The brassstats.com rankings began life over 25 years ago in Brass Band World magazine. The early years were dominated by the great Fairey band under Major Peter Parkes, and latterly James Gourlay. The 'start of year' top band honour was shared around a bit for the next decade or so but the last 5 years has seen the most dominant spell by any band in the 25-year history of the rankings.

Cory will start a calendar year as the number one band for the seventh time, but for the 5th year in a row!

The full list of bands starting the year as 'number 1' is as follows:

1992 Foden's

1993 Fairey

1994 Fairey

1995 Fairey

1996 Black Dyke

1997 Fairey

1998 Fairey

1999 Fairey

2000 Foden's

2001 Foden's

2002 Yorkshire Building Society

2003 Foden's

2004 Fairey

2005 Cory

2006 Cory

2007 Black Dyke

2008 Grimethorpe

2009 Grimethorpe

2010 Black Dyke

2011 Brighouse & Rastrick

2012 Brighouse & Rastrick

2013 Cory

2014 Cory

2015 Cory

2016 Cory

2017 Cory