Band of Merrymakers Releases "It Must Be Christmas" to Benefit Musicares — Video

Features
By published

Here's something to get you in the spirit!

The Band of Merrymakers, a rotating-cast Yuletide super group featuring today’s biggest artists, premiered their official music video for their single “Must Be Christmas” (The End Records).

The video follows a group of Santas as they visit iconic spots throughout Los Angeles and Nashville.

Not only does the single intend to spread cheer throughout the holiday season but also benefit and raise awareness for MusiCares®, a nonprofit organization that was established by The Recording Academy® to provide a wide range of emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery resources to members of the music community.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of “Must Be Christmas”, available exclusively on iTunes, will go to the MusiCares Foundation®.

The Band of Merrymakers includes Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees, Fitz of Fitz and The Tantrums, Nick Hexum of 311, Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, Smallpools, The Mowgli's, 3oh!3, Sinclair, and The Honeymoons.Hit songwriters Sam Hollander and Kevin Griffin were deep in a July co-write when they wandered into the topic of Christmas songs. They both suddenly wondered: where has all the holiday musical philanthropy gone? Where's the give minus the take? And thus, they formed Band of Merrymakers."Kevin & I have been great friends for a while now, but after hearing the track, I was so excited to be part of it,” says Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum.

To keep with the holiday spirit, each artist will be releasing a digital Band of Merrymakers trading card on their social media pages. For the latest info on Band of Merrymakers’ upcoming single or to donate to MusiCares, please visit www.bandofmerrymakers.com.

Acoustic Nation
Acoustic Nation

Acoustic Nation is written by Laura B. Whitmore, a music industry marketing veteran, music journalist and editor, who has contributed to Parade.com, Guitar World, and others. She has interviewed hundreds of musicians and hosts the She Rocks Podcast. As the founder of the Women’s International Music Network, she advocates for women in the music industry and produces the annual She Rocks Awards. She is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, making the world safe for guitar exploration everywhere! A guitarist and singer/songwriter, Laura is currently co-writing an album of pop songs that empower and energize girls.

More about music releases
Sam Fender performs on Day 2 of Leeds Festival 2023 at Bramham Park on August 26, 2023 in Leeds, England

“Exactly the kind of thing the Instagram algorithm won’t be injecting into your eyeballs every time you log on”: February 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
WEMBLEY ARENA Photo of George HARRISON and Eric CLAPTON, with Eric Clapton, performing live onstage at the Princes Trust Concert

“It was like unraveling a mystery, trying to imagine what George might have meant”: Lost chords that George Harrison wrote down before his passing have been turned into a new song – and it was recorded using three of his famed Beatles guitars
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell

“I brought a musicality that Tom wasn’t capable of. I had techniques that I could express to him in his songs that he couldn't have done on his own”: Mike Campbell on what he brought to the Heartbreakers as Tom Petty’s guitar foil
See more latest
Most Popular
Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five performs at SummerStage at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on September 14, 2012 in New York City.
“The guys were like, ‘Just go for something crazy, and then make it crazier.’ They just couldn’t stop me, man!” The wildest bass solo you’ve never heard? Robert Sledge cranked the fuzz for this Ben Folds Five classic
Courtney Barnett plays a Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar in studio
“I’ve used Teles and Strats, but I always find myself going back to that Jag – something about the Cobain Jag just sounded extra-beefy”: Courtney Barnett is one of indie-rock’s most celebrated southpaws – and the Nirvana Fender connection runs deep
Rosanne Cash playing her Gibson acoustic guitar – her 'Cash' strap lies beside her on a table
“I can play barre chords and my dad couldn’t. He had a strum that was identifiably his, but I learned from the Carter women. Mine is more of a Carter scratch”: How Rosanne Cash found her sound – and captured Johnny’s design flair in her signature Gibson
Tommy Thayer of KISS performs onstage during the Tribeca Festival screening of "Biography: KISStory" at Battery Park on June 11, 2021 in New York City.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’ll show them – they don’t realize they made a mistake.’ It’s not just the wins, it’s the determination you build from the losses”: Tommy Thayer’s junior high disappointment fired him up for success with Kiss
Nate Garrett of Spirit Adrift pictured at home with a Gibson Les Paul. He wears a Danzig T-shirt and is there are books, amps, and LPs in the background.
“I want some people to be outraged – I feel like that would be a true way to honor Type O”: Welcome to Nate Garrett’s Neon Nightmare, the Spirit Adrift guitarist’s ’80s horror-inspired tribute to Peter Steele
Man playing acoustic guitar in his garden
"Upgrading from your entry-level acoustic opens the door to an entirely new world of tonewoods, body shapes, and brands": 6 signs it's time to upgrade from your first acoustic guitar
Man playing Fender Telecaster while sitting down
“It began as a sharp abdominal pain. A decade later I received the shock diagnosis – I had ‘Telecaster Rib’”: I spent thousands trying to identify the source of my pain – it turned out to be my Fender Telecaster
Dario Lorina poses with a Wylde Audio electric guitar
“It was under my dad’s bed when I was a kid. When it slid out from underneath the bed… it was like the heavens were opening up”: How Zakk Wylde’s sparring partner Dario Lorina started a new chapter – with the help of a holy grail Les Paul
Paul Gilbert poses with his Ibanez Kikusui Fireman, a guitar inspired by a sake bottle
“I put large erasers under the pickups. I play pretty loud with Mr. Big, so I take extra precautions to keep feedback to a minimum”: Paul Gilbert names his three favorite guitars – including one that was stolen very recently
Bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones performing with British heavy rock group Led Zeppelin, at Earl's Court, London, May 1975. The band were initially booked to play three nights at the venue, from 23rd to 25th May, but due to public demand, two more concerts were later added, for 17th and 18th May.
“Bonzo and I were great groovers. People would dance to our music. There aren't many hard rock bands these days that people dance to”: John Paul Jones breaks down his Led Zeppelin bass approach – and what separated his and Jimmy Page's riffs