Ed Sheeran was the most-played artist in the UK last year, while Feel It Still by Portugal The Man was 2018’s most-played song.
Sheeran topped the chart despite not releasing new music; and without an entry in the Top 10 most-played tracks, suggesting his entire catalogue of hits remains on rotation on the radio.
It’s the third time in four years that he’s been the UK’s most-played artist.
Calvin Harris came second and Little Mix were third.
The data was compiled by music royalty body PPL, which monitors the music played on TV and radio; and in pubs and clubs.
It illustrates how some songs achieve a long after-life on radio, months after they stop jostling for position in the official Top 40.
Portugal The Man’s feel-good hit Feel It Still was originally released in 2017; but still garnered enough plays to become the biggest radio hit of the year.
Meanwhile, Pink’s What About Us made the top 10 for the second year in a row – a feat that has only ever been achieved once before, by Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger in 2011 and 2012.
