For BBC Radio 2 listeners the Beatles are excellence

THE Beatles have defeated the competition of Queen and gods Rolling Stones and they topped the poll organized on the occasion of National Albums Day set for October 19, which this year has the theme of great British groups.

On the same day, Mark Goodier (host of BBC Radio 2) will present a countdown of the 30 artists most voted by listeners, i.e. the ranking resulting from the request to vote for their five favorites in a list proposed by the broadcaster.

The top five is completed by Pink Floyd and come on Fleetwood Macwho qualified for the survey as the majority of their members were born or lived in the UK. Other artists in the top 30 include Whothe Spice Girls hey Led Zeppelin.

Listeners had the chance to vote from a shortlist of 54 artists ranging from the 1960s to the 2000s who were put together by a judging panel including several Radio 2 presenters.

The president of the jury is Jeff Smithhead of music at Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music, who also chairs the Mercury Prize jury.

He said: “We’ve loved seeing Radio 2 listeners cast hundreds of thousands of votes for their quintessential British group, and this top 30 list reflects some of the best-selling, best-loved and most established British artists in music, who have achieved incredible success globally across the decades.”

This is the top 10 of BBC Radio 2’s “Your Ultimate British Group” chart:

1. The Beatles
2.Queen
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Pink Floyd
5. Fleetwood Mac
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Take That
8. Coldplay
9. Oasis
10. Electric Light Orchestra