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Dua Lipa tops PPL’s most played artists list for 2020
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 9 June 2021
It’s the Annual General Meeting of UK record industry collecting society PPL later today, which is surely a cause for celebration. Like me, you’ve probably invited hundreds of people round for a big old house party while you livestream the proceedings through a super big telly set for all and everyone to enjoy. But ssh, don’t tell anyone, you know, COVID rules and all that nonsense. But I mean, surely, coronavirus be damned, this is the PPL AGM!
Your highly-illegal virus-spiking house party is going to need a soundtrack, of course, but don’t worry, PPL has thought of that and published its most played top tens for 2020 to help get the raving started. The big news is Dua Lipa has knocked that Ed Sheeran into second place on the annual list of artists who scored the most plays on radio and telly, and in public spaces, all across the UK.
About time too. She achieved that not by having the most played track overall – that went to The Weeknd and his tedious hit ‘Blinding Lights’ – but she got the edge in the most played artists overall list by having two of the top ten most played tracks: ‘Don’t Start Now’ in second place and ‘Physical’ in seventh. That’s the way to do it, people!
“Thank you so much to everyone that listened to and loved my music during 2020”, says Dua Lipa, despite not replying to her invite to my PPL AGM house party. “I’m incredibly proud that I was the most played artist on radio, TV and all across the UK. I so wanted [2020 album] ‘Future Nostalgia’ to bring some happiness during such a difficult time. Thanks to everyone who supported it and also to PPL, who do important work in making sure artists and musicians are paid when their music is played”.
Ah well, at least she remembered to thank PPL in the latter part of her quote there. Maybe I’ll let her off about the no show in RSVP-ville. Anyway, see you all at the party later. Or, if you’d rather have a COVID-safe PPL party all on your own, here’s the music you need to line up to soundtrack it…
PPL’s Most Played Tracks Chart of 2020
1. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
2. Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
3. Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love
4. Tones & I – Dance Monkey
5. Harry Styles – Adore You
6. Lewis Capaldi – Before You Go
7. Dua Lipa – Physical
8. Maroon 5 – Memories
9. Jax Jones & Ella Henderson – This Is Real
10. Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande – Rain On Me
PPL’s Most Played Artist Chart of 2020
1. Dua Lipa
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Ariana Grande
4. Sam Smith
5. Calvin Harris
6. Little Mix
7. Coldplay
8. Justin Bieber
9. Maroon 5
10. The Weeknd
