In a stunning turn of events that has left music fans and industry insiders buzzing, Michael Bublé has achieved what many thought impossible: overtaking Mariah Carey as the most-streamed holiday artist on Spotify during the peak of the 2025 Christmas season. On Christmas Day itself—the undisputed biggest streaming day of the holiday period—the Canadian crooner surged ahead, claiming the title of Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide. With his timeless classics dominating playlists, Bublé quietly slipped the crown from the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, marking the most surprising shift in holiday music dominance in years.
For three decades, Mariah Carey has reigned supreme over the holiday season. Her 1994 masterpiece, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has become synonymous with December, an annual juggernaut that returns to charts like clockwork. The song has shattered records, including extending its reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 to an unprecedented 22 weeks across multiple seasons. Carey’s festive empire extends beyond one track; her Merry Christmas album and various specials have cemented her as the undisputed monarch of yuletide tunes. Listeners worldwide have turned to her whistle-register magic for everything from tree-trimming to office parties, generating billions of streams and millions in royalties annually.
Yet, in 2025, the numbers told a different story. On December 25, as families gathered and playlists looped endlessly, Michael Bublé emerged victorious. Data revealed that Bublé racked up an astonishing 752 million streams across his holiday catalog in December alone, eclipsing Carey’s impressive 692 million. Projections from analytics firms suggest Bublé will finish the month with a 9 percent lead, a margin that underscores the depth of his appeal. His 2011 album Christmas—a collection of warm, jazzy renditions of standards like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”—proved to be the ultimate streaming machine.
How did Bublé pull off this festive coup? The answer lies in the breadth and versatility of his holiday offerings. While Carey’s dominance hinges largely on a single iconic track, Bublé’s album provides a full soundtrack for the season. Tracks from Christmas have infiltrated every corner of holiday listening: cozy fireplace gatherings, shopping mall ambiance, family dinners, and background vibes for wrapping gifts. His smooth, big-band style evokes nostalgia without overwhelming, appealing to multiple generations. Parents play it for kids, couples for romantic evenings, and offices for non-offensive cheer. In an era of curated playlists, Bublé’s songs populate “Holiday Classics,” “Cozy Christmas,” and “Jazz Christmas” compilations en masse.
Bublé’s role as a coach on The Voice has also played a pivotal part. The popular NBC singing competition, now in its later seasons, has kept the singer in the public eye year-round. His charismatic mentorship, witty banter, and genuine passion for music have endeared him to a broad audience, many of whom discover or rediscover his catalog during the holidays. Fresh exposure from the show translated directly into streams, as viewers associated his velvety voice with seasonal warmth. This crossover appeal—bridging reality TV fans with traditional crooner enthusiasts—gave Bublé an edge Carey, despite her legendary status, couldn’t match this year.
The shift reflects evolving listener habits in the streaming age. Platforms like Spotify prioritize full albums and varied tracks for longer sessions. Bublé’s Christmas, with its 15 songs blending originals and covers, encourages extended play. Listeners queue the entire record, boosting multiple tracks simultaneously. In contrast, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” often stands alone as a standout single, phenomenal in isolation but less conducive to album-length immersion. Analytics show Bublé’s hits like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” rivaling or surpassing Carey’s anthem in certain demographics, particularly among those seeking subdued, sophisticated holiday vibes over high-energy pop.
This takeover isn’t just about numbers; it’s cultural. Social media erupted on December 26 with reactions ranging from shock to celebration. Fans hailed Bublé as the new “King of Christmas,” with memes of him “defrosting” to claim the throne going viral. His estimated $15.9 million in royalties from the season highlights the financial stakes, turning holiday music into a lucrative perennial. Bublé’s album, now over a decade old, has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide and consistently tops charts, but 2025 marked its most dominant streaming performance yet.
Carey, ever gracious in the spotlight, has long shared the holiday stage—collaborating with Bublé on past specials and acknowledging the shared joy of seasonal music. Yet, this upset adds intrigue to an already competitive landscape. Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” remain contenders, but Bublé’s breadth sets him apart. His Vatican performance earlier in December, singing for Pope Leo XIV, added a layer of timeless reverence, further endearing him to global audiences.
As the holiday season wrapped, Bublé’s victory felt earned through consistency. His music embodies comfort: snow falling outside, hot cocoa in hand, lights twinkling. In a year marked by rapid trends, listeners craved that reliability. Carey’s reign may endure—her single remains the most iconic modern Christmas song—but on the day it mattered most, families and solitary streamers alike chose Bublé’s soothing baritone.
This unexpected shift reminds us that even unbreakable traditions evolve. For years, Carey owned Christmas without rival. In 2025, Bublé proved there’s room for a new voice at the top. As playlists reset for next December, the battle for holiday supremacy promises to be fiercer than ever. The King has arrived— and he’s here to stay.
