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And Finally Artist News Business News Labels & Publishers
Ed Sheeran the UK’s most played artist again, but won’t take it for granted
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 19 June 2023
Who was the most played artist on UK radio and telly, and in British pubs and clubs and such places, last year? Why, it was that Ed Sheeran, that’s who. Yes, again.
Because, I mean, we basically ran this exact same story a year ago, except in relation to 2021. A whole year’s gone by and the great people of this United Kingdom are still listening to all of Ed Sheeran’s fucking pop songs. Oh well.
We know this because UK record industry collecting society PPL has told us. It keeps track of such things as it licenses radio stations, TV channels and other businesses that play recorded music in public, and then compiles two annual Most Played charts that utilise all that lovely data.
“This is Ed Sheeran’s sixth Most Played Artists chart-topping appearance in the last eight years”, PPL notes. In fact, “only Dua Lipa’s success in 2020 has prevented him from a clean sweep of every year since 2017”.
With that kind of success, the boy Sheeran is surely going to start taking all this very much for granted. Not so, he claims. “I never take it for granted”, says Sheeran of topping the latest PPL Most Played Artists chart. Yeah, right. We believe you, honest.
Sheeran tops the Most Played Artists list, but not the Most Played Song top ten. He does have two tracks in that other chart, but it’s that Harry Styles who takes the prize for most played song of 2022. For ‘As It Was’, obviously.
Says PPL boss Peter Leathem: “I am delighted that this year’s Most Played charts recognise two of the country’s great musical exports, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles. Their global success reflects the financial and cultural importance of British music”.
“Ed’s unparalleled run at the top of our Most Played Artists charts is testament to his enduring popularity, longevity and exceptional talent”, he adds. “Many congratulations to him and his team”.
“Harry’s soaraway success reflects his hard work and consistent ability to write and perform songs that resonate the world over. Well done to all the artists featured in these charts and the music businesses that work so hard to support them”.
British acts dominate the two charts which, as PPL observes, “reaffirms the strength of the British music industry’s creative output”.
Either that or the continued xenophobia and racism of the British music listening public. No, I’m sure it’s the strength of the British music industry’s creative output. That’ll be it. Or maybe both?
Anyway, here are the new PPL charts in full…
Most Played Artists In 2022
1. Ed Sheeran
2. Dua Lipa
3. David Guetta
4. Harry Styles
5. Elton John
6. George Ezra
7. Coldplay
8. Calvin Harris
9. Becky Hill
10. Taylor Swift
Most Played Songs in 2022
1. Harry Styles – As It Was
2. Lizzo – About Damn Time
3. Jax Jones & Mnek – Where Did You Go?
4. Elton John & Dua Lipa – Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)
5. George Ezra – Anyone For You (Tiger Lily)
6. Lost Frequencies & Calum Scott – Where Are You Now
7. George Ezra – Green Green Grass
8. Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti
9. Ed Sheeran – Shivers
10. David Guetta, Becky Hill & Ella Henderson – Crazy What Love Can Do
