Mariah Carey and Co. – That’s how much the Christmas stars earn every year

Regardless of whether it’s on the radio, in stores or on Spotify playlists: You really can’t avoid Christmas carols at the moment. Timeless classics and new songs with contemplative hit potential seem to run in a loop. But what do the annual streams, radio placements and rights sales for cover versions actually mean for the performers of the songs? How big is the cushion on the account that successful Christmas carols ensure?

In the following, the five financially most successful hits that have accompanied us through the festive season – mostly for many decades – are compiled.

The British hard rock band Slade actually had no plans to ever release a Christmas carol. Legend has it that bassist Jim Lea (72) grimaced when his mother suggested that he write a song about Christmas in the early 1970s. But the idea stayed in the back of the mind and resulted in an absolute hit in 1973.

Since then, “Merry Christmas Everybody” has been played up and down. That pours a lot every year: 840,000 dollars (the equivalent of around 774,000 francs) Slade earns annually with the song.

“Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues makes it into second place among the financially most successful Christmas hits. The band still earns $ 630,000 every year with the song, which was released in 1987 580,600 francs). This year, this sum is likely to be a little higher: Aldi has backed its Christmas advertising in Great Britain with an instrumental version of “Fairytale of New Yok” – this ensures popularity and higher income.

What would Christmas be without Maria Carey (52)? “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is an indispensable part of any festive playlist. In the first few years after its publication in 1994 in particular, the Christmas hit generated astronomical income. Overall, Carey is said to have earned over 60 million dollars (over 55 million francs) with the song, according to “The Economist”.

The annual royalties now amount to around 600,000 dollars (the equivalent of around 553,000 francs). Mariah Carey didn’t invest a lot of effort into “All I Want for Christmas Is You”: The song was written and composed in just 15 minutes.

Probably the greatest catchy tune potential of the five most successful holiday songs definitely has “Last Christmas” by Wham !. The song, which was released in 1984, continues to gross half a million dollars every year 460,900 francs). A bit of Swissness is part of this success: the “Last Christmas” music video, which is set in a chalet, was shot in Saas-Fee.

Countless musicians were in 1984 under the collective term Band Aid on the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” involved. It was produced for a good cause: Initially, the proceeds were used to fight famine, but now the money is also used for other charity purposes.

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” another 130,000 dollars (just under 120,000 francs) one. The song was written by Bob Geldof (70) and Midge Ure (68).