Welcome to the latest edition of State of the Screens.  

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes [501 words]

Please forward this to friends and encourage them to sign up here. 

Onward,

Michael Beach

The Queen of Christmas Is Still Printing Money

Every December, the same thing happens.

A song written in 1994 quietly wakes up.
It climbs the charts.
It dominates playlists.
It prints millions of dollars.

And then, just as quietly, it goes back to sleep.

That song is All I Want for Christmas Is You.

In 2025, it did something no other song in history has ever done.

This isn’t a music story.
It’s a streaming economics story.

Let’s break it down into 4 big questions:
1) Why does All I Want for Christmas Is You matter?
2) How has the universe grown this year?
3) When do people start listening?
4) What’s the most-streamed Christmas song?

Previous All I Want for Christmas is You: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

Why does All I Want for Christmas Is You matter?

It’s the most powerful seasonal hit ever.

All I Want for Christmas Is You is now the longest-running #1 song in Billboard Hot 100 history, with the most weeks at the top.

Weeks at #1 (Billboard):
1) "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey - 21
2) "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey - 19
3) "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus - 19
4) "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen - 16
5) "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber - 16
6) "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - 16

For years, the song never hit #1.

Then streaming changed everything.

Highest chart position by year:
1) 2013–18 - never higher than #3
2) 2019–25 - #1 every year

Weeks at #1 by year:
1) 2019 - 3
2) 2020 - 2
3) 2021 - 3
4) 2022 - 4
5) 2023 - 2
6) 2024 - 4
7) 2025 - 3+

Only three holiday songs have ever hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100:
1) "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville (1958)
2) "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey (2019-25)
3) "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree," by Brenda Lee (2023)

How has the universe grown this year?

Mariah turned one song into a brand.

What’s new:
1) A Christmas pop-up bar in Los Angeles
2) A Las Vegas residency

Video: Ariana Grande Covers All I Want For Christmas Is You

When do people start listening?

Official start: November 1.

That’s when Mariah posts: “It’s Time!”

Reality check: Many people start earlier. Mrs. Screens leads the charge.

What’s the most-streamed Christmas song?

Most-streamed Christmas Songs (Spotify):
1) "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey
2) "Last Christmas" by Wham!
3) "Santa Tell Me" by Ariana Grande
4) "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee
5) "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" by Michael Bublé
6) "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms
7) "Snowman" by Sia
8) "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams
9) "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber
10) "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano