If you tuned in to Songbridge, prior to the "Seasonal Holidays", you will remember we posted an article regarding Christmas songs and the pros and cons, the do's and don'ts of releasing to radio and gaining airplay. Subsequently I received a couple of interesting foot notes from some notables in the industry who were willing to share their experiences and I'd like to share them with you.

Steven McClintock, one of the developing partners of Songcatalog as well as a successful songwriter, wrote to detail his experience trying to pitch a Christmas Song.

It wasn't going to happen. We decided instead to borrow $25,000 and promote it to radio...not the best plan I might add.

BUT, we did get heard by some people and one of them told us that he thought ANDY WILLIAMS might like it and he had a connection.

Well Andy DID like it and recorded it that year on the BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, which was a BIG deal at the time. He then sang it the same year on Johnny Carson. That song has gone on to sell well over a million copies and has been cut by Andy Williams, Pat Boone, Juice Newton, Judy Akin and many more compilations over the last 23 years. The producer that told me to PUNT later recorded this song for one of his artist. Gotta love this business!

Skip ahead to last June, I put a Christmas song on a Christian compilation CD out of Europe called New Christian Music with a song that your fellow Canadian Cathy-Anne Whitworth McClintock and I wrote and recorded almost 9 years ago this Christmas. The song was Christian in nature unlike my other Christmas song and called "Put Christ Back in Christmas". I forgot all about the compilation till I received an email that our tune was # 1 on the Christian Christmas Network throughout Europe. Now # 1 for two weeks in a row, the song is being played in a dozen countries or more by almost 400 DJs. I have received many, many emails regarding the song and it has been downloaded over 100 times in just two weeks. Of course this does NOT make it a classic over night, but for many writers, myself included, it is the little victories that keep us moving forward. I just wanted to share this with you.

By the way, if any of your readers are going to write a Christmas song? Prepare for the LONG HAUL!!"


Our favourite and steadfast contributor, Brian Allen, wrote to say that while he was in tenure as vice president at Attic Records, they did a study and found similar formulas for effectiveness, from best to worst is listed as:
1 - familiar song by popular artist
2 - new song by popular artist
3 - familiar song by unfamiliar artist
4 - new song by unfamiliar artist

He added "some things never change".

Now, for those of you who have recently experienced the kafuffle of having Christmas trees banned from public places, for example Municipal or Federal buildings (which is completely back asskwards) I would like to say, I believe we should acknowledge all religions instead of banning them. We are all sharing this earth so why choose to ban Christian religious symbols, when we could instead, post an image of the Menorah on Chanukah for instance?

And, as Brian Allen pointed out… "the biggest selling Christmas Song of all time, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" was written by Irving Berlin." Irving was Jewish yet he embraced the "Christmas" experience and wrote the biggest holiday hit song! We could learn a thing or three.

So folks, lets start the New Year with open hearts and open minds shall we?

Welcome to two thousand and seven!

~ Jana Reid