- ASCAP’s 2025 New Classic Holiday Songs chart is led by Ariana? No—Ariana not involved. Instead, Ariana? Wait — keep focused: ‘Santa Tell Me’ tops the modern list.
- ‘Santa Tell Me’ (2013) tops ASCAP’s New Classic chart; Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Underneath the Tree’ is No.2.
- Traditional favorites still dominate overall: Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride’ returns to No.1; Mariah Carey and José Feliciano remain heavily played.
- The New Classic list includes tracks by Meghan Trainor, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Jimmy Fallon.
H2: ASCAP names modern and traditional holiday standouts
ASCAP released its annual holiday-song rankings, splitting attention between mid-century standards and newer seasonal hits that have gained traction over the last 25 years. The performing rights organization said “Santa Tell Me,” written by Savan Kotecha and Ilya Salmanzadeh and first released in 2013, topped ASCAP’s 2025 New Classic Holiday Songs chart for the first time.
H3: New classics — contemporary songs gaining steam
Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” co-written with Greg Kurstin, placed second on the New Classic chart. ASCAP noted both songs have continued to grow in popularity and also appeared on its broader Top 25 Holiday Songs list. Other entries on the New Classic list include new-season releases from Meghan Trainor, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Jimmy Fallon — highlighting how each generation of writers puts a fresh stamp on holiday music.
H3: Traditional songs still rule overall airplay
On ASCAP’s Top 25 Holiday Songs chart — which leans heavily on mid-20th-century standards — Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish’s “Sleigh Ride” returned to No.1. The 1948 composition has repeatedly reached the top since ASCAP began compiling the chart in 2002.
H4: Classics that keep coming back
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” co-written with Walter Afanasieff, again ranked among the most-played tracks. José Feliciano’s evergreen “Feliz Navidad” also saw renewed attention after a recent cover by Marc Anthony. Johnny Marks, a prolific holiday songwriter, placed four songs on ASCAP’s Top 25 list: “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Run Rudolph Run.”
H4: How ASCAP compiles the lists
ASCAP said it compiles its charts using a mix of streaming and terrestrial radio data for songs represented by the society — offering a snapshot of what listeners are actually playing each season.
H5: Why this matters for artists and radio
The split between New Classic and Top 25 lists shows the endurance of older holiday standards while documenting how contemporary hits can join annual rotations. For songwriters and publishers, ranking on ASCAP’s lists can boost visibility and licensing opportunities during the most valuable airplay period of the year.
ASCAP, which represents more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, uses these rankings to reflect both listener behavior and industry trends as the holiday season evolves.
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