Decade Stations
It’s all about 10 years worth of songs… to be honest there’s not much to see here from the bar chart and graphs point of view, it’s just Global v Bauer with not many songs on Heart’s mostly automated and/or voice tracked selection against Bauer’s larger collection of decades, and larger record collection too (!!), but it’s always interesting to see what everyone else considers to be THE songs of a decade, because every music buff has their own ideas!
…Of course one can speculate as to whether the songs selected were chosen by someone who’s musical memories were formed with love in the decade concerned, or whether someone “looking in from outside” was given the task – the results can be quite different… An obvious illustration of this being Bryan Adams – Summer of 69 – a total non event when recklessly released in the 80’s, it didn’t even make the top 40 at the time, but in later times has become considered to be one of the biggest and best songs of the 80’s, clearly by people who weren’t there at the time!!
The Absolute family of decade stations used to play a lot more credible and “edgy” selection of tracks, but since they have become part of the Bauer family, the mix of tracks in the 60’s to 90’s section has been ‘dumbed down’ and features a lot more of a “range” of music genres – there’s certainly more pop dance and slightly cheesey offerings than would have been considered acceptable before. The 00’s and 10’s stations have not had much of that happen to them though, but to be honest, with less than 500 songs each on these later additions, it seems that not much time has been spent digging up many nuggets from those decades either – clearly the 80’s and 90’s are the ones that the effort has been put into as far as the music variety is concerned!
Global added Heart 00s to their roster of Decade Stations in May 2022, and more recently Greatest Hits radio has added some decade stations for it’s premium subscribers, providing some interesting comparisons between the big groups.
Analysis: 24 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8598
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 568
Variety factor for this station is : 6.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 159 Songs (27.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 101 MOST played songs (17.7% of the total)
or 335 LEAST played songs (58.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h
10th most played song airs every: 18h 34m
101st most played song airs every: 22h 9m
159th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 2m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 89 (15.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 15 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 578
..in 3 months: 587, in 6 months: 604
..in 9 months: 633, in 12 months: 644
Top 13 Most Played:
1 [36 plays] Buffalo Springfield and Neil Young – For What It’s Worth
2 [35 plays] David Bowie – Space Oddity
3= [33 plays] each for…
+ Bob and Earl – Harlem Shuffle
+ Sandie Shaw – Always Something There To Remind Me
+ The Ronettes – Be My Baby
6 [32 plays] Johnny Cash – Ring Of Fire
7= [31 plays] each for…
+ Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music
+ Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary
+ Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman
+ Shocking Blues – Venus
+ Sonny and Cher – I Got You Babe
+ The Shirelles – Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
+ Tommy James and The Shondells – I Think We’re Alone Now
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7101
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 543
Variety factor for this station is : 7.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 125 Songs (23% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 78 MOST played songs (14.3% of the total)
or 363 LEAST played songs (66.8% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 40m
10th most played song airs every: 18h 10m
78th most played song airs every: 22h 13m
125th most played song airs every: 1d 1h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 225 (41.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 16 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 559
..in 3 months: 627, in 6 months: 650
..in 9 months: 707, in 12 months: 744
Top 14 Most Played:
1 [36 plays] M – Pop Muzik
2= [35 plays] each for…
+ Bachman Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet
+ Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft
+ James Brown – Get Up Sex Machine
+ Tom Robinson – 2-4-6-8 Motorway
+ Toto – Hold The Line
7= [34 plays] each for…
+ Ace – How Long
+ Boston – More Than A Feeling
+ Stealers Wheel – Stuck In the Middle With You
10= [33 plays] each for…
+ Rainbow – Since You’ve Been Gone
+ Sly and The Family Stone – Family Affair
+ Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel – Make Me Smile
+ The Kinks – Lola
+ The Knack – My Sharona
Analysis: 26 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6835
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 973
Variety factor for this station is : 14.2%
50% OF PLAYS is 211 Songs (21.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 127 MOST played songs (13% of the total)
or 651 LEAST played songs (66.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 0h 57m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 4h 21m
127th most played song airs every: 1d 17h 36m
211th most played song airs every: 2d 4h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 454 (46.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
3 after 24 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1021
..in 3 months: 1368, in 6 months: 1802
..in 9 months: 2216, in 12 months: 2502
Top 12 Most Played:
1 [25 plays] The Waterboys – Whole Of The Moon
2= [23 plays] each for…
+ Bruce Hornsby – The Way It Is
+ Climie Fisher – Love Changes
+ Guns N Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
5= [22 plays] each for…
+ A-Ha – The Sun Always Shines On Tv
+ Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
+ Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart
+ Mental As Anything – Live It Up
+ Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
+ Pointer Sisters – Automatic
+ Prefab Sprout – King Of Rock N Roll
+ Starship – We Built This City
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6426
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 861
Variety factor for this station is : 13.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 224 Songs (26% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 143 MOST played songs (16.6% of the total)
or 543 LEAST played songs (63% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 4h 34m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 11h 17m
143rd most played song airs every: 1d 18h 51m
224th most played song airs every: 2d 2h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 364 (42.2%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
2 after 15 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 906
..in 3 months: 1157, in 6 months: 1389
..in 9 months: 1578, in 12 months: 1692
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [21 plays] Source The and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
2 [19 plays] Underworld – Born Slippy
3= [18 plays] each for…
+ Moloko – Sing It Back
+ The New Radicals – You Get What You Give
5= [17 plays] each for…
+ Beck – Loser
+ Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith
+ Dee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart
+ Mock Turtles – Can U Dig It
+ The Seahorses – Love Is The Law
+ Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life
+ White Town – Your Woman
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7141
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 507
Variety factor for this station is : 7%
50% OF PLAYS is 172 Songs (33.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 107 MOST played songs (21.1% of the total)
or 256 LEAST played songs (50.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 20h 41m
10th most played song airs every: 23h 4m
107th most played song airs every: 1d 7h 34m
172nd most played song airs every: 1d 11h 17m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 32 (6.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 9 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 510
..in 3 months: 531, in 6 months: 545
..in 9 months: 571, in 12 months: 579
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [29 plays] Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl
2= [28 plays] each for…
+ Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows
+ The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You
+ The Zutons – Valerie
5= [27 plays] each for…
+ Ash – Shining Light
+ Automatic The – Monster
+ Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
+ Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
9= [26 plays] each for…
+ Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch
+ Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
+ The Rasmus – In The Shadows
Analysis: 26 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7477
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 477
Variety factor for this station is : 6.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 114 Songs (23.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 70 MOST played songs (14.6% of the total)
or 308 LEAST played songs (64.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 12h 44m
10th most played song airs every: 15h 36m
70th most played song airs every: 20h 7m
114th most played song airs every: 1d 0h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 132 (27.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 13 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 487
..in 3 months: 537, in 6 months: 544
..in 9 months: 609, in 12 months: 647
Top 14 Most Played:
1 [49 plays] Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
2= [46 plays] each for…
+ Catfish and The Bottlemen – 7
+ Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
4= [45 plays] each for…
+ Fun – We Are Young
+ Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
6 [43 plays] Hozier – Take Me To Church
7= [42 plays] each for…
+ Dnce – Cake By The Ocean
+ One Republic – Counting Stars
9 [41 plays] Vance Joy – Rip Tide
10= [40 plays] each for…
+ Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
+ Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne – Rather Be
+ Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
+ Passenger – Let Her Go
+ Tom Odell – Another Love
Analysis: 24 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8536
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 188
Variety factor for this station is : 2.2%
50% OF PLAYS is 34 Songs (18% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 20 MOST played songs (10.6% of the total)
or 138 LEAST played songs (73.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 2h 30m
10th most played song airs every: 4h 55m
20th most played song airs every: 5h 35m
34th most played song airs every: 6h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 32 (17%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 197
..in 3 months: 410, in 6 months: 468
..in 9 months: 542, in 12 months: 602
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [230 plays] Lathums – No Direction
2= [226 plays] each for…
+ Myles Smith – Stargazing
+ Razorlight – Scared Of Nothing
4 [223 plays] Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
5 [219 plays] The Killers – Bright Lights
6 [197 plays] James Bay – Up All Night
7 [168 plays] Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove
8 [124 plays] Hozier – Too Sweet
9= [117 plays] each for…
+ Blossoms – Gary
+ Blossoms – Perfect Me
Analysis: 27 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9232
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 329
Variety factor for this station is : 3.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 128 Songs (38.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 83 MOST played songs (25.2% of the total)
or 151 LEAST played songs (45.8% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 15h 48m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 12m
83rd most played song airs every: 18h 30m
128th most played song airs every: 19h 38m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 8 (2.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 9 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 331
..in 3 months: 334, in 6 months: 342
..in 9 months: 357, in 12 months: 361
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [41 plays] Toto – Hold The Line
2= [40 plays] each for…
+ Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy
+ Billy Joel – My Life
+ Elvis Costello – Oliver’s Army
+ Labelle – Lady Marmalade
+ Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill
+ Rod Stewart – Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?
+ The Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow
+ The Crusaders – Street Life
+ The Detroit Emeralds – Feel The Need
+ Van Morrison – Bright Side Of The Road
Analysis: 23 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7438
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 441
Variety factor for this station is : 5.9%
50% OF PLAYS is 166 Songs (37.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 106 MOST played songs (24% of the total)
or 207 LEAST played songs (46.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 42m
10th most played song airs every: 21h 13m
106th most played song airs every: 1d 2h 17m
166th most played song airs every: 1d 5h 3m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 28 (6.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 11 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 441
..in 3 months: 456, in 6 months: 486
..in 9 months: 502, in 12 months: 508
Top 14 Most Played:
1= [28 plays] each for…
+ Loose Ends – Hangin’ On A String
+ The Waterboys – The Whole Of The Moon
3= [27 plays] each for…
+ Jason Donovan – Too Many Broken Hearts
+ John Parr – St Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)
+ Soft Cell – Tainted Love
+ The Brothers Johnson – Stomp
7= [26 plays] each for…
+ Amii Stewart – Friends
+ DeBarge – Rhythm Of The Night
+ Four Tops – Loco In Acapulco
+ Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
+ Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
+ Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie
+ Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
+ Womack & Womack – Teardrops
Analysis: 23 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7293
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 329
Variety factor for this station is : 4.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 114 Songs (34.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 73 MOST played songs (22.1% of the total)
or 168 LEAST played songs (51% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 13h 27m
10th most played song airs every: 15h 20m
73rd most played song airs every: 17h 48m
114th most played song airs every: 19h 42m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 10 (3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 5 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 331
..in 3 months: 342, in 6 months: 358
..in 9 months: 366, in 12 months: 370
Top 13 Most Played:
1 [41 plays] Chesney Hawkes – The One And Only
2 [40 plays] Jimmy Nail – Ain’t No Doubt
3 [39 plays] Charles & Eddie – Would I Lie To You
4= [38 plays] each for…
+ Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha
+ Santana – Smooth
6= [37 plays] each for…
+ Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca
+ Snap – Rhythm Is A Dancer
8= [36 plays] each for…
+ En Vogue – My Lovin’
+ Go West – King Of Wishful Thinking
+ Inner Circle – Sweat (A La La La La Long)
+ Kenny Thomas – Thinking About Your Love
+ Mike & The Mechanics – Over My Shoulder
+ Shania Twain – That Don’t Impress Me Much
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8751
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 425
Variety factor for this station is : 4.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 142 Songs (33.4% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 90 MOST played songs (21.1% of the total)
or 222 LEAST played songs (52.2% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 15h 47m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 40m
90th most played song airs every: 20h 41m
142nd most played song airs every: 23h 4m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 27 (6.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 425
..in 3 months: 435, in 6 months: 452
..in 9 months: 456, in 12 months: 465
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [38 plays] each for…
+ Five – Let’s Dance
+ JLS – Beat Again
3= [37 plays] each for…
+ Daft Punk – One More Time
+ Damage – Ghetto Romance
+ Jamiroquai – Little L
6= [36 plays] each for…
+ Holly Valance – Kiss Kiss
+ Maroon 5 – Makes Me Wonder
+ Sisqo – Thong Song
+ Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart
+ Toploader – Dancing In The Moonlight
Analysis: 26 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 10477
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 404
Variety factor for this station is : 3.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 185 Songs (45.7% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 120 MOST played songs (29.7% of the total)
or 152 LEAST played songs (37.6% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 12h 44m
10th most played song airs every: 20h 7m
120th most played song airs every: 22h 17m
185th most played song airs every: 23h 6m
No. of songs with 15 or less plays: 1 (0.2%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 5 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 404
..in 3 months: 407, in 6 months: 407
..in 9 months: 408, in 12 months: 417
Top 13 Most Played:
1 [49 plays] Elo – Mr Blue Sky
2= [32 plays] each for…
+ Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
+ Steve Miller Band – The Joker
4= [31 plays] each for…
+ Bob Marley and The Wailers – Jammin’
+ Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap
+ Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
+ Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
+ Foreigner – Cold As Ice
+ George Benson – Greatest Love Of All
+ Kc and The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight
+ Status Quo – Caroline
+ The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie
+ Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Analysis: 32 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 12057
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 542
Variety factor for this station is : 4.4%
50% OF PLAYS is 255 Songs (47% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 167 MOST played songs (30.8% of the total)
or 196 LEAST played songs (36.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 5h 32m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 5h 32m
167th most played song airs every: 1d 9h 23m
255th most played song airs every: 1d 10h 54m
No. of songs with 20 or less plays: 89 (16.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 5 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 542
..in 3 months: 542, in 6 months: 544
..in 9 months: 548, in 12 months: 558
Top 12 Most Played:
1= [26 plays] each for…
+ Abba – Super Trouper
+ Alison Moyet – Is This Love
+ Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
+ Eurythmics – There Must Be An Angel
+ Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
+ Huey Lewis and The News – Stuck With You
+ Joan Jett and The Blackhearts – I Love Rock N’ Roll
+ Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind
+ Queen and David Bowie – Under Pressure
+ The Clash – Rock The Casbah
+ Tom Petty – Free Fallin’
+ Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Analysis: 27 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 10194
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 347
Variety factor for this station is : 3.4%
50% OF PLAYS is 159 Songs (45.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 104 MOST played songs (29.9% of the total)
or 130 LEAST played songs (37.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 18h
10th most played song airs every: 18h 30m
104th most played song airs every: 20h 54m
159th most played song airs every: 21h 36m
No. of songs with 20 or less plays: 10 (2.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 4 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 347
..in 3 months: 347, in 6 months: 349
..in 9 months: 350, in 12 months: 401
Top 14 Most Played:
1= [36 plays] each for…
+ 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up
+ Moloko – Sing It Back
+ Take That – Never Forget
4= [35 plays] each for…
+ Chesney Hawkes – The One And Only
+ Corona – The Rhythm Of The Night
+ Daft Punk – Around The World
+ En Vogue – Don’t Let Go
+ Jon Secada – Just Another Day
+ Mariah Carey – Fantasy
+ New Order – Regret
+ Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
+ Roy Orbison – I Drove All Night
+ Sugar Ray – Every Morning
+ Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
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