ASCAP'S HOLIDAY SONG NICE LISTS

ASCAP is making the whole world sing this season with its New Classic Holiday Songs chart and Most-Played Holiday Songs of 2024.

The New Classic Holiday Songs chart, limited to material released in the past 20 years, is topped for the second year in a row by Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” which the singer co-wrote with Greg Kurstin. Kurstin also shows up as co-writer of Sia’s 2017 favorite, “Snowman.” The latest addition to the New Classic list is “Christmas Magic” by jazz-pop torchbearer Laufey.

ASCAP also maintains a huge catalog of vintage classics. Its Most-Played Holiday Songs of 2024 list is topped by “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” the 1951 favorite by Broadway composer Meredith Wilson. Johnny Marks, whose name is synonymous with holiday music, has three songs in ASCAP’s Top 25: “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

And since no discussion of the season would be complete without her, Mariah Carey turns up with the eighth-most-played song on ASCAP’s Most-Played nice list: “All I Want for Christmas Is You." Enjoy both playlists below.

Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to figure out what we can throw at these carolers to make them move along.