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British talent dominates with 7 out of 10 of the most played acts from the UK 
‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus named the most played song of 2023 

 
Today, PPL can reveal that Ed Sheeran has been named the most played artist of 2023, winning the accolade for the seventh time in nine years. It’s the second time the Atlantic Records artist has clocked up three consecutive years as the most played act across radio, TV and in public places. The chart is being announced today to coincide with the PPL Annual General Meeting taking place this afternoon. 
 
PPL licenses the use of recorded music on radio, TV and in public places such as shops, bars, restaurants, gyms, offices and warehouses in the UK and receives extensive airplay reporting from such broadcasters and public performance venues. The organisation used this information to distribute revenue to close to 165,000 performers and recording rightsholders when their music was played publicly and broadcast in 2023. 
 
Ed previously scored a hat-trick between 2017 and 2019, with fellow Warner Music artist Dua Lipa bringing his fantastic run to a close in 2020. Dua Lipa was the third most played artist in the UK in 2023, propelled by the success of ‘Dance The Night’ from the Barbie OST. Taylor Swift jumped from number ten to two in 2023, matching her previous high in 2015. With the Eras tour having landed in the UK this month, it will be all to play for in 2024. 
 
Ed Sheeran said: “Thank you for naming me the most played artist for last year. I want to say thank you to my promotions team, Damian [Christian] and the whole team that works with you. You have consistently done amazing things, not just for me but for all the other artists you work with and I’m happy that you get this recognition - thanks so much and here’s to the next year!” 
 
Coldplay is the only group in the Top 10 and, alongside Ed Sheeran and Calvin Harris, has also been the most consistent presence annually in the chart appearing nine times in the last decade. British music continues to dominate with seven out of ten of the most played artists in 2023 being from the UK. Tom Grennan is the newest UK musician to enter the countdown at number eight, jumping from 17 in 2022. And finally, Madonna makes a return to the Top 10, following the launch of the Celebration greatest hits world tour in London last autumn. 
 
Most Played Artist in 2023 
  1. Ed Sheeran 
  2. Taylor Swift 
  3. Dua Lipa 
  4. Calvin Harris 
  5. David Guetta 
  6. Elton John 
  7. Coldplay 
  8. Tom Grennan 
  9. Harry Styles 
  10. Madonna 
Everybody loves Flowers 
Miley Cyrus makes her debut at number 12 in the Most Played Artist chart but steals the midsummer crown with ‘Flowers’ being named the most played song of 2023. As the lead single from her album Endless Summer Vacation, the global smash hit has already topped the sales charts in 37 countries, marking another incredible milestone for Miley.  
 
Ed Sheeran sits at number two with ‘Eyes Closed’, and Lewis Capaldi captures the number three spot with ‘Forget Me’. His song ‘Pointless’ sits just outside the Top 10 at number 11. Swifties will be happy to see ‘Anti-Hero’ is the fourth most played, and ‘Cruel Summer’ sits at nine. Dua Lipa is dancing the night away at five and Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding’s ‘Miracle’ takes the sixth spot – the only collaboration in the Top 10. 
 
P!NK, previously named the most played female artist of the 21st century for National Album Day in 2021, holds steady at seven with ‘Trustfall’. Jonas Brothers’ ‘Waffle House’ takes eighth place and Niall Horan’s ‘Heaven’ is at number ten. 2022’s most played earworm ‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles slides down just outside the Top 10 to number 12. 
 
Most Played Song in 2023  
  1. Flowers 
Miley Cyrus 
  1. Eyes Closed 
Ed Sheeran 
  1. Forget Me 
Lewis Capaldi 
  1. Anti-Hero 
Taylor Swift 
  1. Dance The Night 
Dua Lipa 
  1. Miracle 
Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding 
  1. Trustfall 
P!NK 
  1. Waffle House 
Jonas Brothers 
  1. Cruel Summer 
Taylor Swift 
  1. Heaven 
Niall Horan 
 
Peter Leathem OBE, CEO of PPL, said: “Congratulations to all artists featured this year and especially Ed and Miley on their respective number ones. These exclusive charts provide a snapshot of some of the most popular music being played publicly in the UK. As the global music market gets more competitive, it’s fantastic to see that seven out of the top ten most played acts are British. The charts highlight the important role broadcasters and businesses of all shapes and sizes play in supporting home-grown talent. Thanks to them, we can do our job ensuring performers and recording rightsholders get paid whenever their music is used in public.” 

25 Oct 2024 | Press release

FUGA continues expansion in APAC; strikes partnership with ASINTADA, home to Gloc-9

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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25 Oct 2024 | Press release

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

Anti-Racism Code of Conduct launched for UK Music Industry

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

Amazon Music unveils next UK City Session featuring Leigh-Anne

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

Taylor Swift: The Brand Unveiled - Groundbreaking 12-Year Study Exposes the True Power of Her Music's Commercial Appeal

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

Chase & Status and Sophie Kennard to receive joint award for Artist & Manager Team of the Year

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

Impala's fourth Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion report: Progress, challenges, and future actions in the independent music sector

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

LIVE Awards 2024 - Finalists Announced

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

BBC Radio 6 Music presents New Music Fix Live in Belfast this November

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

LIDO Festival

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24 Oct 2024 | Press release

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

Exclusive virtual concert from Myles Smith, created in Fortnite premieres October 25

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

Spitfire Audio Launches LABS+: Breakthrough sounds for breakthrough creators

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

Concord Music Publishing signs singer-songwriter Kara Jackson

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

New report shows PRS Foundation's International Showcase Fund generates millions for the UK economy and directly impacts the development of music creators across the country

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

Jonathan Tester launches Groove Bound Songs in JV with Bucks Music Group

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23 Oct 2024 | Press release

Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Global Deal With Elysse Yulo

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22 Oct 2024 | Press release

Music industry legend Peter Rudge steps aside from artist management after 55 years

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22 Oct 2024 | Press release

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22 Oct 2024 | Press release

Jeff Jones to Step Down as Chief Executive of The Beatles' company, Apple Corps Ltd.

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22 Oct 2024 | Press release

Doors Open

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25 Oct 2024

  • The future of music festivals is niche and artist-led (see Features)

  • Impala issues open letter to TikTok (see News)

  • Navigating the future through music and tech (see Comment)

24 Oct 2024

  • Black Lives In Music launches Anti-Racism Code Of Conduct (see News)

  • Distribution platform UnitedMasters announces partnership with TikTok (see Digital)

  • The industry must examine its treatment of young artists (see Features)

23 Oct 2024

  • Creative professionals and organisations protest the unlicensed use of creative works to train generative AI models (see News)

22 Oct 2024

  • Why do we care more about pop stars’ marketing than their music? (see Features)

21 Oct 2024

  • Value of British music exports rose by 7.6% in 2023 (see News)

  • Questions asked following the death of Liam Payne (see Features, Showbiz)

18 Oct 2024

  • Impala reacts to UMG's acquisition of [PIAS] (see Comment)

  • AIM's 2024 Independent Music Awards - winners announced (see News)

17 Oct 2024

  • Vinyl Alliance criticises claims of a drop in US vinyl sales (see Reports)

  • The case for more transparency in music (see Opinion)

  • Liam Payne dies in Buenos Aires at 31 after fall from hotel balcony (see News, Features)

16 Oct 2024

  • How patient artist development can bring music back to the heart of British culture (see Comment)

  • Report reveals big drop in album sales in the US this year (see Analysis)

15 Oct 2024

  • [PIAS] co-founders announce sale of remaining shareholding to UMG (see Business)

14 Oct 2024

  • Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy made her first address to the music industry (see News)

  • Beyond the obvious: Building future-focused strategy (see Comment)