Why Calvin is No1
EVERY six minutes, a Calvin Harris song can be heard on radio or TV. And the former shelf-stacker is the most-played Scottish artist of the 21st century, according to music licensing company Phonographic Performance Limited. A chart was compiled by researchers who looked at PPL data from UK radio and TV covering 2000 to 2017. They focused only on Scottish solo artists or groups with significant Scots heritage. Calvin, 34, born Adam Wiles, said: “It’s an incredible honour to be named the most-played Scottish artist of the 21st century alongside so many great acts.” The amount of Calvin’s music played is equivalent to five years of continuous UK radio and TV airplay. His most-played hit was his No1 hit We Found Love, which was recorded by Rihanna. Since its release in 2011, it has been aired on UK TV and radio for 5000 hours. His second most popular track was This Is What You Came For in 2015, which again featured Rihanna. His third biggest was How Deep Is Your Love, also from 2015, and featuring Disciples. His feat is all the more remarkable given he only arrived on the scene in 2006 – when he reached No10 with Acceptable in the 80s. Garry Spence, who has presented the drivetime show on Capital Scotland for 10 years, isn’t surprised Calvin is the most-played Scot. He said: “I remember playing I’m Not Alone on Capital in 2009 and thinking, ‘This is the perfect radio song’. I still hear elements of that record in other artists’ work, even the likes of Demi Lovato. “His sound constantly evolves. How Deep Is Your Love signalled the start of a much smoother sound with This Is What You Came For following. Both are in the same vein as his current hit One Kiss. “I would find it hard to believe that radio isn’t in the back of his mind when he is producing songs like these. One thing I love about Calvin is how old school his delivery approach is.
“The songs are never leaked and there’s no month-long campaign or clever marketing to tease their arrival.
“They just land unexpectedly with a bang every time, making every new single a major event.”
Calvin has topped Forbes magazine’s top 10 highest-paid DJs list for the past five years. The mag claimed that between 2016 and 2017, he earned £35million.
The Scot, who worked stacking shelves and in a fish processing factory to buy DJ gear after leaving school, is the UK’s No1 act.
His tune One Kiss, with Dua Lipa, is on course to claim a third week at the top of the singles chart. It’s his ninth No1 in the UK – tying with Abba, Eminem, Rihanna and the Spice Girls.
Garry wasn’t surprised to hear that We Found Love was Calvin’s biggest track. He believes it has made the Dumfries-born star Scotland’s most successful recording artist of all time.
He added: “I’ve never once introduced his most famous collaboration with Rihanna as anything other than ‘Calvin Harris – We Found Love’. He wrote it, he produced it, he mixed it.
“We Found Love sold more than 10million units and reached No1 in 38 countries. On that basis, I’d argue he is the most successful Scottish recording artist of all time.”
PPL’s chart placed Texas at No2 in the most-played Scots chart. Their 1989 debut I Don’t Want A Lover was still their most-played track of the 21st century.
Emeli Sande, who was raised in Aberdeenshire, comes in at No3 with her most-played song being Next To Me.
The surprise entry to the chart was Lulu, 69, at No4.
While she had her first hit aged just 15 in 1964 with Shout, she’s only had one hit in the last 17 years – We’ve Got Tonight with Ronan Keating.
Lulu’s airplay comes from the likes of Gold and local radio.
Travis complete the top five, with their single Why Does It Always Rain on Me? their most-played track.