Dua Lipa was the most played artist across radio, TV and public places in the UK throughout 2024, according to PPL data.
It’s the second time in five years she has achieved the result, having previously topped the chart in 2020. She has consistently featured in the Top 3 most played artists every year since.
PPL licenses the use of recorded music on radio, TV and in public places across the UK, including shops, bars, restaurants, gyms, offices and warehouses, and receives extensive airplay reporting data from such broadcasters and public performance venues.
The data was used to distribute revenue to more than 172,000 performers and recording rights-holders when their music was broadcast or played in public last year.
Just as she did in 2020, Dua Lipa has once again broken Ed Sheeran’s streak, ending his run of three consecutive years at No.1 – a stretch that saw him top the chart seven times in the past nine years.
Taylor Swift holds steady at No.2 in the PPL rankings for the second year in a row, with Sheeran just behind in third place.
Dua Lipa ‘s music played an average of 400 times per day, according to PPL data. Houdini was her most played track last year, while One Kiss with Calvin Harris (2024’s sixth most played artist) remains her most played song of all time, averaging 55 plays per day across UK radio and TV.
It’s a real honour to be named the most played artist in the UK for the second time
Dua Lipa
Rounding out the Top 5 are David Guetta at No.4 and Coldplay at No.5 – named by PPL as the most played British group of the 21st century.
UK artists claimed seven of the Top 10 spots, with Elton John, Becky Hill and Harry Styles also appearing in the chart.
Dua Lipa said: “It’s a real honour to be named the most played artist in the UK for the second time. 2024 was an incredible year and I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported my music on the radio, TV and in venues around the country. Thanks also to PPL for continuing to support artists and our music.”
PPL Most Played Artists 2024
1 Dua Lipa
2 Taylor Swift
3 Ed Sheeran
4 David Guetta
5 Coldplay
6 Calvin Harris
7 Ariana Grande
8 Elton John
9 Becky Hill
10 Harry Styles
Most Played Tracks
There was some correlation between the airplay/public performance results and the overall 2024 official singles chart.
Noah Kahan’s Stick Season was the most played track on radio, TV and public places in 2024 (also No.1 on the OCC rankings).
It was followed by Lose Control by Teddy Swims (No.4 on OCC) and Beautiful Things by Benson Boone (No.2 on OCC).
Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was No.8 on the PPL rankings (No.3 on OCC), while Hozier’s Too Sweet was No.9 on PPL compared to No.5 on OCC>
Three UK acts made it into the PPL Top 10: BRITs Rising Star winner Myles Smith debuted at No.5 with Stargazing, Dua Lipa followed at No.6 with Houdini and Coldplay were at No. 10 with Feelslikeimfallinginlove.
As highlighted in the BPI’s All About The Music 2025 report, country music is growing – and the genre has made its mark on the nation’s airwaves.
Dasha holds the number four spot on PPL’s Most Played tracks with Austin (Boots Stop Workin’), while Shaboozey is at No.7 with A Bar Song (Tipsy).
Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ’Em and Post Malone’s I Had Some Help featuring Morgan Wallen sit just outside the Top 10 at No.11 and No.12 respectively.
PPL Most Played Tracks 2024
1 Stick Season – Noah Kahan
2 Lose Control – Teddy Swims
3 Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
4 Austin (Boots Stop Workin’) – Dasha
5 Stargazing – Myles Smith
6 Houdini – Dua Lipa
7 A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
8 Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
9 Too Sweet – Hozier
10 Feelslikeimfallinginlove – Coldplay
Peter Leathem OBE, PPL CEO, said: “Congratulations once again to Dua Lipa for leading PPL’s Most Played Artist Chart, and to Noah Kahan for securing the most played track of the year. British artists continue to perform well, making up 70% of the Top 10 – proving they have staying power across the nation’s broadcasters, businesses and public spaces. It is also fantastic to see fresh UK talent such as Myles Smith make a big splash in the top five most played tracks, showing there is plenty of promise in UK music going forward.”
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