Key Takeaways

• Classic Rock Dominance: In 2025, 25 of the 40 most-played songs on classic rock radio were from the ’80s.
• Top Hits: The Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle” and Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” are among the most-played tracks.
• Enduring Popularity: Iconic songs like “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Hotel California” continue to resonate with audiences.
• Chart Performance: Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” is currently the most popular classic rock song in 2025.

Do you miss the ’80s? Well, just tune into your local classic rock station, problem solved!

According to Mediabase, a music industry service that monitors airplay in over 180 markets, 25 of the 40 most-played songs on classic rock radio so far in 2025 were released in the ’80s, compared to 14 from the ’70s and just one from the ’90s.

You can see the 40 most-played songs on classic rock radio so far in 2025 below, and find out where other songs from these artists appear on the full 500-song list:

40. The Black Crowes, “Hard to Handle”
From: Shake Your Money Maker (1990)

The Black Crowes are the youngest band on this list in terms of recording careers, having released their debut album in 1990. This Otis Redding cover was the second single and became their first and only Top 20 U.S. chart hit. You have to go all the way down to No. 222 on this list to get to their next most played song, “She Talks to Angles.”

39. Steve Miller Band, “The Joker”
From: The Joker (1973)

Steve Miller’s first-ever chart-topping single still has a strong hold on rock radio 52 years after its release – which may be because people are still trying to figure out what the pompatus of love means.

Miller has seven other songs in the Top 500 of this list: “Rock’n Me” at No. 123, “Take the Money and Run” at 202, “Fly Like an Eagle” at 242, “Jet Airliner” at 287, “Jungle Love” at 410, “Swingtown” at 475 and “Threshold” (known as the instrumental intro to “Jet Airliner”) at 490.

38. Blue Oyster Cult, “Don’t Fear the Reaper”
From: Agents of Fortune (1976)

Nobody can quite agree on exactly who played the famous cowbell part on “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” but there’s no denying the impact the song has had on society. It was Blue Oyster Cult’s biggest hit long before a 2000 Saturday Night Live skit entitled “More Cowbell” gave it a whole new life.

37. Blue Oyster Cult, “Burnin’ For You”
From: Fire of Unknown Origin (1981)

Well, look who’s back already! Blue Oyster Cult have two songs in the Top 500, and wouldn’t you know they’re stacked right on top of each other? Although Eric Bloom sang most of the band’s songs, guitarist Buck Dharma took lead vocals on both “Burnin’ For You” and “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”

36. Tom Petty, “I Won’t Back Down”
From: Full Moon Fever (1989)

The record label folks who told Tom Petty they didn’t hear any hits on his first solo album must be feeling rather silly right about now. Solo or with the Heartbreakers, Petty’s got 15 songs in the Top 500 for 2025 radio airplay. The three highest – “I Won’t Back Down,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream” and “Free Fallin'” – all come from Full Moon Fever.

35. Eagles, "Hotel California"
From: Hotel California (1976)

The Eagles have seven songs on the 2025 chart, with the epic title track to their 1976 masterpiece Hotel California scoring the most airplay. Joe Walsh is also represented by “Rocky Mountain Way” at 395 and “Life’s Been Good” at 400, while Don Henley turns up with “The Boys of Summer” at 66 and “Dirty Laundry” at 425, giving the Eagles family 11 songs altogether.

34. Journey, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Neal Schon and company have eight songs in the Top 500, including one in the Top 20, which we’ll discuss in a minute. Their tally also includes “Any Way You Want It” at No. 50, “Wheel in the Sky” at 120, “Lights” at 157, “Faithfully” at 307, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” at 379 and “Stone in Love” at 445. No Bad English or “Oh Sherrie” to be found.

33. Rush, "Tom Sawyer"
From: Moving Pictures (1981)

“Tom Sawyer” plants its mean, mean stride high on this year’s list of radio’s most played classic rock songs, coming in at No. 33, ahead of fellow Rush favorites such as “Limelight” at No. 89, “The Spirit of Radio” at 284, “Freewill” at 330, “Fly By Night” at 455 and “Closer to the Heart” at 468.

32. AC/DC, ‘Back in Black”
From: Back in Black (1980)

This is the first of three times you’ll find AC/DC on this chart, with the title track to their 1980 masterpiece Back in Black, which was dedicated to their recently departed singer Bon Scott. Looking backwards, “T.N.T.” placed at No. 56, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” right behind that at No. 57, “Thunderstruck” at No. 82, “Hells Bells” at No. 148, “Shoot to Thrill” at No. 152, “Moneytalks” at No. 159, “For Those About to Rock” at No. 261, “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)” at No. 413 and “Have a Drink on Me” at No. 452.

31. Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog"
From: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

Led Zeppelin have 15 songs in the Top 500 but rather surprisingly just one in the Top 40. And no, “Stairway to Heaven” isn’t their second most popular song; it comes in at No.168 behind “Immigrant Song” at No.63.