US radio airplay music chart published by Billboard magazine
Pop Airplay
(also called
Mainstream Top 40
,
Pop Songs
, and
Top 40/
CHR
) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by
Billboard
Magazine
that ranks the most popular songs of
pop music
being played on a panel of
Top 40
radio stations in the United States. The rankings are based on radio
airplay
detections as measured by
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems
(Nielsen BDS), a subsidiary of the U.S.' leading marketing research company. Consumer researchers,
Nielsen Audio
(formerly
Arbitron
), refers to the format as
contemporary hit radio
(CHR).
The current number-one song on the chart is "
Saturn
" by
SZA
.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
The chart debuted in
Billboard
Magazine
in its issued date October 3, 1992, with the introduction of two Top 40 airplay charts, Mainstream and
Rhythm-Crossover
. Both Top 40 charts measured "actual monitored airplay" from data compiled by
Broadcast Data Systems
(BDS). The Top 40/Mainstream chart was compiled from airplay on radio stations playing a wide variety of music, while the Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart was made up from airplay on stations playing more dance and R&B music.
[2]
Both charts were "born of then-new BDS electronic monitoring technology" as a more objective and precise way of measuring airplay on radio stations. This data was also used as the airplay component for Hot 100 tabulations.
[2]
American Top 40 with Shadoe Stevens used this chart for their show from January 1993 to January 1995.
Top 40/Mainstream was published in the print edition of
Billboard
from its debut in October 1992 through May 1995, when both Top 40 charts were moved exclusively to
Airplay Monitor
, a secondary chart publication by
Billboard
. They returned to the print edition in the August 2, 2003, issue.
[3]
The first number-one song on the chart was "
End of the Road
" by
Boyz II Men
.
[4]
Chart criteria
[
edit
]
There are forty positions on this chart. Songs are ranked based on its total number of spins per week. This is calculated by electronically monitoring Mainstream Top 40 radio stations across the U.S. 24 hours a day, seven days a week by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems.
Songs receiving the greatest growth receive a "bullet", although there are tracks that also get bullets if the loss in detections doesn't exceed the percentage of downtime from a monitored station. "Airpower" awards are issued to songs that appear on the top 20 of both the airplay and audience chart for the first time, while the "greatest gainer" award is given to song with the largest increase in detections. A song with six or more spins in its first week is awarded an "airplay add". If two songs are tied in spins in the same week, the one with the biggest increase that week ranks higher.
Since the introduction of the chart until 2005, songs below No. 20 were moved to recurrent after 26 weeks on the chart. Beginning the chart week of December 3, 2005, songs below No. 20 were moved to recurrent after 20 weeks on the chart. Since the chart dated December 4, 2010, songs below No. 15 are moved to recurrent after 20 weeks on the chart
Whereas the Pop Airplay and Pop 100 Airplay charts both measured the airplay of songs played on Mainstream stations playing pop-oriented music, the Pop 100 Airplay (like the
Hot 100 Airplay
) measured airplay based on statistical impressions, while the Top 40 Mainstream chart used the number of total detections.
Source:
[5]
All-time achievements
[
edit
]
In 2012, for the 20th anniversary of the chart, Billboard compiled a ranking of the 100 best-performing songs on the chart over the 20 years, along with the best-performing artists. "
Iris
" by
Goo Goo Dolls
ranked as the #1 song on that list.
[6]
[7]
In 2017, Billboard revised the rankings, including the methodologies for how they are calculated. "
Another Night
" by
Real McCoy
was the new #1 song, while the previous #1 song, "Iris", dropped to #8.
Rihanna
ranked as the top artist on both all-time charts.
[8]
Shown below are the top 10 songs and the top 10 artists from the most recent chart.
Top 10 Pop Songs of all time (1992?2017)
[
edit
]
Source:
[9]
Top 10 Pop Songs artists of all time (1992?2017)
[
edit
]
Source:
[10]
Song records
[
edit
]
Most weeks at number one
[
edit
]
Most weeks in the top 10
[
edit
]
Most weeks on the chart
[
edit
]
*Year when the songs ended their respective chart runs.
Prior to 2018, the song with the most weeks on the chart was "
I'll Be
" by
Edwin McCain
, which spent 41 weeks on the chart in 1998. This record run held for almost two decades, but has been surpassed many times since then. Radio stations having more data points, such as streaming, to increase their accuracy at measuring what radio listeners want to hear, have made longer runs more commonplace.
[21]
Highest debut
[
edit
]
Debut
Position
|
Artist
|
Song
|
Debut Date
|
Source
|
No. 12
|
Mariah Carey
|
"
Dreamlover
"
|
August 14, 1993
|
[22]
|
Taylor Swift
|
"
Shake It Off
"
|
September 6, 2014
|
[23]
|
No. 13
|
Taylor Swift featuring
Kendrick Lamar
|
"
Bad Blood
"
|
June 6, 2015
|
[24]
|
Taylor Swift featuring
Post Malone
|
"
Fortnight
"
|
May 4, 2024
|
[25]
|
No. 14
|
Lady Gaga
|
"
Born This Way
"
|
February 26, 2011
|
[22]
|
Justin Timberlake
featuring
Jay-Z
|
"
Suit & Tie
"
|
February 2, 2013
|
[26]
|
No. 16
|
Madonna
|
"
Frozen
"
|
March 7, 1998
|
[22]
|
Britney Spears
|
"
Hold It Against Me
"
|
January 29, 2011
|
[22]
|
Miley Cyrus
|
"
Flowers
"
|
January 28, 2023
|
[27]
|
NSYNC
|
"
Better Place
"
|
October 14, 2023
|
[28]
|
Dua Lipa
|
"
Houdini
"
|
November 25, 2023
|
[29]
|
Longest climbs to number one
[
edit
]
Week reached
number one
|
Artist
|
Song
|
Date reached
number one
|
Source
|
37th week
|
Lewis Capaldi
|
"
Before You Go
"
|
September 26, 2020
|
[30]
|
32nd week
|
Glass Animals
|
"
Heat Waves
"
|
January 29, 2022
|
[31]
|
31st week
|
Benny Blanco
,
Halsey
and
Khalid
|
"
Eastside
"
|
March 2, 2019
|
[32]
|
28th week
|
Trevor Daniel
|
"
Falling
"
|
July 25, 2020
|
[33]
|
Rema
and
Selena Gomez
|
"
Calm Down
"
|
May 13, 2023
|
[34]
|
27th week
|
Dua Lipa
featuring
DaBaby
|
"
Levitating
"
|
June 19, 2021
|
[35]
|
26th week
|
Alessia Cara
|
"
Here
"
|
February 6, 2016
|
[36]
|
25th week
|
CeeLo Green
|
"
Forget You
"
|
April 16, 2011
|
[36]
|
Demi Lovato
|
"
Give Your Heart a Break
"
|
September 15, 2012
|
[36]
|
24th week
|
Alessia Cara
|
"
Scars to Your Beautiful
"
|
February 4, 2017
|
[37]
|
Khalid and
Normani
|
"
Love Lies
"
|
September 22, 2018
|
[38]
|
The Weeknd
|
"
Die for You
"
|
February 11, 2023
|
[39]
|
Longest climbs to the top 10
[
edit
]
Week reached
top 10
|
Artist
|
Song
|
Date reached top 10
|
Source
|
35th week
|
Lauv
|
"
I Like Me Better
"
|
June 23, 2018
|
[21]
|
31st week
|
Edwin McCain
|
"
I'll Be
"
|
October 17, 1998
|
[21]
|
27th week
|
MAX
featuring
Gnash
|
"
Lights Down Low
"
|
February 3, 2018
|
[21]
|
Lewis Capaldi
|
"
Before You Go
"
|
July 18, 2020
|
[40]
|
AJR
|
"
Bang!
"
|
December 12, 2020
|
[41]
|
25th week
|
MKTO
|
"
Classic
"
|
July 12, 2014
|
[21]
|
Daya
|
"
Sit Still, Look Pretty
"
|
October 15, 2016
|
[21]
|
Jon Bellion
|
"
All Time Low
"
|
March 11, 2017
|
[21]
|
24th week
|
Saweetie
featuring
Doja Cat
|
"
Best Friend
"
|
July 3, 2021
|
[42]
|
23rd week
|
Glass Animals
|
"
Heat Waves
"
|
November 27, 2021
|
[43]
|
Artist records
[
edit
]
Artists with the most number-one singles
[
edit
]
Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one
[
edit
]
Artists with the most top 10 singles
[
edit
]
Artists with the most entries
[
edit
]
Simultaneously occupying the top two positions
[
edit
]
- "
One Sweet Day
"
(with
Boyz II Men
)
- "
Fantasy
"
- OutKast
:
January 31 - February 7, 2004
- "
Hey Ya!
"
- "
The Way You Move
"
(featuring
Sleepy Brown
)
- "
Blurred Lines
"
(
Robin Thicke
featuring
T.I.
and Pharrell)
- "
Get Lucky
"
(
Daft Punk
featuring Pharrell Williams)
- "
Fancy
"
(featuring
Charli XCX
)
- "
Problem
"
(
Ariana Grande
featuring Iggy Azalea)
- Halsey
:
February 23 - March 9, 2019
- "
Without Me
"
- "
Eastside
"
(with
Benny Blanco
and
Khalid
)
- "
34+35
"
- "
Positions
"
- "
Good 4 U
"
- "
Deja Vu
"
- "
I Like You (A Happier Song)
"
(
Post Malone
featuring Doja Cat)
- "
Vegas
"
Source:
[63]
[64]
[65]
[66]
Simultaneously three or more songs in the top 10
[
edit
]
Source:
[67]
[68]
[69]
Self-replacement at number one
[
edit
]
† Iggy Azalea is the only act in Mainstream Top 40 history to replace herself at number one with her first two chart entries.
†† Ariana Grande became the first artist to succeed herself at number one as the only act credited on both tracks.
Source:
[70]
[71]
Additional artist achievements
[
edit
]
- Lady Gaga
is the only artist to have her first six singles reach No. 1.
[72]
- JoJo
became the youngest (13) solo artist to have a number-one single on the chart with "
Leave (Get Out)
".
[73]
- Rihanna
is the youngest (22) artist to attain at least seven No. 1 singles on the chart.
[74]
- Justin Bieber
became the youngest (26) male artist to attain at least seven No. 1 singles on the chart with "
Intentions
" (featuring
Quavo
).
[74]
- Kate Bush
broke the record for the oldest song to have ever charted on the Mainstream Top 40 chart with "
Running Up That Hill
", originally released in 1985. It charted in 2022 after its use in the fourth season of
Stranger Things
. The previous record holder was
Empire of the Sun
, whose song "
Walking on a Dream
", originally released in 2008, charted in 2016 after its use in a
Honda
commercial.
Album records
[
edit
]
Most number-one singles from an album
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Trust, Gary (2024-06-03).
"SZA Rings Up Third No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart With 'Saturn'
"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
2024-06-03
.
- ^
a
b
"Chart Histories?Top 40 Airplay".
Billboard 100th Anniversary Issue 1894?1994
: 264. November 1, 1994.
- ^
Girard, Keith (August 2, 2003).
"The Evolution Continues"
.
Billboard
. Vol. 115, no. 31. p. 10
. Retrieved
November 19,
2013
.
- ^
"Pop Songs Chart, October 3, 1992"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
January 16,
2022
.
- ^
"MAINSTREAM TOP 40 NATIONAL AIRPLAY - Powered by Nielsen BDS"
.
http://charts.bdsradio.com
"
. Retrieved
September 30,
2019
.
- ^
"The Top 100 Pop Songs 1992-2012, From No. 100 To No. 1"
.
Billboard.com
. Retrieved
January 21,
2022
.
- ^
"The Top 40 Pop Songs Artists 1992-2012, From No. 40 To No. 1"
.
Billboard.com
. Retrieved
January 21,
2022
.
- ^
"Rihanna Rules as No. 1 Artist In Pop Songs Chart's 25-Year History"
.
Billboard.com
. Retrieved
December 8,
2017
.
- ^
"Greatest of All Time Pop Songs"
.
Billboard
. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 19, 2017
. Retrieved
October 25,
2017
.
- ^
"Greatest of All Time: Pop Songs Artists"
.
Billboard
. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 12, 2017
. Retrieved
November 12,
2017
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
"Post Malone's 'Circles' Scores Historic 10th Week at No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
. February 17, 2020
. Retrieved
February 17,
2020
.
- ^
"Adele's 'Easy on Me' Rebounds for Fifth Week Atop Billboard Hot 100, 'Oh My God' Debuts at No. 5"
.
Billboard
. November 29, 2021
. Retrieved
November 30,
2021
.
- ^
"Miley Cyrus Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 7,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"Taylor Swift Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 9,
2024
.
- ^
"Rema & Selena Gomez's 'Calm Down' Breaks Record for Most Weeks Ever on Pop Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' Leads Hot 100 for 4th Week, DaBaby & Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Launches in Top 10"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Selena Gomez Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 2,
2024
.
- ^
"Harry Styles Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 28,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
"Harry Styles' 'As It Was' Breaks Longevity Record With 61st Week on Pop Airplay Chart"
.
billboard.com
. Billboard Music. May 26, 2023
. Retrieved
June 4,
2023
.
- ^
"The Weeknd Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 3,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"Lauv's 'I Like Me Better' & Dua Lipa's 'New Rules' Set Longevity Records on Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
. June 18, 2018
. Retrieved
June 18,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Trust, Gary (February 14, 2011).
"Lady Gaga's 'Born' Blasts Off With Huge Sales & Radio Start"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (August 25, 2014).
"Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' Makes Record Start At Radio"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (May 25, 2015).
"Chart Highlights: Taylor Swift Blasts Onto Pop Songs With 'Bad Blood'
"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 15,
2021
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (April 26, 2024).
"Taylor Swift & Post Malone's 'Fortnight' Makes Record-Tying Start on Adult Pop Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (January 21, 2013).
"Justin Timberlake Makes Historic Debut On Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
"Pop Airplay Week of January 28, 2023"
.
Billboard
. January 25, 2023
. Retrieved
January 25,
2023
.
- ^
"Pop Airplay Week of October 14, 2023"
.
Billboard
. October 14, 2023
. Retrieved
October 17,
2023
.
- ^
"Pop Airplay Week of November 25, 2023"
.
Billboard
. November 25, 2023
. Retrieved
November 21,
2023
.
- ^
"Lewis Capaldi's 'Before You Go' Wraps Record Run to No. 1 on Pop & Radio Songs Charts"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Glass Animals' 'Heat Waves' Completes Slow Burn to No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid Complete Record Rise to No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart With 'Eastside'
"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Trevor Daniel's Breakthrough Hit 'Falling' Rises to No. 1 on Pop Songs Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
. July 7, 2020
. Retrieved
July 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Selena Gomez Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 7,
2023
.
- ^
"Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' Lifts to No. 1 on Pop Airplay & Adult Pop Airplay Charts"
.
Billboard
. June 14, 2021
. Retrieved
June 14,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Alessia Cara's 'Here' Completes Record Climb to No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Pop Songs Week of February 4, 2017"
.
billboard.com
. Billboard Music
. Retrieved
May 22,
2019
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (September 17, 2018).
"Khalid and Normani's 'Love Lies' Lifts to No. 1 On Pop Songs Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
September 17,
2018
.
- ^
"The Weeknd Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 3,
2023
.
- ^
"Pop Songs Week of July 18, 2020"
.
Billboard
. July 14, 2020
. Retrieved
July 15,
2020
.
- ^
"Pop Songs Week of December 12, 2020"
.
Billboard
. December 8, 2020
. Retrieved
January 5,
2021
.
- ^
"Pop Airplay Week of July 3, 2021"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
"Pop Airplay Week of November 27, 2021"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
April 28,
2024
.
- ^
a
b
Trust, Gary (March 8, 2024).
"Taylor Swift Scores Her 13th No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart With 'Is It Over Now?'
"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 8,
2024
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Katy Perry Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 19,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Trust, Gary (August 30, 2021).
"Extended 'Stay': The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber Top Billboard Hot 100 For Fourth Week"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
August 31,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Ariana Grande Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 21,
2024
.
- ^
a
b
c
Trust, Gary (February 3, 2020).
"Making More 'Memories': Maroon 5 Scores Record-Tying No. 1 on Pop Songs Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 3,
2020
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (February 23, 2024).
"Doja Cat Extends Record for Most Pop Airplay Chart No. 1s This Decade With 'Agora Hills'
"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 24,
2024
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Katy Perry Sets Record On Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 5,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
"Maroon 5 Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 19,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Justin Bieber Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 19,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
"Bruno Mars Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 19,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Trust, Gary (July 22, 2019).
"Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber's 'I Don't Care' Hits No. 1 On Pop Songs Airplay Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
July 23,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"Justin Timberlake Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 29,
2024
.
- ^
"BTS Becomes First K-Pop Act With Two Hits on the Pop Songs Chart as 'Fake Love' Debuts"
.
Billboard
. June 11, 2018
. Retrieved
June 11,
2018
.
- ^
"Rihanna Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
November 1,
2022
.
- ^
"Nicki Minaj Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
September 14,
2022
.
- ^
"Chris Brown Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
November 1,
2022
.
- ^
"Drake Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 1,
2023
.
- ^
"Pitbull Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
September 14,
2022
.
- ^
"Britney Spears Chart History (Pop Airplay)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
September 14,
2022
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (February 18, 2019).
"Halsey Holds Top Two Spots on Pop Songs Chart With 'Without Me' & 'Eastside'
"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 19,
2019
.
- ^
"Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of February 20, 2021)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 17,
2021
.
- ^
"Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of August 7, 2021)"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of October 15, 2022)"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"The History Made on Billboard's Charts in 2021: The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' & More"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 30,
2021
.
- ^
"Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of October 15, 2022)"
.
Billboard
.
- ^
"
'She's Perfect Right Now for Top 40': How Ariana Grande Made History at Pop Radio"
.
Billboard
. May 19, 2021
. Retrieved
January 8,
2023
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (February 8, 2021).
"Ariana Grande 34-35 tops pop airplay chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 8,
2021
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (October 17, 2022).
"Steve Lacy's 'Bad Habit' Tops Hot 100 for Third Week, Doja Cat's 'Vegas' Hits Top 10"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
December 19,
2022
.
- ^
Trust, Gary (March 15, 2010).
"Lady Gaga, Beyonce Match Mariah's Record"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
September 21,
2012
.
- ^
"JoJo Signs Deal with Atlantic Records"
.
Complex
. January 14, 2014
. Retrieved
June 7,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
Trust, Gary (June 22, 2020).
"Justin Bieber & Quavo's 'Intentions' Hits No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
February 25,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
"Doja Cat Scores Third No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart From 'Planet Her' With 'Woman'
"
.
Billboard
. April 4, 2022
. Retrieved
April 5,
2022
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Lists of number ones
| |
---|
Artist lists
| |
---|