Have you ever wondered what the most played songs on the radio are of all time?
While most radio stations do their best to keep things fresh with new playlists and chart-topping hits, some tunes get more than their fair share of airtime.
There’s probably at least one song that you think you’ve heard a million times by the time you tune in to your favorite show.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say what the most played songs of all time were on the radio, as most stations don’t collect and share this data with the public.
Additionally, the frequency with which specific songs are played often varies based on the format and location of the radio station.
However, with a little research, we’ve unearthed some of the most played songs on the airwaves to give you a glimpse of the world’s most listened to tunes. Keep in mind that this list is based on available data, so you might miss out on some big hits.
We also do not cover jingles, radio commercial tunes and similar songs in this collection.
Let’s dive in! Also check out any embedded YouTube video which also includes some of the official videos.
1. “Every Breath You Take” (The Police)
Some radio analysts consider it the most-played radio song of all time. Still, “Every Breath You Take” has more than 15 million plays to its name.
Created by English rock band The Police, the song was written by Sting and quickly became the Canadian and US biggest hit of 1983.
The song topped the UK singles chart for four weeks and also reached the top 10 lists in various other countries.
Today this tune is the trademark of The Police. It even won many awards, becoming the best-selling single of 1983 and the fifth best-selling single for the entire ’80s decade.
2. “Brown-Eyed Girl” (Van Morrison)
This 1967 hit by Van Morrison, a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, took over the world. “Brown Eyed Girl” was released in 1967 and reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it is still considered Van Morrison’s signature song.
According to some reports, Van Morrison’s hit has been played more than 10 million times by radio stations around the world. It even earned Morrison special recognition at the Broadcast Music Inc Awards.
The song contains nostalgic lyrics about a past love. Although often considered romantic, it was initially considered too “suggestive” to be played on some radio stations in the ’60s.
3. “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” (The Righteous Brothers)
Once the most listened-to radio tune of all time, at least in the United States, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by the Righteous Brothers has been broadcast more than 15 million times.
In addition, it was the most-played song on American radio and television in the 20th century.
Released in 1964, the record was an instant critical and commercial success. It reached number one on the US and UK charts.
It was also voted one of the top songs of the century by the RIAA in 2001. The single was even included in the National Recording Registry as a culturally and historically significant tune in 2015.
4. “Yesterday” (The Beatles)
Written by Paul McCartney and performed by The Beatles, Yesterday was a huge hit when it was released in 1965.
The tune reached number one in the US charts and won the hearts of countless listeners across the UK. The melancholy ballad about the end of a relationship was voted the best song of the 20th century by BBC Radio 2 listeners.
Sources indicate that by 1999 this tune had been played at least seven million times on American radio and television stations.
However, it is difficult to know how many times the song was played at this point. The tune was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1997 and accompanies a number of well-known Beatles tracks on many radio stations.
5. “Never My Love” (The Club)
Released in 1967, The Association’s “Never My Love” is a pop classic written by Dick and Don Addrisi. Although the pair had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, few received the same amount of attention as this famous song.
In 1999, music publishing rights company Broadcast Music Inc said it was the second most played song on television and radio in the 20th century for the United States.
BMI estimated that in the 32 years that it was available in 1999, the song had been continuously aired on radio stations for around 40 years.
The tune was also recognized by Pitchfork magazine as one of the 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s.
6. “You really got me” (The Kinks)
Originally performed in a blues style, the song “You Really Got Me” was inspired by the Kinks of Big Bill Broonzy and Lead Belly. Two versions of the song were originally recorded, but the second version was used for the final single.
The tune reached number one in the UK charts and also caught the attention of US listeners. American rock band Van Halen even adopted the song to create their own version in 1978.
It is estimated that the song has appeared on the radio approximately 8 million times over the years and is frequently played alongside other The Kinks tunes.
7. “Stay With Me” (Ben E. King)
If you haven’t heard the original version of this classic radio hit, chances are you’ve come across at least a cover or two over the years.
Produced in 1961, Stand By Me was written and performed by Ben E. King. The title was derived from a spiritual text entitled Stand by Me Father.
Over 400 recorded versions of this song have been produced over the years and experts estimate that by 1999 the song had been played more than seven million times.
The tune was named one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone. It was also recognized by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.
8. “Layla” (Eric Clapton)
Probably one of the most famous Eric Clapton songs of all time, “Layla” was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon and produced by Derek and the Dominos in 1970.
According to the authors, the song was inspired by a love story that originated in seventh-century Arabia and by Clapton’s secret love for his friend’s wife.
“Layla” quickly became an all-time hit and won the 1993 Grammy for Best Rock Song. Between 1992 and 1993 it was broadcast almost continuously on radio, in stores and on television around the world.
Experts estimate that by 2011, “Layla” had achieved more than six million broadcasts on TV and radio channels.
9. “Everyone wants to rule the world” (Tears for Fears)
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was created in 1985 by the English pop-rock band Tears for Fears.
Music critics praised the tune, ranking it as one of the group’s most significant signature songs. The song even won Best Single at the Brit Awards in 1986.
In 2015, 30 years after its release, the tune was recognized at the annual BMI Awards in London for surpassing six million radio airplays. It is one of the most famous songs produced by Tears for Fears along with their other popular hit “Shout”.
10. “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (Frankie Valli)
Written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a chart-topping love song in the ’60s.
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has been replicated and covered by a variety of other creators over the years, even becoming a staple on some major movies and movie soundtracks.
The song was listed in BMI’s collection of the most-broadcast tunes on radio of the 20th century, falling just behind “You’ve Lost that Lovin’, “Felin'” and “Never My Love”.
By 1999, this tune had reached more than six million broadcasts.
11. “(Sitting on) the Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding)
Recorded by Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper in 1967, “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” was one of the first posthumous singles to top the US charts.
The relaxing tune reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1967. It was recorded shortly before Otis Redding died in a plane crash in December of the same year.
According to the BMI list of the most played radio songs of all time in the 20th century, the tune had six million broadcasts by the end of 1999. Today it still appears in the charts worldwide as a popular afternoon song.
12. “Eye of the Tiger” (Survivor)
Another fabulous 80’s hit, “Eye of the Tiger” was recorded by American rock band Survivor and released as a single from their third album. It is also the theme song for the 1982 film Rocky IIIreleased shortly before the single.
The tune received excellent airplay in 1982 and topped the charts worldwide. It also stayed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks.
Experts estimate that this song has been played on the radio more than 4.5 million times.
Additionally, as of 2015, more than 4.1 million digital downloads were sold in the United States. In August 1982, it was certified platinum by the RIAA, marking sales of over two million vinyl copies.
