As we head into the holidays, one question comes up every single year:
How do I get my music placed in holiday ads, films, or TV shows?
Holiday music is one of the most powerful entry points into sync licensing, and it’s something every artist and producer should at least consider having in their catalog.
We all see the success stories. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You continues to break records and has become one of the most valuable songs in modern music history. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because holiday music has something most songs don’t.
It comes back every year.
That’s the real opportunity.
Holiday Music Works If It’s Authentic
A common misconception is that holiday sync music has to be overly cheerful, shiny, or generic. That’s not true.
The goal is not to make a “sync song” just to chase placements. Everything you create should support the artist brand or producer identity you’re building.
If your sound is soulful, reflective, gritty, cinematic, intimate, or raw, there is a way to express the holidays through that same lens. The key is authenticity.
If you’re a hip-hop artist with edge and credibility, you don’t throw that away to sing about sleigh bells. You find a way to capture themes like reflection, family, endings, hope, nostalgia, or transition in a way that still feels like you.
Plenty of artists across decades have done this successfully. The ones who win are the ones who stay true to their voice.
Why Holiday Music Is Worth the Effort
Once you find a holiday formula that fits you, it doesn’t just work once.
It works every year.
A small holiday EP or even two or three strong tracks can be pitched repeatedly for years across ads, films, TV, and digital content. That kind of longevity is rare in music, and it’s why holiday music is such a smart catalog strategy.
The Timeline Most People Miss
Here’s the part that catches most artists off guard.
People usually ask about holiday placements when they feel the holidays approaching. September. October. November.
For sync, that’s often too late.
Film and television holiday projects are typically developed much earlier. Many holiday films start sourcing music in the spring. April, May, and early summer is when those conversations happen.
Commercials can go a bit later, sometimes into summer or early fall, but even then the music needs to already exist.
Which brings us to the most important point:
The time to create holiday music for 2026 is now.
Right now is when you should be thinking about how holiday themes fit into your broader catalog and brand. If you can enter spring with a few finished, intentional holiday tracks that truly represent you, you’re positioned far ahead of the curve.
That’s how holiday sync actually works.
No rush. No panic. Just planning.
I hope you find this helpful as you’re planning your 2026 music efforts.
| Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you: 1. Join CTRL Camp – Our Sync Community is now on Skool. You get access to our comprehensive Sync 101 course; Sync Templates; A map to find collabs near you and a lot more; 2. 1-on-1 Coaching – I set aside a few hours each month for 1 on 1 consultations. In one hour, I can listen to your music and give you a personalized strategy on the best way for you to approach sync. |