Ed Sheeran named UK’s most played artist of the year for seventh time

Britons rule the airwaves in the UK, with Ed Sheeran taking the most played spot and homegrown artists dominating the top 10 in a chart compiled by the music licensing company PPL.

For Yorkshire-born and Suffolk-raised Sheeran, 33, it is the seventh time in nine years he has topped the list of music used across UK radio, TV and in public places.

Taylor Swift, currently on her Eras tour in the UK, jumps from 10th slot to second in the 2023 chart, matching her previous high in 2015.

Sheeran said: “Thank you for naming me the most played artist for last year. Thank you to my team, not just for me, but for all the other artists you work with – I’m happy that you get this recognition.”

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The British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa, whose hit Dance the Night featured in the 2023 Barbie film, is the third most played artist.

In fourth is the Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris, whose songs include We Found Love with Rihanna, Sweet Nothing with Florence Welch and Miracle with Ellie Goulding.

The French DJ David Guetta takes fifth place, ahead of Sir Elton John in sixth.

The only band in the top 10 is Coldplay at number seven, while Tom Grennan is a new entry at No 8 and Harry Styles lands at number nine.

After the launch of her Celebration greatest hits world tour in London last autumn Madonna, takes the final place in the top 10.

When it came to the most played song, Sheeran finds himself in second place, with Eyes Closed coming second to Miley Cyrus’s hit Flowers.

Lewis Capaldi’s Forget Me is third, while Anti-Hero by Swift claims fourth.

Dance the Night, Miracle and Trustfall by P!nk take fifth, sixth and seventh slots.

Waffle House by Jonas Brothers, and Cruel Summer by Swift come eighth and ninth. Niall Horan’s Heaven is placed 10th.

Peter Leathem, the chief executive of PPL, said: “Congratulations to all artists featured this year and especially Ed and Miley on their respective number ones.”

He added: “As the global music market gets more competitive, it is fantastic to see that seven out of the top 10 most played acts are British.

“The charts highlight the important role broadcasters and businesses of all shapes and sizes play in supporting home-grown talent.”