Coldplay has been crowned the most played British group of the 21st century, according to music licensing company PPL. This announcement comes as part of the celebrations for National Album Day 2024, set for October 19, which this year highlights iconic British bands.
With 40,000 more plays across UK radio and TV than Queen, who secured second place, Coldplay has left an indelible mark on the nation’s airwaves. Their music continues to resonate across the UK, with Viva La Vida standing as their most played track. Since its release in 2008, Viva La Vida has been broadcast an average of 27 times per day. Other Coldplay hits such as Paradise, Clocks, Something Just Like This, and Adventure of a Lifetime also contributed to the band’s massive 400,000,000 seconds of airplay this century.
Coldplay’s enduring popularity is underscored by the upcoming release of their latest album Moon Music, which dropped on October 4. Furthermore, the band is poised to break the Wembley Stadium record next summer with an incredible 10-show run at the iconic venue. The previous record of eight dates was held jointly by Take That and Taylor Swift.
National Album Day is organized by the BPI and the ERA in partnership with BBC Radio 2 and celebrates the art of the album. This year’s focus on Great British Groups underscores the influence and legacy of British bands through the decades, encouraging younger audiences to engage with the album format. Now in its seventh year, the event brings together the music industry and fans alike in celebrating the richness of British music.
The PPL list of the UK’s most played British bands also features some heavyweights alongside Coldplay, with Take That, Little Mix, and The Beatles rounding out the Top 5. Notably, Oasis, which recently announced a reunion, came in at No.6. Despite their recent surge in popularity, it was too late to affect the rankings for this year’s chart.
Top 20 Most Played British Groups:
- Coldplay
- Queen
- Take That
- Little Mix
- The Beatles
- Oasis
- The Bee Gees
- The Stereophonics
- The Eurythmics
- The Rolling Stones
- Clean Bandit
- Duran Duran
- Sugababes
- The Police
- Simply Red
- Snow Patrol
- Electric Light Orchestra
- Keane
- Wham!
- Texas
Catalogue releases from Take That, Sugababes, Stereophonics, and Simply Red are set to coincide with National Album Day. Peter Leathem OBE, CEO of PPL, emphasized the impact of British bands, noting, “This country has produced some of the most iconic and successful bands of all time, so documenting them is a perfect way to mark this year’s National Album Day. Coldplay are fitting owners of the No.1 spot – few artists can claim to have had such a presence on UK radio and TV since 2000.”
As Coldplay continues to break records and captivate audiences worldwide, their status as the most played British group of the 21st century is yet another testament to their influence and staying power.
