Airplay monitor Mediabase recently announced the most played songs, artists and label shares of 2013, according to its own data, recorded from November last year through November this year.
Universal Music Group’s unit, Interscope/Geffen/A&M, had the most radio exposure this year, due to the giant hit “Blurred Lines,” by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell & T.I. The song itself got 260 million listeners in its peak week, putting it at number one, including a stint as number one in five formats simultaneously: Top 40, rhythmic, urban, urban adult contemporary and hot adult contemporary.
Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, former American Idol champion Phillip Phillips and breakout Kendrick Lamar were also quite successful with that label.
Mediabase’s methodology counts the total number of spins amassed by each recording company, converting the grand total into a percentage that reviews and ranks music companies.
WMG’s Warner Bros. Records division scored one of the biggest breakthrough hits this year with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Their ubiquitous track, “Thrift Shop,” made them the second most-played artist at both top 40 and rhythmic.
Sony Music’s RCA Records unit gleaned predictably strong results from the return of superstar Justin Timberlake, who had multiple hits across top 40, rhythmic, urban, hot AC and AC. RCA also scored hits from Pink, Miguel, Kelly Clarkson and Three Days Grace.
UMG’s Island Def Jam Music Group’s Rihanna was the number one artist at rhythmic, number two at urban and sixth most-played top 40.
WMG’s Atlantic Records had the number one artist at Top 40 for a second year in a row: Bruno Mars (last year it was Flo Rida).
Sony Music’s Columbia Records laid claim to one of alternative music’s big new acts, the Neighbourhood. Columbia’s artist J. Cole had multiple first place hits at both rhythmic and urban.
In the realm of country music, Capitol Music was the number one country label, with hits turned in by Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker.
The number one song was “Cruise” by Republic Nashville’s Florida-Georgia Line. Florida-Georgia was also the number one artist in country. That song also enjoyed crossover success on the top 40, hot AC, and AC charts.
