How Much Does Noddy Holder Make At Christmas

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell about a man, a legend, a... well, a rock 'n' roll Santa, if you will. You know him as the voice behind "Merry Xmas Everybody," the tune that's as synonymous with Christmas as turkey and tinsel. I'm talking about none other than Noddy Holder.

So, How Much Does Noddy Holder Make at Christmas?

Now, before we dive into the big bucks, let's set the scene. It's December 25th, you're hungover, and you're watching Doctor Who. Suddenly, that unmistakable riff kicks in, and Noddy's booming, "It's CHRISTMAS!" You're suddenly wide awake, and so is your bank account, because Noddy's about to make a tidy sum.

You might think Noddy's sitting pretty on a pile of cash, counting his royalties like Scrooge McDuck. But here's the thing: Noddy's not exactly rolling in it. Why? Well, it's all about those pesky record deals.

Slade's Record Deal: The Gift That Keeps on Taking

Back in the '70s, Slade signed a deal with Polydor Records that, according to Noddy, was "not the best deal in the world." They got a £30 advance for their first single, and while "Cum On Feel the Noize" was a hit, the band didn't see much of the profits. So, when "Merry Xmas Everybody" came out in 1973, they were still tied to that deal.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. That record deal meant Slade didn't own the rights to their songs. Polydor did. And guess who's been raking in the royalties all these years? That's right, Polydor. Noddy's been living off his royalties from other Slade songs and his TV and radio work. But "Merry Xmas Everybody"? That's not his cash cow.

So, How Much Does Polydor Make?

Alright, let's talk money. "Merry Xmas Everybody" is played an average of 500,000 times on UK radio every December. That's a lot of plays. But how much does that translate to in cold, hard cash?

Well, here's where it gets a bit tricky. The amount radio stations pay for playing a song is a closely guarded secret. But we can make an educated guess. In the UK, PRS for Music (the organisation that collects royalties for songwriters and publishers) uses a points system. Each play is worth a certain number of points, and the more points a song gets, the more money it makes.

"Merry Xmas Everybody" is one of the most played songs in the UK at Christmas, so it's safe to say it racks up a lot of points. But how much is that worth? Let's say, for argument's sake, that each point is worth £1. That would mean "Merry Xmas Everybody" makes around £500,000 in December alone. But remember, that's just an estimate, and it's before Polydor take their cut.

Iceland giving away 10 vouchers worth £500 each for best Noddy Holder

But What About Streaming?

Now, let's talk streaming. "Merry Xmas Everybody" is streamed millions of times every December. But again, we're talking about a tiny fraction of a penny per stream. It adds up, sure, but it's not going to make Noddy a millionaire anytime soon.

And here's the kicker: Noddy doesn't see a penny of that streaming money. No, that goes straight to Polydor too. It's enough to make you want to scream, "It's CHRISTMAS!" and throw your phone at the wall.

So, Is Noddy Holder a Poor Man's Santa?

Well, not quite. Noddy's not living in a cardboard box, but he's not driving a Rolls-Royce either. He's a working-class hero who's made a decent living from his music. He's just not rolling in "Merry Xmas Everybody" cash.

But here's the thing: Noddy doesn't seem to mind. He loves that his song brings joy to people at Christmas. And he's made his peace with the fact that he's not going to get rich from it. As he told the Daily Mirror, "It's not about the money, it's about the feeling."

So, there you have it. The story of Noddy Holder and his Christmas cash. It's not the tale of a man sitting pretty on a mountain of money. It's the tale of a man who gave us one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, and who's happy to see it bring joy to people, even if it's not bringing him a big fat cheque.

And that, my friends, is the true spirit of Christmas.