As December begins and the holiday season approaches, Mariah Carey’s iconic song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” can be heard almost everywhere. The festive atmosphere, from radios, cafes, hotels, offices, and shopping malls, seems incomplete without this song. If you’re a musician, songwriter, or singer, you might wonder how much royalty Mariah Carey earns annually from this song. But is it as massive as we imagine?
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” was first released in 1994 as part of Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, Merry Christmas. The song was co-written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff, a seasoned musician, songwriter, and producer who collaborated with top artists of the era, such as Celine Dion, Boyz II Men, and Natalie Cole. However, the song initially only peaked at number twelve on the Billboard US Hot 100 Airplay chart.
The Journey to Becoming a $100 Million Royalty Song
Although it didn’t perform exceptionally well in the United States, the song skyrocketed in popularity in Europe, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, becoming the most-played holiday song annually. In 2001, Mariah released a remix of her Greatest Hits album. From then on, the demand for the song surged, with the original version consistently topping the charts every December from 2005 to 2008, 2019, and beyond.
According to the Associated Press, since 1994, the song has generated an estimated $100 million in royalties. This is primarily thanks to the surge in plays from streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube, making it more accessible to listeners worldwide.
Passive Income of Up to $3 Million Per Year
As the songwriter and singer, it’s no surprise that Mariah is one of the biggest royalty earners from this song. However, she’s not the only one receiving royalties. The song has sold over 3.6 million digital copies in the United States since its release. It’s the most popular Christmas song in Europe, mainly the UK, with over 1.2 million downloads and 100 million streams. In Asia, the song ranks top on karaoke platforms and remains one of the most frequently sung Western songs.
Radio airplay and physical record sales also continue to generate royalties for the parties involved with the song. They include:
- Songwriters
Walter Afanasieff, the song’s co-writer, is entitled to a share of the songwriting royalties. - Record Label
The song is under Columbia Records, part of Sony Music Entertainment. As the company that produces, markets, and protects the master recording, the label receives royalties from distribution and licensing agreements. - Music Producers
In addition to Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff also acted as the song’s producer, earning royalties for the master recording. - Related Rights
Supporting musicians like Dan Shea and backing vocalists (Kelly Price, Melonie Daniels, and Shanrae Price) who contributed to the recording are also entitled to royalties, as stipulated in their recording contracts.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, shows how a single song can provide extraordinary long-term income for singers, songwriters, and other musicians. However, such income sources would not be well-managed without proper licensing agreements that regulate royalty distribution.
Thus, ensure that all your creations are appropriately documented and managed with solid licensing agreements to maximize their benefits—not just now but for decades to come.
Should you need more information on Copyright recordation and licensing agreements domestically and internationally, please contact us at [email protected].
