So, put on your ugliest sweater and let’s get you ready for Christmas in July.
An ideal Christmas release for most of you will be a five song EP; with three originals and two Public Domain songs–meaning no mechanical licenses needed for release. If you can’t write three, do all Public Domain tunes. These originals do not have to be overproduced, sometimes a simple piano or guitar and vocal with some harmonies is just perfect, and far easier to record and mix.
If you’re willing to invest a little money, it may be worth doing some compulsory mechanical licenses for the most searched and most played songs to cover. You can do this easily for about $15 (plus fees) per song for 1000 streams upfront as the new rate is $.12 per copy. You’ll go to HFA (harryfox.com), click on “License Music” and use Songfile to license publishing directly. Especially for streaming, this is crucial to understand. Many people simply search well-known song titles to put together a playlist and you want to be searchable. Or $12/year on Distrokid - use our code for a discount (https://distrokid.com/vip/stjames) Last year, we saw countless playlist inclusions and noticed that many of them were themed. Meaning, “Rockabilly X-mas,” “Sad Girl Holidays,” or “Merry Metal Christmas.” Editorial curators are doing the same thing (and so are sync agents). So, don’t make it sound like the original, do it in your style and you may find more success.
Don’t freak out, even one or two singles is good enough. Keep in mind, you don’t have to like Christmas, or the holidays, to play along, either. There are plenty of people who, just like you, would love to add your “F*%$ Off Santa” song to their “I Hate the Holidays” playlist too.
Take a look at the two lists below. The first list includes songs in the Public Domain that you can record and release right now, without any licenses. The second list is filled with those big-time holiday tunes, the perennial favorites which are searched and loved in any style. But again, those require a license and you do not want to be on the other end of a copyright takedown notice or lawsuit during the holidays.
Most listened to Public Domain songs on all streamers and radio
Silent night
Jingle Bells
The First Noel
Joy To The World
Away In The Manger
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Deck The Halls
Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
O Holy Night
Deck the Halls
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Ave Maria
Angels We Have Heard On High
Auld Lang Syne
O Come All Ye Faithful
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Most covered Christmas songs on Spotify (need licenses):
Silent Night
White Christmas
The Christmas Song - Winter Wonderland
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Joy to the World
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Silver Bells
Sleigh Ride
Blue Christmas
2 Shots and a Royalty Check
