Queen have been crowned the most-played rock act of the 21st century on radio and television in the UK ahead of David Bowie, U2, Oasis and Fleetwood Mac. According to newly released PPL data to celebrate National Album Day on Saturday 18th October, Queen have amassed over 400 million seconds of radio and TV airplay since the turn of the millennium – equivalent of 12.5 years of continuous play. Brian May enthuses: “Astounding news! Bearing in mind that most of Queen’s major works were done in the 20th century, it’s amazing to top a 21st century list. Big thanks to all our fans….

Queen Reigns Supreme: Crowned the UK’s Most-Played Rock Act of the 21st Century

In a testament to the timeless roar of their anthems, Queen has been officially crowned the most-played rock act on UK radio and television since the dawn of the new millennium, edging out legends like David Bowie, U2, Oasis, and Fleetwood Mac. The revelation comes courtesy of newly released data from PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited), the organization that licenses recorded music for broadcasters, compiled to celebrate National Album Day on October 18, 2025. With over 400 million seconds of airplay—equivalent to a staggering 12.5 years of non-stop playback—Queen’s operatic epics and stadium-shaking riffs continue to dominate the airwaves, proving that Freddie Mercury’s spirit and Brian May’s guitar wizardry transcend eras. Guitarist Brian May didn’t hold back his astonishment: “Astounding news! Bearing in mind that most of Queen’s major works were done in the 20th century, it’s amazing to top a 21st century list. Big thanks to all our fans.” As the rock-themed National Album Day approaches, spotlighting 60 limited-edition vinyl releases, Queen’s milestone underscores a golden age revival amid streaming’s digital deluge.

PPL’s chart, drawn from exhaustive airplay reports across UK stations like BBC Radio 1, Absolute Radio, and TV staples such as Top of the Pops reruns and The One Show, paints a vivid picture of rock’s enduring grip. Queen’s tally isn’t just a number; it’s a cultural pulse, reflecting how broadcasters lean on familiar firepower to hook listeners in an algorithm-driven world. Topping the list with 400+ million seconds, they outpaced Bowie’s chameleonic catalog by a wide margin, while U2’s anthemic urgency secured third. Oasis, the Britpop brawlers, landed fourth, their Gallagher-fueled swagger still fueling pub singalongs, and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours-era alchemy rounded out the top five. The full top 10 reads like a who’s who of rock royalty: 1. Queen, 2. David Bowie, 3. U2, 4. Oasis, 5. Fleetwood Mac, 6. Stereophonics, 7. The Rolling Stones, 8. The Police, 9. The Killers, 10. Kings of Leon. 1 Notably, only two acts—The Killers (2001) and Kings of Leon (1999)—hail from the 21st century, highlighting a broadcaster bias toward pre-2000 titans. As Peter Leathem OBE, PPL’s Chief Executive, put it: “This chart underlines how rock music across the decades continues to thrive on UK airwaves… It’s a testament to their expansive and much-loved music catalogue that they continue to mean so much to UK audiences to this very day.” 0

At the heart of Queen’s airplay empire is “A Kind of Magic,” the pulsating 1986 title track from their Highlander soundtrack album, which clocks in as their most-spun single—surpassing even the operatic juggernaut “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Clocking over 20 million seconds alone, it’s a fixture on drives-time playlists and sports montages, its synth-driven hook evoking ‘80s escapism. Trailing close are “I Want to Break Free” (with its iconic video pastiche), the euphoric “Don’t Stop Me Now,” synth-pop gem “Radio Ga Ga,” and the soul-stirring “Somebody to Love.” 4 These tracks, born from Queen’s mid-to-late ‘70s and ‘80s heyday, have been rocket-fueled by posthumous boosts. The 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody biopic, starring Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning turn as Mercury, reignited global frenzy, pushing streams and spins skyward. Mercury’s 1991 death at 45 only amplified the mythos, turning Queen into a phoenix-like force via live revivals with Adam Lambert since 2005. Their 2020 Glastonbury “virtual” set, pieced from archival footage, drew 3.4 million viewers—the streamer’s biggest ever—cementing their broadcast immortality.

Formed in 1970 at London’s Imperial College, Queen—Mercury’s theatrical flair, May’s astrophysicist-honed riffs, John Deacon’s bass grooves, and Roger Taylor’s thunderous drums—crafted a sound that fused opera, glam, and hard rock into something operatically defiant. Albums like A Night at the Opera (1975), their first UK No. 1 and the focus of this year’s 50th-anniversary crystal-clear vinyl reissue with gold labels, birthed “Bohemian Rhapsody”—a six-minute opus that redefined radio with its mock-opera middle eight. 3 Selling 10 million copies worldwide, it topped UK charts twice: in ‘75 and post-Wayne’s World air-guitar revival in ‘92. Yet, Queen’s 21st-century surge owes much to digital nostalgia. Spotify reports over 10 billion streams for the band, with “Bohemian Rhapsody” alone at 2.5 billion—fueling radio’s comfort-food role. In the UK, where vinyl sales hit 1.1 million in Q2 2025 alone, Queen’s catalog thrives; their 2023 remastered The Works box set flew off shelves, blending hits with B-sides like “I Want It All.”

This accolade arrives amid Queen’s busiest chapter yet. The National Album Day reissue of A Night at the Opera—featuring rarities and a transparent blue “Bohemian Rhapsody” single out October 31—ties into a rock-centric event backed by ambassadors like Iron Maiden, Wolf Alice, Nova Twins, and Architects. 3 Past supporters, from Kylie Minogue to Alice Cooper, underscore NAD’s cross-genre pull, but 2025’s rock theme feels tailor-made for Queen’s pomp. May, now 78 and a vocal advocate for animal rights and climate action, recently reflected on Instagram: “Freddie’s voice still shakes the heavens.” The band tours sporadically with Lambert, their 2024 European jaunt grossing $50 million, while May and Taylor tease archival releases, including unreleased Mercury demos.

Beyond stats, Queen’s dominance speaks to rock’s resilience. In a landscape dominated by TikTok virals and AI playlists, PPL data reveals legacy acts command 60% of rock airplay, with Queen’s share up 15% post-biopic. 2 Bowie’s second place nods to his 2016 death spike, U2’s to their activist anthems, Oasis to reunion rumors (Liam and Noel teased a 2025 Glastonbury slot), and Fleetwood Mac to Stevie Nicks’ solo renaissance. Yet, Queen’s edge? Universality—their songs soundtrack everything from weddings (“You’re My Best Friend”) to protests (“We Are the Champions”). Critics like NME hail it as “proof rock’s heart beats classic,” while Louder ponders the list’s vintage skew: “UK broadcasters cling to the familiar, sidelining nu-metal heirs.” 3

As October 18 dawns, fans queue for NAD exclusives, Queen’s crown gleams brighter. It’s not just airplay; it’s affirmation that Mercury’s clarion call—“Show must go on!”—echoes eternally. In Brian May’s words, this is “amazing,” a 21st-century victory lap for 20th-century trailblazers. Pour one out for the radio gods: Queen’s playlist rules, and the encore never ends.