It was tempting to write something this week about the digital darts being fired from the keyboard of the world's richest man, and how it might be better if we just switched social media off for a bit, but for the sake of my blood pressure, I thought I'd share the first part of a musical Top 10 with you.
It was tempting to write something this week about the digital darts being fired from the keyboard of the world's richest man, and how it might be better if we just switched social media off for a bit, but for the sake of my blood pressure, I thought I'd share the first part of a musical Top 10 with you.
Believe it or not, a lot of thought goes into what radio stations play, and aside from a few national broadcasters, most presenters have a playlist for each show that reflects the sound of their station. Schedulers will sit down each week and decide which of the many hundreds of songs released each week merits a place on their playlist, and in the case of Tameside Radio, that responsibility falls chiefly to me. Clearly, every station wants to play music that will keep you listening for longer, but it's the one subject no two people will ever agree on.
I'd say deciding the music played on a radio station is a walk in the park though compared to my days spent in function rooms being told to 'play something decent mate' as a wedding DJ. Honestly, the amount of times you were confidently told by a drunken buffoon who had peaked too early on the overpriced Heineken that 'nobody likes this mate' was astounding. Even pointing to a visibly packed dancefloor did nothing to assuage the situation. Never mind, the buffet's almost open.
The list I'd like to share across two columns is the Top 10 most played songs on UK radio last year. It's remarkable that not a single group features anywhere in the upper echelons of this chart, and only Coldplay come close at number 12 with feelslikeimfallinginlove, a title that tempts me to call the grammar police every time I see it. There are also not many UK artists either, and having heard so much talent on the Tameside Radio Local Music Spotlight in the last couple of years, that's definitely not down to a lack of good artists in this country.
Here are numbers ten to six...how many of them are on your Spotify playlist? I'll have the Top Five next week.
10 - Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen I Had Some Help - riding the wave of the recent country explosion, this was a hugely catchy song in 2024. The album includes collaborations with Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Luke Combs. He even added nine tracks to it for a deluxe edition, and it's an excellent listen. Beyonce also did amazing things for the genre last year.
9 - Calvin Harris x Rag'n'Bone Man Lovers In A Past Life - Calvin rose to fame on MySpace, won Best Dance Act at the Brits last year, and his real name is Adam. He began recording music in his bedroom, much like the radio shows I presented in mine (but there's a bit more cash in his bank account, I'd imagine). He's collaborated with tons of artists, and enjoyed a whopping 11 number ones & 30 top ten hits.
8 - Sabrina Carpenter Espresso - you couldn't get away from Sabrina last year, with three monster hits and a few worries for radio stations checking they have the non explicit version on their playlist. It's super catchy, and saw the teen Disney actress make the transition seamlessly into global pop superstar. A proper earworm, and I also liked Taste & Please Please Please.
7 - Hozier Too Sweet - described in some quarters as a 'boozy ballad', this hit number one in the Billboard Chart as well as the Official UK Chart, and comes some years after his smash hit Take Me To Church. One of the lines in the song was reportedly inspired by a chance meeting with Cillian Murphy, and it's a track that I needed a few listens to get into, but I'd say it's earned its place in the Top 10 of the year on UK radio.
6 - Myles Smith Stargazing - huge on the radio in America too, Myles is the Brits Rising Star 2025 winner, and you'd have struggled to escape hearing this one in 2024. Great voice, and a song all about feeling destined to be with a romantic interest. The follow-up Nice To Meet You is dead good too.
I'll let you know the five biggest songs from 2024 on UK radio next week. In the meantime, I'm always interested in your thoughts on the music we play on Tameside Radio! Drop me an E-mail - alex.cann@notreallyheremedia.
