Coldplay has been named the most played British band of the 21st century by music licensing company PPL. To mark National Album Day 2024, which celebrates Great British Groups, PPL released a list showing Coldplay's music has been played 40,000 more times on UK radio and TV than Queen, who came in second. Coldplay's top track, *Viva La Vida*, has been played an average of 27 times a day since its 2008 release, with other hits like *Paradise*, *Clocks*, *Something Just Like This*, and *Adventure of a Lifetime* following closely. Altogether, the band's music has accumulated 400,000,000 seconds, or 13 years, of airplay this century.
PPL licenses music for public use in venues such as shops, restaurants, and gyms across the UK, while also receiving airplay reports from broadcasters and public performance venues.
National Album Day, organized by BPI and ERA in collaboration with BBC Radio 2 and the music industry, promotes appreciation for albums, particularly among younger listeners. Now in its seventh year, the 2024 edition highlights Great British Groups.
In the top five of the most played groups are 90s boyband Take That, *The X Factor* winners Little Mix, and legendary Liverpool band, The Beatles. Oasis ranked sixth, just missing the top five despite a recent spike in airplay due to Noel and Liam Gallagher’s much-anticipated reunion.
**Top 20 Most Played British Groups of the 21st Century:**
1. Coldplay
2. Queen
3. Take That
4. Little Mix
5. The Beatles
6. Oasis
7. The Bee Gees
8. The Stereophonics
9. The Eurythmics
10. The Rolling Stones
11. Clean Bandit
12. Duran Duran
13. Sugababes
14. The Police
15. Simply Red
16. Snow Patrol
17. Electric Light Orchestra
18. Keane
19. Wham!
20. Texas
The list highlights the lasting impact of Britain’s most iconic bands, many of whom rose to fame before the 21st century. Acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and The Bee Gees have been staples of British music for decades, continuing to enjoy widespread airplay. Even 80s and 90s giants like Wham!, Duran Duran, The Police, and Oasis remain popular, showcasing the staying power of these legendary groups. As part of the celebrations, several bands—including Take That, Sugababes, The Stereophonics, and Simply Red—are releasing albums on National Album Day, while Coldplay's latest album, *Moon Music*, is set to drop on October 4th.
