Best Christmas Playlists of 2024: Spotify, Apple Music & YouTube

We take a pause from our regular programming to offer the Best Christmas Playlists 2024 on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube complete with links.

Best Christmas Playlists of 2024

Spotify

Spotify curators offer the the wildly popular Christmas Hits playlist.

Also from Spotify is Christmas Pop

For something more mellow try Cozy Christmas Jazz.

A personal favorite of the eclectic Folksy Christmas.

Indie rock lovers will enjoy Indie Christmas.

Then there is the independently curated Best Christmas Playlist on Spotify.

Apple Music

Apple offers Essential Christmas and a special 2024  ‘Carols Covered’ which includes new versions of holiday classics from Alice Merton, Boynextdoor, Lights, Tones and I, Rachel Chinouriri, Rachel Platten. the Linda Lindas, and more.

A ‘Classical Carols Covered’ playlist offers new Classical Music holiday song versions from Anastasia Kobekina, Daniil Trifonov, Hayato Sumino, Sansara, and more.

YouTube

Magic Club offers a continuous stream of traditional Christmas music with holiday visuals.

If Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin fit your holiday tastes, Timeless Melody offers Classic Christmas Hits.

And since 2024 was the year that AI came to music, its seemed appropriate to ask ChatGPT to also find the best Music Christmas Music Playlists.

1. Classic Christmas Hits

• Best for: Traditional holiday vibes, family gatherings
• Key Songs: “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, “Silent Night” by Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry
• Where to find: Spotify’s Christmas Classics playlist, Apple Music’s Christmas Essentials

2. Contemporary Christmas

• Best for: Modern holiday tunes, younger generations
• Key Songs: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
• Where to find: Spotify’s Christmas Pop Hits, Apple Music’s Pop Christmas

3. Cozy Christmas Vibes

• Best for: Relaxing by the fire, winter nights
• Key Songs: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra, “Christmas Time Is Here” by Vince Guaraldi Trio, “River” by Joni Mitchell, “Winter Wonderland” by Michael Bublé
• Where to find: Spotify’s Cozy Christmas, Apple Music’s Cozy Christmas Tunes

4. Indie Christmas

• Best for: A fresh take on Christmas music, indie lovers
• Key Songs: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Death Cab for Cutie, “The 12 Days of Christmas” by She & Him, “Wonderful Christmastime” by The Shins
• Where to find: Spotify’s Indie Christmas, Apple Music’s Indie Christmas Songs

5. Jazz Christmas

• Best for: Elegant, sophisticated holiday mood
• Key Songs: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Ella Fitzgerald, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” by Nancy Wilson, “Christmas Blues” by Duke Ellington
• Where to find: Spotify’s Christmas Jazz, Apple Music’s Jazz Christmas

6. Christmas Party Playlist

• Best for: Upbeat, fun holiday gatherings, dancing
• Key Songs: “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano, “Merry Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens, “Shake Up Christmas” by Train, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
• Where to find: Spotify’s Christmas Party, Apple Music’s Holiday Dance Party

7. Christmas Chill & Acoustic

• Best for: Intimate, mellow Christmas atmosphere
• Key Songs: “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Jack Johnson, “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives (Acoustic Version)
• Where to find: Spotify’s Chill Christmas, Apple Music’s Acoustic Christmas

8. Christmas Movie Soundtracks

• Best for: Movie lovers, nostalgic moments
• Key Songs: “Somewhere in My Memory” (Home Alone), “The Polar Express” theme, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” (Love Actually), “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
• Where to find: Spotify’s Christmas Movie Classics, Apple Music’s Movie Christmas

9. Christmas for Kids

• Best for: Family time, little ones
• Key Songs: “Jingle Bells” by The Singing Dogs, “Frosty the Snowman” by Gene Autry, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by The Muppets, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by The Wiggles
• Where to find: Spotify’s Kids Christmas, Apple Music’s Christmas Songs for Kids

10. Soulful Christmas

• Best for: A soulful, groovy Christmas
• Key Songs: “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway, “Soulful Christmas” by James Brown, “Give Love on Christmas Day” by The Jackson 5
• Where to find: Spotify’s Soul Christmas, Apple Music’s Soulful Christmas

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.