Though Europe’s most listened-to artist on radio in 2025 was Ed Sheeran, Alex Warren's hit song, “Ordinary,” emerged as the most listened-to song across European radio.
The results are published as part of Radioplayer’s annual overview of actual radio listening. Unlike traditional radio charts, which measure what is broadcast, Radio Played 2025 reveals what listeners actually chose to listen to across platforms, countries, and moments. It is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.
The data shows that while new hits dominate the very top of the rankings, radio listening across Europe is strongly shaped by timeless catalogue artists. Alongside Ed Sheeran, artists such as Queen, Madonna, and Michael Jackson rank among the most listened-to artists of the year, underlining radio’s unique role in sustaining long-term cultural relevance, not just short-term trends.
Seasonal listening also plays a clear role. Towards the end of the year, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” once again emerged as one of the most listened-to songs on European radio, highlighting radio’s continued importance for shared, live moments.
Beyond music, Radio Played 2025 also reflects how radio is used across Europe. Paris recorded the longest average listening sessions of any city, while November 27 became the single biggest radio day of the year, driven by an intense international news cycle that brought audiences back to live radio at scale.
Context and Platform
Radioplayer distributes radio across connected cars, smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers, offering a unique pan-European view of how radio is actually used today.
Unlike personalized or predictive rankings, Radioplayer captures collective listening behavior at scale, the artists, songs, cities and moments that brought audiences together across borders.
Radio Played 2025 is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe, and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.
Most Listened-To Song in Europe 2025
- No. 1: “Ordinary,” Alex Warren
- No. 2: “Messy,” Lola Young
- No. 3: “Nice to Meet You,” Myles Smith
- No. 4: “Azizam,” Ed Sheeran
- No. 5: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
- No. 6: “Bad Dreams,” Teddy Swims
- No. 7: “End of the World,” Miley Cyrus
- No. 8: “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
- No. 9: “That’s So True,” Gracie Abrams
- No. 10: “Sapphire,” Ed Sheeran
- No. 11: “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone
- No. 12: “Austin,” Dasha
- No. 13: “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish
- No. 14: “Belong Together,” Mark Ambor
- No. 15: “Anxiety,” Doechii
Most Listened-To Artist in Europe 2025
- No. 1: Ed Sheeran
- No. 2: Queen
- No. 3: Lady Gaga
- No. 4: Michael Jackson
- No. 5: Coldplay
- No. 6: Madonna
- No. 7: Myles Smith
- No. 8: Benson Boone
- No. 9: Sabrina Carpenter
- No. 10: Teddy Swims
- No. 11: Alex Warren
- No. 12: Taylor Swift
- No. 13: Lola Young
- No. 14: Miley Cyrus
- No. 15: Elton John
Cities with the Longest Average Listening Sessions in Europe 2025
- No. 1: Paris
- No. 2: London
- No. 3: Helsinki
- No. 4: Dublin
- No. 5: Milan
- No. 6: Lyon
- No. 7: Antwerp
- No. 8: Berlin
- No. 9: Tampere
- No. 10: Birmingham
Methodology
Radio Played 2025 is based on anonymized and aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform. Results are powered by broadcaster-supplied metadata from 27 European countries and cover listening in connected cars, on smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers.
About Radioplayer
Radioplayer is the broadcaster-owned technology platform that keeps radio strong in the car and across connected devices. We work to make radio look right, work right and be right there wherever people listen, in dashboards, apps, smart speakers and through voice. By combining FM and DAB broadcasting with internet connectivity, Radioplayer delivers hybrid radio that just works, with seamless coverage and a modern visual experience that makes stations clear, branded and premium on every screen. We collaborate closely with the world’s leading car manufacturers and technology partners, providing one certified feed and integration framework. This reduces complexity, ensures safety and compliance, and gives carmakers a consistent, trusted way to deliver the best radio experience to drivers. Radioplayer is live with 17 major car brands and more than five million cars. Learn more about Radioplayer at www.radioplayer.org.
Media Contact
Tommy Gaustad
Head of Communication, Radioplayer
tommy.gaustad@radioplayer.org
+47 93 00 35 66
