Britney Spears breaks into the top three

The figures were compiled from commercial and BBC radio stations playlists across Britain and were announced at the radio and music industries' annual conference, Music Radio, in central London on Tuesday.

Texas, Britney Spears, Gabrielle, Madonna, The Corrs and Shania Twain were the only artists, along with Robbie Williams, to make the top 20 for consecutive years.

Top five

Texas, the second most-played artist of 1999 dropped to number eight , while Shania Twain, who made the top five two years ago, dropped down to number 14 in the chart.

Craig David, one of the biggest stars to emerge in the last 12 months, was at number six.

All Saints, who have been rumoured to be on the verge of splitting up, figured at number two.

Melanie C is the only one of the Spice Girls to make the top 20 as a solo artist while Britney Spears has to make do with position number three.

Sixty-year-old Welsh singer Tom Jones is the oldest artist in the top 20, just outside the top ten at number 12.

Madison Avenue make the top 20, thanks to the phenomenonal success of the single Don't Call Me Baby, which was number one in May last year.

Most played artists on radio

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1 Robbie Williams (1)
2 All Saints
3 Britney Spears (4)
4 Gabrielle
5 Madonna (6)
6 Craig David
7 Melanie C
8 Texas (2)
9 The Corrs (4)
10 Artful Dodger
11 Sonique
12 Tom Jones
13 Ronan Keating
14 Macy Gray
15 Shania Twain (5)
16 Travis
17 Lene Marlin
18 Madison Avanue
19 Backstreet Boys
20 Destiny's Child