UK music licensing company PPL reveals data on pop icon’s most played tracks following his appointment as National Album Day Album Champion

National Album Day, which this year pays tribute to music “Icons” takes place this Saturday, 17th October.

Celebrating the art of the album, the day will see a plethora of activities ranged across the UK’s music retail community – instore and online, with more than 85 classic reissues and new releases that will be available for fans and collectors to purchase.

Last night, Melanie C joined Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy for an exclusive Classic Album Sundays event held at The British Library to mark National Album Day. An Evening with Melanie C saw the pop icon explore her musical journey through eight albums that have influenced or shaped her career.

Robbie Williams – the most decorated artist in BRIT Awards history (18 awards including BRIT Icon) and in the UK’s Official Charts (16 No.1 albums) – is the latest superstar artist to be announced as an Album Champion for National Album Day on 17th October, which this year has taken as its theme, “Icons”.

National Album Day returns on Saturday 17th October 2026 with this year’s theme celebrating music “Icons” – encompassing legendary, cultural and contemporary artists and recordings. This follows last year’s Rock theme and earlier editions of National Album Day that have, among other themes, focused on the albums of the Nineties, Women in Music, Debut Albums, and Great British Groups.

National Album Day returns on Saturday 17th October 2026 with this year’s theme celebrating music “Icons” – encompassing legendary, cultural and contemporary artists and recordings. This follows last year’s Rock theme and earlier editions of National Album Day that have, among other themes, focused on the albums of the Nineties, Women in Music, Debut Albums, and Great British Groups.

National Album Day returns on Saturday 17th October 2026 with this year’s theme celebrating music “Icons” – encompassing legendary, cultural and contemporary artists and recordings. This follows last year’s Rock theme and earlier editions of National Album Day that have, among other themes, focused on the albums of the Nineties, Women in Music, Debut Albums, and Great British Groups.

Bristol’s legendary Metal Quarter has a new landmark. The winning mural by artist and musician Brandon Burch has been installed on the side of The Gryphon, one of the city’s most iconic rock venues, following a National Album Day competition last year.

National Album Day 2025 saw its biggest year yet, with vinyl sales up 54% and 60 exclusive rock reissues topping the charts.

National Album Day 2025 is turning walls into stages. The winner of this year’s National Album Day Mural Competition, celebrating the spirit of rock in all its forms, has been announced. 

Celebrate National Album Day on 18 Oct 2025 with a Rock theme—honouring Britain’s rock icons, exclusive reissues, and album storytelling.

We are pleased to share with you the 18 runners-up from our Mural Design Competition, along with their incredible designs.

Sabaton’s Joakim Brodén joins Iron Maiden, Wolf Alice, Nova Twins & Architects as a National Album Day 2025 Album Champion.

In exclusive new research for National Album Day, which takes place on 18th October, Camden has been crowned the most successful of London’s 32 boroughs for producing rock talent.

In exclusive new research for National Album Day on 18th October, Oxford has beaten iconic music destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool, and London to be crowned the UK’s most successful city per capita for producing rock artists.

National Album Day announces Wolf Alice, Architects, Nova Twins, and metal icons Iron Maiden as Album Champions for National Album Day 2025, set to return on Saturday 18th October and which this year celebrates Rock Music. 

Over 50 album titles, including by:
Liam Gallagher, Manic Street preachers, Patti Smith, Queen, Sex Pistols, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many more.

National Album Day returns on Saturday 18th October 2025 with this year’s theme celebrating Rock, following previous editions that, among other themes, have focused on the albums of the 90s, Women in Music, Debut Albums and, just last year, Great British Groups.

The Beatles are today revealed as Radio 2 listeners’ Ultimate British Group as the station delivers a feast of Autumnal treats...

National Album Day has partnered with LNER to reveal a special train route map highlighting iconic British groups and their seminal albums along its route, showcasing the breadth and diversity of music from British groups across the UK. View the map here, and the full list below