Sir Cliff Richard wants proven hitmakers to have priority chance on radio

Sir Cliff Richard has said established music stars like him should get a bit of preferential treatment on the radio.

The veteran singer turns 80 this year and has been making hit music since the late 1950s.

But he believes stars such as himself need to be given priority on the airwaves so that they can add a younger audience to their fanbase.

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According to The Times, Sir Cliff opened up in the Greatest Music Of All Time podcast, saying that people like him need a shot at getting their music out there without having to tour.

“Those of us who have proven ourselves over and over and over again should be given a priority chance [on radio], even if it’s to say ‘We are going to play this record once a day for two weeks’,” he said.

“Without radio, there is nothing we can do other than go on tour, which is not only tiring, it gets less efficient as time goes by, the audiences get smaller.”

“We are all dying. Long-term fans may not be with us any more,” he added.

Sir Cliff released his debut album – entitled Cliff - in 1959 and he has since gone on to enjoy success with offerings such as 21 Today, Wired For Sound and Bold As Brass.

His most recent studio album, Rise Up, was unveiled in 2018.

The British star has also had chart-topping success with singles such as Living Doll and The Young Ones.