New York, NY (Top40 Charts) This Easter Monday on BBC
Radio 2, Scott Mills presented the Most Played Songs of the Decade (2-5pm), counting down the 40 most played songs broadcast on UK radio and television since 2010. The programme is now available on BBC Sounds.
Happy by
Pharrell Williams tops the chart at number one, followed by Adele's Rolling In The Deep at number two - making her one of only two Brits in the top ten (alongside Mark Ronson) and the only solo female artist in the top ten - with Moves Like Jagger by
Maroon 5 featuring
Christina Aguilera at number three.
Pharrell says: "'Thank you, thank you. It is incredibly humbling to think that Happy is the most played song across radio in the UK for the past decade. When I was a little boy hearing those letters, UK, and thinking about the culture and seeing all of my favourite artists that I loved as a child go over and perform big concerts and festivals - I just never ever thought that anything that I would ever do would be part of that history.
He continues: "I always want people to hear my songs, as many people as possible, people that really need it. It's cool when it happens and that you have radio stations that want to play your songs. It really means a lot to me and my career. None of it matters if we don't have you guys onboard. This is a crazy time and I know we listen to songs to help us get through things and if any of my music could have ever helped you in this way, I am very grateful. Thank you."
Scott Mills says: "Every single tune I play on the show is an absolute banger that you'll have known and loved then learnt every word to over the past ten years, and I play the entire Top 40 in full. So get ready to collectively sing your heads off. I'll certainly be doing just that, but thankfully off-mic."
The chart, compiled by music licensing company PPL, features some of music's biggest stars including Adele, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Rihanna,
Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry, but listeners can still expect some surprises along the way. Made by independent radio production company Listen, PPL's Most Played Charts are created from exclusive UK music usage and airplay data supplied by its licensees, including radio stations and TV channels.
PPL's Most Played Songs of the 2010s:
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
Moves Like Jagger -
Maroon 5 Feat.
Christina Aguilera
Get Lucky -
Daft Punk Feat.
Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers
Can't Stop The Feeling! (Original Song from DreamWorks Animation's Trolls) - Justin Timberlake
I Gotta
Feeling -
Black Eyed Peas
Uptown Funk -
Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars
Counting Stars - Onerepublic
Forget You - Cee Lo Green
Sex On Fire -
Kings Of Leon
The Top 40 Most Played Songs 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)
Jeff Smith, Head of Music,
Radio 2, says: "BBC
Radio 2 plays the best of the best pop music, and our Most Played Chart of the last decade is packed with universally loved, singalong pop hits that really do stand the test of time. So do tune in to our unique Top 40 countdown on
Radio 2 and BBC Sounds!"
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 top 40 most played songs 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 Songs of the 2010s chart."
PPL licenses recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (shops, bars, offices etc.) or broadcast on TV or radio, ensuring royalties go to its members. They include independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging artists to festival headliners.
