How Much Do Slade Make From ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’…?

Slade could make up to £1 million from their evergreen festive hit ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ this year.

The song was released in 1973 and became an instant Christmas classic, topping the charts that festive period. Since then, it’s been re-released multiple streams, while the streaming era has introduced the glam smash to new generations.

A perennial radio staple throughout December (and beyond), ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ feels like a key part of the British Christmas season.

New research from Slingo has built up the economic worth of some of the country’s biggest Christmas singles, ranging from The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl through to Bing Crosby, Wham! and of course Sir Paul McCartney.

Each artist receives a festive boost in income, where that’s around £260,000 for Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ or £97,000 for East 17’s iconic ‘Stay Another Day’.

At the top of the league table, Mariah Carey earns £400,000 for her smash ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – it should be pointed out, however, that these are UK royalties, and Mariah is a much more global artist than, say, Jona Lewie’s ‘Stop The Cavalry’.

The Pogues – alongside the estate of Kirsty MacColl – earn around £400,000 for ‘Fairytale Of New York’, a song that is equal parts moving and controversial.

At the top of the league table, though, are Slade: if Slingo’s mathematics are correct, the band stand to take in around £1,000,000 for ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, the majority of which goes to songwriters Noddy Holder and Jim Lea.

Find the full breakdown below.