After another outstanding year of music, Radio X, the home to huge rock and indie tunes, announced today that Radio X listeners have named ‘The Sofa’ by Wolf Alice as their Record of the Year for 2025.
Radio X’s Record Of The Year 2025 celebrates the best music produced in the past 12 months, and is voted by Radio X listeners.
The sumptuous single, released in July and taken from their fourth studio album The Clearing, fought off competition from Oasis, Biffy Clyro, Pulp and Sam Fender to be named Radio X listeners’ most popular track of the last 12 months.
This year has marked a defining moment in the band’s ascent. ‘The Clearing’ debuted at number one earning a Mercury Music Prize nomination, making them the only artist to have their first four albums consecutively recognised. This year also saw Wolf Alice sell out a UK tour in 2025, including two December shows at The O2, London and the band have their sights on a headline show at the Royal Albert Hall next year.
Oasis’ 30th anniversary special ‘Morning Glory Unplugged’ is named second in the list, while Biffy Clyro’s belting anthem ‘A Little Love’ comes in third place. Sam Fender feat. Olivia Dean’s ‘Rein Me In’, also makes the top 5 for this year’s Radio X Record of the Year. Also making the Radio X Record Of The Year 2025 top 10 were songs by Sombr, Hayley Williams and Kasabian.
In a year where headlines were dominated by the highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour, 2025 was a renaissance year for ‘90s legends and Britpop nostalgia, marked by Pulp’s brilliant single ‘Spike Island,’ which was placed at number 4 by Radio X listeners. Richard Ashcroft, who supported Oasis on their reunion tour, places at number 9 with his track ‘Lover.’
Following their headline performance at Radio X is Ten Live at The O2 Apollo Manchester, at the start of November, Stockport’s Blossoms also make the list once again, with their hit single ‘The Honeymoon’ coming in at number 15. Jake Bugg and Circa Waves – who also performed at the famous Manchester venue on a huge night of celebrations for Radio X – make this year’s Record of the Year list with ‘Obvious’ and ‘Old Balloons’ coming in at 34 and 36 respectively.
Other notable mentions include Florence + The Machine’s ‘Sympathy Magic’, Mumford & Sons ‘Rushmere’ and Wet Leg’s ‘Catch These Fists’ who all make the list, which is in full below.
”It feels like no-coincidence that the year in which Radio X turned 10 years old, and Oasis took the world by storm with their comeback tour, our dedicated listeners have been spoilt for choice, with outstanding music from exceptional, era-defining artists, reflecting the incredible strength of the rock, indie and alternative genres right now.
Each Radio X Record of the Week has struck a chord with our audience, and it is no surprise to see so many British artists like our deserved winners Wolf Alice, make this year’s Record of the Year list. So, let’s raise a glass to celebrate the New Year, and roll on more epic tunes in 2026!”
Matt Deverson, Managing Editor of Radio X
Listen to the Radio X Record Of The Year 2025 playlist now on Global Player.
Radio X Record of the Year’s top 40 tracks for 2025 were voted for by listeners in this order:
- The Sofa by Wolf Alice
- Morning Glory (Unplugged) by Oasis
- A Little Love by Biffy Clyro
- Spike Island by Pulp
- Rein Me In by Sam Fender ft Olivia Dean
- Undressed by Sombr
- Parachute by Hayley Williams
- Hunting Season by Biffy Clyro
- Lover by Richard Ashcroft
- Hippie Sunshine by Kasabian
- Mangetout by Wet Leg
- Rushmere by Mumford & Sons
- Can’t Say No by The Wombats
- It’s Amazing To Be Young by Fontaines D.C.
- The Honeymoon by Blossoms
- Catch These Fists by Wet Leg
- There’s Always Gonna Be Something by Stereophonics
- Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine
- Bloom Baby Bloom by Wolf Alice
- Rubber Band Man (with Hozier) by Mumford & Sons
- Asking For A Friend by Foo Fighters
- Heartbreaker by The Lathums
- Night Or Day by Franz Ferdinand
- Got To Have Love by Pulp
- Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah) by Inhaler
- Arm’s Length by Sam Fender
- Sympathy Magic by Florence + The Machine
- Little Bit Closer by Sam Fender
- Seems Like You Don’t Know Me by Stereophonics
- Hole In The Ground by Inhaler
- Talk To You by Sam Fender
- Dancing With The Europeans by Suede
- Build It Up by Franz Ferdinand
- Oblivious by Jake Bugg
- To Space by Kings of Leon
- Old Balloons by Circa Waves
- Wild Long Lie by Sam Fender
- Pokemon by Wet Leg
- Caroline by Mumford & Sons
- Bar Lonely by Franz Ferdinand
Radio X is available on 104.9 FM in London, 97.7 FM in Manchester, on digital radio across the UK, on Global Player via app, globalplayer.com and on your smart speaker (“Play Radio X”).
