What are the most played songs in radio history?
In our modern times of streaming royalties and vinyl resurgence, the radio remains a vital entity of the music industry. Indeed, many radio stations worldwide have suffered from a decline in listenership in recent years, with many favouring streaming platforms for music and podcasts. However, some radio stations, such as BBC Radio 6 Music, buck the trend with a strong identity, innovative features and a discerning outlook for new music.
Contrary to The Buggles’ conviction, video didn’t kill radio when MTV entered the scene in the early 1980s. Looking to the future, the medium faces some challenges, but it seems safe to assume live radio will never totally vanish, with live streams becoming a more popular consumption method.
Most importantly, radio stations are a great place to discover new music and hear fresh insight from artists and learned DJs. However, all too often, stations like to play long-toothed hits over and over again.
This is, of course, nothing new. Led Zeppelin became a staple presence of stations on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 1970s after their monstrous hit ‘Stairway to Heaven’ arrived. The band’s singer, Robert Plant, decided enough was enough in 2002 when he donated $10,000 to the Portland radio station KBOO on the condition they stop their incessant airing of ‘Stairway to Heaven’.
Plant famously grew tired of the song, once dismissing it as “that bloody wedding song”. In a 1988 interview with the Los Angeles Times, he announced that he’d “break out in hives if I had to sing that song in every show.” Despite his reservations, he performed ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in 2023, swallowing his pride for a worthy cause.
Despite Plant’s scruples, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ isn’t the main offender. Below, we have listed the 12 most played songs on radio stations worldwide. Even Sting’s tantric capabilities are put to shame by the staying power of his enormous 1983 hit single, ‘Every Breath You Take’. Four decades later, the song remains a prominent presence on airwaves worldwide, enhanced by Diddy and Faith Evans’ 1997 reimagined and remixed version of the song, ‘I’ll Be Missing You’.
Elsewhere on the list, classic songs by The Beatles, Van Morrison and Otis Redding stir very little surprise. Although several rock artists appear on the list, it’s interesting to note that ‘Layla’ by Eric Clapton, ‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks and ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor were the only entrants that can be considered rock songs.
See the complete list below. If you like what you see – the law of averages says you will – you can follow our playlist.
Most played songs on the radio:
- ‘Every Breath You Take’ – The Police
- ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ – Van Morrison
- ‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’’ – The Righteous Brothers
- ‘Yesterday’ – The Beatles
- ‘Never My Love’ – The Association
- ‘You Really Got Me’ – The Kinks
- ‘Stand by Me’ – Ben E. King
- ‘Layla’ – Eric Clapton
- ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ – Tears for Fears
- ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ – Frankie Valli
- ‘(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay’ – Otis Redding
- ‘Eye of the Tiger’ – Survivor
