Eyal Golan’s ‘Science Fiction’ is Israel’s most played song of the year

Eyal Golan’s “Mada Bidyoni” (“Science Fiction”) was the most-played song on Israeli radio during the Hebrew year 5786, according to ACUM, the Israeli organization that protects composers’, lyricists’, and publishers’ rights.

The organization, which is marking its 90th anniversary this year, released its annual survey of the songs, songwriters, composers, arrangers, and performers heard most frequently on Israeli radio on Monday.

ACUM’s annual rankings are based on its AcumOnAir monitoring system, which tracks broadcasts on 34 licensed national and regional radio stations in Israel.

Sexual harassment allegations won't deter Golan's fan base

“Mada Bidyoni,” performed by Golan, was written by Avi Ohayon, who composed it with Idan Shneor and Matan Dror. Dror also arranged the track. Its popularity showed that the new allegations of sexual harassment against Golan have not influenced his fan base.

In second place was Peer Tasi’s “Of Muzar” (“Strange Bird”), while “Michelle,” performed by Noam Bettan, who finished second at Eurovision 2026 with this song, was third. Last year’s most-played song, Tasi’s “Ma Yihye Machar” (“What Will Be Tomorrow”), dropped to fourth place.

Rounding out the top 10 were Osher Cohen’s “Kulam Ganavim” (“Everyone’s a Thief”) in fifth place; Odeya Azoulay’s “Rocky” in sixth; Omer Adam’s “Malkat Hador” (“Queen of the Generation”) in seventh; Hanan Ben Ari and Tasi’s “Halevai” (“If Only”) in eighth; Tasi’s “Hee Lo Yoda’at Lama” (“She Doesn’t Know Why”) in ninth; and Ben Zur’s “Kol Akeva Letova” (“Every Delay is for the Best”) in 10th.

The full top 20 also includes a new version of Naomi Shemer’s “Od Lo Ahavti Dai” (“I Haven’t Loved Enough”) performed by Yehoram Gaon and Subliminal, Hatikva 6’s “Israeli Complet” (“Total Israeli”) and “Vayehi Or” (“Let There Be Light”), Noa Kirel’s “Bridezilla,” and Idan Amedi’s “Lo Nishbar” (“Not Broken”).

Eight years of Ohayon 

Avi Ohayon tops songwriters for eighth consecutive year

Ohayon was once again the most-played songwriter and composer on Israeli radio, taking the top spot for the eighth consecutive year.

Tslil Klifi was the year’s most-played female songwriter. She was among the writers of “Michelle,” together with Nadav Aharoni and Yuval Raphael, Israel’s 2025 Eurovision contestant, who, like Bettan, came in second.

Among female performers, Sarit Hadad held onto first place, followed by Eden Ben Zaken, Odeya Azoulay, Agam Buhbut, Yehudit Ravitz, and Noa Kirel.

Golan topped the overall list of male performers. Omer Adam was second, followed by the late Arik Einstein, who came in third, although he died nearly 13 years ago. Veteran singer Shlomo Artzi and Peer Tasi were next in the top five.

The rankings underline the continuing dominance of contemporary Mediterranean and mainstream Israeli pop on radio, but the lists also feature veteran performers and songwriters. Besides Einstein and Artzi, these included Hadad, Ravitz, Gali Atari, Rita, Chava Alberstein, and Ilanit. The late Ofra Haza was the ninth-most-played female performer.

ACUM CEO Assaf Nahum said the past Hebrew year had again been a productive one for Israeli music and said the organization would continue supporting the country’s songwriters and composers.

“I wish our creators a new and fruitful year of creativity, activity, and good music that will continue to bring joy and emotion to all the people of Israel,” he said.

ACUM chairman Yoav Ginai noted that the organization has spent nine decades protecting creators’ rights and strengthening the Israeli music industry.

He wished Israel’s songwriters, composers, publishers, and poets a good year, adding, “May it be a year of peace at home and abroad.”