Pop Airplay
{{Short description|US radio airplay music chart published by Billboard magazine}}
{{Redirect2|US pop|Pop Songs|US population|Demographics of the United States|other uses|Pop Song (disambiguation){{!}}Pop Song}}
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 "Anxiety" by Doechii.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2025-05-31/|title=Pop Airplay: Week of May 31, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 28, 2025}}
History
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.{{cite journal|title=Chart Histories—Top 40 Airplay|journal=Billboard 100th Anniversary Issue 1894–1994|page=264|date=November 1, 1994}} 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. 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.{{cite magazine |date=August 2, 2003 |first=Keith |last=Girard |title=The Evolution Continues |magazine=Billboard |volume=115 |issue=31 |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MhEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=November 19, 2013}} The first number-one song on the chart was "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men.{{Cite magazine|title=Pop Songs Chart, October 3, 1992|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/1992-10-03|access-date=January 16, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}
Chart criteria
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.
All-time achievements
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-top-100-pop-songs-1992-2012-from-no-100-to-no-1-474814/|title=The Top 100 Pop Songs 1992-2012, From No. 100 To No. 1|website=Billboard.com|access-date=January 21, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-top-40-pop-songs-artists-1992-2012-from-no-40-to-no-1-474798/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs Artists 1992-2012, From No. 40 To No. 1|website=Billboard.com|access-date=January 21, 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8006563/greatest-of-all-time-pop-songs-artists-rihanna-maroon-5-justin-timberlake|title=Rihanna Rules as No. 1 Artist In Pop Songs Chart's 25-Year History|website=Billboard.com|access-date=December 8, 2017}} 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)=
| class="wikitable" |
| Rank
!Single !Year released !Artist(s) !Peak and duration |
|---|
| {{center|1.}}
|{{center|1994}} |#1 for 6 weeks |
| {{center|2.}}
|"Smooth" |{{center|1999}} |Santana featuring Rob Thomas |#1 for 8 weeks |
| {{center|3.}}
|{{center|2000}} |#2 for 12 weeks |
| {{center|4.}}
|"Apologize" |{{center|2007}} |Timbaland featuring OneRepublic |#1 for 8 weeks |
| {{center|5.}}
|{{center|2001}} |#1 for 10 weeks |
| {{center|6.}}
|{{center|2003}} |#1 for 6 weeks |
| {{center|7.}}
|"Don't Speak" |{{center|1996}} |#1 for 10 weeks |
| {{center|8.}}
|"Iris" |{{center|1998}} |#1 for 4 weeks |
| {{center|9.}}
|"Closer" |{{center|2016}} |The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey |#1 for 11 weeks |
| {{center|10.}}
|{{center|1996}} |#1 for 11 weeks |
Source:{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-pop-songs|title=Greatest of All Time Pop Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|date=October 19, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2017}}
=Top 10 Pop Songs artists of all time (1992–2017)=
| class="wikitable" |
| Rank
!Artist |
|---|
| {{center|1.}} |
| {{center|2.}}
|Pink |
| {{center|3.}} |
| {{center|4.}} |
| {{center|5.}} |
| {{center|6.}} |
| {{center|7.}} |
| {{center|8.}} |
| {{center|9.}} |
| {{center|10.}} |
Source:{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-pop-songs-artists|title=Greatest of All Time: Pop Songs Artists|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|date=November 12, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2017}}
Song records
=Most weeks at number one=
=Most weeks in the top 10=
| class="wikitable" |
| Number of weeks !Artist !Song !Year(s) !Source |
|---|
| {{center|45}}
|Rema and Selena Gomez |"Calm Down" |2023–24 |
| rowspan=2 | {{center|41}}
|"As It Was" |2022–23 | |
| Benson Boone
|2024–25 | |
| rowspan=2 | {{center|40}}
|The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber |"Stay" |2021–22 | |
| Hozier
|"Too Sweet" |2024–25 | |
| {{center|39}}
|2020 | |
| rowspan=2 | {{center|36}}
|"Espresso" |2024–25 | |
| Shaboozey
|2024–25 | |
| {{center|35}}
|"Circles" |2019–20 |
| {{center|33}}
|The Weeknd |"Die for You" |2022–23 | |
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |32
|Harry Styles |"Adore You" |2020 | |
| Lil Nas X
|2021–22 | |
| Taylor Swift
|"Cruel Summer" |2023–24 | |
=Most weeks on the chart=
| class="wikitable" |
| Number of weeks !Artist !Song !Year* !Source |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" |71
|Rema and Selena Gomez |"Calm Down" |2024 |
| style="text-align:center;" |63
|"As It Was" |2023 |
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |60
|2021 |
| Benson Boone
|2025 |
| style="text-align:center;" |54
|"Heat Waves" |2022 |
| style="text-align:center;" |51
|"Too Sweet" |2025 |
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |50
|The Weeknd |"Die for You" |2023 |
| Billie Eilish
|rowspan=2 |2025 |
| style="text-align:center;" |49
|"Stargazing" |
| style="text-align:center;" |48
|The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber |"Stay" |2022 |
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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8461617/lauv-i-like-me-better-dua-lipa-new-rules-pop-songs-chart-records|title=Lauv's 'I Like Me Better' & Dua Lipa's 'New Rules' Set Longevity Records on Pop Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=June 18, 2018|access-date=June 18, 2018}}
{{Multiple image|image1=Mariah Carey Neighborhood Ball in downtown Washington 2009 3-2.JPG|image2=Taylor Swift 1989 Tour at Ford Field in Detroit, 5-30-15.jpg|width1=150|width2=150|footer= Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift have the highest debut at number 12 with "Dreamlover" and "Shake It Off" respectively.}}
=Highest debut=
=Shortest climbs to number one=
| class="wikitable" |
| Week reached number one !Artist !Song !Date reached !Source |
|---|
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |4th week
|December 12, 1992 |
| Mariah Carey
|"Dreamlover" |September 4, 1993 |
| The Rembrandts
|June 17, 1995 |
| Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
|November 6, 2004 |
| rowspan=9 style="text-align:center;" |5th week
|May 29, 1993 |
| Ace of Base
|October 30, 1993 |
| All-4-One
|"I Swear" |May 28, 1994 |
| Boyz II Men
|September 10, 1994 |
| Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
|December 9, 1995 |
| Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar
|"Bad Blood" |July 4, 2015 |
| Adele
|"Hello" |December 5, 2015 |
| Justin Timberlake
|June 18, 2016 |
| Miley Cyrus
|"Flowers" |March 4, 2023 |
=Longest climbs to number one=
| class="wikitable" |
| Week reached number one !Artist !Song !Date reached !Source |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" |37th week
|September 26, 2020 |
| style="text-align:center;" |32nd week
|"Heat Waves" |January 29, 2022 |
| style="text-align:center;" |31st week
|Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid |"Eastside" |March 2, 2019 |
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |28th week
|"Falling" |July 25, 2020 |
| Rema and Selena Gomez
|"Calm Down" |May 13, 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;" |27th week
|"Levitating" |June 19, 2021 |
| style="text-align:center;" |26th week
|"Here" |February 6, 2016 |
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |25th week
|"Forget You" |April 16, 2011 |
| Demi Lovato
|September 15, 2012 |
| rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |24th week
|Alessia Cara |February 4, 2017 |
| Khalid and Normani
|"Love Lies" |September 22, 2018 |
| The Weeknd
|"Die for You" |February 11, 2023 |
| rowspan=2 |Sabrina Carpenter
|"Feather" |April 6, 2024 |
| "Bed Chem"
|March 29, 2025 |
=Shortest climbs to top 10=
| class="wikitable" |
| Week reached top 10 !Artist !Song !Date reached !Source |
|---|
| rowspan=14 style="text-align:center;" |2nd week
|May 8, 1993 |
| Mariah Carey
|"Dreamlover" |August 21, 1993 |
| The Rembrandts
|June 3, 1995 |
| Madonna
|"Frozen" |March 14, 1998 |
| NSYNC
|"Pop" |June 9, 2001 |
| Eminem
|"Just Lose It" |October 16, 2004 |
| Britney Spears
|February 5, 2011 |
| Lady Gaga
|March 5, 2011 |
| Taylor Swift
|"Shake It Off" |September 13, 2014 |
| Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar
|"Bad Blood" |June 13, 2015 |
| Justin Timberlake
|May 28, 2016 |
| Taylor Swift
|September 16, 2017 |
| Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie
|"Me!" |May 11, 2019 |
| Ed Sheeran
|"Bad Habits" |July 10, 2021 |
| rowspan=1 style="text-align:center;" |3rd week
|colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |48 songs |
=Longest climbs to the top 10=
| class="wikitable" |
| Week reached top 10 !Artist !Song !Date reached top 10 !Source |
|---|
| {{center|35th week}}
|Lauv |June 23, 2018 |
| {{center|31st week}}
|"I'll Be" |October 17, 1998 |
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" |27th week
|February 3, 2018 |
| Lewis Capaldi
|July 18, 2020 |
| AJR
|"Bang!" |December 12, 2020 |
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |25th week
|MKTO |"Classic" |July 12, 2014 |
| Daya
|October 15, 2016 |
| Jon Bellion
|"All Time Low" |March 11, 2017 |
| Madison Beer
|September 7, 2024 |
| rowspan=1 style="text-align:center;" |24th week
|"Best Friend" |July 3, 2021 |
Artist records
{{see also|List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart}}
File:Eras Tour - Arlington, TX - Reputation act 1 (cropped).jpg holds the record for most number-one singles with 13, spanning over 15 years between her first and last hit.{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift Scores Her 13th No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart With 'Is It Over Now?' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-is-it-over-now-number-one-pop-airplay-chart-1235627287/ |magazine=Billboard |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=March 8, 2024}}]]
File: Katy Perry Play at Resorts World, Las Vegas - 51808267537.jpg holds the record for having spent the most weeks at the summit.{{cite web|title=Katy Perry Chart History (Pop Airplay)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/katy-perry/chart-history/tfm/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2022}}]]
=Most number-one singles=
=Most cumulative weeks at number one=
=Most top 10 singles=
=Most chart entries=
=Simultaneously occupying the top two positions=
- Mariah Carey: December 9, 1995
- "One Sweet Day" (with Boyz II Men)
- "Fantasy"
- OutKast: January 31 - February 7, 2004
- "Hey Ya!"
- "The Way You Move" (featuring Sleepy Brown)
- Pharrell Williams: July 27 - August 3, 2013
- "Blurred Lines" (Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell)
- "Get Lucky" (Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams)
- Iggy Azalea: June 28 - July 12, 2014
- "Fancy" (featuring Charli XCX)
- "Problem" (Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea)
- Halsey: February 23 - March 9, 2019
- "Without Me"
- "Eastside" (with Benny Blanco and Khalid)
- Ariana Grande: February 20, 2021
- Olivia Rodrigo: August 7–28, 2021
- Doja Cat: October 15–22, 2022
- "I Like You (A Happier Song)" (Post Malone featuring Doja Cat)
- "Vegas"
- Bruno Mars: February 8 - March 8, 2025
- "Apt." (Rosé and Bruno Mars)
- "Die with a Smile" (Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars)
Source:{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8498768/halsey-top-two-pop-songs-chart-without-me-eastside|title=Halsey Holds Top Two Spots on Pop Songs Chart With 'Without Me' & 'Eastside'|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=February 18, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of February 20, 2021)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2021-02-20|access-date=February 17, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of August 7, 2021)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2021-08-07|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of October 15, 2022)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2022-10-15|magazine=Billboard}}
=Simultaneously three or more songs in the top 10=
- Ariana Grande: May 15–22, 2021
- "Positions"
- "34+35"
- "POV"
- Doja Cat: October 23–30, 2021
- "Kiss Me More" (featuring SZA)
- "You Right" (with The Weeknd)
- "Need to Know"
- Harry Styles: October 15–29, 2022
- "As It Was"
- "Late Night Talking"
- "Music for a Sushi Restaurant"
- Sabrina Carpenter: November 2–9, 2024
- "Espresso"
- "Please Please Please"
- "Taste"
Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-chart-history-2021-the-weeknd-1235014678/|title=The History Made on Billboard's Charts in 2021: The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' & More|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 30, 2021}}{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of October 15, 2022)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2022-10-15|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ariana-grande-radio-pop-airplay-history/ |title='She's Perfect Right Now for Top 40': How Ariana Grande Made History at Pop Radio |magazine=Billboard |date=May 19, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2023}}{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Pop Airplay Chart (Week of November 2, 2024)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2024-11-02|magazine=Billboard}}
=Self-replacement at number one=
- Mariah Carey — "Fantasy" → "One Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men) (December 9, 1995)
- OutKast — "Hey Ya!" → "The Way You Move" (OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown) (February 14, 2004)
- Iggy Azalea — "Fancy" (Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX) → "Problem" (Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea) (July 12, 2014) †
- Halsey — "Without Me" → "Eastside" (Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid) (March 2, 2019)
- Ariana Grande — "Positions" → "34+35" (February 13, 2021) ††
- Doja Cat — "I Like You (A Happier Song)" (Post Malone featuring Doja Cat) → "Vegas" (October 22, 2022)
- Bruno Mars — "APT." (Rosé and Bruno Mars) → "Die with a Smile" (Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars) (March 8, 2025)
† 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:{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9522731/ariana-grande-34-35-tops-pop-airplay-chart|title=Ariana Grande 34-35 tops pop airplay chart|magazine=Billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=February 8, 2021|access-date=February 8, 2021}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/steve-lacy-bad-habit-doja-cat-vegas-hot-100-top-10-1235156993/|title=Steve Lacy's 'Bad Habit' Tops Hot 100 for Third Week, Doja Cat's 'Vegas' Hits Top 10|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|date=October 17, 2022|access-date=December 19, 2022}}
=Additional artist achievements=
File:Lady Gaga in Rome.jpg is the only musical artist in history to have her first six singles all reach the number-one position on this chart.]]
- Lady Gaga is the only artist to have her first six singles reach No. 1.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/958963/lady-gaga-beyonce-match-mariahs-record|title=Lady Gaga, Beyonce Match Mariah's Record|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=March 15, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2012}}
- JoJo became the youngest (13) solo artist to have a number-one single on the chart with "Leave (Get Out)".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/01/jojo-signs-deal-with-atlantic-records |title=JoJo Signs Deal with Atlantic Records |magazine=Complex |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=June 7, 2014}}
- Rihanna is the youngest (22) artist to attain at least seven No. 1 singles on the chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9406332/intentions-tops-pop-songs-chart|title=Justin Bieber & Quavo's 'Intentions' Hits No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=June 22, 2020|access-date=February 25, 2023}}
- Justin Bieber became the youngest (26) male artist to attain at least seven No. 1 singles on the chart with "Intentions" (featuring Quavo).
- 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
=Most number-one singles from an album=
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Number of Singles | Artist | Album | Year (s) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{center| 7}} | Katy Perry | Teenage Dream | 2010-12 | {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sabrina-carpenter-short-n-sweet-4-number-1s-pop-airplay-chart-1235928178/|title=Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Becomes 1st Album With 4 Pop Airplay No. 1s Since Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’|magazine=Billboard|date=March 21, 2025|access-date=March 23, 2025}} |
| | {{center| 6 }} | Katy Perry | Teenage Dream | 2010-12 | |
| | {{center| 5 }} | Taylor Swift | 1989 | 2014-15 | |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | 4 | Justin Timberlake | FutureSex/LoveSounds | 2006-07 | |
| | Lady Gaga | The Fame | 2009 | ||
| | Sabrina Carpenter | Short n' Sweet | 2024-25 | ||
| rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;" |3 | Ace of Base | The Sign | 1993-94 | |
| | Alanis Morissette | Jagged Little Pill | 1996 | ||
| | Avril Lavigne | Let Go | 2002-03 | ||
| | Maroon 5 | Overexposed | 2012-13 | ||
| | Justin Bieber | Purpose | 2015-16 | ||
| | Selena Gomez | Revival | 2015-16 | ||
| | Dua Lipa | Future Nostalgia | 2020-21 | ||
| | Lil Nas X | Montero | 2021-22 | ||
| | Doja Cat | Planet Her | 2021-22 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs Pop Airplay on Billboard.com]
{{Mainstream Top 40}}
{{Billboard charts}}