Adult Alternative Airplay

Last updated

Adult Alternative Airplay (also known as Triple A or Triple A Airplay, and formerly Adult Alternative Songs and Triple A Songs) is a record chart currently published by Billboard that ranks the most popular songs on adult album alternative radio stations. The 40-position [1] chart is formulated based on each song's weekly radio spins, as measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. [2] The current number-one song on the chart is "Arrow" by The Head and the Heart. [3]

Contents

History

The earliest incarnation of the chart was first published on January 20, 1996, [4] as a feature in Billboard sister publication Airplay Monitor . In 2006, Airplay Monitor ceased publication after Billboard parent company VNU Media's acquisition of rival radio trade magazine Radio & Records , [5] which then subsequently incorporated Airplay Monitor's Nielsen-based Triple A chart. [6] [7]

Billboard itself began publishing the Triple A chart in the issue dated July 5, 2008, through their Billboard.biz website, [8] appropriating the same airplay data as Radio & Records. [6] Radio & Records closed in June 2009, leaving Billboard as the sole publisher of the chart. [9] In February 2014, the chart's reporting panel was expanded from 23 to 32 stations, including non-commercial reporters for the first time. [10]

Following a re-design of their website, Billboard officially incorporated the history of the Airplay Monitor/Nielsen chart from 1996 to 2008 into their Adult Alternative Songs chart. The Billboard website and its official chart archive now show the first Adult Alternative Songs chart as having been published on January 20, 1996, with "The World I Know" by Collective Soul as its first number one single. [11] Radio And Records first charted their Adult Alternative chart in the September 22, 1995, issue. It was a 30 position chart, and "Til I Hear It from You" by the Gin Blossoms was the first number one.

All-time achievements

In 2021, for the 25th anniversary of the chart, Billboard compiled a ranking of the 50 best-performing songs and artists on the chart over the 25 years. "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers was ranked as the #1 song, while Dave Matthews Band was ranked as the #1 artist. [12] Listed below are the top 10 songs and the top 10 artists.

Top 10 Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs (1996–2021)

RankSingleYear releasedArtist(s)Peak and duration
1.
"One Headlight"
1997
 The Wallflowers #1 for 14 weeks
2.
"Clocks"
2002
 Coldplay #1 for 15 weeks
3.
"3AM"
1997
 Matchbox 20 #1 for 14 weeks
4.
"Feel It Still"
2017
 Portugal. The Man #1 for 11 weeks
5.
"Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"
2001
 Train #1 for 14 weeks
6.
"Babylon"
2000
 David Gray #1 for 2 weeks
7.
"It's Time"
2012
 Imagine Dragons #2 for 5 weeks
8.
"See The World"
2007
 Gomez #1 for 4 weeks
9.
"Rolling in the Deep"
2010
 Adele #1 for 14 weeks
10.
"Beautiful Day"
2000
 U2 #1 for 16 weeks

Source: [13]

Top 10 Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Artists (1996–2021)

RankArtist
1.
 Dave Matthews Band
2.
 U2
3.
 Coldplay
4.
 Jack Johnson
5.
 Sheryl Crow
6.
 John Mayer
7.
 Mumford & Sons
8.
 Counting Crows
9.
 Death Cab for Cutie
10.
 Snow Patrol

Source: [14]

Song records

Most weeks at number one

Number of
weeks		ArtistSongYear(s)Source
16 U2 "Beautiful Day"2000–01 [15]
15 Coldplay "Clocks"2003 [16]
Kings of Leon "Waste a Moment"2016–17 [17]
14 The Wallflowers "One Headlight"1996–97 [18]
Matchbox Twenty "3AM"1997–98 [19]
Matchbox Twenty"Bent"2000 [19]
Train "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"2001 [20]
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"2011 [21]
13 Santana featuring Rob Thomas "Smooth"1999 [22]
Jack Johnson "Upside Down"2006 [23]
Pearl Jam "Just Breathe"2010 [24]
Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know"2012 [25]
12 Dave Matthews Band "Funny the Way It Is"2009 [26]
Beck "Dreams"2015 [27]
11 KT Tunstall "Hold On"2007 [28]
Coldplay"Viva la Vida"2008 [16]
Jack Johnson"You and Your Heart"2010 [23]
Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait"2012 [29]
The Lumineers "Ophelia"2016 [30]
Portugal. The Man "Feel It Still"2017 [31]
10 Sarah McLachlan "Building a Mystery"1997 [32]
Jack Johnson"Good People"2005 [23]
Death Cab For Cutie "Soul Meets Body"2005–06 [33]
Jack Johnson"If I Had Eyes"2008 [23]
David Gray "Fugitive"2009 [34]
The Black Keys "Fever"2014 [35]
George Ezra "Budapest"2014–15 [36]
Mumford & Sons"Guiding Light"2018–19 [29]
Hozier "Too Sweet"2024 [37]

Most weeks on the chart

Number of
weeks		ArtistSongYear(s)Source
52 Kings of Leon "Use Somebody"2009–10 [17]
51 John Mayer "No Such Thing"2001–02 [38]
48 James Morrison "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You"2008–09 [39]
47 Imagine Dragons "It's Time"2012–13 [40]
46 Coldplay "Clocks"2002–03 [16]
The Head and the Heart "Lost in My Mind"2011–12 [41]
44 David Gray "Babylon"2000–01 [34]
43 Los Lonely Boys "Heaven"2003–04 [42]
42 Fitz and the Tantrums "Out of My League"2013–14 [43]
41One eskimO"Kandi"2009–10 [44]

Highest debut

Debut
Position		ArtistSongDebut DateSource
No. 1 U2 "Get On Your Boots"February 7, 2009 [45]
No. 2 Hootie & the Blowfish "Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)"April 20, 1996 [46]
Coldplay "Speed of Sound"May 7, 2005 [47]
No. 3 The Rolling Stones "Anybody Seen My Baby?"September 20, 1997 [48]
No. 4 Gin Blossoms "Follow You Down"February 10, 1996 [49]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Walls"August 3, 1996 [50]
Coldplay"Adventure of a Lifetime"November 28, 2015 [51]
No. 5 Natalie Merchant "Kind & Generous"May 16, 1998 [52]
Coldplay"Violet Hill"May 17, 2008 [53]
Mumford & Sons "Believe"March 28, 2015 [54]

Artist records

Most number-one singles

Number of
singles		ArtistSource
14 U2 [55]
13 Coldplay [55]
11 Dave Matthews [note 1] [55]
Jack Johnson [55]
8 Death Cab for Cutie [55]
John Mayer [55]
The Black Keys [55]
7 Cage the Elephant [55]
Counting Crows [55]
Hozier [55]
Nathaniel Rateliff [note 2] [55]
R.E.M. [55]
Sheryl Crow [55]
The Lumineers [55]

Most cumulative weeks at number one

Number of
weeks		ArtistSource
72 U2 [15]
69 Coldplay [16]
62 Jack Johnson [23]
51 Dave Matthews [note 3] [26]
45 Death Cab For Cutie [33]
The Black Keys [35]
39 The Lumineers [30]
33 Nathaniel Rateliff [note 4] [56]
31 Mumford & Sons [29]
R.E.M. [57]

Most top 10 singles

Number of
singles		ArtistSource
28 U2 [15]
26 Dave Matthews [note 5] [26]
25 Coldplay [16]
19 Jack Johnson [23]
John Mayer [38]
15 Beck [27]
Counting Crows [58]
14 Sheryl Crow [59]
13 Nathaniel Rateliff [note 6] [56]
R.E.M. [57]
The Black Keys [35]
The Wallflowers [18]

Most chart entries

Number of
entries		ArtistSource
36 Dave Matthews [note 7] [26]
33 U2 [15]
30 Coldplay [16]
27 Jack Johnson [23]
25 John Mayer [38]
Sheryl Crow [59]
20 Beck [27]
18 Death Cab For Cutie [33]
R.E.M. [57]
The Black Keys [35]

Notes

  1. ↑ Solo and with Dave Matthews Band
  2. ↑ Solo and with The Night Sweats
  3. ↑ Solo and with Dave Matthews Band
  4. ↑ Solo and with The Night Sweats
  5. ↑ Solo and with Dave Matthews Band
  6. ↑ Solo and with The Night Sweats
  7. ↑ Solo and with Dave Matthews Band

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babylon (David Gray song)</span> 1999 single by David Gray

"Babylon" is a song by British singer-songwriter David Gray. Originally released on 12 July 1999 as the second single from his fourth album, White Ladder (1998), it was re-released as the album's fourth single on 19 June 2000. Described as Gray's signature song, "Babylon" is "about a love that is lost and found again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Headlight</span> 1997 single by the Wallflowers

"One Headlight" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. The song was written by lead singer Jakob Dylan, and produced by T Bone Burnett. It was released in January 1997 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Much to Say</span> 1996 single by Dave Matthews Band

"So Much to Say" is a song by American rock group Dave Matthews Band. It was released in August 1996 as the second single from their album, Crash. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Space Between</span> Song by Dave Matthews Band

"The Space Between" is a song written by American rock band Dave Matthews Band from their fourth studio album, Everyday (2001). Released as a single in April 2001, it gave the band their first top-40 hit in their home country, peaking at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the United Kingdom, it became the band's only top-40 hit when it reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. "The Space Between" is also included on the Dave Matthews Band compilation album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Are You Going</span> 2002 single by Dave Matthews Band

"Where Are You Going" is a song by American rock band Dave Matthews Band, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, Busted Stuff (2002). The single reached number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 20 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crash into Me</span> 1996 song by Dave Matthews Band

"Crash into Me" is a song by American rock group Dave Matthews Band. It was released in December 1996 as the third single from their second album, Crash. It reached number 7 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in March 1997. The song was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1998 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Difference (The Wallflowers song)</span> 1997 single by The Wallflowers

"The Difference" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. It was released in 1997 as the third single from their second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996). The song spent eight weeks at number three on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number five on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1998. "The Difference" also peaked at number 12 in Canada, topping the RPM Alternative 30 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Marlenas</span> 1997 single by the Wallflowers

"Three Marlenas" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. It was released in October 1997 as the fourth and final single from their second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996). The song peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 13 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Breathe (Pearl Jam song)</span> 2009 single by Pearl Jam

"Just Breathe" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. "Just Breathe" was released on October 31, 2009, as the second single from the band's ninth studio album, Backspacer (2009). The song was triggered by a chord from "Tuolumne", an instrumental from Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for the 2007 film Into the Wild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narcissistic Cannibal</span> 2011 single by Korn featuring Skrillex and Kill the Noise

"Narcissistic Cannibal" is a song by American nu metal band Korn, released as the second single from their tenth studio album, The Path of Totality. It was co-produced by DJs Skrillex and Kill the Noise. The single was released to active rock and mainstream rock radio stations on October 18, 2011, followed by a digital release on October 24, 2011. It was released to alternative radio stations on November 8, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Time (song)</span> 2012 single by Imagine Dragons

"It's Time" is the debut single by American rock band Imagine Dragons, released on February 6, 2012, as the lead single from the band's first major label EP, Continued Silence. Later that year the song was included on the band's first full album Night Visions. The song had already been included on the band's independently released EP It's Time (2011), and it had been available on YouTube since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carry On (Fun song)</span> 2012 single by fun.

"Carry On" is a song by American indie pop band Fun. It was released on October 23, 2012, as the third single off their second album, Some Nights. The song was written by the band members, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, alongside the album's producer, Jeff Bhasker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honey, I'm Good</span> 2014 single by Andy Grammer

"Honey, I'm Good" is the second single from American musician Andy Grammer's second studio album, Magazines or Novels (2014). It was first released in the US in November 2014 and began receiving radio airplay in February 2015. The song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Grammer's first top 10 hit and highest-charting single to date. It has been certified triple-platinum by the RIAA and was ranked one of the 10 best-selling songs of 2015 by Nielsen SoundScan. It also reached number four in Canada and was certified five-times platinum in the country. The single was written by Grammer and Nolan Sipe, and was produced by Steve Greenberg, Brian West and Sipe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegades (X Ambassadors song)</span> 2015 single by X Ambassadors

"Renegades" is a song by American rock band X Ambassadors. It was released as the second single from the band's debut studio album VHS on March 3, 2015. It peaked inside the top ten in ten countries, including France, Germany, Canada and Poland, where it reached number one. In the United States, the song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song was nominated for the "Top Rock Song" award at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up All Night (Beck song)</span> 2017 single by Beck

"Up All Night" is a song by the American musician Beck. It is the third single from his thirteenth studio album Colors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wish I Knew You</span> 2016 single by the Revivalists

"Wish I Knew You" is a song by American rock band the Revivalists. The song was written by the band and was produced by Ben Ellman. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart, becoming the band's first chart-topper on the chart. The song also found success on a number of other rock radio formats, as well as adult contemporary stations. This song had also set a record in May 2017 for the most plays (spins) ever recorded during a week's time for any track on Alternative/Modern Rock radio since the inception of Mediabase tracking systems in 1988.

References

  1. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (November 21, 2017). "Nothing More Scores First Billboard Chart-Topper With 'Go to War'". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Triple A" . Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ Trust, Gary (July 17, 2012). "Triple A Radio Breaking Rookie Stars". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "VNU To Acquire Radio & Records". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. July 6, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Shipley, Al (October 9, 2008). "'Billboard' Breaks Down, Dials Up Triple-A". Idolator. Spin Media . Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  7. ↑ Tucker, Ken (September 21, 2006). "Nielsen BDS Expands Service". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ Mayfield, Geoff (July 12, 2008). "Billboard's Charts Get Makeover; Price Matters". Billboard . Vol. 120, no. 28. Prometheus Global Media. p. 37. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ Trust, Gary (June 10, 2009). "Chart Beat: Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Shinedown". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ Trust, Gary (February 21, 2014). "Billboard's Triple A Chart Gets a Makeover". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: January 20, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band & The Wallflowers' 'One Headlight' Top Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Charts". Billboard.com. February 18, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 18, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Artists". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 18, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Kings Of Leon Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "The Wallflowers Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Train Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Adele Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Santana Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jack Johnson Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Pearl Jam Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Gotye Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 "Beck Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  28. ↑ "KT Tunstall Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  29. 1 2 3 "Mumford & Sons Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  30. 1 2 "The Lumineers Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Portugal. The Man Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 "Death Cab For Cutie Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  34. 1 2 "David Gray Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "The Black Keys Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  36. ↑ "George Ezra Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Hozier Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  38. 1 2 3 "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  39. ↑ "James Morrison Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of March 3, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of October 30, 2004". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Fitz And The Tantrums Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of October 2, 2010". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of February 7, 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of April 20, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of May 7, 2005". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  48. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of September 20, 1997". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  49. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of February 10, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of August 3, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of November 28, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of May 16, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of May 17, 2008". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Adult Alternative Airplay, Week of March 28, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  55. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rutherford, Kevin (December 3, 2024). "Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Top Adult Alternative Airplay With 'Call Me (Whatever You Like)'". Billboard . Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  56. 1 2 "Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  57. 1 2 3 "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  58. ↑ "Counting Crows Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  59. 1 2 "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.