Radio's Christmas Music Rundown

Nielsen Brings Airplay Goodies

NIELSEN MUSIC reports that 168 stations have converted to an ALL HOLIDAY format this year.

AC remains the #1 player, with almost half of all radio HOLIDAY MUSIC airplay. The highest-selling and on-demand streaming holiday song this year is MARIAH CAREY's ”All I Want For CHRISTMAS Is You.” Last year, it was KRISTEL BELL, AGATHA LEE MONN and KATIE LOPEZ's "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" SEAL has returned to the spotlight with the #1 new song of the season at radio with his cover of “This CHRISTMAS.”

Power songs get played as much as 10 times per day, with the RAY CONNIFF SINGERS' "Ring CHRISTMAS Bells" getting that many at iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 MY FM)/CHICAGO.
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HOLIDAY MUSIC, with songs from the '40s, '50s and '60s receiving the highest concentration of airplay. Holiday music declined quickly on CHRISTMAS DAY 2014.

Holiday Songs represent 100% of the airplay at the top 5 market AC stations. By DECEMBER 26th, 2014, four of the five stations had returned to regular programming.

The rest of the Top 5 Current Holiday Songs after SEAL are CHRIS TOMLIN's "Noel" featuring LAUREN DAIGLE, CHRIS TOMLIN's "He Shall Reign Forevermore," LEANN RIMES' "Celebrate Me Home" featuring GAVIN DeGRAW and TRAIN's "Have Yourself A Merry Little CHRISTMAS."

The Top 5 Gold Holiday Songs are BURL IVES' "A Holly Jolly CHRISTMAS," BRENDA LEE's "Rockin' Around The CHRISTMAS Tree," ANDY WILLIAMS' "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year," JOSE FELICIANO's "Feliz Navidad" and BOBBY HELMS' "Jingle Bell Rock."

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