Love them or hate them, there’s no chance high street stores are going to desist from the Christmas tunes. The likes of Mariah Carey and Slade singing about Christmas trees and Santa are good for business, making people much more likely to splash out on gifts, according to research from the music licensing organisations.

One in four people claim to be more generous when buying gifts if Christmas music is played, according to PPL and PRS for Music, the royalty collectors for songwriters and musicians.

Over the last decade they have seen a rise in Christmas-themed music played in stores and have analysed data from shops, radio airplay, television and live events to reveal Carey’s All I want for Christmas Is You as the most played from the last 10 years.

The top 10 Most Played Christmas Songs of the Decade:

1. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU Mariah Carey (1994)

2. FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues (1987)
3. MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY Slade (1973)
4. STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie (1980)
5. DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS? Band Aid (1984)
6. DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea (1988)
7. LAST CHRISTMAS Wham (1984)
8. I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake (1975)
9. STEP INTO CHRISTMAS Elton John (1973)
10. WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME Paul McCartney (1979)

Source: Guardian UK