstone of her seasonal dominance, drawing in fans from around the world and reinforcing her status as the Queen of Christmas.
Cultural Moments: Mariah Carey’s holiday influence is deeply embedded in modern Christmas culture. All I Want for Christmas Is You was prominently featured in Love Actually Live, a popular live theater adaptation of the iconic holiday movie, reaffirming its enduring relevance in pop culture. This year, Mariah collaborated with Walkers Crisps for a festive holiday commercial in the UK back in 2019, which paired her signature humor with her iconic voice. She also kicked off the 2024 NFL Christmas Day game with a pre-recorded performance, ensuring her music was front and center for millions of football fans celebrating the holidays. While her Chrsitmas tour was exclusive to the U.S., it drew dedicated fans to experience her live renditions of holiday classics, becoming an anticipated event every season. Additionally, her Apple TV+ holiday special, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, continues to captivate viewers, making her music and presence a mainstay in holiday programming. From retail stores to viral TikTok trends, her holiday hits continue to resonate with fans of all ages, creating a multigenerational connection that keeps her at the center of festive celebrations.
The Road Ahead
As the 2024 holiday season wraps up, Mariah Carey’s Christmas legacy shows no signs of slowing down. With her catalog reaching new audiences every year and breaking records consistently, she remains the definitive voice of Christmas. Whether it’s the timeless charm of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” or the powerful vocals in “O Holy Night,” Mariah’s music continues to be the soundtrack of the holiday season for millions worldwide.
With 2025 on the horizon, fans and industry experts alike eagerly anticipate the milestones Mariah will achieve next. Will her album Merry Christmas achieve Diamond status? Will “All I Want for Christmas Is You” become the biggest song of all time? One thing is certain: Mariah Carey’s reign as the Queen of Christmas is unchallenged, and her holiday catalog is a gift that keeps on giving.
