The People's Artists' Chart

Who are the artists who've provided the soundtrack to the century so far? Patrick Kielty reveals all in this three-hour countdown for Radio 2 on Easter Monday. The People's Artist Chart is the third in a series of exclusive chart programmes for Radio 2, revealing the most-heard music and artists as compiled by licensing body PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd). That's "most-heard" as in not just radio airplay, but everywhere that recorded music is played in public, from shops and restaurants to clubs and airport lounges! Last Easter, in the original People's Chart show, Rob Brydon announced that Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale was the most-played-in-public recording of PPL's 75-year history. At Christmas, in The People's Classical Chart, Bill Bailey unveiled Carl Orff's O Fortuna as the classical recording that had been most-played in the same time frame. This time, Kielty focuses on artists, with all their collective play across the UK over the past decade. He reveals the top 50 acts of the past ten years, announcing a chart that provides a fascinating cross-section of the nation's tastes, with artists dating from the 1950s to the present day. Along the way, we'll hear not just from some of the artists who are in the "Grand 50," as one of them describes it, but from a host of other stars talking about their favourites in the chart and choosing a track to play. There's a rare radio appearance by one of Britain's top songwriters, Cathy Dennis, who talks about co-creating Kylie's greatest hit and playing basketball with Britney Spears; Sharleen Spiteri reveals her undying love for the Bee Gees, and two true Motown legends are also on hand, Otis Williams of the Temptations and Duke Fakir of the Four Tops. Katie Melua introduces an early classic by one of the biggest names in pop history; Judie Tzuke remembers Elton John the record label executive; and Carly Simon raves about one of the biggest-selling groups and albums of the 1970s.