Ed Sheeran reclaims top spot as the Most Played Artist in the UK

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has returned to the number one position as the UK’s most played artist, marking the eighth time in 11 years he has achieved the honor. Data released by licensing body PPL reveals that Sheeran’s music dominated British airplay across radio, television, and public venues throughout 2025.

Sheeran, who first topped the PPL chart in 2015 and has remained in the top three every year since 2017, averaged 574 broadcasts per day over his 15-year career. His enduring popularity was underscored by landing two songs in the top ten most played tracks of the year: “Sapphire” at number eight and “Azizam” at number nine. Expressing his gratitude, Sheeran thanked broadcasters, venues, and fans for their consistent support over the past decade and a half.

The artist chart demonstrated remarkable stability at the top, with Taylor Swift claiming the second spot for the third consecutive year, and previous number one Dua Lipa finishing in third. This trio has locked down the top three positions for three consecutive chart cycles. The remainder of the top ten featured a mix of legacy acts and global pop icons, including Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Coldplay, Elton John, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lady Gaga.

In the singles field, breakthrough singer-songwriter Myles Smith topped the Most Played Tracks chart with his hit “Nice To Meet You.” Smith enjoyed a highly successful year, also securing the tenth spot with his track “Stargazing.” Homegrown British talent claimed six of the top ten song entries, with London-born Lola Young securing second place with “Messy” and Sam Fender landing at number four with “People Watching.”

PPL Chief Executive Peter Leathem OBE commended both Sheeran and Smith for their chart achievements, noting that the results reflect a vibrant period for the British music ecosystem. The tracking data, which dictates royalty distributions to over 182,000 performers and rightsholders, highlighted a growing consumer appetite for fresh music, with emerging stars like Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, and Gracie Abrams all penetrating the Top 20.