Once again Ed Sheeran comes out top as most played artist in UK
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 Ed has clocked up three consecutive years as the most played act across UK radio, TV and in public places.
The news has been revealed by PPL which 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.
This information is used 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 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 soundtrack. Taylor Swift jumped from number ten to two in 2023, matching her previous high in 2015.
Ed Sheeran said: “Thank you for naming me the most played artist for last year. Thank you to my team, not just for me, but for all the other artists you work with – I’m happy that you get this recognition.”
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
- Ed Sheeran
- Taylor Swift
- Dua Lipa
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- Elton John
- Coldplay
- Tom Grennan
- Harry Styles
- Madonna
Most Played Song in 2023
| 1. Flowers | Miley Cyrus |
| 2. Eyes Closed | Ed Sheeran |
| 3. Forget Me | Lewis Capaldi |
| 4. Anti-Hero | Taylor Swift |
| 5. Dance The Night | Dua Lipa |
| 6. Miracle | Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding |
| 7. Trustfall | P!NK |
| 8. Waffle House | Jonas Brothers |
| 9. Cruel Summer | Taylor Swift |
| 10. 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 is 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.”