Dua Lipa is the most played artist in the UK for the second time in five years

Noah Kahan claims most played track of 2024 with ‘Stick Season’, while country music makes waves in the UK


PPL can reveal that Dua Lipa was the most played artist across radio, TV and public places in the UK throughout 2024. It’s the second time in five years she has achieved the accolade, having previously topped the chart in 2020. She has consistently featured in the top three 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. In 2024, this information was used to distribute revenue to more than 172,000 performers and recording rightsholders when their music was broadcast or played in public.

Just as she did in 2020, Dua has once again broken Ed Sheeran’s streak, ending his run of three consecutive years at number one – a stretch that saw him top the chart seven times in the past nine years. Taylor Swift holds steady at number two for the second year in a row, with Ed just behind in third place.

Dua has now racked up an impressive seven years of airplay on UK radio and TV, with her music played an average of 400 times per day, according to PPL data. Her single ‘Houdini’ was her most played track last year, while ‘One Kiss’ – her 2018 hit 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.

Rounding out the Top 5 are David Guetta at number four and Coldplay at number five –named by PPL as the most played British group of the 21st century. Ariana Grande also had a strong year, with her new album Eternal Sunshine and its lead single ‘Yes, And?’ helping her secure seventh place. UK artists continued to dominate the airwaves, claiming seven of the Top 10 spots, with Elton John, Becky Hill and Harry Styles completing 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.”

Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season’ was the most played track on radio, TV and public places in 2024, followed by ‘Lose Control’ by Teddy Swims and ‘Beautiful Things’ by Benson Boone. Three UK acts made it into the Top 10: BRITs Rising Star winner Myles Smith debuted at number five with ‘Stargazing’, Dua Lipa followed at six with ‘Houdini’ and Coldplay rounded out the group at number 10 with ‘Feelslikeimfallinginlove’. Other notable entries include Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ at number eight and Hozier’s ‘Too Sweet’ at number nine, while last year’s chart-topper ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus remained popular at number 14.

As highlighted in the BPI’s All About The Music 2025 report, the global explosion of country music has very much reached the UK, 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 lands at number seven 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 numbers 11 and 12 respectively. 

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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