Top Testing Holiday Songs for 2005!

Tis the season when Holiday music fills the airwaves. But which songs are ratings winners, and which ones are ratings killers? We tested the top 30 most-played holiday songs from 2004 according to Nielsen BDS in four American formats. Radio listeners were invited to rate the songs through Pinnacle Media's revolutionary OnlineTRACKER music research system. We also asked some holiday-related perceptual questions and have included the responses below. Listeners were recruited through Radio Music Survey.com and completed the survey from 23 - 29 November 2005.

Formats:

Give your station the gift of knowledge! Learn how your listeners really feel about the music they hear. Discover how your station can harness OnlineTRACKER in 2006 for higher ratings and higher revenue! Click here to try OnlineTRACKER.


Adult Contemporary
638 in-tab
2004 Spin Rank
2005 Test Rank
Title
Artist
Raw Avg
% Fam
% High Burn
% Love
% Like
% OK
% Dislike
% Hate
1
1
 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
81.3
97
7
49
27
16
3
3
3
2
 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
80.0
96
7
45
28
19
3
2
2
3
 The Christmas Song Nat King Cole
79.1
95
4
47
26
15
4
3
11
4
 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry
77.5
96
8
41
26
24
3
2
5

5

 White Christmas Bing Crosby
77.4
94
8
47
22
18
4
4
7
6
 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams
76.6
96
8
39
30
19
5
4
9
7
 Happy X-mas (War Is Over) John Lennon
76.6
92
6
49
22
13
4
4
4
8
 A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives
76.3
93
6
42
27
19
3
2
26
9
 Sleigh Ride Ronettes
76.3
94
5
37
33
18
4
3
8
10
 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano
73.5
94
10
39
24
20
5
6
21
11
 Jingle Bell Rock Hall & Oates
73.3
96
8
32
29
25
6
4
15
12
 Wonderful Christmas Time Paul McCartney
72.3
93
9
35
27
20
7
4
17
13
 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey
72.0
95
12
40
20
19
7
9
10
14
 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Johnny Mathis
71.5
93
6
33
26
25
6
2
30
15
 Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson
70.8
91
7
31
28
25
6
2
20
16
 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Bruce Springsteen
70.0
94
10
33
25
21
10
6
28
17
 O Holy Night Josh Groban
69.7
91
6
34
23
23
8
4
13
18
 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley
69.4
91
9
35
23
21
8
5
27
19
 Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
69.1
86
5
39
22
17
5
4
14
20
 Last Christmas Wham!
68.7
91
10
35
21
23
7
5
19
21
 Little Saint Nick Beach Boys
66.1
89
9
26
27
25
7
4
22
22
 Winter Wonderland Eurythmics
66.0
91
8
25
27
25
10
4
12
23
 Please Come Home For Christmas Eagles
64.2
85
6
28
25
22
7
4
16
24
 Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid
63.3
84
10
31
21
19
7
6
23
25
 Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season Andy Williams
62.7
88
10
23
23
27
9
5
29
26
 Deck The Halls Mannheim Steamroller
60.0
87
11
22
22
25
11
7
18
27
 Do You Hear What I Hear Whitney Houston
59.6
89
12
19
21
29
12
8
6
28
 Merry Christmas Darling Carpenters
58.4
82
10
24
20
21
12
6
24
29
 Step Into Christmas Elton John
54.9
80
10
19
20
23
11
6
25
30
 The Christmas Shoes New Song
49.1
72
10
21
14
18
11
7
 
 
#1 Compared to last year, how much money will you spend on gifts this year?
 
About the same as last year
 48%
 
More than last year
 25%
 
Less than last year
 27%
 
 
#2  Which types of Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station?
  Classic Christmas songs 52%
  New Christmas songs sung by contemporary artists 39%
  I do not want to hear any Christmas music on my favorite station 10%
 
 
#3  When would you like your favorite radio station to start playing ALL-CHRISTMAS music?
Before Thanksgiving 6%
Just after Thanksgiving (Friday 25 November) 32%
3 weeks before Christmas 18%
2 weeks before Christmas 11%
1 week before Christmas 10%
Christmas Eve 13%
Not at all 11%
 
 
#4  How much Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station during the holiday season before Christmas Eve?
All Christmas music 17%
A few to several Christmas songs each hour 64%
One Christmas song each hour 15%
No Christmas music at all 6%
 
 
#5  Do you plan to buy music as a gift this holiday season?
Yes 66%
No 7%
Don't Know 27%

top


Adult Top 40
985 in-tab

2004
Spin
Rank
2005
Test Rank
Title
Artist
Raw Avg
% Fam
% High Burn
% Love
% Like
% OK
% Dislike
% Hate
9
1
 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
79.0
99
11
45
23
22
4
6
13
2
 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
76.4
97
11
39
28
21
4
4
10
3
 A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives
76.0
94
8
40
26
21
4
2
19
4
 The Christmas Song Nat King Cole
73.0
92
9
41
23
18
5
5
21
5
 White Christmas Bing Crosby
73.0
94
11
38
24
20
6
6
6

6

 Happy X-mas (War Is Over) John Lennon
72.0
89
8
44
21
15
5
5
23
7
 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams
72.0
94
10
35
26
21
5
6
20
8
 Jingle Bell Rock Hall & Oates
70.6
94
9
29
29
25
6
5
24
9
 Sleigh Ride Ronettes
70.6
91
9
32
29
21
5
5
4
10
 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey
68.9
95
16
37
20
16
9
13
11
11
 Wonderful Christmas Time Paul McCartney
68.8
92
12
27
28
25
8
4
12
12
 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano
68.7
92
16
34
22
21
6
9
26
13
 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley
66.3
91
14
30
24
20
9
8
2
14
 Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
66.2
83
7
37
20
15
6
4
28
15
 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Pretenders
64.4
88
9
25
26
23
9
5
3
16
 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Bruce Springsteen
64.2
91
13
28
22
22
10
9
5
17
 Last Christmas Wham!
63.5
87
12
30
19
21
9
7
8
18
 Winter Wonderland Eurythmics
60.5
88
10
21
24
25
11
7
22
19
 Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy David Bowie & Bing Crosby
59.7
86
12
24
21
20
12
8
30
20
 Please Come Home For Christmas Jon Bon Jovi
58.7
84
9
22
22
23
10
7
18
21
 Santa Baby Madonna
58.4
90
19
24
19
19
11
17
14
22
 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus John Mellencamp
57.2
85
10
20
19
26
13
7
15
23
 Please Come Home For Christmas Eagles
56.8
80
7
19
25
22
9
5
1
24
 Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid
55.1
77
11
23
19
20
8
7
17
25
 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) U2
54.6
79
11
21
19
21
9
8
7
26
 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Barenaked Ladies
49.8
75
10
17
17
22
11
8
25
27
 Merry Christmas Darling Carpenters
48.7
75
13
16
17
20
14
8
16
28
 Step Into Christmas Elton John
47.7
74
11
14
16
25
11
8
27
29
 The Christmas Shoes New Song
45.2
68
11
19
13
16
9
10
29
30
 Christmas Wrapping Waitresses
39.4
68
17
12
10
17
16
12
 
 
#1 Compared to last year, how much money will you spend on gifts this year?
 
About the same as last year
 48%
 
More than last year
 25%
 
Less than last year
 27%
 
 
#2  Which types of Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station?
  Classic Christmas songs 45%
  New Christmas songs sung by contemporary artists 42%
  I do not want to hear any Christmas music on my favorite station 13%
 
 
#3  When would you like your favorite radio station to start playing ALL-CHRISTMAS music?
  Before Thanksgiving 4%
Just after Thanksgiving (Friday 25 November) 24%
3 weeks before Christmas 18%
2 weeks before Christmas 12%
1 week before Christmas 12%
Christmas Eve 15%
Not at all 15%
 
 
#4  How much Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station during the holiday season before Christmas Eve?
All Christmas music 12%
A few to several Christmas songs each hour 61%
One Christmas song each hour 20%
No Christmas music at all 8%
 
 
#5  Do you plan to buy music as a gift this holiday season?
Yes 67%
No 7%
Don't Know 26%

top

Mainstream CHR
919 in-tab
2004 Spin Rank
2005 Test Rank
Title
Artist
Raw Avg 
% Fam 
% High Burn 
% Love
% Like 
% OK 
% Dislike
% Hate 
24
1
 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
78.3
96
7
43
27
19
3
3
14
2
 Rockin Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
76.5
95
7
41
26
20
3
3
1
3
 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey
71.5
94
12
40
22
16
6
10
11
4
 The Chanukah Song Adam Sandler
71.1
89
10
45
17
13
7
7
12

5

 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano
70.3
93
13
36
22
20
6
8
18
6
 Happy X-Mas (War Is Over) John Lennon
69.4
86
6
41
20
16
4
5
22
7
 The Chanukah Song Part 3 Adam Sandler Feat. The Drei-Dels & Rob Schneider
67.1
86
10
41
17
14
6
7
17
8
 Wonderful Christmas Time Paul McCartney
66.1
89
9
31
22
22
7
6
26
9
 Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Elmo And Patsy
65.2
89
14
34
18
18
10
9
3
10
 Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
64.2
82
7
35
20
16
6
5
8
11
 Last Christmas Wham!
63.4
85
11
30
22
19
7
7
9
12
 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Bruce Springsteen
62.5
89
12
25
22
23
11
8
25
13
 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Jessica Simpson Feat. Rosie O'Donnell
60.5
88
12
24
21
23
10
10
5
14
 Santa Baby Madonna
60.1
90
17
25
19
20
12
14
28
15
 Winter Wonderland Eurythmics
59.3
86
9
21
20
27
12
6
7
16
 The Christmas Song Christina Aguilera
57.8
87
13
18
21
26
11
9
21
17
 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus John Mellencamp
56.8
85
11
19
19
26
12
8
29
18
 Please Come Home For Christmas Eagles
55.8
78
7
20
22
23
7
5
4
19
 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 'N Sync
55.6
85
15
21
18
22
12
13
15
20
 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) U2
54.5
78
10
20
21
20
8
8
27
21
 This Gift 98 Degrees
53.5
79
11
20
18
21
11
8
6
22
 Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid
53.3
76
11
22
19
19
8
8
13
23
 My Only Wish (This Year) Britney Spears
52.9
82
16
20
16
20
13
13
16
24
 Baby, It's Cold Outside Jessica Simpson W/ Nick Lachey
52.4
84
18
18
17
20
14
14
10
25
 Twelve Pains Of Christmas Bob Rivers
52.0
74
11
22
17
18
9
7
2
26
 Merry Merry Merry Frickin' Christmas Fricken' A
48.1
72
13
20
16
15
11
11
23
27
 Step Into Christmas Elton John
46.9
73
10
13
17
23
12
7
20
28
 Christmas In Hollis Run D.M.C.
45.5
74
16
16
14
17
15
13
19
29
 Sleigh Ride TLC
43.1
73
15
12
11
22
17
11
30
30
 Christmas Wrapping Waitresses
39.9
68
15
13
10
17
17
11
 
 
#1 Compared to last year, how much money will you spend on gifts this year?
 
About the same as last year
 50%
 
More than last year
 26%
 
Less than last year
 24%
 
 
#2  Which types of Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station?
  Classic Christmas songs 40%
  New Christmas songs sung by contemporary artists 49%
  I do not want to hear any Christmas music on my favorite station 11%
 
 
#3  When would you like your favorite radio station to start playing ALL-CHRISTMAS music?
  Before Thanksgiving 4%
Just after Thanksgiving (Friday 25 November) 25%
3 weeks before Christmas 19%
2 weeks before Christmas 13%
1 week before Christmas 13%
Christmas Eve 15%
Not at all 12%
 
 
#4  How much Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station during the holiday season before Christmas Eve?
All Christmas music 14%
A few to several Christmas songs each hour 61%
One Christmas song each hour 17%
No Christmas music at all 8%
 
 
#5  Do you plan to buy music as a gift this holiday season?
Yes 68%
No 7%
Don't Know 25%

top

Country
368 in-tab
2004 Spin Rank
2005 Test Rank
Title
Artist
Raw Avg
% Fam
% High Burn
% Love
% Like
% OK
% Dislike
% Hate
5
1
 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
84.8
98
6
56
24
14
2
2
9
2
 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
84.2
98
5
54
25
16
2
2
23
3
 A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives
82.3
97
4
52
22
17
3
1
17
4
 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley
79.8
97
8
49
23
16
6
4
30

5

 Sleigh Ride Lorrie Morgan
78.0
95
3
41
29
21
2
2
25
6
 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano
76.9
97
14
44
24
17
5
7
26
7
 Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Elmo & Patsy
76.5
96
14
46
20
20
6
6
10
8
 A Holly Jolly Christmas Alan Jackson
76.3
94
4
38
32
19
4
1
12
9
 Where Are You Christmas? Faith Hill
75.2
90
4
49
19
14
5
2
29
10
 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Garth Brooks
74.5
93
4
33
35
20
4
2
15
11
 Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow Ricochet
73.8
92
4
35
32
18
5
2
3
12
 Redneck 12 Days Of Christmas Jeff Foxworthy
71.8
91
9
42
20
14
9
5
28
13
 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Vince Gill
69.6
91
6
32
26
21
9
3
18
14
 Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy Garth Brooks
67.5
84
5
34
26
17
5
2
16
15
 The Christmas Shoes New Song
65.3
82
5
37
21
13
8
3
24
16
 Deck The Halls Shedaisy
65.2
89
8
26
24
22
13
3
1
17
 All I Want For Christmas Is You Vince Vance & The Valiants
65.1
85
4
28
24
24
5
3
13
18
 All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan Kenny Chesney
63.8
83
4
26
28
23
4
3
20
19
 I Only Want You For Christmas Alan Jackson
60.5
81
5
22
29
20
7
3
14
20
 Let It Be Christmas Alan Jackson
60.2
78
2
23
28
20
5
2
27
21
 Old Toy Trains Toby Keith
58.6
76
3
24
27
17
7
1
22
22
 Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart Leann Rimes
58.2
76
2
20
29
22
4
2
21
23
 Leroy The Redneck Reindeer Joe Diffie
58.1
80
8
24
21
21
9
5
11
24
 Hard Candy Christmas Dolly Parton
57.6
78
6
25
19
23
6
5
4
25
 Christmas In Dixie Alabama
55.7
77
5
22
18
24
10
3
6
26
 Christmas Cookies George Strait
52.3
73
3
15
23
26
8
2
2
27
 'Til Santa's Gone (Milk And Cookies) Clint Black
51.0
73
7
18
20
20
11
4
19
28
 Merry Christmas Strait To You George Strait
50.3
71
6
18
18
23
9
3
8
29
 Merry Christmas From The Family Montgomery Gentry
48.8
70
6
16
18
23
11
3
7
30
 Christmas Carol Skip Ewing
48.0
67
5
16
19
24
7
2
 
 
#1 Compared to last year, how much money will you spend on gifts this year?
 
About the same as last year
 50%
 
More than last year
 21%
 
Less than last year
 29%
 
 
#2  Which types of Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station?
  Classic Christmas songs 52%
  New Christmas songs sung by contemporary artists 43%
  I do not want to hear any Christmas music on my favorite station 5%
 
 
#3  When would you like your favorite radio station to start playing ALL-CHRISTMAS music?
  Before Thanksgiving 6%
Just after Thanksgiving (Friday 25 November) 34%
3 weeks before Christmas 17%
2 weeks before Christmas 14%
1 week before Christmas 10%
Christmas Eve 13%
Not at all 7%
 
 
#4  How much Christmas music would you like to hear on your favorite station during the holiday season before Christmas Eve?
All Christmas music 20%
A few to several Christmas songs each hour 64%
One Christmas song each hour 11%
No Christmas music at all 4%
 
 
#5  Do you plan to buy music as a gift this holiday season?
Yes 67%
No 6%
Don't Know 27%

 

 

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