Top 100 Most Played Songs on UK Radio 2023 revealed! UK radio plays only 48% Domestic UK Artists in 2023.
UK Radio supports its own! 48% in UK Radio’s Top 100 Songs of 2023 feature UK Domestic Artists! Lewis Capaldi lands number 1!
LINK TO INFOGRAPHICS: https://drive.
Summary of findings Top 100 UK radio charts 2023
- 48% Of songs featured in the Top 100, an impressive 48% were by domestic UK Artists/Bands.
- #1 Lewis Capaldi’s song ‘Forget Me’ is the #1 most-played song by a UK artist across UK radio in ’23. It sits at #1 overall in the Top 100 songs on UK radio in 2023 by both International and UK artists combined.
- 19% Of songs featured in the Top 100, 19% were by UK Male Artists/Bands/Djs.
- 13% Of songs featured in the Top 100, 13% were by UK Female Artists/Bands/Djs.
- 6% Of songs featured in the Top 100, 6% were UK POC Artists/Bands/Djs.
- 7% Of songs featured in the Top 100, 7% were UK mixed ethnicity Artists/Bands/Dj collaborations.
- 35% Of songs featured in the Top 100, 35% were by WHITE UK Artists/Bands/Dj collaborations.
- 2% Of songs featured in the Top 100, non-binary artist Sam Smith made up 2% of songs featured in Artists/Bands/Dj collaborations.
THE TOP 5 MOST PLAYED SONGS ON UK RADIO IN 2023 by UK Artists:#1 Lewis Capaldi- Forget Me
#2 Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding- Miracle
#3 Ed Sheeran- Eyes Closed
#4 Lewis Capaldi- Pointless
#5 Becky Hill & David Guetta- Remember
THE TOP 5 MOST PLAYED SONGS ON UK RADIO IN 2023: (International + Domestic / all artists)#1 Lewis Capaldi- Forget Me
#2 Miley Cyrus- Flowers
#3 Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding- Miracle
#4 Ed Sheeran- Eyes Closed
#5 Taylor Swift -Anti-Hero
REPETITIVE ARTISTS: UK ARTISTS WHO FEATURED MULTIPLE TIMES ON UK RADIO TOP 100 IN 2023
• LEWIS CAPALDI: 3 TIMES WITH SONGS: FORGET ME #1, POINTLESS #4, WISH YOU THE BEST #11
• BECKY HILL: 4 TIMES WITH SONGS: REMEMBER (W DAVID GUETTA) HISTORY (W JOEL CORRY) SIDE EFFECTS (W LEWIS THOMPSON) AND DISCONNECT (W CHASE & STATUS)
• ED SHEERAN: 3 TIMES WITH SONGS: EYES CLOSED, BAD HABITS, AND SHIVERS
• GEORGE EZRA: 3 TIMES WITH SONGS: GREEN GREEN GRASS, SHOTGUN, AND ANYONE FOR YOU
• JOEL CORRY: 4 TIMES WITH SONGS: LIONHEART (W TOM GRENNAN), HISTORY (W BECKY HILL), 0800 HEAVEN (W NATHAN DAWE AND ELLA HENDERSON) AND HEAD & HEART (W MNEK)
• DUA LIPA 3 TIMES WITH SONGS: DANCE THE NIGHT, HOUDINI, AND COLD HEART (W ELTON JOHN)
• TOM GRENNAN: 3 TIMES WITH SONGS: HOW DOES IT FEEL, HERE, AND LIONHEART (JOEL CORRY)
• ELLA HENDERSON: 2 TIMES WITH SONGS: 0800 HEAVEN (W NATHAN DAWE AND JOEL CORRY) AND REACT (W SWITCH DISCO)
• RAYE: 2 TIMES WITH SONGS: ESCAPISM (W 070 SHAKE) AND PRADA (W cassö and D-Block Europe)
COMMENT FROM LINDA COOGAN BYRNE – FOUNDER OF WHY NOT HER? & DATA ANALYST:
“There is no doubt that the UK is in the midst of a Golden Age of creativity with a wide range of musical talent evident across all genres. Artists such as Raye, Lewis Capaldi, Becky Hill, Joel Corry and others are touring heavily, reflecting the importance of radio support for the economic well-being of artists.
I am thrilled to see that the British radio industry values its own domestic artists to the point that almost half of their Top 100 songs of 2023 are made up of their own acts. In addition to the ever increasing gender parity, this illustrates the excellent sonic landscape of British music in general. In comparison, only 19% of Irish music by Irish domestic artists and bands was played across Irish radio’s Top 100 songs in 2023. The Irish government and broadcasting sector may want to look at its neighbours for inspiration to support their own regional and national talent in a more meaningful way, instead of playing mostly international artists (to the tune of 81%) with only 3% being Irish female artists.
Changing attitudes can happen quickly – as we have seen from the UK radio stations’ response to their data – if unconscious bias is revealed – actions are taken to ensure greater parity in the future. There is nothing better than seeing diverse female artists from the UK, who hold 13% of the market, closer to equality to their male counterparts (19%). It is also interesting to see gender collabs sitting at 16%.
As a collective campaign group, we will continue to stand with our colleagues and friends in broadcasting and the music industry to work towards an equal voice for all. We will never be afraid to ask the question “Why Not Her?”
