EXCLUSIVE: ‘Fairytale of New York’ Royalties Secrets Laid Bare — Including the Massive Amount Earned Every Year by The Pogues

Published: Dec. 19, 2025, 6:30 p.m. ET

**The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” Continues to Reign as a Christmas Classic—and a Cash Cow**

The Pogues remain one of the most lucrative fixtures of the modern Christmas season, with their 1987 single “Fairytale of New York” continuing to generate vast annual royalties nearly four decades after its release. RadarOnline.com has the details on the astonishing amount of cash generated by the folksy festive duet, written by Jem Finer (69) and the late Shane MacGowan—who died at age 65 in November 2023—and performed with the English singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, who sadly passed at 41 in a tragic accident in 2000.

### Still Reeling in Cash After All These Years

First released in 1987 as part of the band’s third album, “Fairytale of New York” has since become a seasonal staple across radio, streaming platforms, and public spaces in the U.K. and beyond. Industry estimates suggest the track still earns hundreds of thousands of dollars each year thanks to its annual resurgence every December.

Recent estimates for 2025 indicate the song pulls in approximately $800,000 AUD (around $535,000 USD) in royalties annually. Music copyright lawyer Brad Banias explained, “I’d expect a 10–20 percent royalty rate split between the band, songwriters MacGowan/Finer, and Kirsty MacColl’s estate.” Banias added that experts believed the total could “exceed $670,000” if the song were ever to claim the U.K. Christmas number one spot.

### The Story Behind the Song

Written following a challenge to produce a Christmas song that avoided sentimentality, “Fairytale of New York” vividly weaves the story of a fractured relationship between an older couple in New York City. MacGowan voices the male character, while MacColl delivers the female part, and the duo trade bitter lines as Christmas Day approaches. Despite its bleak narrative, the song struck a powerful chord with listeners.

Commercially, the track has repeatedly fallen short of the coveted top chart position. Upon its original release, it peaked at number two, held off by the Pet Shop Boys’ cover of “Always On My Mind.” In late 2023, following MacGowan’s death, a public campaign briefly pushed the song into the top five, but it was ultimately outpaced by Wham!’s “Last Christmas.”

### Tragedy and ‘Cover-Up’ Allegations

Along with MacGowan’s death after a lifetime of hard living, the 25th anniversary of MacColl’s shocking death continues to overshadow the song. MacColl was killed by a speedboat off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, on December 18, 2000, while protecting her two sons. Her ex-husband, producer Steve Lillywhite, has publicly accused billionaire Guillermo Gonzalez Nova of orchestrating a crash “cover-up” to avoid a lawsuit. Lillywhite claims deckhand Jose Cen Yam was paid to be the scapegoat, paying a mere $90 fine for the accident.

“A lot of people still think there’s more to the story,” one legal insider said. “Her death is still considered by many a mystery.”

### Lyrics, Controversies, and Lasting Love

The song’s longevity has not been without controversy regarding its lyrics, which prompted the BBC in 2020 to broadcast a censored version on Radio 1. MacGowan defended the original wording, stating the characters were not “supposed to be nice people.” Despite the grit, public affection remains unshakable.

In recent polls, “Fairytale of New York” ranked as Britain’s favorite Christmas song—finishing well ahead of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

As of late 2025, Lillywhite is reportedly promoting a new version of the track featuring a mash-up of live performances, ensuring the “secular carol” remains a fixture for years to come.
https://radaronline.com/p/fairytale-of-new-york-royalties-secrets-annual-earnings-pogues/