The Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” debuts on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart, while also bolting into the top 10 on several other rankings in America. Michael Jackson performs on stage on his HIStory tour in December 1996. (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns)
Redferns
Before he was Michael Jackson, the man who would go on to be known as the King of Pop found fame as a member of the Jackson 5 alongside several of his siblings. While Jackson’s name can typically be found across a variety of Billboard charts, the Jackson 5 usually only returns around the holidays, as the vocal troupe hit it big with The Jackson 5 Christmas Album, which features many beloved yuletide classics.
As Americans continue to tune into Christmas smashes and press play on holiday collections, the Jackson 5 returns to multiple Billboard rankings and even scores a brand new win on one of the most competitive rosters in the United States.
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” Debuts on the Radio Chart
The Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” debuts on the Radio Songs chart, which details the tracks that rack up the largest number of total audience impressions across the country. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” easily the most famous holiday hit by the Jackson 5, launches in second-to-last place, at No. 49, as many stations change over from one format to playing strictly holiday hits.
The Jackson 5 Score This Week’s Only Debut
The Jackson 5 claims the only debut on the Radio Songs roster this week, though “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” is far from the sole holiday smash. 10 spaces — one-fifth of the entire tally — include Christmas cuts, and they are all on the rise. That roundup includes favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms, as well as timeless classics from Andy Williams, Wham!, Burl Ives, and Frank Sinatra.
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” Climbs on the Holiday Airwaves
It seems that 2025 is a huge year for “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” on the airwaves, and the season has only just begun. As the single debuts on the Radio Songs chart, it also reaches a never-before-seen peak on the Holiday Airplay ranking. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” dances from No. 23 to No. 11, and before this season is up, it could earn the Jackson 5 a coveted top 10 smash.
The Jackson 5 Reenter Inside the Top 10 on Multiple Charts
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” surges in popularity from one frame to the next as the single breaks back onto multiple Billboard rosters. The Jackson 5 blockbuster finds its way back to the highest tier on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and R&B Streaming Songs lists, reentering both at No. 10 simultaneously. The Jackson 5 also returns to the Hot 100 — the most important songs roster in the U.S. — as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” breaks back in at No. 46.
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” Also Mounts a Comeback
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: Photo of JACKSON FIVE and Tito JACKSON and Marlon JACKSON and Jermaine JACKSON and Michael JACKSON and Jackie JACKSON; Posed studio group portrait L-R Tito, Marlon (front), Jermaine, Michael and Jackie Jackson (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)
Redferns
The Jackson 5 doubles up on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and R&B Streaming Songs rankings with back-to-back hits. As “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” narrowly sneaks back into the top 10, landing at No. 10, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” another adorable recording, finds its way to No. 11 after failing to reach either tally just last week.
The Jackson 5 Christmas Album is Back
Thanks to a mix of sales and what appears to be an especially high number of streams of multiple popular songs, The Jackson 5 Christmas Album is also back in fine form. That full-length reenters the Top R&B Albums, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and the Billboard 200, settling at Nos. 12, 25, and 103 respectively.
Michael Jackson Wins Beyond His Jackson 5 Holiday Tunes
The Jackson 5 only appears on the Billboard charts thanks to the group’s holiday output, but Jackson claims several wins on multiple other rosters with his biggest solo commercial successes. Thriller is still a top 10 hit on one ranking, and the album appears close to that region on multiple others. His single “Billie Jean,” featured on the Grammy winner for Album of the Year, declines on both of Billboard’s global rosters only a few weeks after that tune — as well as the song “Thriller” — surged around the Halloween holiday.