10:55am Monday 21st December 2009
© Press Association 2011
Solo female singers have dominated the top 10 most played songs of this year, a music rights group said.
PRS for Music compiled the top 100 tracks that received the most air play in 2009, which was topped by Gabriella Cilmi's Sweet About Me.
Other pop divas in the top 10 were Welshwoman Duffy with Mercy, Jordin Sparks with No Air and Jennifer Hudson, who sang Spotlight.
American singer Hudson, who gave birth to her first child in August, was chosen to perform at Michael Jackson's memorial.
The King of Pop has no entries in the top 100 despite the surge in the popularity of his past hits following his death in June.
Take That, Rihanna and the Sugababes were the most popular acts, each getting four entries.
Sugababes had a turbulent year as their final original member Keisha Buchanan quit the group in September and was replaced by Jade Ewen, causing a last-minute change of vocals on their album.
The top 100 was compiled using the number of plays and performances online, live, and on television and radio.
Moloko's 2000 hit The Time Is Now managed to enter at number three, mainly because it is played regularly on Sky Sports.
Adverts have also brought songs into the spotlight, including Erni K Doe's version of Here Come The Girls which is used in Boots publicity and Duke Ellington's Double Check Stomp which was used by Homebase.
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