Understanding the numbers and why “Silent Night” doesn’t top the list.

ASCAP releases a list each year of the top 25 most popular holiday songs (2009). Here is there list, but before you read it I have to warn you, there is something wrong here (I’ll explain what it is afterward):

1. Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics

2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat “King” Cole

3. Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes

4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders

5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen

6. White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby

7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé

8. Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Daryl Hall & John Oates

9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry

10. Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

11. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams

12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Josh Groban

13. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee

14. Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Anne Murray

15. Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano

16. Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Beach Boys

17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives

18. Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley

19. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis

20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp

21. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Gene Autry

22. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como

23. Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)

24. Wonderful Christmastime
Written by: Paul McCartney (PRS)
Performed by: Paul McCartney

25. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid

So where’s “Silent Night” or “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” - which are still recorded and played OFTEN on Christmas radio stations all across the country? Well, they aren’t ASCAP songs. The survey they take only includes songs that are in the ASCAP catalog, which means all songs written before 1922, which are in the public domain (that’s right, they belong to you, as a part of the public), are automatically not included. Also, songs that belong to the catalogs of other performing rights organizations are not included (BMI and SESAC).

I’ve seen several sites which, taking a look at this list, assume that the popularity of traditional songs and carols is on the wane. This is not the case. You have to read the fine print. “The Top 25 most performed ASCAP holiday songs of the decade . . .”

Merry Christmas!