🇬🇧 UK vs 🇮🇪 Ireland: A Tale of Two Music Industries When It Comes To Radio Playlisting
Anyone who follows me and my work within Gender and Racial disparity in the music industry will be familiar with the Why Not Her? series of reports we put out each year on the most heavily playlisted artists who are lucky to get on heavy rotation playlists across major radio stations in the UK and Ireland.
What does getting playlisted on a streaming site or the radio actually mean?
For an artist, being added to a major radio playlist can make or break their career. Every spin on the airwaves generates royalties, which translates into income. Beyond that, consistent airplay boosts an artist’s visibility, leading to more streams, higher chart placements, and increased opportunities for festival bookings and sponsorships. In essence, radio and streaming playlist exposure isn’t just about ego; it’s the cornerstone of a sustainable career in music. Let’s take a look:
🎧 Streaming and Radio Royalties: The Backbone of an Artist’s Income
Understanding royalties is crucial in appreciating how airplay impacts an artist’s career. Streaming royalties, as shown in the chart above, break down into several categories:
- Recorded Music (80%): Labels take the lion’s share (64%), while artists receive 16% (I know, it’s shit isn’t it?!).
- Performance (10%): Divided between PROs (1.2%) and songwriters (4.4%). (You’d actually assume the songwriters make a decent royalty right? Sadly, not the case.)
- Mechanicals (10%): Split between songwriters and publishers.
Radio royalties, on the other hand, are a vital revenue stream for songwriters and publishers, especially in countries where streaming revenue remains unpredictable. According to Sentric Music (well worth reading the linked article there), performance royalties from radio play ensure that creators are compensated fairly each time their music is broadcast. These royalties can make or break an artist’s ability to generate income, book festivals, and secure sponsorships.
Both revenue streams are intertwined, providing the financial stability artists need to continue creating and sharing their work. Without robust airplay, particularly in Ireland where domestic support is lacking, artists face significant challenges in sustaining their careers, especially women artists and anyone who steps outside the norm of a white male artist with a guitar. It’s dismal.
Now let’s get down to the data on the Top 100 most played songs of 2024 in the UK and Ireland. The numbers are in, and they’re not exactly painting a masterpiece for Irish radio. In 2024, the UK’s airwaves delivered an impressive 41% of homegrown artists in their Top 100 most played songs. Meanwhile, Ireland’s dismal 19% domestic representation shows its playlists are as inclusive as a nightclub with a “members-only” sign. Sad thing is nobody — not a single regulatory body despite there being one in the Coimisiún na Meán which is Ireland’s agency for developing and regulating a thriving, diverse, creative, safe and trusted media landscape — seems to not have any real authority over what Irish radio chooses to play. Nor does it seem to matter to them how economically disadvantaged Irish women and diverse artists face in comparison to their thriving white male counterparts. Somebody make it make sense, please?!
Let’s break this down further: Looking at UK radio — we can see that it isn’t just about the big global hits; it’s a balanced feast of local and international sounds. Their 59% international plays show they’re savvy about global hits, but their local pride runs deep. Ireland, on the other hand, seems to be stuck in a loop, handing the mic to the same handful of lads over and over again. And when it comes to female representation? It’s an all-time low: just 5% of Irish women artists in the Top 100. Yes, you read that right. Five. Percent. And in that 5% only 2 living female Irish artists are featured; Jazzy has 3 songs in the mix and busker Allie Sherlock has 1 song, the late Dolores O’Riordan makes up the other 1%.
🎵 UK Radio: A Spotlight on Homegrown Talent In the UK, Myles Smith’s Stargazing was the top domestic hit, and it’s easy to see why. UK radio’s airplay balance — 43.9% male, 29.27% gender collaborations, and 26.83% female artists — is an indicator of a system that, while not perfect, is leagues ahead of Ireland’s. Even their ethnicity stats look healthier: 65.85% White, 24.39% Mixed, and 9.76% People of Colour (POC). That’s representation that shows intention.
🚫 Ireland: A Broken Record Irish radio’s leading domestic song was Hozier’s Too Sweet (which, admittedly, is a banger). But after that, the gaps become glaringly obvious. With 13% male representation, a measly 1% gender collabs, and only 1 Irish artist of colour (shoutout to Jazzy), it’s clear: we’re not doing enough. And when male artists dominate the charts with multiple entries, it’s no wonder women and non-male voices are struggling to be heard.
Top 5 Songs on UK Radio (Domestic & International):
- Teddy Swims — Lose Control (Atlantic)
- Noah Kahan — Stick Season (Island)
- Benson Boone — Beautiful Things (Warner)
- Dasha — Austin (Boots Stop Workin’) (Warner)
- Shaboozey — A Bar Song (Tipsy) (American Dogwood)
Top 5 Songs on Irish Radio (Domestic & International):
- Hozier — Too Sweet (Universal)
- Shaboozey — A Bar Song (Tipsy) (Empire)
- Noah Kahan — Stick Season (Universal)
- Dasha — Austin (Boots Stop Workin’) (Warner)
- Chappell Roan — Good Luck, Babe! (Island)
🔎 The Takeaway The disparity between UK and Irish radio support for domestic talent is glaring. While the UK embraces its diverse and homegrown talent, Ireland struggles to offer the same stage. Why does this matter? Because representation — of gender, ethnicity, and locality — isn’t just a feel-good buzzword. It shapes the future of our music industry.
📢 Call to Action It’s time to demand better from Irish radio. Our airwaves should reflect the full spectrum of Irish talent — not just the chosen few.
Let’s open the doors wider, amplify the voices of women and underrepresented artists, and show the world what Ireland’s music scene is truly capable of.
Tag your favourite Irish artists, share this post, and let’s make some noise for change.
More about me and the work I do here: www.lindacooganbyrne.com
