The Material Girl has scored over the Fab Four.

Madonna has topped a chart of the most played artists of the last decade in the United Kingdom – pushing the Beatles into second place and Robbie Williams to the third spot.

The pop star headed a list of artists who had the most airplay and public performances of their recordings from 2000 to 2009. Madonna, who has been lining up hits including Material Girl, Into The Groove, and Like a Virgin since 1984, is the only female act in the top five.

The figures were compiled by royalties body PPL for a Radio 2 countdown that was broadcast on Monday.

The Beatles continue to remain on top of the charts and were placed No 2 on the list.
Robbie Williams scored over his former boy band Take That, scooting to third place. Take That finished No 5 on the chart.

The No 4 slot was taken by Queen, one of the most successful musical acts of all times. Their hits Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen continue to be widely played in the United Kingdom.
Other performers who made it to the top 10 are Elton John, Elvis Presley and Abba.

Radio 2’s People’s Artist Chart, a countdown of the 50 most-played acts of the last 10 years, was drawn from recordings played on radio, TV and in public places such as pubs, clubs and shops. The show was hosted by comic Patrick Kielty.

An earlier countdown had showed that Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade Of Pale was the most played pop recording of the past 75 years. Carl Orff’s O Fortuna was named as the most popular classical recording.