How much money does Michael Buble make every Christmas? Singer is the king of holiday music realm
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Michael Buble’s version of the holiday classic 'It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' has become a seasonal staple since its release in 2011.
Originally penned by Meredith Willson in 1951, the song was popularized by Perry Como and Bing Crosby before the Canadian singer gave it a modern twist.
The track is part of his 'Christmas' album, which also features renditions of 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town', 'Jingle Bells', 'Holly Jolly Christmas', and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. Over a decade later, the album remains a holiday favorite that signals the start of the festive season, as per Nationworld.
How much money does Michael Buble make every Christmas?
With over 75 million albums sold and a reported net worth of $80 million, you might expect Michael Buble to rake in enormous profits from his Christmas hits. However, his income from the festive tunes isn’t as high as it could be. This is because royalties for holiday classics are split into two categories:
1. Sound recording royalties - These go to Buble as the performer and producer of the album.
2. Publishing royalties - Reserved for the original songwriter, in this case, Meredith Willson and his estate.
Robert Fowler, a music royalty expert, explained, "For every piece of music, there are two copyrights. If you only recorded it, as Buble did, you earn just one set of royalties."
Despite this limitation, the 'Sway' hitmaker still earns an impressive $3-4 million annually from album sales, streams, and licensing during the holiday season. While he doesn’t reach the earnings of artists who write and perform their hits, like Mariah Carey, Buble’s Christmas album has solidified his place as the king of cozy holiday soundtracks.
Michael Buble once beat Mariah Carey for the holiday crown
For musicians, a timeless Christmas song is the ultimate jackpot, surpassing awards and chart-topping records. These festive tracks generate millions annually, thanks to airplay, streaming, and licensing.
While Carey has long been considered the reigning "Queen of Christmas" with 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', data in 2021 revealed that a surprising contender had surpassed her earnings, Buble.
His 'Christmas' (Deluxe Special Edition) album, which includes 20 songs and a Christmas greeting from the singer, reportedly earned a staggering $8.7 million (£7 million) from streams alone, making him the top holiday earner.
Carey’s classic track remains a global favorite, having amassed over one billion streams on Spotify and earning nearly $3.7 million (£3 million). Wham!’s 'Last Christmas' follows closely, earning $2.6 million (£2.1 million). However, Buble’s holiday hits, including multiple tracks in the Top 40, collectively dominate the seasonal charts.
According to a Daily Express report, streaming royalties are modest—each play generates just $0.0035 (£0.0028). Yet, the sheer volume of plays transforms these songs into cash cows. In 2021, Buble’s album led with its combined earnings of over $8.7 million, outpacing even Carey’s global juggernaut.
The 2021 festive season saw a record-breaking 24 Christmas songs in the Top 40. Newer tracks, like Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s 'Merry Christmas', topped the charts, while classics such as Wham!’s 'Last Christmas' and Brenda Lee’s 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' remained perennial favorites.
Notably, British classics like Paul McCartney’s 'Wonderful Christmastime' and The Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' slipped in streaming rankings, reflecting younger audiences' preferences for modern holiday hits.
