Ed Sheeran has been named the UK's most played radio artist for 2018
It's the third time in four years that he's topped the ranks
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Your support makes all the difference.Ed Sheeran has been confirmed as the UK's most-played radio artist for 2018 – despite not releasing any new music for the entire year.
The strength of his back catalogue (from "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" to "Galway Girl") means that the star doesn't need new entries in the top 10 to prove himself.
Calvin Harris and Little Mix ranked second and third respectively, while "Feel It Still" from American rock band Portugal The Man was named the most-played individual song on the radio.
Rudimental and Jess Glynne's feel-good track "These Days" came in at second, while Fifty Shades' "For You" from Liam Payne and Rita Ora's ranked at third. Ora's "Anywhere" also made the top 10.
The data was put together by PPL, a music royalty body that monitors the music played on TV and radio; and in pubs and clubs.
It has found that some songs – like Sheeran's – are able to maintain a long life on the radio, even after they stop competing in the Top 40 charts.
Nine out of the top 10 most-played artists were also British, with Pink being the exception. "What About Us?" made the top 10 for its second year in a row.
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