Pharrell’s ‘Happy’ the Most Played Track of the 2010s

Today on BBC Radio 2 from 2pm – 5pm, Scott Mills presents the Most Played Tracks of the Decade (2-5pm), counting down the 40 most played recordings broadcast on UK radio and television since 2010. The programme is also available on BBC Sounds.

‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams tops the chart at No. 1, followed by Adele’s ‘Rolling In The Deep’ at No. 2 – making her one of only two Brits in the Top 10 (alongside Mark Ronson) and the only solo female artist in the Top 10 – with ‘Moves Like Jagger’ by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera at No. 3.

 

The chart, using exclusive PPL music usage data, features some of music’s biggest stars– you can see the full chart here. PPL’s Most Played Charts are created from exclusive UK music usage and airplay data supplied by its broadcast licensees, including radio stations and TV channels. The show on Radio 2 is made by independent radio production company, Listen.

The Top 40 Most Played Tracks also reveal interesting facts and trends about the songs on our airwaves:

• Two artists appear three times – Adele and Bruno Mars (twice solo, and once more with Mark Ronson)
• Five artists appear twice – Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Maroon 5 and Pharrell (once solo and once with Daft Punk)
• 12 of the tracks are performed by bands/groups
• 14 are sung by women; 22 by men; four have both male and female vocals
• Seven tracks are collaborations
• 34 of the songs were released in the last decade; five were released in the noughties; and just one was released in the 1990s (Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’ in 1997)
• 18 songs are primarily credited to American artists; 14 to British artists; three to Canadian artists (two of those by Bruno Mars); two to Australian artists (if counting Gotye as Australian); and one to a Barbadian (Rihanna)

Peter Leathem, Chief Executive Officer at PPL, says: “PPL is delighted to provide the BBC with data for this incredible chart of the decade. The Most Played Tracks are the sounds that radio producers and broadcasters have consistently played throughout the last decade and will evoke many memories for all of us. Congratulations and thank you to all those who feature in our Most Played Tracks of the 2010s Chart.”