Madonna most played artist

The star, who has been clocking up hits since 1984, topped a list of artists who have received most airplay and public performances of their recordings from 2000 to 2009.

The figures were compiled by royalties body PPL for a Radio 2 countdown.

Madonna – whose massive hits have included Material Girl, Into The Groove and Ray Of Light – was the only female act to make the top five.

The Beatles were ranked runners-up, despite splitting 30 years before the decade even began. Third-placed Robbie Williams was placed ahead of his former bandmates Take That who finished fifth.

Fourth place went to Queen who continue to be widely played despite the death of frontman Freddie Mercury eight years before the noughties began.

In fact the Sugababes at number six and Coldplay at number 10 are the only two acts who actually came to fame during the era in question with Elton John, Elvis Presley and Abba filling out the rest of the top 10.

The chart was drawn from recordings played on radio, TV and in public places.

An earlier chart showed that Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale was the most played pop recording of the past 75 years.