PRS For Music Announces Top 50 Christmas Songs; Most Played Christmas Song Revealed!

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The organisation which represents 95,000 UK songwriters and composers today published the top 50 most played Christmas songs in the past year. Topping the chart is the much loved 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, followed by Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You'.

The enormous 1980s hit, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's project Band Aid still proved a favourite coming a close third place. The song features a cast of iconic British songwriters from bands such as Spandau Ballet, U2, Ultravox, Genesis, Status Quo, Human League and Duran Duran.

John & Yoko's 'Happy Christmas (War is Over)' released in 1971 was ranked equal seventh to Paul McCartney's 'Wonderful Christmas', originally released a few years later in 1979.

More contemporary songwriters, Coldplay came 25th with 'Christmas Lights' and British glam rock group, The Darkness ranked 39th with their hit, 'Christmas Time - Don't Let The Bells End'.

Barney Hooper, PRS for Music said: "It's fantastic to see so many British songwriters, new and established, consistently loved and played across our airwaves. A well crafted Christmas tune will be enjoyed for decades. It has been a great year for music in this country and Christmas is one of those times when a really good songwriter can shine."

The full list of the 25 most played Christmas songs is as follows:
1 'Fairytale of New York' - The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl
2 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' - Mariah Carey
3 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - Band Aid
4 'Last Christmas' - Wham!
5 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' - Harry Reser
6 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' - Bing Crosby
7 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)' - John & Yoko
8 'Wonderful Christmastime' - Paul McCartney
9 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' - Wizzard
10 'Merry Xmas Everybody' - Slade
11 'Merry Christmas Everyone' - Shakin' Stevens
12 'Sleigh Ride' - Leroy Anderson
13 'Stay Another Day' - East 17
14 'Driving Home For Christmas' - Chris Rea
15 'Rockin Around The Christmas Tree' - Brenda Lee
16 'Step Into Christmas' - Elton John
17 '2000 Miles' - The Pretenders
18 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter' - Connie Francis / Gabriella Cilmi
19 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' - Darlene Love
20 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' - Vaughn Monroe / Dean Martin / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
21 'Stop The Calvary' - Jona Lewie
22 'Frosty The Snowman' - Gene Autry & The Cass Country Boys / Perry Como / Johnny Mathis / Kimberley Locke
23 'White Christmas' - Bing Crosby
24 'I Believe In Father Christmas' - Greg Lake
25 'Christmas Lights' - Coldplay.