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 Heart 10’s appeared in September 2024, while Greatest Hits radio has also added some decade stations for it’s premium subscribers, providing for some interesting comparisons between the big groups.
Analysis: 24 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4824
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 717
Variety factor for this station is : 14.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 151 Songs (21% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 69 MOST played songs (9.6% of the total)
or 459 LEAST played songs (64% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 14h 46m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 27m
69th most played song airs every: 2d 4h 21m
151st most played song airs every: 2d 16h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 379 (52.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
2 after 19 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 746
..in 3 months: 786, in 6 months: 798
..in 9 months: 807, in 12 months: 820
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [26 plays] Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky
2 [24 plays] Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love
3= [23 plays] each for…
+ Box Tops – The Letter
+ Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me
+ Who – I Can See For Miles
6= [22 plays] each for…
+ Band The – The Weight
+ Johnny Cash – Ring Of Fire
+ Martha Reeves and The Vandellas – Jimmy Mack
+ Shirelles – Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
+ Troggs – With A Girl Like You
+ Young Rascals – Groovin’
Analysis: 24 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4783
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 509
Variety factor for this station is : 10.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 118 Songs (23.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 73 MOST played songs (14.3% of the total)
or 338 LEAST played songs (66.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 23h 2m
73rd most played song airs every: 1d 6h 18m
118th most played song airs every: 1d 9h 52m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 216 (42.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 16 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 533
..in 3 months: 619, in 6 months: 671
..in 9 months: 701, in 12 months: 709
Top 12 Most Played:
1= [29 plays] each for…
+ Bob Seger – Old Time Rock N Roll
+ Knack – My Sharona
3= [27 plays] each for…
+ Ace – How Long
+ Sly and The Family Stone – Family Affair
5 [26 plays] Pretenders – Brass In Pocket
6= [25 plays] each for…
+ Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear The Reaper
+ Genesis – Follow You Follow Me
+ Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now
+ Patti Smith – Because The Night
+ Stealers Wheel – Stuck In the Middle With You
+ Tom Robinson – 2-4-6-8 Motorway
+ Undertones – Teenage Kicks
Analysis: 27 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 5226
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 893
Variety factor for this station is : 17%
50% OF PLAYS is 213 Songs (23.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 130 MOST played songs (14.5% of the total)
or 575 LEAST played songs (64.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 10h 6m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 14h 7m
130th most played song airs every: 2d 10h 54m
213th most played song airs every: 3d 0h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 451 (50.5%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
4 after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 904
..in 3 months: 1272, in 6 months: 1680
..in 9 months: 2048, in 12 months: 2392
Top 11 Most Played:
1= [19 plays] each for…
+ Guns N Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
+ Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be
3= [18 plays] each for…
+ Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters
+ Stone Roses – Fools Gold
5= [17 plays] each for…
+ Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
+ Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me
+ Mighty Wah! – The Story Of The Blues
+ New Order – True Faith
+ Pretenders – Back On The Chain Gang
+ Thompson Twins – Hold Me Now
+ Waterboys – Whole Of The Moon
Analysis: 28 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 5320
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 825
Variety factor for this station is : 15.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 212 Songs (25.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 132 MOST played songs (16% of the total)
or 519 LEAST played songs (62.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 11h 22m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 18h
132nd most played song airs every: 2d 8h
212th most played song airs every: 2d 19h 12m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 408 (49.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
1 after 22 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 833
..in 3 months: 1043, in 6 months: 1265
..in 9 months: 1431, in 12 months: 1578
Top 12 Most Played:
1 [19 plays] Source and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
2= [17 plays] each for…
+ Barenaked Ladies – One Week
+ Black Crowes – Hard To Handle
+ C and C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat
+ Stereophonics – A Thousand Trees
+ Suzanne Vega and Dna – Tom’s Diner
7= [16 plays] each for…
+ Dodgy – Good Enough
+ Fun Lovin Criminals – Scooby Snacks
+ PM Dawn – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
+ Soupdragons – I’m Free
+ Weezer – Buddy Holly
+ Will Smith – Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
Analysis: 24 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4651
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 503
Variety factor for this station is : 10.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 156 Songs (31% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 92 MOST played songs (18.2% of the total)
or 269 LEAST played songs (53.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 1h 2m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 4h 48m
92nd most played song airs every: 1d 17h 8m
156th most played song airs every: 2d 4h 21m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 110 (21.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 14 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 504
..in 3 months: 537, in 6 months: 548
..in 9 months: 564, in 12 months: 576
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [23 plays] each for…
+ Blink 182 – I Miss You
+ Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl
3= [22 plays] each for…
+ Automatic The – Monster
+ Zutons – Valerie
5 [21 plays] Paramore – Misery Business
6= [20 plays] each for…
+ Blink 182 – All The Small Things
+ Daft Punk – One More Time
+ Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
+ Futureheads – Hounds Of Love
+ Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
Analysis: 23 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4461
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 383
Variety factor for this station is : 8.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 112 Songs (29.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 66 MOST played songs (17.2% of the total)
or 215 LEAST played songs (56.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 14m
10th most played song airs every: 19h 42m
66th most played song airs every: 1d 6h 40m
112th most played song airs every: 1d 12h 48m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 69 (18%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 19 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 385
..in 3 months: 427, in 6 months: 569
..in 9 months: 596, in 12 months: 602
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [34 plays] Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
2 [31 plays] Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance
3= [30 plays] each for…
+ Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us
+ Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
5= [29 plays] each for…
+ Fun – We Are Young
+ Passenger – Let Her Go
+ Tom Odell – Another Love
8= [28 plays] each for…
+ Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne – Rather Be
+ One Republic – Counting Stars
+ Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
Analysis: 23 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4384
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 256
Variety factor for this station is : 5.8%
50% OF PLAYS is 21 Songs (8.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 12 MOST played songs (4.6% of the total)
or 221 LEAST played songs (86.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 3h 53m
10th most played song airs every: 4h 24m
12th most played song airs every: 4h 40m
21st most played song airs every: 9h 12m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 116 (45.3%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 15 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 272
..in 3 months: 354, in 6 months: 460
..in 9 months: 676, in 12 months: 750
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [142 plays] Cure – All I Ever Am
2 [135 plays] Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove
3 [133 plays] Mumford and Sons – Rushmere
4 [132 plays] James Bay ft. Jon Batiste – Sunshine in the Room
5= [129 plays] each for…
+ Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
+ Inhaler – A Question Of You
7 [127 plays] Lathums – Heartbreaker
8 [126 plays] Kooks – Never Know
9= [125 plays] each for…
+ Snow Patrol – But I’ll Keep Trying
+ Stereophonics – There’s Always Gonna Be Something
Analysis: 26 days, up to 13-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9010
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 325
Variety factor for this station is : 3.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 121 Songs (37.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 78 MOST played songs (24% of the total)
or 157 LEAST played songs (48.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 14h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 15h 13m
78th most played song airs every: 16h 51m
121st most played song airs every: 18h 54m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 8 (2.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 7 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 326
..in 3 months: 341, in 6 months: 353
..in 9 months: 357, in 12 months: 359
Top 11 Most Played:
1= [42 plays] each for…
+ Genesis – Follow You Follow Me
+ Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
3= [41 plays] each for…
+ Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow
+ Freda Payne – Band Of Gold
+ Gonzalez – I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet
+ Kool and The Gang – Ladies Night
+ Labelle – Lady Marmalade
+ Nolans – I’m In The Mood For Dancing
+ Shocking Blue – Venus
+ Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown
+ Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music
Analysis: 33 days, up to 13-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 10775
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 441
Variety factor for this station is : 4%
50% OF PLAYS is 167 Songs (37.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 106 MOST played songs (24% of the total)
or 205 LEAST played songs (46.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 48m
10th most played song airs every: 21h 24m
106th most played song airs every: 1d 1h 32m
167th most played song airs every: 1d 4h 17m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 18 (4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 441
..in 3 months: 456, in 6 months: 474
..in 9 months: 482, in 12 months: 493
Top 14 Most Played:
1= [40 plays] each for…
+ Human League – Don’t You Want Me
+ Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart
3= [38 plays] each for…
+ Amii Stewart – Friends
+ Five Star – Rain Or Shine
+ Mai Tai – History
+ Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
+ Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It
8= [37 plays] each for…
+ Ashford and Simpson – Solid
+ Brothers Johnson – Stomp
+ Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
+ Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
+ Simply Red – The Right Thing
+ Waterboys – The Whole Of The Moon
+ Womack and Womack – Teardrops
Analysis: 26 days, up to 13-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8324
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 346
Variety factor for this station is : 4.1%
50% OF PLAYS is 114 Songs (32.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 73 MOST played songs (21% of the total)
or 186 LEAST played songs (53.7% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 14h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 15h 13m
73rd most played song airs every: 17h 49m
114th most played song airs every: 19h 30m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 17 (4.9%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 346
..in 3 months: 354, in 6 months: 369
..in 9 months: 378, in 12 months: 379
Top 11 Most Played:
1= [42 plays] each for…
+ Arrested Development – People Everyday
+ Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way
+ Charles and Eddie – Would I Lie To You
+ Chesney Hawkes – The One And Only
+ Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
+ Karen Ramirez – Looking For Love
7= [41 plays] each for…
+ Boo Radleys – Wake Up Boo
+ Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha
+ Jennifer Paige – Crush
+ Kenny Thomas – Thinking About Your Love
+ Mr. Big – To Be With You
Analysis: 26 days, up to 13-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9251
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 422
Variety factor for this station is : 4.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 144 Songs (34.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 91 MOST played songs (21.5% of the total)
or 217 LEAST played songs (51.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 15h 13m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 51m
91st most played song airs every: 20h 7m
144th most played song airs every: 23h 6m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 20 (4.7%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 9 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 423
..in 3 months: 428, in 6 months: 478
..in 9 months: 497, in 12 months: 503
Top 13 Most Played:
1= [41 plays] each for…
+ Mika – Grace Kelly
+ Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
3 [40 plays] Daft Punk – One More Time
4 [39 plays] Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me
5= [38 plays] each for…
+ Corrs – Breathless
+ Holly Valance – Kiss Kiss
7= [37 plays] each for…
+ Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
+ Milky – Just The Way You Are
+ Mis-Teeq – Scandalous
+ Robyn feat. Kleerup – With Every Heartbeat
+ Stereophonics – Have A Nice Day
+ Supermen Lovers – Starlight
+ True Steppers feat. Victoria Beckham – Out Of Your Mind
Analysis: 23 days, up to 13-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8999
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 392
Variety factor for this station is : 4.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 119 Songs (30.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 75 MOST played songs (19.1% of the total)
or 224 LEAST played songs (57.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 11h 44m
10th most played song airs every: 12h 32m
75th most played song airs every: 14h 55m
119th most played song airs every: 16h 43m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 58 (14.7%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 13 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 398
..in 3 months: 408
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [47 plays] each for…
+ Plan B – She Said
+ Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
3 [46 plays] Kungs – This Girl
4= [45 plays] each for…
+ Nicole Scherzinger – Don’t Hold Your Breath
+ One Republic – Counting Stars
+ Philip George – Alone No More
+ Post Malone and Swae Lee – Sunflower
8= [44 plays] each for…
+ Owl City – Fireflies
+ Taio Cruz – Dynamite
+ Tones And I – Dance Monkey
Analysis: 28 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 5304
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 404
Variety factor for this station is : 7.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 169 Songs (41.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 107 MOST played songs (26.4% of the total)
or 168 LEAST played songs (41.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 6h 32m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 11h 22m
107th most played song airs every: 1d 20h 48m
169th most played song airs every: 2d 0h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 1 (0.2%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 12 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 404
..in 3 months: 404, in 6 months: 404
..in 9 months: 404, in 12 months: 404
Top 10 Most Played:
1= [22 plays] each for…
+ Earth, Wind and Fire – After The Love Has Gone
+ Electic Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky
3= [21 plays] each for…
+ Frankie Valli – Grease
+ M – Pop Muzik
5= [20 plays] each for…
+ Earth, Wind and Fire With The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland
+ Edwin Starr – Contact
7= [19 plays] each for…
+ Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing
+ Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
+ Knack – My Sharona
+ Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Analysis: 23 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 4132
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 542
Variety factor for this station is : 13.1%
50% OF PLAYS is 216 Songs (39.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 136 MOST played songs (25% of the total)
or 239 LEAST played songs (44% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 18h 27m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 22h
136th most played song airs every: 2d 13h 20m
216th most played song airs every: 2d 21h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 90 (16.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 16 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 542
..in 3 months: 542, in 6 months: 542
..in 9 months: 542, in 12 months: 542
Top 13 Most Played:
1= [13 plays] each for…
+ A-Ha – Hunting High And Low
+ Don Henley – The Boys Of Summer
3= [12 plays] each for…
+ Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection
+ Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
+ Duran Duran – Is There Something I Should Know
+ Elvis Costello and The Attractions – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down
+ George Benson – Give Me The Night
+ Godley and Creme – Cry
+ James Ingram and Michael McDonald – Yah Mo B There
+ Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush – Don’t Give Up
+ Prince – Kiss
+ Sister Sledge – Frankie
+ Specials – Ghost Town
Analysis: 28 days, up to 14-03-2025
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 5279
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 345
Variety factor for this station is : 6.5%
50% OF PLAYS is 145 Songs (42% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 92 MOST played songs (26.6% of the total)
or 143 LEAST played songs (41.4% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 4h
10th most played song airs every: 1d 6h 32m
92nd most played song airs every: 1d 15h 31m
145th most played song airs every: 1d 18h
No. of songs with 10 or less plays: 19 (5.5%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 8 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 345
..in 3 months: 347, in 6 months: 347
..in 9 months: 347, in 12 months: 347
Top 12 Most Played:
1= [24 plays] each for…
+ Babybird – You’re Gorgeous
+ Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
+ Shania Twain – That Don’t Impress Me Much
+ Source and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
5 [23 plays] D:ream – Things Can Only Get Better
6= [22 plays] each for…
+ Blondie – Maria
+ Boo Radleys – Wake Up Boo
+ Cure – Pictures Of You
+ Dodgy – Good Enough
+ Lighthouse Family – Ocean Drive
+ Lionel Richie – My Destiny
+ Maxi Priest – Close To You
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