Submit Your Christmas Song to Radio, Blogs, and Playlists
Christmas songs get airplay when they arrive on time. Radio stations and playlist curators build their December rotations in October and November. A great Christmas song submitted mid-December is a great Christmas song nobody hears until next year. A service like MusicSubmit delivers your song directly to radio stations, music blogs, and playlist curators, with guaranteed listens from real people, so your track reaches the right ears before the holiday programming closes.
Christmas songs and the perfect submission timeline
Most music promotion is timeless. Submit whenever, get heard whenever. Holiday music is an exception: play season is only a few weeks, and the people who program it need to plan and work ahead of that.
- Commercial and independent radio starts assembling holiday programming in late October. Many stations flip on partial or full Christmas rotation in mid-November, at which point the playlists are largely set.
- Playlist curators refresh their Christmas playlists in late October and November, when listener numbers start climbing. Submissions arriving in early December compete for slots that are already filled.
- Music blogs publish their holiday roundups and "new Christmas music" features in November and early December, and they source those pieces in the days and weeks ahead.
That puts the deadline earlier than most artists expect. Release and submit by mid-October. Late October to ealry November also works. Early December is gonna need some luck. And past mid-December goes into next year's rotation.
How it works
- Submit your song. Sign up at MusicSubmit, upload your track, artwork, and artist info. MusicSubmit builds your artist page and press kit. You can also link external platforms.
- We send it to matching curators. Your Christmas song gets submitted out to radio stations, blogs, and playlist curators in our network. We match the ones who actually program holiday music.
- Real people listen and respond. Submissions are reviewed by station programmers, bloggers, or playlist owners. They actually listen to the music, not an algorithm.
- You get the results. You will be in direct contact via email with the people who approved your song, MusicSubmit stays out of the loop after the initial contact. Artists get airplay, playlist adds, blog features, interviews and more, all negotiated with the stations directly.
What makes a Christmas song submission-ready
Holiday programmers move fast and anything that is extra work for them is less likely to be considered. Have the whole package ready before you submit:
- A finished, mastered track. High quality MP3, not a rough mix. Radio stations will not master it for you. :)
- Correct metadata. Title, artist name, and ideally an ISRC code for airplay tracking and royalties collection.
- A one-line pitch that says what it is. "A piano-led original Christmas ballad" is all it takes sometimes. Some paragraphs of backstory are fine - but will mostly be read after an approval, not before. Programmers are slotting songs into a format, so tell them the format.
- PRO registration. Ideally register the song with your performing rights organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or your local equivalent) before airplay starts, so radio spins actually pay you.
Original songs vs. Christmas covers
Both can work. But there are differences:
- Original Christmas songs are harder to place and are the bigger prize. Stations already have "Jingle Bells." A strong original is how independent artists can break into holiday rotation, and a song that lands can come back every season for years to come.
- Covers and public domain carols are an easier pitch for playlists and specialty shows, but check the licensing first. Traditional carols published in 1930 or earlier are public domain and free to record. Modern classics are not. Our guide to public domain Christmas songs has all you need to know.
Either way a Holiday song can be a long-term winner. A Christmas release re-enters demand every November for as long as you keep promoting it.
Schedule for this season
| Milestone | When |
|---|---|
| Song mastered and distributed | by early October |
| Submitted to radio, blogs, playlists | by mid-October to early November |
| Curators program holiday rotations | late October – mid-November |
| Stations and playlists go full-Christmas | mid–late November |
| Peak listening | December 1–25 |
Missed the best date? Submit anyway. Some curators add holiday tracks through early December, and this year seeds next year's campaign.
Submit your Christmas song now
The window is short and the decisions happen early. Start your submission and your Christmas song goes out to the radio stations, blogs, and playlist curators building their holiday rotations right now.
Frequently asked questions
When should I submit a Christmas song?
Ideally late October/early November. Radio stations and playlist curators program their holiday rotations in October and November, so submissions that arrive during that time can be considered. December submissions need an extra bit of luck, otherwise they roll over to next year.
Do radio stations play independent Christmas music?
Yes. Independent, community, college, and internet stations are the most receptive, along with specialty holiday shows on larger stations. Holiday programming needs fresh material every year, and original indie Christmas songs are a great way for new artists to get into seasonal rotation.
Can I submit a Christmas cover?
Yes. Carols published in 1930 or earlier are public domain and free to record and submit. Newer songs (e.g. "White Christmas," "All I Want for Christmas Is You") require a mechanical license to distribute, which your distributor can usually arrange.
Can I resubmit the same Christmas song next year?
Yes, and you should. Christmas songs are evergreen: the audience returns every November, and a track that earned spins or playlist adds last year is an easier pitch this year. Many artists promote the same holiday song annually for years.