December 18th 2024.
It's that time of year again when we eagerly await the announcement of the Christmas Number One for 2024. This highly coveted title is a long-standing tradition in Britain, with talented artists from all genres vying for the top spot. Last year, Wham! finally took home the crown with their 40-year-old hit, reigniting the chart battle after five years of Ladbaby wins. And the beloved track is once again in the running, along with a mix of new songs and timeless classics.
Over the years, we've seen big names like The Spice Girls, The Beatles, Leona Lewis, Rage Against the Machine, Girls Aloud, Nicole Kidman, and even Mr. Blobby claim the number one spot. So, it truly is anyone's game. But how exactly are the charts calculated, and when will this year's winner be announced?
The official Top 40 chart in the UK is compiled by the Official Charts Company, which surveys thousands of retailers and online platforms every day to count physical sales, digital downloads, and audio and video streams. This comprehensive research panel covers 99.9% of the UK singles market and operates on a Friday to Thursday chart week, with sales counted from 12:01am on Friday to 12:00am on Thursday.
The countdown of the Top 40 is then revealed every Friday afternoon on BBC Radio 1, and the full list is published on OfficialCharts.com from 5:45pm. And while other countries may have their own chart battles, the Christmas number one is a UK tradition that is not shared by America's Billboard ranking.
With the rise of streaming, the Christmas Number One landscape has changed significantly. In 2008, the Official Charts Company began including streaming information in their charts, and in 2014, this was fully integrated with 100 audio streams from major services like Spotify and Apple equating to one single purchase. In 2018, video downloads and streams were also incorporated into the calculations.
The album chart works similarly, with 1000 streams counting as one complete album sale. And to give new songs a fair chance to gain traction, the rules state that they are weighted more heavily than Christmas classics for the first three years of their release.
So, when will we find out who has claimed the 2024 Christmas Number One? With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday this year, the winner will be whoever is at the top spot when the charts are revealed on Friday. Although midweek charts leading up to Christmas could give us a different picture, the official Christmas Number One will be announced on Friday, December 20th. And the full Christmas Top 40 will be counted down on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show with Jack Saunders from 4pm.
Currently, last year's winner Wham! is dominating the competition, closely followed by Mariah Carey's iconic Christmas hit. However, newcomer Tom Grennan is holding his own, with Mariah stepping up on the midweek charts to overtake him. The bookies also have some interesting predictions, with random festive tracks like Big Shaun and the Steel People and Yorkshire Pudding Boy in the mix. And it's likely that The Pogues will once again miss out on the top spot, coming in at 18/1.
So, as we eagerly await the announcement, it's anyone's guess who will take home the coveted title of 2024 Christmas Number One. Stay tuned for the big reveal on Friday, December 20th. This article was first published on December 23, 2022. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page.
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