251: Why do new Christmas songs fail?

Why are there no new Christmas songs? One one hand, there's more holiday songs than we’ll ever need. Every year pop stars drop countless holiday-themed album.

But despite the annual glut of Christmas releases, few of these new songs join the rotation of holiday classics. On Billboard's Holiday Hot 100 chart right now, there's only four songs from the past ten years that have made it to the top fifty.

We listen to each of these holiday hits—from Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and the Jonas Brothers—and and ask if these songs can go the distance and become the 21st century members of the Christmas music canon.

Songs Discussed

Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree

Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me

Justin Bieber - Mistletoe

Jonas Brothers - Like It's Christmas

The Bird and the Bee - You and I at Christmas Time

Loretta Lynn - White Christmas Blue

Woody Goss - One for One

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 8 Days of Hannukah

Jenny Owen Youngs, Tancred, John Mark Nelson - Fireside

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