ASCAP - WINTER WONDERLAND TOPS FESTIVE HIT LIST

WINTER WONDERLAND TOPS FESTIVE HIT LIST

WINTER WONDERLAND has topped a list of the most performed Christmas songs in America for the second year running.
The festive favourite, penned by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934, has beaten Mel Torme's The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' (ASCAP) Christmas hits list.
An instant hit for bandleader Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians, Winter Wonderland has also been recorded by the Andrews Sisters, Perry Como, Jewel and Air Supply.
Meanwhile, songwriter Johnny Marks is the king of Christmas - he has three tracks on the ASCAP list - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and A Holly Jolly Christmas.
The top three - Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas are unchanged from last year's (07) list, but Sleigh Ride jumps up from eight to four thanks to the song's popularity in 2007 and 2008.
The updated top 10 of the most played Christmas tunes on U.S. radio since 2003 is:
1. Winter Wonderland
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
7. White Christmas
8. Jingle Bell Rock
9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.
10. Little Drummer Boy.