WINTER WONDERLAND TOPS NEW HIT LIST

Last updated: Sunday, December 23, 2007

WINTER WONDERLAND TOPS NEW HIT LIST

WINTER WONDERLAND has topped a list of the most performed Christmas song in America of the past five years.

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.

Eurythmics' version of the tune is the most popular on American radio stations, according to ASCAP research.

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.

Winter Wonderland is the second most played Christmas tune of 2007, behind Sleigh Ride, which has hit the U.S. airwaves over 170,000 times.

In the most recent standings, Winter Wonderland has been played 167,800 times.

The top 10 of the most played Christmas tunes on U.S. radio since 2002 is:

1. Winter Wonderland

2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

5. White Christmas

6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

7. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Sleigh Ride

9. Little Drummer Boy