Dua Lipa Hailed As Most-Played Artist On UK Radio & Television For 2020
Dua Lipa has been confirmed as the most-played artist on U.K. radio and television in 2020, as music programmers, tastemakers and fans plugged into her album Future Nostalgia and its batch of hits.
Lipa’s smashes Don’t Start Now (No. 2) and Physical (No. 7) were among the ten most-played songs of 2020 on U.K. airwaves, according to a new report published by Phonographic Performance Ltd.
She leads Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande, respectively, to become the first woman to rule PPL’s most-played Top 10 in seven years, since Katy Perry back in 2014.
Fuelled by Future Nostalgia, Lipa is in the form of her life. In May, she snagged two Brit Awards including the award for female solo artist, as well as album of the year for Future Nostalgia, a chart-topper in her homeland.
“Thank you so much to everyone that listened to and loved my music during 2020,” she remarked in response to the news. “I’m incredibly proud that I was the most-played artist on radio, TV and all across the U.K.”
“I so wanted Future Nostalgia to bring some happiness during such a difficult time. Thanks to everyone who supported it and also to PPL, who do important work in making sure artists and musicians are paid when their music is played.”
Homegrown artists dominated the top 10, grabbing six spots, with U.S. and Canadian artists accounting for the final four.
The Weeknd scraped in at No. 10 on the list, though the Canadian singer does bag the most-played song of 2020 with Blinding Lights, his hit release from 2019.
PPL’s Most Played Charts are based on music usage and airplay data supplied by the organization’s licensees, including music both on radio and TV and at all live locations including clubs, shops, pubs and other premises.
The UK’s most played artists of 2020 were as follows:
1. Dua Lipa
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Ariana Grande
4. Sam Smith
5. Calvin Harris
6. Little Mix
7. Coldplay
8. Justin Bieber
9. Maroon 5
10 The Weeknd