Taking over the airwaves

A while ago we ran an irregular set of posts determining what we could learn about the state of pop and radio alike from a station's last.fm charts. That fell into disuse, but the natural buffer of the start of a new year gives us the opportunity to properly comment on and take the temperature of the mainstream in its various forms in 2010. So, up to the end of play on 31st March, and accepting that for whatever reason not everything played will be counted here, some three month artist and song charts...

Radio 1

1 Plan B 205
2 Ellie Goulding 187
3 Mumford & Sons 185
4 Vampire Weekend 182
5 Tinie Tempah 180
6 Biffy Clyro 171
7 Muse 162
8 Rihanna 159
9 Owl City 157
10 Black Eyed Peas 155
11 Kasabian 153
11 Marina & the Diamonds 153
13 You Me At Six 144
14 Lostprophets 139
15 JLS 138
16 Paolo Nutini 136
17 Gramophonedzie 131
18 Pixie Lott 129
19 Iyaz 126
20 Alicia Keys 125
21 Delphic 124
22 Cheryl Cole 121
22 Jason Derulo 121
24 Florence + The Machine 119
25 Lady GaGa 117
26 30 Seconds to Mars 116
27 Chiddy Bang 112
28 Example 105
28 Hot Chip 105
30 Sugababes 100

Here we see the ultimate aim, and hugely successful it is too, of the Plan B project, and we think we can call it a project given the disparity at work. Going from angry British rapper (with acoustic guitar, for the NME ticket) post-Eminem to soul man post-Amy... well, who's more cynical here, us, Ben Drew or 679/Atlantic? The irony, of course, is that only broadsheets seemed to take his SO REAL FROM THE STREETS approach seriously first time around, and yet on this reinvention it's all out for every last bit of commercial crossover hoo-hah. Interviewed in the Independent, Drew claimed recently he "just went out and did what I wanted to do" following the sales failure of his first record, and yet, commenting on how he wanted to include more hip-hop on this album, says his big major label "said, 'We can't get radio play with that, but we love this soul album, we want to push that.' At first I was a bit insulted, but then I thought, 'This is a major label, this is what's going to make money, the other one isn't, and they're trying to sell my music after four years, and they don't want to confuse people about the type of music Plan B makes.'" Yeah, and completely changing your style to, ooh, one absolutely of the commercial moment won't confuse anyone.

Does it also feel to anyone else as if Ellie Goulding isn't making an impact at all? Oh, the initial figures have been decent, but there's no hook there beyond 'won Brit; does electronic stuff'. Granted, the Gaga experience is blowing all other electronically inclined females over where they stand, because as we all know there is only room for one at any one time, and the aura of the music itself is fairly insubstantial, but it seems everything musical, because she was never going to figure highly on the Bizarre radar, is passing by without flinching with her, not least because her people keep going "she's folky! She's folky!" and confusing the issue even more.


1 Tinie Tempah – Pass Out 161
2 Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed 158
3 Mumford & Sons – The Cave 154
4 Marina & the Diamonds – Hollywood 147
5 Plan B – Stay Too Long 136
6 Owl City – Fireflies 131
6 Gramophonedzie – Why Don't You 131
8 You Me At Six – Underdog 128
9 Muse – Resistance 119
10 JLS – One Shot 117
11 Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body 116
12 Rihanna – Rude Boy 113
13 Paolo Nutini – 10/10 106
14 Iyaz – Replay 105
15 Vampire Weekend – Cousins 101
16 Chiddy Bang – Opposite Of Adults 100
17 Hot Chip – One Life Stand 96
18 Pixie Lott – Gravity 95
19 Example – Won't Go Quietly 93
20 Jason Derulo – In My Head 92
21 Lostprophets – Where We Belong 90
22 Kasabian – Vlad The Impaler 88
23 Gorillaz – Stylo 81
24 Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down 79
25 Inna – Hot 78
25 Sugababes – Wear My Kiss 78
27 Cheryl Cole – Parachute 75
28 Daisy Dares You / ChipMunk – Number One Enemy 72
29 Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin' 71
30 Biffy Clyro – Many Of Horror 68

Tinie Tempah - the new Tinchy Stryder. That is to say, having huge singles chart success without any wider name recognition. At least N-Dubz have signifiers (hat, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, abuse texting, the other two) Did you know Lostprophets were still that popular? Can the newspaper bloggers of Britain get together and have a final decision on whether Glee should be approached as "something I hate but everyone else loves" or "something I love but everyone else hates"?


Radio 2

1 Robbie Williams 154
2 Amy Macdonald 145
3 Paolo Nutini 124
4 The Beatles 122
5 OneRepublic 115
6 Paloma Faith 112
7 Alicia Keys 109
8 Owl City 102
9 Mika 100
10 Little Big Town 99
11 Biffy Clyro 95
12 Goldfrapp 92
12 Michael Bublé 92
14 Rod Stewart 91
15 Timothy B. Schmit 89
16 Fyfe Dangerfield 88
16 Corinne Bailey Rae 88
18 Elvis Presley 83
19 Beth Nielsen Chapman 80
20 The Rolling Stones 79
20 Scouting for Girls 79
22 David Bowie 77
23 Nell Bryden 75
24 Rox 74
25 Take That 71
26 Leona Lewis 69
26 Gabriella Cilmi 69
26 Mary J. Blige 69
29 Stevie Wonder 68
30 Madonna 67

Ah, so that's what Fyfe was aiming at. Weird to see Owl City so high, ultimately for all the oppobrium still a youthful pop concept. Little Big Town are a harmonic country act from Nashville, just to prove Whispering Bob still has some sway in this era of Biffy Clyro. Biffy Clyro! Magnificently unthinkable a concept just a couple of years ago, perhaps even at the start of their current album campaign, that they'd be getting heavy Radio 2 daytime support.


1 Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down 107
2 Amy Macdonald – Don't Tell Me That It's Over 106
3 Little Big Town – Fine Line 99
4 Owl City – Fireflies 94
4 Biffy Clyro – Many Of Horror (Where We Collide) 94
6 Paolo Nutini – 10/10 93
7 Goldfrapp – Rocket 90
8 Mika – Blame It On The Girls 89
9 Robbie Williams – Morning Sun 87
10 Fyfe Dangerfield – She Needs Me 86
11 OneRepublic – All The Right Moves 81
12 Paloma Faith – Upside Down 78
13 Beth Nielsen Chapman – Even As It All Goes By 74
14 Rox – My Baby Left Me 73
15 Michael Bublé – Cry Me a River 70
16 Scouting for Girls – This Ain't A Love Song 68
17 Leona Lewis – I Got You 63
17 Mary J. Blige – I Am 63
17 Nell Bryden – Not Like Loving You 63
20 Corinne Bailey Rae – Paris Nights/New York Mornings 56
21 Timothy B. Schmit – Parachute 54
21 Rod Stewart – (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher 54
23 Raul Malo – Moonlight Kiss 53
24 Gabriella Cilmi – On A Mission 52
25 Nerina Pallot – I Don't Want To Go Out 45
26 Ben montague – Haunted 44
26 Joshua Radin – I'd Rather Be With You 44
28 Emily Maguire – I'd Rather Be 43
29 Beverley Knight / Chaka Khan – Soul Survivor 42
30 Ocean Colour Scene – Magic Carpet Days 40

And the station has somewhere along the line played a song of the Biff's that wasn't Many Of Horror. Perhaps as a warning.


6 Music

1 Vampire Weekend 200
2 Yeasayer 154
3 Delphic 144
4 Hot Chip 141
5 The xx 119
6 Groove Armada 118
7 Beach House 114
8 Gorillaz / Bobby Womack / Mos Def 112
9 The Futureheads 109
10 Muse 105
11 Mumford & Sons 101
12 Jimi Hendrix 98
13 Jónsi 97
14 David Bowie 96
15 Cold War Kids 94
16 The Courteeners 91
17 The Big Pink 89
18 Friendly Fires 85
18 Goldheart Assembly 85
20 Goldfrapp 78
20 The Cure 78
22 Fyfe Dangerfield 77
23 The Strange Boys 76
23 Tunng 76
25 Broken Bells 74
26 Editors 71
26 Wild Beasts 71
28 Massive Attack / Hope Sandoval 68
29 Radiohead 67
30 Liam Frost / Martha Wainwright 66

Hendrix? Think there may have been a special somewhere along the line, but unless it was a week long that seems an anomaly.


1 Hot Chip – One Life Stand 112
1 Gorillaz / Bobby Womack / Mos Def – Stylo 112
3 Groove Armada – Paper Romance 105
4 Yeasayer – O.N.E. 102
5 Jónsi – Go Do 97
6 Vampire Weekend – Giving Up the Gun 90
7 Delphic – Halcyon 88
7 Mumford & Sons – The Cave 88
9 Cold War Kids – Audience 86
10 Muse – Resistance 85
11 The Big Pink – Velvet 82
12 Beach House – Norway 81
13 The Courteeners – You Overdid It Doll 80
14 Goldheart Assembly – King Of Rome 76
15 The xx – VCR 73
16 Tunng – Hustle 72
17 Broken Bells – The High Road 71
17 Wild Beasts – We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues 71
19 The Strange Boys – Be Brave 69
20 The Futureheads – Struck Dumb 68
20 Massive Attack / Hope Sandoval – Paradise Circus 68
22 Liam Frost / Martha Wainwright – Your Hand In Mine 66
23 Goldfrapp – Rocket 63
24 Jimi Hendrix – Bleeding Heart 60
25 Field Music – Them that do nothing 58
26 Fyfe Dangerfield – She Needs Me 56
26 Editors – You Don't Know Love 56
28 White Rabbits – Percussion Gun 55
29 Friendly Fires – Hold On 54
29 Jamie T – Emily's Heart 54

Somehow can't picture there still being expressed interest in Groove Armada.

The next two progress much as expected, and then there's a digital newcomer to our lists.


1Xtra

1 Alicia Keys 242
2 Mary J. Blige 195
3 Tinie Tempah 178
4 Rihanna 163
5 Young Money 160
6 Jay Sean / Sean Paul / Lil Jon 143
7 Jason Derulo 139
8 50 Cent 133
9 Iyaz 128
9 Skepta 128
9 Black Eyed Peas 128
9 Ill Blue / Shanique 128
13 Gucci Mane / Usher 118
14 Giggs / B.O.B 114
15 JLS 108
16 Chiddy Bang 102
17 Donae'o 95
18 nas / damian marley 94
19 Dennis Ferrer 93
20 Plan B 87
21 50 Cent / Ne-Yo 86
21 Jay-Z / Mr Hudson 86
23 Ludacris 80
23 Zinc / Ms Dynamite 80
25 Timbaland / So Shy / Nelly Furtado 79
25 Jay-Z 79
27 Naughty Boy / Wiley / Emeli Sande 77
28 McLean 76
28 So Solid Crew 76
30 Chipmunk 75

1 Tinie Tempah – Pass Out 169
2 Young Money – BedRock 157
3 Jay Sean / Sean Paul / Lil Jon – Do You Remember 143
4 Rihanna – Rude Boy 142
5 Mary J. Blige – I Am 140
6 Ill Blue / Shanique – Say Yes 128
7 50 Cent – Do You Think About Me 126
8 Gucci Mane / Usher – Spotlight 118
8 Iyaz – Replay 118
10 Giggs / B.O.B – Don't Go There 114
11 Skepta – Bad Boy 112
12 Jason Derulo – In My Head 102
13 Chiddy Bang – Chiddy Bang 98
14 nas / damian marley – As We Enter 94
15 Dennis Ferrer – Hey Hey 92
16 Jay-Z / Mr Hudson – Young Forever 86
16 50 Cent / Ne-Yo – Baby By Me 86
18 Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down 84
19 Zinc / Ms Dynamite – Wile Out 80
20 Timbaland / So Shy / Nelly Furtado – Morning After Dark 79
21 Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body 78
22 Naughty Boy / Wiley / Emeli Sande – Never Be Your Woman (Shy FX Remix) 77
23 McLean – My Name 74
24 N Dubz / Mr Hudson – Playing With Fire 73
25 Jay Electronica – Exhibit C 70
26 Beyonce / Lady Gaga – Video Phone 69
27 JLS – One Shot 67
28 Lil Wayne / Eminem – Drop The World 66
29 So Solid Crew – Since You Went Away 65
30 Ludacris – How Low 64


Absolute

1 Muse 413
2 Snow Patrol 402
3 Paolo Nutini 401
4 Florence + The Machine 392
5 Biffy Clyro 356
6 U2 323
7 Coldplay 316
8 The Killers 306
9 Kings of Leon 302
9 Oasis 302
11 Queen 261
12 Owl City 258
13 Amy Macdonald 254
14 The Beatles 253
15 Stereophonics 249
16 R.E.M. 237
17 Mumford & Sons 234
18 The Temper Trap 233
19 David Bowie 223
20 Bon Jovi 208
21 Green Day 202
22 30 Seconds to Mars 198
22 The Rolling Stones 198
24 Kasabian 188
25 Bruce Springsteen 181
26 Red Hot Chili Peppers 179
27 The Police 177
28 Blur 172
29 Kaiser Chiefs 171
30 Journey 149

1 Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes 282
2 Paolo Nutini – 10/10 278
3 Owl City – Fireflies 258
4 Biffy Clyro – Many Of Horror (When We Collide) 257
5 Amy Macdonald – Don't Tell Me That It's Over 234
6 Muse – Uprising 204
7 The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition 196
8 Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over 184
9 30 Seconds to Mars – Kings and Queens 175
10 Mumford & Sons – The Cave 161
10 Florence + The Machine – You've Got The Love 161
12 Muse – Resistance 151
13 Journey – Don't Stop Believin' 149
14 Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire 131
15 Scouting for Girls – This Ain't A Love Song 111
16 Goldfrapp – Rocket 107
17 Kasabian – Fire 102
18 Marina and the Diamonds – Hollywood 101
19 The Killers – Mr. Brightside 98
19 United Nations of Sound – Are You Ready? 98
21 Paolo Nutini – Candy 96
21 Plan B – Stay Too Long 96
23 Ocean Colour Scene – Magic Carpet Days 93
24 Kings of Leon – Use Somebody 92
24 Stereophonics – Could You Be The One? 92
26 The Courteeners – You Overdid It Doll 88
27 Boston – More Than A Feeling 77
28 Biffy Clyro – Bubbles 72
29 Editors – You Don't Know Love 68
30 Elbow – One Day Like This 65

Boston? Is this ultimately your fault, Don't Stop bloody Believing?


NME Radio

1 Hot Chip 304
2 The Kissaway Trail 302
3 Groove Armada 289
4 Vampire Weekend 265
5 Miike Snow 246
6 Kasabian 235
6 Oasis 235
8 Depeche Mode 230
9 The xx 222
10 Doves 215
11 Muse 213
12 Chapel Club 211
13 Broken Bells 204
14 R.E.M. 202
14 The Strange Boys 202
16 U2 201
17 Radiohead 199
18 Delphic 198
19 Air Formation 191
19 Massive Attack 191
21 Yeasayer 190
22 The Cure 187
23 Gorillaz 184
24 Animal Collective 176
25 Biffy Clyro 172
26 Crookers 164
27 The Smiths 161
27 Nirvana 161
29 White Rabbits 159
30 The Courteeners 158

The... wh... The Kissaway Trail? Really? Miike Snow's continued presence in average playlists and style mags must be some sort of prank. One thing you can say for NME Radio, it's not exactly led by the cover of its parent magazine, as you'll see by a few here.


1 Vampire Weekend – Giving Up the Gun 225
2 Chapel Club – O Maybe I 192
3 Crookers – Remedy 164
4 Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky 161
5 Groove Armada – Paper Romance 160
6 White Rabbits – Percussion Gun 159
7 The Courteeners – You Overdid It Doll 158
8 Hot Chip – One Life Stand 156
9 The xx – VCR 153
9 The Kissaway Trail – SDP 153
11 Broken Bells – The High Road 150
12 Kasabian – Vlad The Impaler 149
13 Miike Snow – Silvia 144
14 Blood Red Shoes – Light It Up 141
15 The Kissaway Trail – Beat Your Heartbeat 137
15 The Postmarks – No One Said This Would Be Easy 137
17 Hot Chip – Alley Cats 127
18 The Radio Dept. – Heaven's On Fire 123
18 Caribou – Odessa 123
20 The Temper Trap – Fader 122
20 Delphic – Doubt 122
22 Gorillaz – Stylo 119
23 White Belt Yellow Tag – Always And Echoes 117
24 The Besnard Lakes – And This Is What We Call Progress 115
24 Jesca Hoop – Feast Of The Heart 115
26 School of Seven Bells – Half Asleep 114
27 The Strange Boys – Be Brave 108
28 Yeasayer – Ambling Alp 107
28 The Soft Pack – C'mon 107
28 The Boy Who Trapped The Sun – Home 107