Ed Sheeran has been revealed as the world’s most played artist on radio, after beating fellow Briton and Warner Music signing Dua Lipa to the top spot.

The Shape Of You singer, 30, has 4.3 million plays a year worldwide, while the Levitating singer, 26, receives just 100,000 less at 4.2 million.

Crowned third place is The Weeknd at three million spins, with Queen taking fourth place at 2.9 and Maroon 5 in fifth place with 2.8 million, according to Viber.

Bohemian Rhapsody hitmakers were also the number one rock radio act last year.

Drummer Roger Taylor said The sun: ‘I am very happy that there is still so much love for us. It constantly surprises me.

The music analysis firm also reported that rock music had seen a resurgence, being ranked as the second most important genre with 79.9 million plays.

Pop music remains the most popular, however, with 141 million listens measured after analyzing 24,000 radio stations in 150 countries.

So close ! The Shape Of You singer, 30, has 4.3 million plays a year worldwide, while the Levitating singer, 26, receives just 100,000 less at 4.2 million.

Elsewhere, Justin Bieber dominates the streaming market with the most subscribers on Spotify at 13.5 million.

Despite the staggering numbers, Olivia Rodrigo beats him as the most-streamed artist by 4.6 million, to 5.1 billion.

Ed was recently confirmed as a performer at the 2022 Brit Awards, which will take place on February 8.

The annual Music Awards ceremony will return to London’s O2 Arena and will also see Doja Cat and Liam Gallagher take to the stage.

Impressive: Crowned third place is The Weeknd at three million spins, with Queen taking fourth place at 2.9 and Maroon 5 in fifth place at 2.8 million, according to Viberate

Grime megastar Dave, rap sensation Little Simz and this year’s Rising Star award winner Holly Humberstone have been confirmed to perform additionally.

Although Plan B restrictions in England are set to be lifted next week, including no longer requiring COVID-19 passes at large-scale events and mandatory mask-wearing, BRIT organizers have a number of requirements.

It comes after Ed submitted plans to build a burial chamber under the ground of the new boat-shaped church which is being erected on the grounds of his sprawling Suffolk ‘mini-village’ of 3, £7million nicknamed Sheeranville.

New photographs show that the place of worship is currently under construction and is covered in scaffolding.

It could soon be joined by a burial area which one would enter through a slab in the ground.

The latest plans mean the pop star could be buried within the grounds of his home in the village of Framlingham if the plans that have been submitted for the grave are given the green light by council officers.

Ed’s private retreat has been modeled with curved walls in plan and elevation, giving it a sweeping boat-like feel.

The burial chamber, which according to plans would be at the rear of the building, would measure 8.9 feet (2.71 m) by 5.9 feet (1.8 m), approximately the size of a double burial plot.

Ed, who has a net worth of £220million, was initially unsuccessful in getting permission for a chapel in his garden, but in 2019 he submitted scaled-down plans which were approved by his neighbors as well as the parish council.

Exciting: Ed was recently confirmed as a performer at the 2022 Brit Awards, which take place on February 8 (pictured in December 2021)