At the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, Mariah Carey took the stage to deliver her iconic holiday hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Known as the “Queen of Christmas,” people often wonder about the royalties this festive staple fetches for Carey each year.
According to Billboard’s estimates, the song might have brought Carey between $2.7 million and $3.3 million in 2022 alone from downloads and streaming services, not including other income sources like Christmas TV specials. Although the full picture of her earnings is elusive due to undisclosed contractual agreements with her record label and song publishers, one thing is clear: Carey earns a substantial amount from this single song.
Since its release in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has turned into a massive yuletide hit, even making history by becoming the first holiday song on Spotify to amass over 2 billion streams worldwide. Its enduring popularity sees it topping the global charts each Christmas since 2016. In the U.S., streaming of the song reached 249 million by 2023, indicating a hefty increase from prior years.
George Howard, a professor and former record label president, describes the song as a “money machine,” estimating that it generates $2 million to $4 million annually. Legal experts like those at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips estimate annual earnings at around $3.4 million and suggest the song has reeled in roughly $103 million in total since its debut. Of the $9.8 million earned from those streams alone, Carey receives only a fraction.
Carey’s payout benefits from her multiple roles as performer, co-writer, and co-producer, with Walter Afanasieff sharing these credits. The system of music royalties involves multiple layers funding contributors like writers, performers, producers, and labels, each with varying agreements dictating their share. Notably, Carey’s unique involvement on several fronts could mean a larger slice of the pie compared to typical artists.
For music royalties, there exist two separate streams: those for music composition and for sound recordings. Carey earns from both, thus boosting her financial gain from the song, as explained by Jordan Bromley from Manatt Entertainment. Public performances of the song trigger royalties for the writers rather than the performers, meaning Carey and her co-writer Afanasieff earn royalties even from cover versions played publicly.
While recording revenues often eclipse songwriting revenues by a large margin, Carey sits comfortably due to her multiple credits. The artist’s cut from recordings, compared to the label’s, can widely vary, but it’s clear Carey benefits significantly.
In 2022, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reportedly generated $8.5 million globally, with the original recording earning $5.3 million and publishing royalties adding another $3.2 million. Billboard suggests that Carey’s take-home from these combined sources could range from $2.7 million to $3.3 million, excluding TV special soundtracks or cover revenue.
Beyond direct song earnings, Carey’s association with Christmas opens doors to profitable deals in endorsements, live shows, and more, making the hit much more lucrative.
The enduring nature of the song means it will continue generating royalties well into the future. Copyright laws ensure Carey’s estate benefits for decades, securing this Christmas anthem a place in her legacy akin to timeless classics, until it eventually enters the public domain.
