Dua Lipa was the most-played artist of 2020 in the U.K. across radio, TV and public performance locations, according to PPL’s annual charts, while The Weeknd scored the year’s most-played track, “Blinding Lights” (Island).
Two cuts from Lipa’s #1 album, Future Nostalgia (Warner Records)—“Don’t Start Now” and “Physical”—made PPL's Top 10, at #2 and #7, respectively. In addition to topping the overall chart, The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” was the year’s most-streamed song.
Lipa knocks Ed Sheeran from the top spot, which he's held every year since 2017. He was still the second-most-played artist of the year, mainly due to his strong catalog—“Afterglow” (Atlantic), his only release of 2020, didn’t arrive until late December.
Ariana Grande was the year’s third-most-played artist. This is the first time she's appeared on PPL’s Top 10 artists chart; her Lady Gaga collaboration, “Rain on Me” (Polydor), was the year’s 10th-most-played track.
PPL detailed last year’s financial and operational results in its annual review, published Weddnesday. In 2020 the PRO collected £225.7m, down 17% from 2019 due to COVID. CEO Peter Leathem said he expects revenues to recover this year to beat 2020 numbers but don't yet exceed pre-pandemic levels.
PPL’s Most-Played Tracks of 2020
PPL’s Most-Played Artists of 2020
JENNIFER KNOEPFLE: THE HITS INTERVIEW
A publishing all-star tells her story. (5/7a)
LIVE NATION POSTS (ANOTHER) RECORD QUARTER
More butts in seats than ever before. (5/3a)
| ||
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
|