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 earliest incarnation of the chart was first published on January 20, 1996,[3] 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,[4] which then subsequently incorporated Airplay Monitor's Nielsen-based Triple A chart.[5][6]

Billboard itself began publishing the Triple A chart in the issue dated July 5, 2008 through their Billboard.biz website,[7] appropriating the same airplay data as Radio & Records.[5] Radio & Records closed in June 2009, leaving Billboard as the sole publisher of the chart.[8] In February 2014, the chart's reporting panel was expanded from 23 to 32 stations, including non-commercial reporters for the first time.[9]

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 shows 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.[10] 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. The current number-one song on the chart is "Northern Attitude" by Noah Kahan and Hozier.[11]

## Chart achievements[edit]

* Artists with the most number-one songs:[9][12][13]

U2 (14)
Coldplay (13)
Dave Matthews Band (11)
Jack Johnson (11)[14]
John Mayer (8)[15]
Death Cab for Cutie (8)[16]
Sheryl Crow (7)
Counting Crows (7)
R.E.M. (7)
The Black Keys (7)[17]
Florence + the Machine (6)[18]
The Lumineers (6)[19]

* Artists with most top 10 songs:

U2 (27)
Dave Matthews Band (24)
Coldplay (23)
Jack Johnson (19)
John Mayer (19)
Counting Crows (15)
Sheryl Crow (14)
Beck (14)
R.E.M. (13)

* Most weeks at number one:

16 weeks

"Beautiful Day" – U2 (2000–01)[20]

15 weeks

"Clocks" – Coldplay (2003)[20]
"Waste a Moment" – Kings of Leon (2016–17)[21][22]

14 weeks

"One Headlight" – The Wallflowers (1996)[22]
"3AM" – Matchbox Twenty (1997)[22]
"Bent" – Matchbox Twenty (2000)[22]
"Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" – Train (2001)[22]
"Rolling in the Deep" – Adele (2011)[23]

13 weeks

"Smooth \- Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999)[24]
"Just Breathe" – Pearl Jam (2010)[25]
"Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra (2012)[26]
"Upside Down" - Jack Johnson (2006)[27]

12 weeks

"Funny the Way It Is" – Dave Matthews Band (2009)[28]
"Dreams" – Beck (2015)[29]

11 weeks

"Hold On" \- KT Tunstall (2007)[30]
"Viva la Vida" – Coldplay (2008)[31]
"You and Your Heart" – Jack Johnson (2010)[25]
"I Will Wait" – Mumford & Sons (2012)[26]
"Ophelia" – The Lumineers (2016)[21]
"Feel It Still" – Portugal. The Man (2017)[32]

10 weeks

"Building a Mystery" - Sarah McLachlan (1997)[33]
"Soul Meets Body" - Death Cab For Cutie (2005)[34]
"Good People" - Jack Johnson (2006)
"If I Had Eyes" – Jack Johnson (2008)[31]
"Fugitive" – David Gray (2010)[28]
"Fever" – The Black Keys (2014)[35]
"Budapest" – George Ezra (2014–15)[35][29]
"Guiding Light" – Mumford & Sons (2018–19)[36]

## 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. ^ Trust, Gary (July 17, 2012). "Triple A Radio Breaking Rookie Stars". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
4. ^ "VNU To Acquire Radio & Records". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 6, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
5. ^ a b Shipley, Al (October 9, 2008). "'Billboard' Breaks Down, Dials Up Triple-A". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
6. ^ Tucker, Ken (September 21, 2006). "Nielsen BDS Expands Service". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ Trust, Gary (June 10, 2009). "Chart Beat: Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Shinedown". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
9. ^ a b Trust, Gary (February 21, 2014). "Billboard's Triple A Chart Gets a Makeover". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
10. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs: January 20, 1996". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
11. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
12. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (July 15, 2020). "Milky Chance & Jack Johnson's 'Don't Let Me Down' Tops Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
13. ^ "Milky Chance & Jack Johnson's 'Don't Let Me Down' Tops Adult Alternative Songs | Billboard". Billboard. 2020-07-15. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
14. ^ "Jack Johnson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
15. ^ "John Mayer Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
16. ^ "Death Cab For Cutie". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
17. ^ "The Black Keys". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
18. ^ "Florence + the Machine". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
19. ^ "The Lumineers". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
20. ^ a b Trust, Gary (July 22, 2009). "Chart Beat Wednesday: Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, Billy Currington". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
21. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2016 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
22. ^ a b c d e Rutherford, Kevin (January 25, 2017). "Kings of Leon's 'Waste a Moment' Ties for Second-Longest No. 1 Run on Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
23. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs – 2011 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
24. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 28 November 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
25. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2010 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
26. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2012 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
27. ^ "Jack Johnson Upside Down Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
28. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2009 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
29. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2015 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
30. ^ "KT Tunstall". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
31. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2008 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
32. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs – 2017 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
33. ^ "Sarah McLachlan". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
34. ^ "Death Cab For Cutie". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
35. ^ a b "Adult Alternative Songs – 2014 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
36. ^ "Mumford & Sons - Guiding Light - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

## 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

Billboard|

| Top charts|

| Songs|

* Hot 100
* Radio Songs
* Digital Song Sales
* Digital Tracks (defunct)
* Streaming Songs
* Bubbling Under Hot 100
* U.S. Afrobeats Songs

|

Albums|

* Billboard 200
* Top Album Sales
* Catalog Albums
* Independent Albums
* Comprehensive Albums (defunct)
* Bubbling Under the Top LPs (defunct)

Artists|

* Artist 100

Global|

* Global 200

Hits of the World|

* Canadian Albums
* Canadian Hot 100
* Hits of the World
* Brazil Songs
* Croatia Songs
* Hong Kong Songs
* India Songs
* Indonesia Songs
* Malaysia Songs
* Philippines Songs
* Romania Songs
* South Korea Songs
* Mexico Songs
* Mexico Airplay (defunct)
* Español
* Ingles

Internet|

* Hot Trending Songs
* TikTok Billboard Top 50

Pop|

* Pop Airplay
* Adult Contemporary
* Adult Top 40
* Pop 100 (defunct)
* Top 40 Tracks (defunct)
* Hot Crossover 30 (defunct)

Country|

* Top Country Albums
* Hot Country Songs
* Country Airplay

Rock|

* Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Alternative Airplay
* Triple A

R&B/Hip-Hop|

* Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
* Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop
* Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (defunct)
* Hot Rap Songs
* Hot R&B Songs
* Adult R&B Songs
* Rhythmic

Dance/Electronic|

* Dance/Electronic Albums
* Dance/Electronic Songs
* Dance/Electronic Digital Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Dance Club Songs (suspended)
* Dance Singles Sales (defunct)

Christian/Gospel|

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

Breaking and Entering|

* Emerging Artists
* Heatseekers Albums
* Heatseekers Songs (defunct)

Holiday|

* Christmas/Holiday charts

Additional charts|

* Comedy Albums
* Kid Albums
* World Digital Song Sales

Billboard Español|

* 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

Billboard Argentina|

* Argentina Hot 100

Billboard Brasil|

* Brasil Hot 100
* Artistas 25

Billboard China|

* China Top 100 (defunct)
* China Airplay/FL (defunct)

Billboard Greece|

* Billboard Greek Airplay (defunct)

Billboard Indonesia|

* Indonesia Top 100 (defunct)

Billboard Japan|

* Japan Hot 100

Billboard Korea|

* K-pop 100 (defunct)
* Billboard K-Town
* Timeline
* 2020s

Billboard Philippines|

* Philippine Hot 100 (defunct)
* Philippine Top 20 (defunct)

Billboard Türkiye|

* Türkiye Top 20 (defunct)

Billboard Việt Nam|

* Vietnam Hot 100
* Vietnam Top Vietnamese Songs

Music & Media|

* European Albums (defunct)
* European Hot 100 (defunct)

Lists of number-one
albums and singles|

* Adult Contemporary
* Alternative Airplay
* Americana/Folk Albums
* Billboard 200
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Dance/Electronic Albums
* Dance/Electronic Songs
* Hot 100
* Hot Country Songs
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* K-Pop
* Mainstream Rock
* Simultaneous album and single
* Simultaneous UK and US
* Top Country Albums
* Year-End

Lists of artists who
reached number one|

* US
* Canada
* Japan
* Adult Contemporary
* Adult Top 40
* Alternative Songs
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Hot Country Songs
* Hot Latin Songs
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Pop Airplay
* Rhythmic
* Social 50

See also|

* Billboard Radio Monitor (defunct)
* R&R (defunct)
* Billboard Twitter Real-Time (defunct)
* Decade-End
* Joel Whitburn
* List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
* List of Billboard Hot 100 number-ones by origin of artists
* Australian
* British
* Canadian
* European
* List of K-pop on the Billboard charts
* Albums
* Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* World Digital Song Sales
* Year-end

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