Queen named most-played rock act of 21st century on UK TV and radio

Queen have been named the UK’s most played rock act of the 21st century, topping a new PPL chart to celebrate National Album Day. Queen have amassed over 400 million seconds of radio and TV airplay, the equivalent of 12.5 years of continuous play this century, with their most played track being A Kind Of Magic.

PPL, which licenses recorded music for use on UK radio and television, and in public spaces such as bars, restaurants and gyms, compiled the chart using extensive airplay reporting data from radio and TV broadcasters across the country.

The findings were released to mark National Album Day on 18 October, an annual event now in its eighth year, organised by the BPI and ERA in partnership with BBC Radio 2. This year, rock is taking centre stage for National Album Day and record labels are releasing 60 limited edition albums for music fans and collectors.

The UK’s Top 10 most played rock acts of the 21st century:

1. Queen

2. David Bowie

3. U2

4. Oasis

5. Fleetwood Mac

6. Stereophonics

7. The Rolling Stones

8. The Police

9. The Killers

10. Kings of Leon

Queen guitarist Brian May said: “Astounding news! Bearing in mind that most of Queen's major works were done in the 20th century, it's amazing to top a 21st century list. Big thanks to all our fans.”

Queen continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, helped by a catalogue of rock ballads, which includes the landmark album A Night at the Opera. The band’s fourth studio album became their first UK number one and, at the time, was reportedly the most expensive album ever recorded.

The album’s centrepiece, Bohemian Rhapsody, spent nine consecutive weeks at the top of the UK singles chart on its original release and returned to the top for five weeks across 1991 and 1992, making it the first single to top the UK chart on two separate occasions. Queen are releasing 50th anniversary vinyl reissues of A Night at the Opera on National Album Day and Bohemian Rhapsody on 31 October.

Queen’s Top 5 most played recordings on UK radio and TV of the 21st century:

1. A Kind Of Magic

2. I Want To Break Free

3. Don't Stop Me Now

4. Radio Ga Ga

5. Somebody To Love

Peter Leathem OBE, chief executive officer, PPL said: “This chart underlines how rock music across the decades continues to thrive on UK airwaves. Congratulations to Queen on this great accolade in such a significant anniversary year for their first number one album. It’s a testament to their expansive and much-loved music catalogue that they continue to mean so much to UK audiences to this very day.”

Image credit: Terry O'Neill