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 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6507
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 3853
Variety factor for this station is : 59.2%
50% OF PLAYS is 880 Songs (22.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 370 MOST played songs (9.6% of the total)
or 2168 LEAST played songs (56.2% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 10h
10th most played song airs every: 16h 40m
370th most played song airs every: 8d 8h
880th most played song airs every: 12d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 3792 (98.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
89 after 24 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 4368
..in 3 months: 9085, in 6 months: 14468
..in 9 months: 18842, in 12 months: 22408
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [60 plays] Snow Patrol – All
2 [57 plays] Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
3 [54 plays] Post Malone – Guy For That (feat. Luke Combs)
4 [53 plays] The Killers – Bright Lights
5 [51 plays] Rag’n’Bone Man – Rush Of Blood
6 [48 plays] Charli XCX – Apple
7 [42 plays] Taylor Swift – I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
8 [41 plays] Hozier – Nobody’s Soldier
9= [36 plays] each for…
+ Coldplay – WE PRAY (feat. Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI)
+ The Script – At Your Feet
Analysis: 23 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7962
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1153
Variety factor for this station is : 14.4%
50% OF PLAYS is 130 Songs (11.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 66 MOST played songs (5.7% of the total)
or 938 LEAST played songs (81.3% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 4h 12m
10th most played song airs every: 7h 21m
66th most played song airs every: 1d 0h
130th most played song airs every: 1d 6h 40m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 795 (68.9%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
20 after 20 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1429
..in 3 months: 1995, in 6 months: 2227
..in 9 months: 2337, in 12 months: 2419
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [131 plays] Dasha – Austin
2 [128 plays] Noah Kahan – Stick Season
3= [126 plays] each for…
+ Hozier – Too Sweet
+ Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
5 [124 plays] Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
6 [123 plays] Myles Smith – Stargazing
7 [121 plays] Teddy Swims – Lose Control
8 [92 plays] Coldplay – Feels Like I’m Falling In Love
9 [78 plays] Post Malone & Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
10 [75 plays] Ella Henderson feat. Rudimental – Alibi
Analysis: 27 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7158
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 2192
Variety factor for this station is : 30.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 369 Songs (16.8% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 217 MOST played songs (9.8% of the total)
or 1592 LEAST played songs (72.6% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 19h 12m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 22h 17m
217th most played song airs every: 3d 0h
369th most played song airs every: 3d 20h 34m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 1737 (79.2%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
19 after 25 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 2302
..in 3 months: 3901, in 6 months: 5134
..in 9 months: 5955, in 12 months: 6546
Top 14 Most Played:
1= [15 plays] each for…
+ Chic – Le Freak
+ Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
+ O’Jays – Love Train
4= [14 plays] each for…
+ Barry White – Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe
+ Blondie – Denis
+ Emotions – Best Of My Love
+ Irene Cara – Flashdance
+ Jackie Wilson – Higher And Higher
+ New Order – Blue Monday
+ Sylvester – You Make Me Feel
+ Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
+ The Police – Message In A Bottle
+ The Trammps – Disco Inferno
+ Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now
Analysis: 26 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9781
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 871
Variety factor for this station is : 8.9%
50% OF PLAYS is 192 Songs (22% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 119 MOST played songs (13.6% of the total)
or 588 LEAST played songs (67.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 18h 54m
119th most played song airs every: 1d 2h
192nd most played song airs every: 1d 5h 42m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 353 (40.5%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
2 after 16 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 894
..in 3 months: 1001, in 6 months: 1136
..in 9 months: 1245, in 12 months: 1304
Top 11 Most Played:
1 [37 plays] Jeff Beck – Hi Ho Silver Lining
2= [35 plays] each for…
+ Scott McKenzie – San Francisco
+ The Casuals – Jesamine
+ The Equals – Baby Come Back
5= [34 plays] each for…
+ Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music
+ Chris Andrews – Yesterday Man
+ Dusty Springfield – I Only Want To Be With You
+ Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
9= [33 plays] each for…
+ Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
+ The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn!
+ The Flowerpot Men – Let’s Go To San Francisco
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7380
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 618
Variety factor for this station is : 8.3%
50% OF PLAYS is 163 Songs (26.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 97 MOST played songs (15.6% of the total)
or 374 LEAST played songs (60.5% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 16h 40m
10th most played song airs every: 19h 21m
97th most played song airs every: 1d 6h
163rd most played song airs every: 1d 11h 17m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 155 (25%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 10 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 669
..in 3 months: 966, in 6 months: 1136
..in 9 months: 1273, in 12 months: 1394
Top 11 Most Played:
1= [36 plays] each for…
+ Harry Styles – As It Was
+ Miley Cyrus – Flowers
3= [34 plays] each for…
+ Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
+ Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It
5= [33 plays] each for…
+ Spandau Ballet – True
+ The Bangles – Eternal Flame
+ Yazoo – Only You
8= [32 plays] each for…
+ Tina Turner – The Best
+ Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
10= [31 plays] each for…
+ Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakey – Together In Electric Dreams
+ Toto – Africa
Analysis: 24 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8512
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1328
Variety factor for this station is : 15.6%
50% OF PLAYS is 243 Songs (18.2% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 146 MOST played songs (10.9% of the total)
or 958 LEAST played songs (72.1% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 19h 51m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 0h
146th most played song airs every: 1d 12h
243rd most played song airs every: 1d 20h 18m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 772 (58.1%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
13 after 16 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1438
..in 3 months: 2140, in 6 months: 2638
..in 9 months: 2887, in 12 months: 3107
Top 12 Most Played:
1= [29 plays] each for…
+ John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire
+ Spandau Ballet – True
3= [28 plays] each for…
+ Berlin – Take My Breath Away
+ Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
5= [27 plays] each for…
+ Curtis Stigers – I Wonder Why
+ John Waite – Missing You
7= [26 plays] each for…
+ Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Prayer
+ Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)
9 [25 plays] Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
10= [24 plays] each for…
+ Level 42 – Lessons In Love
+ Prince – The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
+ The Cars – Drive
Analysis: 23 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7341
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1574
Variety factor for this station is : 21.4%
50% OF PLAYS is 348 Songs (22.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 203 MOST played songs (12.8% of the total)
or 1054 LEAST played songs (66.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 15h 20m
10th most played song airs every: 17h 48m
203rd most played song airs every: 2d 13h 20m
348th most played song airs every: 2d 21h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 922 (58.5%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
17 after 18 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 1736
..in 3 months: 2571, in 6 months: 3077
..in 9 months: 3508, in 12 months: 3783
Top 10 Most Played:
1 [36 plays] Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
2 [35 plays] Noah Kahan – Stick Season
3= [34 plays] each for…
+ Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove
+ Dasha – Austin
+ Kylie Minogue feat. Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo – My Oh My
6= [32 plays] each for…
+ Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
+ Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
+ Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
+ Teddy Swims – Lose Control
10 [31 plays] Calum Scott – Roots
Analysis: 24 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8374
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 5945
Variety factor for this station is : 70.9%
50% OF PLAYS is 1759 Songs (29.5% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 1050 MOST played songs (17.6% of the total)
or 2791 LEAST played songs (46.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 2d 0h
10th most played song airs every: 2d 16h
1050th most played song airs every: 12d 0h
1759th most played song only played once
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 5922 (99.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
136 after 22 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 6700
..in 3 months: 9853, in 6 months: 11468
..in 9 months: 13250, in 12 months: 14061
Top 11 Most Played:
1= [12 plays] each for…
+ Beth Hart – You Still Got Me
+ The Sheepdogs – Darlin’ Baby
3= [11 plays] each for…
+ Michael Buble – Don’t Blame It On Me
+ Morgan Wade – Total Control
5= [10 plays] each for…
+ Debby Campbell – It Looks Like Rain
+ Richard Hawley – Prism In Jeans
7= [9 plays] each for…
+ Elles Bailey – 1972
+ Fairground Attraction – Beautiful Happening
+ Gilbert O’sullivan – A Kiss Is A Kiss
+ Kacey Musgraves – Irish Goodbye
+ Nick Lowe – Different Kind Of Blue
Analysis: 25 days, up to 06-09-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6985
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 579
Variety factor for this station is : 8.2%
50% OF PLAYS is 189 Songs (32.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 113 MOST played songs (19.5% of the total)
or 295 LEAST played songs (50.9% of the total)
Most played airs on average every: 1d 0h
10th most played song airs every: 1d 2h 5m
113th most played song airs every: 1d 9h 20m
189th most played song airs every: 1d 18h 51m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 51 (8.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
ZERO after 7 DAYS
Different songs played in 1 month: 592
..in 3 months: 831, in 6 months: 976
..in 9 months: 1062, in 12 months: 1178
Top 14 Most Played:
1 [25 plays] Jane Wiedlin – Rush Hour
2= [24 plays] each for…
+ Alice Cooper – Poison
+ Kirsty Maccoll – Days
+ Men At Work – Down Under
+ Ray Parker Junior – Ghostbusters
6= [23 plays] each for…
+ Aztec Camera – Somewhere In My Heart
+ Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
+ John Parr – St Elmo’s Fire
+ Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
+ Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
+ Simple Minds – Don’t You (forget About Me)
+ Soft Cell – Tainted Love
+ Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger
+ Talk Talk – It’s My Life
** 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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