Dua Lipa has been revealed as the UK’s most-played artist of 2020, according to UK music licensing company PPL. 

The British singer scored a string of hit singles from her award-winning second album Future Nostalgia, which scooped a BRIT Award and a Grammy. Two singles from the album – ‘Don’t Start Now’ and ‘Physical’ – also made PPL’s top 10 most played tracks of the year.

The most played track of the year was The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’, which was also the year’s most streamed hit. 

PPL’s annual charts are compiled from exclusive music usage and airplay data from radio stations and TV channels, as well as public performance locations.

“Thank you so much to everyone that listened to and loved my music during 2020,” said Dua Lipa. “I’m incredibly proud that I was the most played artist on radio, TV and all across the UK. I so wanted ‘Future Nostalgia’ to bring some happiness during such a difficult time. Thanks to everyone who supported it and also to PPL, who do important work in making sure artists and musicians are paid when their music is played.”

Dua Lipa’s success knocks Ed Sheeran from the top spot, which he has held every year since 2017. However, he was still the second most played artist of the year. 

PPL’s Most Played Artist Chart of 2020 is as follows:

1. Dua Lipa
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Ariana Grande
4. Sam Smith
5. Calvin Harris
6. Little Mix
7. Coldplay
8. Justin Bieber
9. Maroon 5
10. The Weeknd

PPL’s Most Played Tracks Chart of 2020 is as follows:

1. ‘Blinding Lights’ – The Weeknd
2. ‘Don’t Start Now’ – Dua Lipa
3. ‘Higher Love’ – Kygo & Whitney Houston
4. ‘Dance Monkey’ – Tones & I
5. ‘Adore You’ – Harry Styles
6. ‘Before You Go’ – Lewis Capaldi
7. ‘Physical’ – Dua Lipa
8. ‘Memories’ – Maroon 5
9. ‘This Is Real’ – Jax Jones & Ella Henderson
10. ‘Rain On Me’ – Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

“The artists in our 2020 charts played a significant role in helping many of us to get through these difficult times and I would like to congratulate them all,” said PPL CEO Peter Leathem. “I am also immensely proud of the work that PPL did last year, collecting royalties for the public performance of recorded music and distributing these to the performers and record labels that created it. With live music shut down for much of 2020, PPL’s royalty payments became an even more important source of income for these artists.”

The new ‘Most Played’ charts have been announced to coincide with PPL’s AGM.

PPL recently announced that it had collected £225.7 million for performers and recording rightsholders in 2020, a drop of £46.1 million, or 17%, from the previous year. Despite the lockdown affecting live performance, the 2020 total was PPL’s third highest annual collection to date.