Who Will Be The King/Queen of AC Christmas 2015?

[johnm1120]

Here are the winners of the previous years:

2014: Idina Menzel
2013: Kelly Clarkson
2012: Rod Stewart
2011: Michael Buble
2010: Mariah Carey
2009: No Clear Winner*
2008: Faith Hill
2007: Josh Groban
2006: No Clear Winner*
2005: Kimberley Locke
2004: Josh Groban
2003: Jim Brickman
2002: Josh Groban
2001: Jim Brickman
2000: Newsong
1999: Kenny G
1998: Celine Dion
1997: Jim Brickman
1996: no clear winner
1995: no clear winner
1994: Mariah Carey

*I declare no clear winner for 2006 because Kimberley Locke as well as Hall & Oates had #1 hits, but they didn't really dominate much else. There can also be argument for Sarah McLachlan winning this year as she had 3 songs hit the top 10 simultaneously.

*I also declare no winner for 2009 as there was no dominate Christmas release that year. No Christmas release even made the top 3 that year, and only 2 made the top 5. Nether of which really saw much play until the days leading up to Christmas.


Based on what we've seen so far, who will be taking over the "currents" section for the Christmas airwaves in 2015?

[matteeeb]

Adele.

[Kurt]

Oct 28, 2015 0:13:18 GMT -5 matteeeb said:

Adele.

Honestly, with as quickly as it's moving and no real mainstay artist releasing a big holiday song (maybe the Katy Perry H&M track or something from the Amazon-exclusive Train album will get a push, but otherwise, LeAnn Rimes seems like the only AC-compatible artist releasing this year unless Pentatonix pushes a deluxe single), I could totally see this being the correct answer.

[George]

Maybe if Leona Lewis' team pushes a second single from her holiday album last year? Really loved "One More Sleep."

I'd love to see The Braxtons get a hit AC, but it doesn't look like a single get a push.

[johnm1120]

The Braxtons could see some AC action, even without a focus push.

[HolidayGuy]

Was overall holiday-music play less last year than in previous years, post-911? I don't know if that would impact any new holiday releases, though- maybe just the "oldies." The top track just needs 1,000 or more weekly spins to rank No. 1.

[George]

Oct 31, 2015 6:53:37 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

The Braxtons could see some AC action, even without a focus push.

Just got the album yesterday and the sticker on front mentions "The holiday single EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS" so I hope that means it'll get a radio push even if the girls don't promote it/live performances/film a video.

[johnm1120]

The first week of Christmas songs on the AC chart:


18. Seal - This Christmas
20. LeAnn Rimes f/Gavin DeGraw - Celebrate Me Home
21. Train - Merry Christmas Everybody
24. Train - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
25. India.Arie & Joe Sample - Let It Snow!



Wiz Khalifa/Charlie Puth goes recurrent this week however it may not be due to Christmas clearout since none of the debuts reached the top 15. Omi should go next week with possible Style or Thinking Out Loud joining him.

[Envoirment]

Oct 28, 2015 14:29:06 GMT -5 George said:

Maybe if Leona Lewis' team pushes a second single from her holiday album last year? Really loved "One More Sleep."

I'd love to see The Braxtons get a hit AC, but it doesn't look like a single get a push.

2 years ago. Hoping "One More Sleep" will be able to do something in the US this year (got to #10 back in 2013 on AC) with it included in most spotify playlists. Plus she did a radio tour/"Thunder" made a small dent in the chart about a month ago so she has a little more exposure now too.

I can see The Braxtons doing well on AC/Urban AC this Christmas with their album.

I think the winner will be Michael Bublé though. He's got another Christmas track being released and I assume it'll be tagged on a reissue of his Christmas album.

[DJ General]

One More Sleep was awesome. It should have been huge.

[Libra]

Are Christmas songs ever allowed re-entry?

Currently seeing both Idina and "Underneath the Tree" ahead of Seal with recurrents added, kinda makes me wonder how many days before we see a "recurrent" with the top-spun song. It'd be a when, not if, unless Idina or others were to be allowed back.

[someguy]

Nov 29, 2015 4:33:06 GMT -5 Libra said:

Are Christmas songs ever allowed re-entry?

Currently seeing both Idina and "Underneath the Tree" ahead of Seal with recurrents added, kinda makes me wonder how many days before we see a "recurrent" with the top-spun song. It'd be a when, not if, unless Idina or others were to be allowed back.

I think there was a rule change a few years ago that stopped re-entries. I could be wrong though.

[johnm1120]

Nov 29, 2015 12:10:40 GMT -5 someguy said:

Nov 29, 2015 4:33:06 GMT -5 Libra said:

Are Christmas songs ever allowed re-entry?

Currently seeing both Idina and "Underneath the Tree" ahead of Seal with recurrents added, kinda makes me wonder how many days before we see a "recurrent" with the top-spun song. It'd be a when, not if, unless Idina or others were to be allowed back.

I think there was a rule change a few years ago that stopped re-entries. I could be wrong though.

No re-entries unless the label offically re-releases the song.

[someguy]

Nov 29, 2015 12:35:30 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

Nov 29, 2015 12:10:40 GMT -5 someguy said:

I think there was a rule change a few years ago that stopped re-entries. I could be wrong though.

No re-entries unless the label offically re-releases the song.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking

[Libra]

In a bizarre twist of fate, Idina Menzel, who had taken over #1 recurrentless earlier in the week, now backs down to #2 by a single spin behind Adele.

[johnm1120]

Here were Billboard's numbers for this week:

12. Seal - This Christmas (18)
15. Train - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (24)
17. Train - Merry Christmas Everybody (21)
19. LeAnn Rimes & Gavin DeGraw - Celebrate Me Home (20)
20. India.Arie & Joe Sample - Let It Snow (25)
22. Matthew & Gunnar Nelson - THis Christmas (DEBUT)
23. James Taylor - Snowtime (DEBUT)
24. Pentatonix - Joy To The World (DEBUT)
26. India.Arie & Joe Sample f/Tori Kelly - Favorite Time of Year (DEBUT)



Omi went recurrent this week. The Weeknd will go next week, and possibly some top 10s will go too. Seal leads on the list, but Train cumulatively has more airplay.


If all Christmas songs from the recurrent list were added, Idina Menzel & Michael Buble's "Baby It's Cold Outside" would be at #7, with Buble's "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" at #8. Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree" would be #9.

[Libra]

Dec 6, 2015 17:18:06 GMT -5 Libra said:

In a bizarre twist of fate, Idina Menzel, who had taken over #1 recurrentless earlier in the week, now backs down to #2 by a single spin behind Adele.

And during the past week, she remained behind Adele, never passing. Curiouser and curiouser.

Meanwhile, Seal creeps ever closer to the throne.

We can also make the case for Train, who now double up in the Top 10.

[johnm1120]

On the recurrentless chart, Michael Buble's at #1 now with It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.

On the official chart Seal moves up to # and is 77 spins shy of #1 while Train moves up to #8 and Pentatonix are #11.

Christmas AC Wannabe Elizabeth Chan debuts at #29.

[Libra]

Dec 17, 2015 12:48:41 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

On the recurrentless chart, Michael Buble's at #1 now with It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.

Well that's...decidedly odd. Doesn't even show up on Mediabase in any incarnation (including Kworb).

And I definitely hadn't checked the Billboard chart RE: Train.

*double takes* Oh! You expanded the listing!

Was 1997 really the first year where Christmas releases taking over AC really started to be a thing? Can't really be 1994, despite Mariah - it wouldn't surprise if AIWFCIY had such a boost because it was, well, her, and since it looks like it didn't happen the next two years after yet...

[johnm1120]

I expanded it because I think based on the data we can clear some years up before it really took off in the early 2000s. Mariah easily has 1994, the song only reached #6 on AC< but there wasn't anything remotely close to it anywhere. 1997 Jim Brickman's "The Gift" was huge only getting bested by Elton John's double whammy and "At the Beginning." 1998 Celine Dion's reign surpassed Christmas as "I'm Your Angel" dominated the format. 'N Sync while reaching #37 on the Billboard Pop Chart, had almost no AC backing so that ruled them out. 1999 I gave to Kenny G due to the Millennial Mix of Auld Lang Syne. I considered 98 Degrees as "This Gift" crossed into Pop boundaries, but Kenny was more impactful in the long run.

[johnm1120]

Dec 17, 2015 21:17:11 GMT -5 Libra said:

Dec 17, 2015 12:48:41 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

On the recurrentless chart, Michael Buble's at #1 now with It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.

Well that's...decidedly odd. Doesn't even show up on Mediabase in any incarnation (including Kworb).

The Billboard merged charts has it there surprisingly. Baby It's Cold Outside slips to #3, while Kelly's "Underneath The Tree" is #6. Lady Antebellum's "Holly Jolly Christmas" is #8, while Buble's version of the song is #12.