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: 27 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6986
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 4237
Variety factor for this station is : 60.6%

50% OF PLAYS is 980 Songs (23.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 411 MOST played songs (9.7% of the total)
or 2329 LEAST played songs (54.9% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 10h 7m
10th most played song airs every: 22h 20m
411th most played song airs every: 9d 0h
980th most played song airs every: 13d 12h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 4178 (98.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
84 after 25 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 4577
..in 3 months: 9499, in 6 months: 14623
..in 9 months: 18823, in 12 months: 22287

Top 10 Most Played:

1= [64 plays] each for…
+ Beyonce – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
+ Billy Joel – Turn The Lights Back On
+ Sia & Kylie Minogue – Dance Alone
4 [61 plays] Zara Larsson – You Love Who You Love
5 [56 plays] Liam Gallagher & John Squire – Mars To Liverpool
6 [53 plays] Dua Lipa – Training Season
7 [52 plays] Pet Shop Boys – Loneliness
8 [45 plays] Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man – Lovers In A Past Life
9 [44 plays] Justin Timberlake – Selfish
10 [29 plays] Paloma Faith – Sweatpants

Analysis: 26 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9369
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1354
Variety factor for this station is : 14.4%

50% OF PLAYS is 143 Songs (10.5% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 81 MOST played songs (5.9% of the total)
or 1130 LEAST played songs (83.4% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 4h 11m
10th most played song airs every: 16h 25m
81st most played song airs every: 22h 17m
143rd most played song airs every: 1d 4h 21m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 995 (73.4%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
22 after 21 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 1443
..in 3 months: 1975, in 6 months: 2208
..in 9 months: 2300, in 12 months: 2374

Top 11 Most Played:

1 [149 plays] Becky Hill & David Guetta – Remember
2 [134 plays] Noah Kahan – Stick Season
3 [130 plays] Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
4 [126 plays] Lewis Capaldi – Forget Me
5 [113 plays] Lewis Capaldi – Pointless
6 [85 plays] Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
7= [39 plays] each for…
+ Flo Rida – Low
+ The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
9= [38 plays] each for…
+ Joel Corry X MNEK – Head & Heart
+ Miley Cyrus – Flowers
+ Panic! At the Disco – High Hopes

Analysis: 25 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6180
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 2076
Variety factor for this station is : 33.5%

50% OF PLAYS is 357 Songs (17.1% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 204 MOST played songs (9.8% of the total)
or 1494 LEAST played songs (71.9% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 1d 4h 34m
10th most played song airs every: 1d 22h 9m
204th most played song airs every: 3d 3h
357th most played song airs every: 4d 4h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 1700 (81.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
36 after 23 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 2322
..in 3 months: 3767, in 6 months: 4939
..in 9 months: 5614, in 12 months: 6234

Top 15 Most Played:

1 [21 plays] Hot Chocolate – Every 1’s a Winner
2= [15 plays] each for…
+ Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
+ The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything
4= [14 plays] each for…
+ Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free
+ Earth Wind and Fire – September
+ Whitney Houston – How Will I Know
7= [13 plays] each for…
+ Barry White – You’re The First The Last My Everything
+ Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman
+ Chic – I Want Your Love
+ Gladys Knight and The Pips – Midnight Train To Georgia
+ Ike and Tina Turner – Nutbush City Limits
+ Paul McCartney and Wings – Live And Let Die
+ Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
+ The Four Seasons – December 1963
+ Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You

Analysis: 23 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8650
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 797
Variety factor for this station is : 9.2%

50% OF PLAYS is 175 Songs (21.9% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 107 MOST played songs (13.4% of the total)
or 538 LEAST played songs (67.5% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 16h 43m
10th most played song airs every: 17h 48m
107th most played song airs every: 1d 0h
175th most played song airs every: 1d 3h 36m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 318 (39.8%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
2 after 12 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 824
..in 3 months: 1017, in 6 months: 1131
..in 9 months: 1245, in 12 months: 1333

Top 13 Most Played:

1= [33 plays] each for…
+ Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
+ Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe
+ The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn!
+ The Equals – Baby Come Back
5= [32 plays] each for…
+ Amen Corner – (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice
+ Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music
+ Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
8= [31 plays] each for…
+ Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds
+ Chris Andrews – Yesterday Man
+ Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
+ Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
+ Jeff Beck – Hi Ho Silver Lining
+ Shocking Blue – Venus

Analysis: 27 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 7773
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 747
Variety factor for this station is : 9.6%

50% OF PLAYS is 175 Songs (23.4% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 102 MOST played songs (13.6% of the total)
or 487 LEAST played songs (65.1% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 16h 36m
10th most played song airs every: 19h 38m
102nd most played song airs every: 1d 10h 6m
175th most played song airs every: 1d 16h 30m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 285 (38.1%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
2 after 24 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 781
..in 3 months: 1197, in 6 months: 1403
..in 9 months: 1604, in 12 months: 1697

Top 10 Most Played:

1 [39 plays] Berlin – Take My Breath Away
2= [34 plays] each for…
+ Bob Marley and The Wailers – Three Little Birds
+ Teddy Swims – Lose Control
4= [33 plays] each for…
+ Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth
+ Beyonce – Texas Hold ’em
+ Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – The Time Of My Life
+ Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
+ Diana Ross – Chain Reaction
+ Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – Islands In The Stream
+ Toto – Africa

Analysis: 26 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 9353
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1412
Variety factor for this station is : 15%

50% OF PLAYS is 231 Songs (16.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 137 MOST played songs (9.7% of the total)
or 1058 LEAST played songs (74.9% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 16h 25m
10th most played song airs every: 21h 31m
137th most played song airs every: 1d 10h 40m
231st most played song airs every: 1d 17h 36m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 878 (62.1%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
14 after 23 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 1488
..in 3 months: 2023, in 6 months: 2446
..in 9 months: 2617, in 12 months: 2795

Top 11 Most Played:

1 [38 plays] John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire
2 [34 plays] Spandau Ballet – True
3= [33 plays] each for…
+ Berlin – Take My Breath Away
+ John Waite – Missing You
+ Patrick Swayze and Wendy Fraser – She’s Like The Wind
6= [30 plays] each for…
+ George Michael – Freedom! ’90
+ Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing
+ Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
+ Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
10= [29 plays] each for…
+ Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)
+ Dusty Springfield – Son Of A Preacher Man

Analysis: 27 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8383
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 1521
Variety factor for this station is : 18.1%

50% OF PLAYS is 312 Songs (20.5% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 189 MOST played songs (12.4% of the total)
or 1069 LEAST played songs (70.2% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 13h 13m
10th most played song airs every: 23h 8m
189th most played song airs every: 2d 6h
312th most played song airs every: 2d 10h 54m
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 885 (58.1%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
15 after 26 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 1571
..in 3 months: 2269, in 6 months: 2788
..in 9 months: 3129, in 12 months: 3231

Top 11 Most Played:

1= [49 plays] each for…
+ Gabrielle – A Place In Your Heart
+ James Arthur – Bitter Sweet Love
+ Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer
4= [48 plays] each for…
+ Anne-Marie & Shania Twain – Unhealthy
+ Lewis Capaldi – Strangers
6 [46 plays] Tom Grennan – How Does It Feel
7 [40 plays] Teddy Swims – Lose Control
8 [34 plays] Jonas Brothers & Bailey Zimmerman – Strong Enough
9 [33 plays] Jennifer Lopez – Can’t Get Enough
10= [28 plays] each for…
+ Dua Lipa – Training Season
+ Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder On The Dancefloor

Analysis: 26 days, up to 08-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 8998
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 6067
Variety factor for this station is : 67.4%

50% OF PLAYS is 1780 Songs (29.3% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 1030 MOST played songs (16.9% of the total)
or 2999 LEAST played songs (49.4% of the total)

Most played airs on average every: 1d 15h
10th most played song airs every: 2d 14h 24m
1030th most played song airs every: 13d 0h
1780th most played song airs every: 13d 0h
No. of songs with 5 or less plays: 6043 (99.6%)
Lowest Number of NEW SONGS on any day:
140 after 23 DAYS

Different songs played in 1 month: 6614
..in 3 months: 10105, in 6 months: 11987
..in 9 months: 13063, in 12 months: 13797

Top 14 Most Played:

1 [16 plays] Old Dominion – Memory Lane
2 [15 plays] Rick Astley – Driving Me Crazy
3 [14 plays] Rod Stewart And Jools Holland – Pennies From Heaven
4= [13 plays] each for…
+ Billy Joel – Turn The Lights Back On
+ Crowded House – Oh Hi
+ Mark Knopfler – Ahead Of The Game
7= [11 plays] each for…
+ Madness – Round We Go
+ Norah Jones – Running
9= [10 plays] each for…
+ Billy J. Kramer – Are You With Me
+ Judie Tzuke – Rituals
+ Leee John And Bill Sharpe – Take Me Back
+ Pet Shop Boys – Loneliness
+ The Jive Aces – La Vie En Rose
+ The Korgis – Good Old Days Of The Cold War

Analysis: 24 days, up to 06-03-2024
NUMBER OF PLAYS IDENTIFIED: 6601
Number of DIFFERENT Songs Played: 699
Variety factor for this station is : 10.5%

50% OF PLAYS is 158 Songs (22.6% of the total)
A THIRD OF PLAYS represents:
The 96 MOST played songs (13.7% of the total)
or 465 LEAST played songs (66.5% 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 11 Most Played:

1 [30 plays] Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart
2 [29 plays] Michael Sembello – Maniac
3= [28 plays] each for…
+ Eric Carmen – Hungry Eyes
+ Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride
+ Peter Cetera – Glory Of Love
6= [27 plays] each for…
+ Dire Straits – Walk Of Life
+ Irene Cara – Flashdance… What A Feeling
+ Martika – Toy Soldiers
+ Rufus / Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody
+ Steve Winwood – Higher 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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