What does it really take to write a Christmas song that lasts forever? Singer, songwriter and producer Charlie Puth sits down with Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to unpack the magic behind holiday hits, from the one chord that seems to appear in nearly every classic to the ’60s influences that continue to shape today’s festive favorites. Puth shares how he once wrote a Christmas song in just an hour, why some tracks become seasonal standards almost by accident and how artists balance tradition with originality when creating holiday music. He also takes listeners inside piano sessions, highlights his favorite Christmas albums and songs, answers rapid-fire holiday questions and reflects on how the craft of songwriting has evolved, all while offering a sneak peek at what’s next for his own music.
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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
Kristin Robinson:
Why does Christmas music sound so Christmassy? How can we recognize within the first few seconds that a certain recording is going to be a holiday song? Is it the sleigh bells, the waltz time signatures, the jolly pop melodies? Well, thankfully, I have a very special guest today who can help solve that mystery for us. Charlie Puth is here as part of our special two part Christmas series this week to break down the sound behind Christmas hits. Welcome back to on the record, a music business podcast from Billboard and SickBird Productions. I’m your host, Kristin Robinson, and today we are joined by Professor Puth himself to understand the sound of Christmas music and also what are some of his favorite holiday hits. This seasonal genre may only hit the top of the Hot 100 for about a month out of the year, but pinning a Christmas classic is a seriously big business. In the US alone, Billboard estimates that Christmas recordings earn about $177 million annually, plus there’s great sentimental value in minting an evergreen holiday hit. This time every year think about how many families around the world are inviting the sounds of Mariah Carey, Michael Buble, Brenda, Lee, Nat King, Cole and others into their homes. These are memories that last a lifetime and create an eternal bond between the fan and the artist. But before we bring Charlie in to break this down for us, I just want to warn our regular viewers of On the Record that we are going to be taking a slight break during the holidays, but we’ll be back in mid January to give you even more great interviews and insights into the music business.
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