Country Airplay#Chart achievements

{{Short description|Chart published weekly by Billboard magazine}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}

Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, as part of the history of the Country Airplay listing. The chart lists the 60 most-listened-to records played on 150 mainstream country radio stations across the country as monitored by Nielsen BDS, weighted to each station's Nielsen ratings.

The first number-one song actually published under the Country Airplay banner was "Take a Little Ride" by Jason Aldean; but as Billboard also recognizes the history of the Hot Country Songs chart since 1990 as part of this chart, the magazine recognizes the first chart-topper as "Nobody's Home" by Clint Black.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-airplay/1990-01-20|title = Country Airplay Chart|magazine = Billboard}} The current number-one song on the chart is "I'm the Problem" by Morgan Wallen.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-airplay/2025-05-24|title = Country Airplay Chart|magazine = Billboard}}

History

=Earlier versions=

Throughout its history of ranking country songs by popularity, Billboard has had several different airplay-only charts to measure the top-played songs on radio stations. The first of these was called "Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys", and debuted with the December 10, 1949, issue.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|pages=7–8|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2|author-link=Joel Whitburn}} Like the other charts of the time, the number of positions was not standardized; the chart had anywhere from eight to 15 positions, varying from week to week. The chart, which had several other names, continued until October 13, 1958, when it was merged with the "best sellers" chart to become the Hot Country Songs chart.

Starting with the October 20, 1984 issue, there were separate charts for radio airplay and singles sales, similar to the Hot 100 Airplay and Singles Sales charts that also debuted with this issue, it was a component chart that helped determine placement on the Hot Country Singles chart. The airplay chart was discontinued in 1987 as Hot Country songs became solely based on disc jockey reports, but the sales chart continued until 1989.

With effect from the issue dated January 20, 1990, the Hot Country Singles chart began to be based solely on country music radio airplay as opposed to a combination of airplay and physical sales. At this time the chart consisted of 75 positions. Four weeks later, on February 17, the chart was retitled "Hot Country Singles & Tracks" to reflect the fact that songs which had not been released as singles could chart based on airplay. Beginning with the January 13, 2001, issue, the chart was cut from 75 to 60 positions, and effective April 30, 2005 the chart was renamed "Hot Country Songs".

=Current chart=

Beginning with the chart dated October 20, 2012, Billboard changed the methodology of Hot Country Songs to again incorporate sales and now also include streaming. In addition, the airplay component of the chart now factored in plays on stations of all genres instead of the previous genre-specific radio panel. At this point a second chart called Country Airplay was launched, based only on country radio airplay. Billboard now recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, until October 13, 2012, as part of the history of both listings.

Chart policies

As with most other Billboard charts, the Country Airplay chart features a rule for when a song enters recurrent rotation. Starting with the chart week of December 2, 2006, a song is declared recurrent on the country charts if it has been on the charts longer than 20 weeks; is not gaining in spins or audience impressions; and is lower than 10 in rank for either audience impressions or spins. Since December 2008, any song that is ranked below #10 in spins or audience and has not shown an increase in audience or spins for more than two weeks is also declared recurrent, even if it has not charted for 20 weeks.

Chart achievements

Chart achievements listed below cover Country Airplay since its launch in 2012 as well as Hot Country Songs since 1990.

=Most weeks at number one=

10 weeks

  • "You Proof" – Morgan Wallen (2022–2023)
  • "World on Fire" – Nate Smith (2023–2024){{Cite web |last=Asker |first=Jim |date=2024-02-16 |title=‘World’ Record: Nate Smith Ties for Longest-Leading No. 1 in Country Airplay Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/nate-smith-world-on-fire-number-1-country-airplay-chart-10-weeks-1235609757/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

8 weeks

7 weeks

6 weeks

Sources:{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lonestar/chart-history/csa/|title = Lonestar|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/alan-jackson/chart-history/csa/|title = Alan Jackson|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kenny-chesney/chart-history/csa/|title=Kenny Chesney|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/darryl-worley/chart-history/csa/|title=Darryl Worley|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tim-mcgraw/chart-history/csa/|title=Tim McGraw|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/faith-hill/chart-history/csa/|title=Faith Hill|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/brooks-dunn/chart-history/csa/|title = Brooks & Dunn|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/keith-urban/chart-history/csa/|title = Keith Urban|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mark-wills/chart-history/csa/|title=Mark Wills|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/toby-keith/chart-history/csa/|title=Toby Keith|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carrie-underwood/chart-history/csa/|title=Carrie Underwood|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/csa/|title = Taylor Swift|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/thomas-rhett/chart-history/csa/|title = Thomas Rhett|magazine = Billboard}}

=Most number-ones=

class="wikitable"
TotalArtistSource
33Kenny Chesney{{Cite magazine|title=Kenny Chesney Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kenny-Chesney/chart-history/csa|access-date=June 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
rowspan="2" | 29Tim McGraw{{cite magazine|last=Asker|first=Jim|title=David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney Set Records Atop Country Airplay Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8461731/david-lee-murphy-kenny-chesney-country-airplay|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 19, 2018|date=June 19, 2018}}
|Blake Shelton{{cite magazine|last=Mahananda|first=Bibhu Prasad|date=December 8, 2024|title=Blake Shelton Country Airplay Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blake-shelton/chart-history/csa/|access-date=October 8, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
rowspan="3" | 26Alan Jackson
| George Strait
Luke Bryan{{Cite magazine|title=Luke Bryan Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Luke-Bryan/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
25Jason Aldean{{Cite magazine|title=Jason Aldean Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Jason-Aldean/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
21Keith Urban{{Cite magazine|title=Keith Urban Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Keith-Urban/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
20Thomas Rhett{{Cite magazine|title=Thomas Rhett Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Thomas-Rhett/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
20Brad Paisley{{Cite magazine|title=Brad Paisley Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Brad-Paisley/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}

=Most number-ones by female artists=

class="wikitable"
TotalArtistSource
16Carrie Underwood{{cite magazine|last=Asker|first=Jim|title=Carrie Underwood Rings in 15th No. 1; Sam Hunt Earns High Five |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7445685/country-charts-carrie-underwood-sam-hunt |magazine=Billboard |date=July 19, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-country-no1s-for-a-female-artist-in-the-us|title=Most country no.1s for a female artist in the US|access-date=September 29, 2016}}
11Reba McEntire{{cite magazine|title=Reba McEntire Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Reba-McEntire/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
9Faith Hill{{cite magazine|last=Jessen|first=Wade|title=Carrie Underwood Has Her Longest Reign at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6450324/carrie-underwood-kenny-chesney-country-charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 22, 2015}}
rowspan="3"| 7Shania Twain
| Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert{{cite magazine|title=Miranda Lambert Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Miranda-Lambert/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
6Dixie Chicks{{cite magazine|title=Dixie Chicks Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Alabama/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
5Trisha Yearwood{{cite magazine|title=Trisha Yearwood Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Trisha-Yearwood/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
5Martina McBride{{cite magazine|title=Martina McBride Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Martina-McBride/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
5Sara Evans{{Cite magazine|title=Sara Evans|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Sara-Evans/chart-history/csa/|access-date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
5Kelsea Ballerini{{cite magazine|title=Kelsea Ballerini Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kelsea-Ballerini/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}

=Most number-ones by duos or groups=

class="wikitable"
TotalDuo/GroupSource
20Brooks & Dunn{{cite magazine |last=Asker |first=Jim |title=Morgan Wallen 'Up' To First Country Airplay No. 1 With FGL, Who Also Top Hot Country Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8462845/morgan-wallen-country-airplay-florida-georgia-line |access-date=June 27, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 26, 2018}}
16Florida Georgia Line{{cite magazine|title=Florida Georgia Line Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Florida-Georgia-Line/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
| 14Rascal Flatts{{cite magazine|title=Rascal Flatts Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Rascal-Flatts/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
13Zac Brown Band
11Lady Antebellum{{cite magazine|last=Asker|first=Jim|title=Zac Brown Band Makes History on Country Airplay Chart; Randy Houser Debuts|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7271714/country-charts-zac-brown-band-randy-houser-cassadee-pope|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 22, 2016}}
9Lonestar{{cite magazine|title=Lonestar Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Lonestar/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
8Dan+Shay{{cite magazine|last=Mahananda|first=Bibhu Prasad|date=December 8, 2020|title=Dan+Shay Country Airplay Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Dan-Shay/chart-history/csa/|access-date=March 19, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
7Alabama{{cite magazine|title=Alabama Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Alabama/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
6Dixie Chicks
5Sugarland{{cite magazine|title=Sugarland Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Sugarland/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=May 1, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}

=Most top 10 entries=

class="wikitable"
TotalArtistSource
rowspan="3"| 61George Strait{{cite magazine|title=George Strait Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/George-Strait/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=July 24, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}
Kenny Chesney
| Tim McGraw{{Cite magazine|title=Tim McGraw|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tim-mcgraw|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
51Alan Jackson{{Cite magazine|title=Alan Jackson Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/alan-jackson/chart-history/csa/|access-date=June 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
44Keith Urban
41Brooks & Dunn{{Cite magazine|title=Brooks & Dunn Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Brooks-Dunn/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
40Jason Aldean
38Blake Shelton{{Cite magazine|title=Blake Shelton|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Blake-Shelton|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
37Reba McEntire
36Luke Bryan
36Garth Brooks{{Cite magazine|title=Garth Brooks Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Garth-Brooks/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}

=Most top 10 entries by women=

class="wikitable"
TotalArtistSource
37Reba McEntire
31Carrie Underwood{{Cite magazine|title=Carrie Underwood|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Carrie-Underwood/chart-history/csa/|access-date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
23Faith Hill{{Cite magazine|title=Faith Hill|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/faith-hill|access-date=July 10, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}
20Martina McBride
19Trisha Yearwood
18Taylor Swift{{Cite magazine|title=Taylor Swift|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/csa/|access-date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
16Shania Twain{{Cite magazine|title=Shania Twain|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Shania-Twain/chart-history/csa/|access-date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}
15Miranda Lambert
14Dixie Chicks
12LeAnn Rimes{{Cite magazine|title=Taylor Swift|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Leann-Rimes/chart-history/csa/|access-date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}

=Most entries=

class="wikitable"
TotalArtistSource
100George Strait
98Kenny Chesney
93Garth Brooks
89Tim McGraw
86Morgan Wallen{{Cite magazine|title=Morgan Wallen Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Morgan-Wallen/chart-history/csa|access-date=May 1, 2025|magazine=Billboard}}
82Alan Jackson{{cite magazine|title=Alan Jackson Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Alan-Jackson/chart-history/Csi/|access-date=June 22, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}
72Reba McEntire
63Blake Shelton
62Brooks & Dunn
55Brad Paisley

Use in media

Since September 2017, the Country Airplay chart has served as the data source for the weekly radio program American Country Countdown.{{cite web | url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/american-country-countdown-returns-to-billboard-chart/article_98093f16-8130-11e7-bddd-fbb9403e4a99.html |title=American Country Countdown Returns to Billboard Chart |website=Inside Radio |date=August 14, 2017 |accessdate=July 3, 2023 }}

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}