Every year, when Mariah Carey says “It’s timeee!”, the world knows Christmas has officially started.
But beyond the fun and memes, that moment signals the beginning of one of the most profitable music seasons for her.
Her 1994 hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has become more than just a holiday tune it’s a business empire that keeps paying her millions nearly 30 years later.
How the money flows in
Here’s how Mariah makes money from that one song:
1. Streaming platforms
Every time people play the song on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, she earns royalties.
The song tops global charts every December last year alone it had over 1 billion streams on Spotify.
2. Radio plays
Radio stations all over the world play it non-stop during Christmas.
Each play brings in performance royalties.
3. Downloads and sales
Even in 2025, people still buy or download the song, especially during holiday gift playlists.
4. Licensing
Brands and films pay to use the song in adverts, holiday campaigns, or Christmas movies and those fees are big.
The Numbers
According to data from Forbes, The Economist, and Good Housekeeping:
Mariah earns about $2.5 million to $3 million every year in royalties from “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Since its release in 1994, the song has reportedly earned over $60 million in total revenue.
The song generates an estimated $6 million in annual revenue, shared between Mariah, her co-writer, and the record label.
That means Mariah personally pockets a few million dollars every Christmas season just from that one song.
The Business Lesson
Mariah Carey’s Christmas success shows the power of:
Owning intellectual property (IP): one well-written song can keep earning forever.
Timing and branding: she built a personal brand around Christmas.
Evergreen content: because Christmas happens every year, the song never gets old.
Every December, while people decorate trees and sip hot chocolate, Mariah Carey quietly earns millions from the same 1994 song.
She doesn’t need to release new music one holiday hit turned her into a Christmas business powerhouse.
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