Could You Be Loved has become Bob Marley’s most played track of the 21st century on UK radio and TV, music licensing company Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) said.
The pioneering reggae musician, who died at the age of 36 in 1981, would have celebrated his 80th birthday on February 6.
The popular song, released in 1980 by Marley and his band The Wailers, has been played an average of 15 times a day since the turn of the century, according to PPL.
The company, which licenses the use of recorded music on radio, TV and in public places, said Marley’s music has racked up more than four years of cumulative airplay since 2001.
A chart of Marley’s most played songs, compiled using airplay data from radio and TV stations from across the UK, shows that Could You Be Loved is followed by One Love/People Get Ready.
In the third spot is Three Little Birds with No Woman, No Cry the fourth most played song.
Marley was born in the rural Jamaican parish of Saint Ann in 1945 before moving with his mother to the poor neighbourhood of Trenchtown after his father died.
In the early 1960s, he began recording music and became a Rastafarian – the religious group and social movement.
Bob Marley And The Wailers had international success with No Woman, No Cry and Marley became not just a musician but a motivator for peace in his country.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Jamaica saw widescale violence mainly between followers of opposing political parties.
He moved to England where he recorded the album Exodus before returning in 1978 for the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, which featured political leaders holding hands with him.
While touring cancer spread throughout his body and he died on May 11 1981.
His posthumously released 1984 record Legend became one of the biggest-selling albums of all time and spent 12 weeks topping the UK chart.
British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir portrayed the musician in a biopic released last year.
Peter Leathem, chief executive of PPL, said: “Bob Marley is one of the most iconic artists in history, and his 80th birthday provided the perfect opportunity to look back at his impact on UK airwaves.
“His huge presence on our radio and TV stations in the 21st century reflects the enduring power of his music, which continues to touch and inspire listeners across the country.”
Top 10 most played Bob Marley And The Wailers tracks of the 21st century in the UK:
1. Could You Be Loved
2. One Love/People Get Ready
3. Three Little Birds
4. No Woman, No Cry
5. Is This Love
6. Jamming
7. Buffalo Soldier
8. Waiting In Vain
9. Sun Is Shining (Bob Marley vs Funkstar De Luxe)
10. Iron Lion Zion
