· Alex Harris · News
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Breaks New Records in 2024
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” Spotify Streams Hit 2 Billion: 2024’s Record-Breaking Numbers
The numbers are in, and they’re staggering. Mariah Carey’s holiday anthem crossed the 2 billion streams mark on Spotify in December 2024, making history as the first Christmas song to reach this milestone.
The track’s domination doesn’t stop there – it just secured its 16th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, matching One Sweet Day as Carey’s longest-charting chart-topper.
During November alone, it amassed over 89 million streams. The song has consistently broken its own records, notably setting a single-day streaming record in 2022 with 21.2 million global streams – becoming the first song in history to surpass 20 million streams in 24 hours.
Who Wrote “All I Want for Christmas Is You”? The 15-Minute Miracle
Sometimes, holiday magic strikes in unexpected ways. Carey and veteran producer Walter Afanasieff penned the entire song during a sweltering August afternoon in 1994. The writing process?
A mere 15 minutes. To capture the Christmas spirit despite the summer heat, Carey transformed her home into a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights and ornaments.
The songwriting duo built the track’s foundation on a boogie-woogie piano riff, layering it with sleigh bells, church bells, and that unmistakable winter wind sound effect.
“I started playing some rock ‘n’ roll piano and started boogie woogie-ing my left hand, and that inspired Mariah to come up with the melodic [sings] ‘I don’t want a lot for Christmas,'” Afanasieff revealed in a Billboard interview.
When Was “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Released? From 1994 Hit to Global Phenomenon
Released on October 29, 1994, the song initially peaked at number six on Billboard’s Hot Adult Contemporary chart.
Unlike most holiday singles, its popularity grew stronger with each passing year.
The track’s journey to its first Billboard Hot 100 #1 took 25 years – finally claiming the crown in 2019.
The song has now been certified 16× Platinum by the RIAA as of December 2024, marking another milestone as the highest-certified holiday song in history.
In the UK, it’s now the second most-streamed song by a female artist, trailing only behind Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey.”
How Much Does “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Make? 2024 Revenue and Streaming Earnings
The song’s financial success reads like a Christmas wish list come true.
According to The Economist, Carey earns approximately $2.5 million annually from this single song.
The Associated Press estimates total earnings have surpassed $100 million as of 2023 – a figure that continues to grow with each holiday season.
The song has earned over $7.6 million from streaming platform royalties alone since its release to digital platforms.
When including physical sales, digital downloads, and commercial licensing deals, it stands as one of the most lucrative singles ever recorded.
Why Is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” So Popular? Cultural Impact in 2024
The song’s endurance isn’t just about numbers – it’s about cultural resonance.
In 2023, the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry, recognising its “cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
Carey’s annual November 1st tradition of officially declaring Christmas season open has become a social media phenomenon itself.
The tradition began in 2019, with each year’s announcement becoming more elaborate than the last.
The track’s influence extends beyond music. It’s spawned everything from a children’s book (selling over 750,000 copies) to an animated film.
Its omnipresence during the holiday season has even sparked playful debates among retail workers, with recent polls naming it both the most-played and most “grating” holiday song in stores.
Mariah Carey Christmas Song Reaches New Heights: What’s Next for the Holiday Classic
As “All I Want for Christmas Is You” celebrates its 30th anniversary, its cultural grip only tightens.
The song continues to find new audiences through social media, streaming platforms, and holiday traditions.
With each passing year, it further cements its position not just as a Christmas standard, but as one of pop music’s most remarkable success stories.
For a song written in 15 minutes during a summer heatwave, it’s become the gift that keeps on giving – not just for Carey, but for millions of listeners who’ve made it part of their holiday soundtrack.
As streaming numbers continue to climb and new records fall, this modern classic proves that sometimes the best Christmas gifts are the ones that keep on giving.
