What Christmas song earns the most royalties?

While exact figures vary and are often private, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" are consistently cited as the top earners, with Carey's song often leading globally due to streaming and licensing, potentially earning millions annually, while Slade's classic secures huge UK royalties, with songwriters earning substantial yearly sums, making them evergreen hits.

What Xmas song makes the most royalties?

Bing Crosby – White Christmas – £328,000 per year

Written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and popularised in the film of the same name, White Christmas is not only the best selling Christmas song of all time, it is also the world's best selling single, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million.

What is the highest grossing Christmas song of all time?

The best-selling Christmas song of all time is "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling single ever, with over 50 million physical copies sold, and exceeding 100 million when all versions are counted. Written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film Holiday Inn, its enduring popularity, especially during wartime, solidified its place as a global phenomenon, still holding records decades later. 

How much does a noddy holder earn in royalties?

“It's like having a hit record every year. So it's a nice pension plan, I'll say that,” Holder smiles. The PRS has quoted £512,000 annually, but the Daily Mail reckons it's more like a cool £1m.

How much royalties did Wham get for last Christmas?

Wham!'s "Last Christmas" earns significant annual royalties, estimated around £300,000 (or more), with earnings benefiting charities as George Michael donated the initial profits to Ethiopian famine relief, and his estate continues substantial charitable giving from ongoing royalties. Warner Chappell Music manages the rights, while the song consistently ranks as a top earner among Christmas hits and is the biggest-selling UK single never to hit #1, selling millions of copies.
 

10 Christmas Songs With Massive Royalties (Annually) || Christmas Music Revenue

How much does Mariah Carey get in royalties for a Christmas song?

When the song was first released in 1994, Carey made $60 million. Now, according to Forbes, Carey earns around $2.5 million in annual royalties based on calculations from The Economist. The New York Post has estimated the number to be even higher, at $3 million.

Did George Michael leave royalties to Andrew Ridgeley?

George Michael's eye-watering royalties

While the estate rakes in millions from royalties, some are shared with former bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and George's god son, DJ Roman Kemp.

What song made the most money in royalties?

2. The Top-Earning Songs of All Time (And Why)

• “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (2017) ...
• “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran (2017) ...
• “Every Breath You Take” – The Police / Sting (1983) ...
• “Stand By Me” – Ben E. ...
• “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby (1942) ...
• “Yesterday” – The Beatles (1965)

How much does Roy Wood make from his Christmas song?

Wizzard came off second best that time but the song has charted every year in the UK since 2007 and has already reached the top 40 in 2025. It earns songwriter Roy Wood a reported £180,00 a year.

How much did Netflix pay Mariah Carey?

Beyonce and Mariah Carey to perform, potentially paid through Netflix's $150 million deal for streaming rights. Carey to open with 'All I Want for Christmas is You,' and Beyonce's performance might be part of her $60 million deal with Netflix.

What is the #1 best-selling song of all time?

The best-selling single of all time is widely recognized as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", with estimated sales exceeding 50 million copies worldwide, making it a perennial holiday favorite and a record holder for physical sales before modern charts, while Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the biggest-selling single since 1950s charts began. In digital markets, Chinese singer Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" holds the record for most digital downloads, and Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" is the highest-certified digital single. 

What is the most recorded Christmas song of all time?

“Silent Night” is the most recorded Christmas song in history, with over 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978.

What is the biggest selling Christmas song not to reach number 1?

For several decades, "Last Christmas" was the highest-selling UK single never to reach number one. It has entered the UK singles chart every year since 2007, reached number one for the first time on New Year's Day 2021, and became Christmas number one in 2023.

What Christmas song has sold the most copies ever?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is not only the best-selling Christmas single in the United States, but also the best-selling single of all time since the advent of recorded music, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.

Who makes more money at Christmas, Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé?

Move over, Mariah: Michael Bublé is becoming the king of Christmas music with nearly $16 million in holiday earnings.

What are the top 5 Christmas songs of all time?

Top 20 Christmas Songs

• 1) All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey.
• 2) Last Christmas – Wham!
• 3) White Christmas – Bing Crosby.
• 4) Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms.
• 5) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee.
• 6) It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams.

Who earns the most royalties at Christmas?

Sir Paul McCartney earns approximately £310,000 per year from Wonderful Christmastime. As he wrote, performed, and produced the track himself, he receives maximum royalties, making it one of the most profitable solo festive songs.

Who did Mariah Carey sue for $50 million?

Mariah Carey sued her billionaire ex-fiancé, James Packer, for $50 million in 2016 as an "inconvenience fee" after their engagement ended, claiming he wasted her time and caused her to cancel a tour, with the figure reportedly related to potential prenup discussions; they eventually settled out of court, with Carey receiving a multimillion-dollar payout and keeping her $10 million engagement ring.
 

Who makes the most money from a Christmas song?

The highest earning one is "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade, which nets £500,000 a year. "Fairytale of New York" nets around £400,000. Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you" nets £376,000, however she takes on many festive concerts which also secure her a hefty sum.

Who is the richest songwriter ever?

Starting off his career when he was only 15 years old, Andrew Lloyd Webber is recognized as the most successful (and wealthiest, we may say) songwriter in the world.

Who is the no. 1 richest musician in the world?

Jay-Z has turned hip-hop into a billion-dollar business empire. Through music, fashion, and investments. From Reasonable Doubt to Roc Nation, his influence stretches far beyond rap. It's no surprise he often tops any list of the Richest Musicians in the World.

How much did Kenny Goss inherit from George Michael?

Michael's estate was estimated to be worth just short of £100 million, with the majority of his estate being left to his siblings and various friends. The will left nothing to Michael's ex partners, including Kenny Goss.

What did Paul McCartney think of George Michael?

Paul McCartney praised George Michael's "sweet soul music" and "great talent" after his death, highlighting their collaboration on "Heal the Pain" and performances like Live 8, noting Michael's "self-deprecating sense of humor" and wishing him peace and freedom from suffering, a sentiment shared after his passing in 2016. McCartney empathized with Michael's struggles, even sending him a letter while Michael was in jail for drug offenses in 2010, showing a supportive, familial bond.