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Adult Pop Airplay
Music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine
Music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine
The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems."
It is a format in which the genre is geared more towards an adult audience who are not into hard rock, hip hop, or soft adult contemporary fare. The main genres within this format are a mix of soft and energetic adult contemporary music alongside adult alternative rock and adult-oriented pop music. It is not to be confused with the Adult Contemporary chart which contains more ballad-driven songs played on the radio. The current number-one song on the chart is "Golden" by Huntr/x.
History
The chart was first published in the March 16, 1996, issue of Billboard; however, historically, the chart's introduction was in October 1995, when it began as a test chart.
The Adult Top 40 chart was formed following a split of the "Hot Adult Contemporary" chart due to the growing emergence of Adult Top 40 radio stations in the 1990s. These stations played a wider variety of artists and saw a faster turnover of songs compared to traditional adult contemporary radio. Songs by modern rock, dance, and R&B artists were mixed in with acts more closely associated with adult contemporary. According to Billboard, splitting the chart "better reflect[s] the music being played on adult contemporary and adult/top 40 stations."
The first number-one song on the Adult Top 40, from the test chart of October 7, 1995, was "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal. The first number-one song on the Adult Top 40, from the published chart of March 16, 1996, was "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
Chart criteria
There are 40 positions on this chart. Songs are ranked based on its total number of spins per week. This is calculated by electronically monitoring Adult 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.
Recurrent rules
| Issue Date | Criteria | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| March 16, 1996 – Jun 29, 2002 | Records below the top 20 are removed from the chart after 26 weeks. | |
| July 6, 2002 – November 26, 2005 | Records below the top 15 are removed from the chart after 26 weeks. | |
| December 3, 2005 – April 18, 2009 | Songs are removed from the chart if they have been on the chart for | |
| April 25, 2009 – Present | Descending songs are removed from the chart if they have been on the chart for |
All-time achievements
In 2016, for the 20th anniversary of the chart, Billboard compiled a ranking of the 50 best-performing songs and artists on the chart over the 20 years. "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas was ranked as the #1 song, while Maroon 5 was ranked as the #1 artist. Listed below are the top 10 songs and the top 10 artists.
Top 10 Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs (1996–2016)
| Rank | Single | Year released | Artist(s) | Peak and duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Smooth" | Santana featuring Rob Thomas | #1 for 25 weeks | ||
| "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" | Train | #1 for 14 weeks | ||
| "Wherever You Will Go" | The Calling | #1 for 23 weeks | ||
| "How to Save a Life" | The Fray | #1 for 15 weeks | ||
| "Counting Stars" | OneRepublic | #1 for 7 weeks | ||
| "Unwell" | Matchbox Twenty | #1 for 18 weeks | ||
| "I'm Yours" | Jason Mraz | #1 for 9 weeks | ||
| "You and Me" | Lifehouse | #1 for 9 weeks | ||
| "All for You" | Sister Hazel | #1 for 7 weeks | ||
| "Hanging by a Moment" | Lifehouse | #1 for 5 weeks |
Source:
Top 10 Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs Artists (1996–2016)
| Rank | Artist |
|---|---|
| Maroon 5 | |
| Matchbox Twenty | |
| Train | |
| Nickelback | |
| Pink | |
| Kelly Clarkson | |
| Katy Perry | |
| Goo Goo Dolls | |
| Daughtry | |
| Taylor Swift |
Source:
Song records
Most weeks at number one
| Number of | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| weeks | Artist(s) | Song | Year(s) | Source | |||
| 30 | Alex Warren | "Ordinary" | 2025–26 | ||||
| 25 | Santana featuring Rob Thomas | "Smooth" | 1999–2000 | title=Santana Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/santana/chart-history/atf/ | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 23 | The Calling | "Wherever You Will Go" | 2001–02 | ||||
| Taylor Swift | "Cruel Summer" | 2023–24 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/atf | title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=December 16, 2025}} | |
| 20 | The Weeknd | "Blinding Lights" | 2020 | title=The Weeknd Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-weeknd/chart-history/atf/ | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 18 | Matchbox Twenty | "Unwell" | 2003 | title=Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/matchbox-twenty/chart-history/atf/ | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| Nickelback | "Photograph" | 2005–06 | title=Nickelback Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/nickelback/chart-history/atf/ | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} | |
| 17 | Goo Goo Dolls | "Iris" | 1998 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/goo-goo-dolls/chart-history/atf | title=Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| Miley Cyrus | "Flowers" | 2023 | |||||
| 16 | Avril Lavigne | "Complicated" | 2002 | ||||
| 15 | No Doubt | "Don't Speak" | 1996–97 | ||||
| The Fray | "How to Save a Life" | 2006–07 | |||||
| Panic! at the Disco | "High Hopes" | 2018–19 |
Most weeks on the chart
| Number of | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| weeks | Artist(s) | Song | Year(s) | Source | |||
| 75 | Train | "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" | 2001–02 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/train/chart-history/atf | title=Train Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 73 | Lifehouse | "Hanging by a Moment" | 2001–02 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lifehouse/chart-history/atf | title=Lifehouse Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 72 | Santana featuring Rob Thomas | "Smooth" | 1999–2000 | ||||
| 71 | The Calling | "Wherever You Will Go" | 2001–03 | ||||
| 69 | Sister Hazel | "All for You" | 1997–98 | ||||
| 65 | Goo Goo Dolls | "Slide" | 1998–1999 | ||||
| The Weeknd | "Blinding Lights" | 2020–21 | |||||
| 63 | Vertical Horizon | "Everything You Want" | 1999–2001 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/atf | title=Vertical Horizon Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 62 | Edwin McCain | "I'll Be" | 1998–99 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/edwin-mccain/chart-history/atf/ | title=Edwin McCain Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
| 61 | Duncan Sheik | "Barely Breathing" | 1996–97 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/duncan-sheik/chart-history/atf/ | title=Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} |
Highest debut
| Debut | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Artist | Song | Debut Date | Source | ||||||
| No. 8 | Taylor Swift | "The Fate of Ophelia" | October 18, 2025 | |||||||
| No. 9 | "Shake It Off" | September 6, 2014 | ||||||||
| Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone | "Fortnight" | May 4, 2024 | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-post-malone-fortnight-adult-pop-airplay-chart-debut-1235667869/ | title=Taylor Swift & Post Malone's 'Fortnight' Makes Record-Tying Start on Adult Pop Airplay Chart | magazine=Billboard | first=Gary | last=Trust | date=April 26, 2024 | access-date=April 28, 2024}} | |
| No. 12 | Ed Sheeran | "Eyes Closed" | April 8, 2023 | |||||||
| NSYNC | "Better Place" | October 14, 2023 | ||||||||
| No. 13 | Alanis Morissette | "Thank U" | October 10, 1998 | |||||||
| Ed Sheeran | "Afterglow" | January 2, 2021 | ||||||||
| No. 14 | Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie | "Me!" | May 4, 2019 | |||||||
| Adele | "Easy on Me" | October 23, 2021 | ||||||||
| Miley Cyrus | "Flowers" | January 28, 2023 | ||||||||
| Ed Sheeran | "Azizam" | April 19, 2025 | ||||||||
| No. 16 | Eric Clapton | "Change the World" | June 22, 1996 | |||||||
| Maroon 5 | "Maps" | July 5, 2014 | ||||||||
| Taylor Swift | "Look What You Made Me Do" | September 9, 2017 | ||||||||
| Pink | "Never Gonna Not Dance Again" | November 19, 2022 |
Artist records
Most number-one songs
| Number of | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| singles | Artist | Source | ||||
| Maroon 5 | title=Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maroon-5/chart-history/atf/ | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 9, 2024}} | ||
| Taylor Swift | ||||||
| Pink | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pnk/chart-history/atf/ | title=Pink Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=November 9, 2022}} | ||
| 8 | Katy Perry | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/katy-perry/chart-history/atf/ | title=Katy Perry Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=November 9, 2022}} | |
| Ed Sheeran | title=Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Ed-sheeran/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=March 13, 2018 | magazine=Billboard}} | ||
| 6 | Adele | title=Adele Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/adele/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=March 13, 2018 | magazine=Billboard}} | |
| Shawn Mendes | ||||||
| 5 | Nickelback | |||||
| Justin Bieber | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/justin-bieber/chart-history/atf/ | title=Justin Bieber Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=July 23, 2025}} |
- 4 – Bruno Mars, Daughtry, Dua Lipa, Imagine Dragons, Kelly Clarkson and OneRepublic
- 3 – Camila Cabello, Justin Timberlake --
Most cumulative weeks at number one
| Number of | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| weeks | Artist | Source | |
| 101 | Maroon 5 | ||
| 71 | Taylor Swift | ||
| 54 | Matchbox Twenty | ||
| 51 | Ed Sheeran | ||
| 47 | Santana | ||
| 45 | Adele | ||
| 40 | Rob Thomas | ||
| 38 | Pink | ||
| 35 | Nickelback | ||
| 34 | Katy Perry |
- Train (30)
- Alex Warren (30)
- Goo Goo Dolls (27)
- Kelly Clarkson (27)
- The Fray (27)
- Avril Lavigne (26)
- The Weeknd (25) --
Most top-ten songs
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| singles | Artist | Source | |||
| 33 | Taylor Swift | ||||
| 28 | Maroon 5 | ||||
| 20 | Pink | ||||
| 17 | Kelly Clarkson | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/chart-history/atf/ | title=Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | magazine=Billboard | access-date=December 21, 2017}} |
| Ed Sheeran | |||||
| 16 | Katy Perry | ||||
| 14 | Goo Goo Dolls | ||||
| Train | |||||
| Justin Bieber | |||||
| Bruno Mars | title=Bruno Mars Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bruno-mars/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=November 15, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
| - |
|---|
| OneRepublic |
- Coldplay (12)
- John Mayer (12)
- Lady Gaga (12)
- Nickelback (11)
- Adele (10)
- Ariana Grande (10)
- Imagine Dragons (10)
- Sheryl Crow (10) --
Most chart entries
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| entries | Artist | Source | |||
| 54 | Taylor Swift | ||||
| 34 | Pink | ||||
| 33 | Maroon 5 | ||||
| 32 | Ariana Grande | title=Ariana Grande Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ariana-grande/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=December 4, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
| 30 | Kelly Clarkson | ||||
| 29 | Katy Perry | ||||
| 28 | Rihanna | title=Rihanna Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rihanna/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=November 15, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
| Train | |||||
| Justin Bieber | |||||
| 27 | Ed Sheeran | ||||
| 26 | Coldplay | title=Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/coldplay/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=November 15, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
- Goo Goo Dolls (25)
- Lady Gaga (24)
- OneRepublic (23)
- The Weeknd (23)
- Bruno Mars (22)
- Justin Timberlake (22)
- U2 (22)
- John Mayer (21)
- Miley Cyrus (20) --
Longest break between number ones
| Artist | Length of break | Preceding hit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and final date at number one | Succeeding hit | |||
| and first date at number one | Source | |||
| Bruno Mars | 9 years, 8 months and 3 weeks | "Uptown Funk" | ||
| (March 14, 2015) | "Die with a Smile" | |||
| (December 7, 2024) | ||||
| Hozier | 9 years, 4 months and 2 weeks | "Take Me to Church" | ||
| (February 14, 2015) | "Too Sweet" | |||
| (June 29, 2024) | title=Hozier Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/hozier/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=December 16, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
| OneRepublic | 8 years and 9 months | "Counting Stars" | ||
| (February 8, 2014) | "I Ain't Worried" | |||
| (November 5, 2022) | title=OneRepublic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/onerepublic/chart-history/atf/ | access-date=November 15, 2024 | magazine=Billboard}} |
| Coldplay | 8 years and 8 months | "Viva la Vida" | ||
| (October 11, 2008) | "Something Just Like This" | |||
| (June 10, 2017) | ||||
| Train | 6 years, 4 months and 1 week | "Calling All Angels" | ||
| (October 4, 2003) | "Hey, Soul Sister" | |||
| (February 13, 2010) | ||||
| Maroon 5 | 5 years, 10 months and 1 week | "She Will Be Loved" | ||
| (December 18, 2004) | "Misery" | |||
| (October 2, 2010) |
Additional achievements
- Shawn Mendes is the first artist to have four songs hit number one on the chart before age 20.
References
References
- "Current ''Billboard'' Adult Pop Songs chart".
- "Adult Pop Airplay: Week of January 31, 2026".
- (March 16, 1996). "Updated Charts: Heatseekers, AC".
- (October 7, 1995). "Adult Pop Songs chart".
- (March 16, 1996). "Adult Pop Songs chart".
- (Jun 29, 2002). "Adult Top 40".
- (Jul 6, 2002). "Adult Top 40".
- (December 3, 2005). "Charts Legend: Recurrent Rules".
- (April 25, 2009). "Charts Legend: Recurrent Rules".
- "Maroon 5 Top Artist, Santana's 'Smooth' Top Song of Adult Pop Songs Chart's First 20 Years".
- "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs".
- "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs Artists".
- "Alex Warren Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Santana Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of May 25th, 2002".
- "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Nickelback Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Miley Cyrus Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "No Doubt Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "The Fray Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Panic! at the Disco Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Train Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Lifehouse Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of January 18, 2003".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of August 22, 1998".
- "Vertical Horizon Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Edwin McCain Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of October 18, 2025".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of September 6, 2014".
- Trust, Gary. (April 26, 2024). "Taylor Swift & Post Malone's 'Fortnight' Makes Record-Tying Start on Adult Pop Airplay Chart".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of April 8, 2023".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of October 14, 2023".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of October 10, 1998".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of January 2, 2021".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of May 4, 2019".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of October 23, 2021".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of January 28, 2023".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of April 19, 2025".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of June 22, 1996".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of July 5, 2014".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of September 9, 2017".
- "Adult Pop Airplay, Week of November 19, 2022".
- "Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Pink Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Katy Perry Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Adele Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Shawn Mendes Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Justin Bieber Chart History (Adult Pop Airplay)".
- "Rob Thomas Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Bruno Mars Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "OneRepublic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Ariana Grande Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Rihanna Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Coldplay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- "Hozier Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
- (June 1, 2017). "Coldplay Ends Longest Break Between No. 1s on Adult Pop Songs Chart". Billboard Magazine.
- (31 July 2018). "Shawn Mendes Is the First Artist to Land Four No. 1s on the Adult Pop Songs Chart Before Age 20". Billboard Music.
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