Streaming data suggests Christmas music is getting sadder
An increase in “sad” Christmas songs suggests a growing appetite for melancholy and relatable festive music.
When we think of Christmas songs, there are classics that are heard on repeat every year to get people into the festive spirit. Think jingle bells, upbeat tempos, declarations of love and happiness. But, it seems like it’s becoming more widely accepted that the festive period can bring up feelings of loneliness, sorrow, heartbreak, grief, regret… the antithesis of tinsel and champagne. A recent article from Digital Music News, powered by streaming data from Chartmetric, explores this rather gloomy phenomenon.
The artists contributing to this trend are, on the whole, modern artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and many more. These types of melancholic holiday tunes are increasingly making up Spotify playlists that feature taglines such as “sad christmas”, along with tagged moods like “heartbroken” and “lonely”. Of course, the more traditional “happy” holiday tracks, like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee still dominate mainstream charts, but alternative sadder tracks are undeniably seeing a rise.
DMN quotes New Orleans-based journalist and podcaster, Alex Rawls as saying of Christmas songs, “… Some are unquestionably sad. Some are funny, some take the piss. But they’re all finding far more personal ways of dealing with Christmas.”
Forlorn, not festive playlist & streaming insights
Spotify playlists
- Sad Christmas: 5,121 followers in 2021 – 28,8K followers in Nov 2025
- Folksy Christmas: 4,252 followers in 2019 – 127,7K followers today
- Mellow Christmas: Follower count rising steadily
- Christmas Hits: 7.2M followers; mainly upbeat tracks, but recent additions show more melancholic moods
Apple Music Playlists
- Bummer Holiday: Features indie-rock, R&B, and singer-songwriter sad tracks; 46% of tracks from the 2020s
Mood tags in playlists
- Common “sad” tags: lonely, heartbroken, melancholic, sad, longing, mourning, contemplative, blue.
- Example tracks with these moods:
- Bleachers – Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call: mournful/mourning/melancholic
- Jordan Davis – O Come All Ye Faithful – Spotify Singles Holiday: blue
- Meghan Trainor – I’ll Be Home (2024): longing
- Laufey – Santa Baby: longing/painful
- Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas: melancholic
Is Christmas music getting sadder?
This growth in alternative playlists signals a rising demand for “anti-festive” or less cheerful holiday music. This is solidified by Spotify and Apple Music both expanding editorial playlists for moody holiday tracks. We’ve all walked into a shop and heard Christmas music and either thought, “Oh no, not this already”, or “I can’t take much more of this.” Too much of the overly happy and jolly themes can become a bit wearing. Alternative playlists integrate contemporary music with Christmas themes, reflecting real-life experiences rather than idealised festive joy.
Sad festive music may not be dominating, but it is growing, particularly in indie and alternative scenes. It is apparent that listeners are seeking music that reflects their complex emotions around a holiday that can stir up difficult and uncomfortable feelings.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) stated in a 2018 report that 64% of people affected by holiday blues. A finding from UCL in 2024 explains that sad Christmas songs help listeners to cope with loneliness, stress, or festive blues.
Plenty of people would agree that it feels like times are harder these days for countless reasons. Understandably, this could lead to a lack of cheer in general, making it even harder to pull any out of the stocking during the holidays. Alternative festive music gives emotional validation and a sense of shared experience.
While most “sad” Christmas songs are released by newer artists, with Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston being exceptions, it’s still difficult to say if Christmas songs are definitively getting more sad. DMN suggests one explanation is that artists are making Christmas another topic for their regular, everyday music to focus on.
Tips for writing your own “sad” Christmas song
If you’re thinking that this trend aligns with your sound and image as an artist, then why not write your own contribution for next holiday season? Here are some things to consider that may help you on your way.
- Tap into genuine emotion: Authenticity is key. Write about real feelings of loneliness, nostalgia, or bittersweet memories that people can relate to during the holidays. Songs that feel personal resonate far more than forced sentimentality.
- Target the right playlists: Pitch your track to editorial playlists for moody or alternative holiday music on Spotify and Apple Music, such as Sad Christmas, Mellow Christmas, or Bummer Holiday. These playlists are growing quickly and are a proven way to reach listeners seeking songs that reflect their emotions.
- Blend festive elements with contemporary style: Use Christmas themes subtly – like references to winter, gifts, or family – but keep the production and songwriting in line with your regular sound. This makes the song feel both timely and true to your artistic identity, appealing to fans of both holiday and mainstream music.