The Billboard charts, reflecting music consumption during Christmas week, showcase the dominance of holiday-themed music. Seasonal songs surge in popularity, temporarily displacing non-festive tracks. This surge creates a unique dynamic where perennial favorites compete with contemporary hits for chart supremacy, offering a snapshot of the musical landscape during this special time of year. The week following Christmas typically sees a dramatic shift, with holiday songs receding and allowing non-seasonal music to reclaim its position.
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reigns supreme as the most popular holiday hit. Its predictable ascent to the top of various Billboard charts reinforces its status as a modern Christmas classic. The song’s enduring popularity underlines its cultural significance and its ability to evoke the festive spirit year after year. This year, its resurgence even dethroned one of 2024’s biggest hits, demonstrating its enduring power in the face of contemporary competition.
The displaced chart-topper, “Apt.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars, enjoyed a historically long run at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. US charts. Its nine-week reign is a testament to its global appeal and solidifies its place among the most successful songs on these relatively new charts, which were introduced in 2020. This achievement tied “Apt.” with other long-running No. 1 hits, showcasing its competitive strength against other dominant tracks.
The temporary interruption of “Apt.’s” reign demonstrates the powerful seasonal influence on music consumption. Despite its impressive run, “Apt.” was unable to withstand the Christmas juggernaut. While “All I Want for Christmas Is You” claimed the top spot, other holiday classics like Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” also surged, collectively showcasing the enduring appeal of festive music.
The contrasting performance of “Apt.” on the two global charts further reveals the nuances of holiday music’s impact. While it slipped to No. 3 on the Billboard Global Excl. US, its drop to No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200 suggests a stronger influence of holiday music in the U.S. market. This difference highlights how cultural contexts shape music consumption patterns, especially during holiday periods. The varying positions also indicate the competitive landscape within the charts themselves, with other holiday hits vying for top spots.
The post-Christmas period will likely see “Apt.” vying for its former No. 1 position. A return to the top would cement its status among a select group of songs with double-digit weeks at No. 1, further solidifying its legacy. The trajectory of “Apt.” in the subsequent weeks will be an interesting observation point for the dynamics of chart performance, reflecting the interplay between established hits and emerging trends. The competition between holiday anthems and year-round hits offers a compelling narrative of the evolving musical landscape.
