Adult Alternative Airplay

Billboard chart

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 "Moody" by Royel Otis.[3]

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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)

[edit]

Rank  | Single  | Year released  | Artist(s)  | Peak and duration

|
|
|
|

| "One Headlight"  |

1997

| The Wallflowers | #1 for 14 weeks

| "Clocks"  |

2002

| Coldplay | #1 for 15 weeks

| "3AM"  |

1997

| Matchbox 20 | #1 for 14 weeks

| "Feel It Still"  |

2017

| Portugal. The Man | #1 for 11 weeks

| "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"  |

2001

| Train | #1 for 14 weeks

| "Babylon"  |

2000

| David Gray | #1 for 2 weeks

| "It's Time"  |

2012

| Imagine Dragons | #2 for 5 weeks

| "See The World"  |

2007

| Gomez | #1 for 4 weeks

| "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)

[edit]

Rank  | Artist

|

| Dave Matthews Band

| U2

| Coldplay

| Jack Johnson

| Sheryl Crow

| John Mayer

| Mumford & Sons

| Counting Crows

| Death Cab for Cutie

10.

| Snow Patrol

Source:[14]

## Song records

[edit]

### Most weeks at number one

[edit]

Number of
weeks  | Artist  | Song  | Year(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

[edit]

Number of
weeks  | Artist  | Song  | Year(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]
41  | One eskimO  | "Kandi"  | 2009–10  | [44]

### Highest debut

[edit]

Debut
Position  | Artist  | Song  | Debut Date  | Source

|
|
|
|

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

[edit]

### Most number-one singles

[edit]

Number of
singles | Artist | Source

|
|

14 | U2 | [55]
13 | Coldplay | [55]
11 | Dave Matthews[a] | [55]
Jack Johnson | [55]
9 | The Black Keys | [55]
8 | Death Cab for Cutie | [55]
John Mayer | [55]
The Lumineers | [55]
7 | Cage the Elephant | [56]
Counting Crows | [56]
Hozier | [56]
Nathaniel Rateliff[b] | [56]
R.E.M. | [56]
Sheryl Crow | [56]

### Most cumulative weeks at number one

[edit]

Number of
weeks | Artist | Source

|
|

72 | U2 | [15]
69 | Coldplay | [16]
62 | Jack Johnson | [23]
51 | Dave Matthews[a] | [26]
48 | The Black Keys | [35]
46 | The Lumineers | [30]
45 | Death Cab For Cutie | [33]
33 | Nathaniel Rateliff[b] | [57]
31 | Mumford & Sons | [29]
R.E.M. | [58]

### Most top 10 singles

[edit]

Number of
singles | Artist | Source

|
|

28 | U2 | [15]
26 | Dave Matthews[a] | [26]
25 | Coldplay | [16]
19 | Jack Johnson | [23]
John Mayer | [38]
16 | Counting Crows | [59]
15 | Beck | [27]
The Black Keys | [35]
14 | Mumford & Sons | [29]
Sheryl Crow | [60]

### Most chart entries

[edit]

Number of
entries | Artist | Source

|
|

36 | Dave Matthews[a] | [26]
33 | U2 | [15]
30 | Coldplay | [16]
27 | Jack Johnson | [23]
25 | John Mayer | [38]
Sheryl Crow | [60]
20 | Beck | [27]
The Black Keys | [35]
19 | Counting Crows | [59]
18 | Death Cab For Cutie | [33]
R.E.M. | [58]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Solo and with Dave Matthews Band
2. ^ a b Solo and with The Night Sweats

## See also

[edit]

* List of Radio & Records number-one adult alternative singles of the 1990s
* List of Billboard number-one adult alternative singles of the 2000s
* List of Billboard number-one adult alternative singles of the 2010s
* List of Billboard number-one adult alternative singles of the 2020s

## References

[edit]

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. August 9, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
16. ^ a b c d e f "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
17. ^ a b "Kings Of Leon Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
18. ^ "The Wallflowers Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
19. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g "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. ^ a b c d "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
27. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d "Mumford & Sons Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
30. ^ a b "The Lumineers Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
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. ^ a b c "Death Cab For Cutie Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
34. ^ a b "David Gray Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
35. ^ a b c d "The Black Keys Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d e f g h Rutherford, Kevin (April 4, 2025). "The Black Keys Top Adult Alternative Airplay Chart With 'The Night Before'". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
56. ^ a b c d e f 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.
57. ^ "Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
58. ^ a b "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
59. ^ a b "Counting Crows Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
60. ^ a b "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Adult Alternative Songs at Billboard

* v
* t
* e

Lists of number ones on Billboard rock charts

Hot Rock & Alternative Songs|

* List of number ones

Alternative Airplay|

* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Mainstream Rock Airplay|

* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Adult Alternative Airplay|

* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Artists|

* Alternative
* Mainstream Rock

* v
* t
* e

Billboard charts

United States|

| All-genre charts|

| Songs|

* Billboard Hot 100
* Radio Songs
* Digital Song Sales
* Streaming Songs
* Bubbling Under Hot 100

|

Albums|

* Billboard 200
* Top Album Sales
* Top Streaming Albums
* Catalog Albums
* Independent Albums

Artists|

* Artist 100
* Emerging Artists

Pop|

* Pop Airplay
* Adult Contemporary
* Adult Pop Airplay

Country|

* Top Country Albums
* Hot Country Songs
* Country Airplay

Rock & Alternative|

* Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Alternative Airplay
* Adult Alternative Airplay

R&B/Hip-Hop|

* Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
* Hot Rap Songs
* Hot R&B Songs
* Adult R&B Songs
* Rhythmic

Latin|

* Top Latin Albums
* Hot Latin Songs
* Latin Airplay
* Latin Pop Albums
* Latin Pop Airplay
* Latin Rhythm Albums
* Latin Rhythm Airplay
* Regional Mexican Albums
* Regional Mexican Airplay
* Tropical Albums
* Tropical Airplay

Dance|

* Top Dance Albums
* Hot Dance/Electronic Songs
* Hot Dance/Pop Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay

Christian/Gospel|

* Top Christian Albums
* Hot Christian Songs
* Christian Airplay
* Top Gospel Albums
* Hot Gospel Songs

Other charts|

* Afrobeats Songs
* Americana/Folk Albums
* Christmas/Holiday charts
* Comedy Albums
* Kid Albums
* Smooth Jazz Airplay
* Twitter Real-Time
* World Digital Song Sales

Multinational|

* Billboard Global 200
* Global Excl. US

Other countries
(Hits of the World)|

* Argentina Hot 100
* Brasil Hot 100
* Brasil Artistas 25
* Canadian Albums
* Canadian Hot 100
* Radio China Top 10
* Croatia Songs
* Hong Kong Songs
* India Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* Japanese Hot Albums
* Malaysia Songs
* Mexico Songs
* Philippines Hot 100
* Romania Songs
* South Korea Songs
* Vietnam Hot 100

Defunct charts|

| United States|

* Comprehensive Albums
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance Singles Sales
* Heatseekers charts
* Hot Crossover 30
* Hot Singles Sales
* Pop 100
* TikTok Billboard Top 50
* Top 40 Tracks
* Twitter Real-Time

|

Multinational|

* European Top 100 Albums
* European Hot 100
* European Dance Radio Chart
* Social 50

Other countries|

* Brazil Songs
* China Top 100
* China Airplay/FL
* Greek Aiprlay
* Indonesia Top 100
* K-pop Hot 100
* Mexico Airplay
* Español
* Inglés
* Philippines Songs
* Türkiye Top 20

Related articles|

* Year-End
* Top Artist
* number-one singles and albums
* Decade-End
* Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
* K-pop on the Billboard charts
* Albums
* Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* World Digital Song Sales
* Year-end

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