25-55 Age Pop/General Range/Oldies Stations
Here we are then, the stations that play a cross section of pop music from across the years, targeting the 25-55/60 market, some with an element of current songs, (eg Ofcom FORCES BBC Radio 2 to play 20% “new music” in daytime hours) and some without any current songs at all. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the big groups are all in on the action in this genre with at least two offerings from each of Global and Bauer is this sector, (and each also with back up “decade” and other variations on the main brand, as you’ll find out on other pages). Once again the BBC’s Radio 2 is streets ahead with over 4000 different songs played, almost 3 times the next nearest commercial rival, but you may notice R2 doesn’t start off playing as many songs as the commercial stations (due to the Ofcom rule already mentioned), however after just a few days keeps it’s new plays going, where the commercial rivals with their far smaller playlists, quickly run out of “new song” steam.
Union Jack, playing just British artists, was a national DAB station opening in 2016, but it closed suddenly in early 2022. Even though no longer broadcasting, it’s data is still currently included in this list for interest. Virgin 80’s plus is the newest in this arena, it was launched on 1st Sept 2022. Off the back of the success of Bauer’s Greatest HIts, is Gold looking forward to a revamp and relaunch by Global? Answers on a Postcard!
Analysis: 25 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6505
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 3881
Variety factor for this station is : 59.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 895 Songs (23% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 373 MOST played songs (9.6% of the total)
or 2168 LEAST played songs (55.8% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 10h 10m
10th most played song airs every: 18h 45m
373rd most played song airs every: 8d 8h
895th most played song airs every: 12d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 3822 (98.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
90 after 24 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 4433
..in 3 months: 9418, in 6 months: 14655
..in 9 months: 18781, in 12 months: 22430
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [59 plays] Take That – You And Me
2= [57 plays] each for…
+ Bon Jovi – Legendary
+ Liam Payne – Teardrops
4= [45 plays] each for…
+ Galantis, David Guetta & 5 Seconds of Summer – Lighter
+ Liam Gallagher & John Squire – Raise Your Hands
6 [41 plays] Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)
7 [38 plays] Olly Alexander – Dizzy
8= [35 plays] each for…
+ Hozier – Too Sweet
+ Pet Shop Boys – Dancing Star
10= [32 plays] each for…
+ Dua Lipa – Training Season
+ Muni Long – Made For Me
Analysis: 27 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9827
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1313
Variety factor for this station is : 13.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 136 Songs (10.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 77 MOST played songs (5.8% of the total)
or 1101 LEAST played songs (83.8% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 4h 10m
10th most played song airs every: 15h 25m
77th most played song airs every: 20h 54m
136th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 55m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 952 (72.5%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
15 after 19 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1368
..in 3 months: 1941, in 6 months: 2193
..in 9 months: 2299, in 12 months: 2369
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [155 plays] Noah Kahan – Stick Season
2= [151 plays] each for…
+ Becky Hill & David Guetta – Remember
+ Teddy Swims – Lose Control
4 [132 plays] Beyonce – Texas Hold ‘Em
5 [70 plays] Lewis Capaldi – Pointless
6 [62 plays] Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
7 [47 plays] John Legend – All Of Me
8 [45 plays] The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
9 [44 plays] Panic! At the Disco – High Hopes
10= [42 plays] each for…
+ Kevin Lyttle – Turn Me On
+ Leann Rimes – Can’t Fight The Moonlight
Analysis: 24 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 5435
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1910
Variety factor for this station is : 35.1%
50% OF PLAYS is 347 Songs (18.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 200 MOST played songs (10.4% of the total)
or 1343 LEAST played songs (70.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 17h 8m
10th most played song airs every: 2d 0h
200th most played song airs every: 3d 10h 17m
347th most played song airs every: 4d 19h 12m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 1583 (82.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
22 after 15 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 2213
..in 3 months: 3860, in 6 months: 5032
..in 9 months: 5704, in 12 months: 6309
Top 18 Most Played:
1= [14 plays] each for…
+ Donna Summer – I Feel Love
+ Earth Wind and Fire – September
3= [13 plays] each for…
+ Elton John – Crocodile Rock
+ Elton John and Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
+ Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
+ The Trammps – Disco Inferno
7= [12 plays] each for…
+ Blondie – Heart Of Glass
+ Blondie – Sunday Girl
+ Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
+ Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
+ Dire Straits – Walk Of Life
+ Freda Payne – Band Of Gold
+ George McCrae – Rock Your Baby
+ Mcfadden and Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
+ Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall
+ Sister Sledge – We Are Family
+ The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything
+ Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You
Analysis: 27 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 10441
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 950
Variety factor for this station is : 9%
50% OF PLAYS is 188 Songs (19.7% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 115 MOST played songs (12.1% of the total)
or 670 LEAST played songs (70.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 12m
10th most played song airs every: 18h 30m
115th most played song airs every: 1d 0h 55m
188th most played song airs every: 1d 5h 27m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 427 (44.9%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 24 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 960
..in 3 months: 1041, in 6 months: 1192
..in 9 months: 1288, in 12 months: 1347
Top 15 Most Played:
1 [40 plays] Jeff Beck – Hi Ho Silver Lining
2 [39 plays] Chris Andrews – Yesterday Man
3= [38 plays] each for…
+ Amen Corner – (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice
+ Wilson Pickett – In The Midnight Hour
5= [37 plays] each for…
+ Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music
+ Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
7= [36 plays] each for…
+ The Casuals – Jesamine
+ The Equals – Baby Come Back
9= [35 plays] each for…
+ Dusty Springfield – I Only Want To Be With You
+ Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
+ Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
+ Los Lobos – La Bamba
+ Shirelles – Will You Love Me Tomorrow
+ Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe
+ The Small Faces – Itchycoo Park
Analysis: 26 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7529
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 701
Variety factor for this station is : 9.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 171 Songs (24.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 98 MOST played songs (13.9% of the total)
or 447 LEAST played songs (63.7% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 19h 30m
98th most played song airs every: 1d 8h 50m
171st most played song airs every: 1d 15h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 237 (33.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 734
..in 3 months: 979, in 6 months: 1381
..in 9 months: 1571, in 12 months: 1697
Top 15 Most Played:
1 [37 plays] Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – The Time Of My Life
2= [35 plays] each for…
+ Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
+ Teddy Swims – Lose Control
+ Toto – Africa
5= [34 plays] each for…
+ Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – Islands In The Stream
+ Spandau Ballet – True
+ Yazoo – Only You
8= [33 plays] each for…
+ Berlin – Take My Breath Away
+ Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
10= [32 plays] each for…
+ Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
+ Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
+ Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
+ Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited
+ The Bangles – Eternal Flame
+ Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
Analysis: 23 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8489
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1468
Variety factor for this station is : 17.2%
50% OF PLAYS is 253 Songs (17.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 151 MOST played songs (10.2% of the total)
or 1077 LEAST played songs (73.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 2m
10th most played song airs every: 23h
151st most played song airs every: 1d 12h 48m
253rd most played song airs every: 1d 22h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 927 (63.1%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
16 after 20 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1573
..in 3 months: 2056, in 6 months: 2471
..in 9 months: 2704, in 12 months: 2874
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [29 plays] each for…
+ John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire
+ Spandau Ballet – True
3 [28 plays] Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)
4= [27 plays] each for…
+ Berlin – Take My Breath Away
+ John Waite – Missing You
+ Yazoo – Only You
7 [25 plays] Olivia Newton-john – Hopelessly Devoted To You
8= [24 plays] each for…
+ Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
+ George Michael – Careless Whisper
+ George Michael – Freedom! ’90
Analysis: 24 days, up to 19-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7520
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1492
Variety factor for this station is : 19.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 316 Songs (21.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 188 MOST played songs (12.6% of the total)
or 1028 LEAST played songs (68.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 11h 31m
10th most played song airs every: 19h 51m
188th most played song airs every: 2d 9h 36m
316th most played song airs every: 2d 16h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 855 (57.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
16 after 23 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1605
..in 3 months: 2232, in 6 months: 2838
..in 9 months: 3195, in 12 months: 3350
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [50 plays] each for…
+ Dua Lipa – Training Season
+ Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer
+ Teddy Swims – Lose Control
4= [49 plays] each for…
+ Lewis Capaldi – Strangers
+ Noah Kahan – Stick Season
6 [48 plays] Anne-Marie & Shania Twain – Unhealthy
7 [44 plays] Beyonce – Texas Hold Em
8= [32 plays] each for…
+ Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)
+ Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man – Lovers In A Past Life
10 [29 plays] Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder On The Dancefloor
Analysis: 25 days, up to 18-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8645
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 5788
Variety factor for this station is : 66.9%
50% OF PLAYS is 1684 Songs (29% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 963 MOST played songs (16.6% of the total)
or 2882 LEAST played songs (49.7% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 22h 9m
10th most played song airs every: 2d 18h 40m
963rd most played song airs every: 12d 12h
1684th most played song airs every: 12d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 5766 (99.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
112 after 24 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 6338
..in 3 months: 9621, in 6 months: 11933
..in 9 months: 13088, in 12 months: 13860
Top 12 Most Played:
1 [13 plays] Billy Joel – Turn The Lights Back On
2= [12 plays] each for…
+ Billy J. Kramer – Are You With Me
+ Fairground Attraction – What’s Wrong With The World
+ Tony Christie – We Still Shine
5= [11 plays] each for…
+ Harriet – Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again
+ Mark Knopfler – Two Pairs Of Hands
7= [10 plays] each for…
+ Dee C. Lee – Back In Time
+ Marty Wilde – Two Eyes Streaming
9= [9 plays] each for…
+ Barbara – Mein Frauline
+ Norah Jones – Paradise
+ The Castellows – No. 7 Road
+ UB40 – Home
Analysis: 24 days, up to 20-04-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 2180
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 765
Variety factor for this station is : 35%
50% OF PLAYS is 168 Songs (21.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 97 MOST played songs (12.6% of the total)
or 493 LEAST played songs (64.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 12m
10th most played song airs every: 21h 20m
96th most played song airs every: 1d 4h 48m
158th most played song airs every: 1d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 312 (44.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 23 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 702
..in 3 months: 815, in 6 months: 992
..in 9 months: 1097, in 12 months: 1321
Top 16 Most Played:
1 [12 plays] U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name
2= [11 plays] each for…
+ Go West – We Close Our Eyes
+ Mr Mister – Broken Wings
+ Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger
+ Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart
+ Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
7= [10 plays] each for…
+ Lionel Richie – Dancing On The Ceiling
+ New Order – True Faith
+ The La’s – There She Goes
10= [9 plays] each for…
+ Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth
+ Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
+ Boy Meets Girl – Waiting For A Star To Fall
+ Cyndi Lauper – True Colors
+ John Farnham – You’re The Voice
+ Peter Cetera – Glory Of Love
+ The Bee Gees – You Win Again
** No longer broadcasting !! **
Historic Analysis: 24 days, up to March 2022
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7948
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 788
Variety factor for this station is : 9.9%
50% OF PLAYS is 136 Songs (17.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 83 MOST played songs (10.5% of the total)
or 568 LEAST played songs (72% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 6h 32m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 56m
83rd most played song airs every: 21h 20m
136th most played song airs every: 1d 2h 10m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 386 (48.9%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1004
..in 3 months: 1334, in 6 months: 1560
..in 9 months: 1664, in 12 months: 1928
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [88 plays] George Ezra – Blame It On Me
2 [71 plays] James Bay – Hold Back The River
3 [65 plays] Freya Ridings – Castles
4 [64 plays] Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
5 [58 plays] Sam Smith – I’m Not The Only One
6= [57 plays] each for…
+ Freya Ridings – Lost Without You
+ Sam Smith – Money On My Mind
8 [53 plays] Florence And The Machine – Shake It Out
9= [34 plays] each for…
+ Coldplay – Viva La Vida
+ Kt Tunstall – Suddenly I See
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