Adult Top 40
The Adult Top 40 (also known as Adult Pop Songs) 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."[1]
It is a format in which the genre is geared more towards an adult audience who are not into hard rock, hip hop, or adult contemporary fare. The main genres within this format are alternative rock and mainstream pop that is more adult-oriented. It is not to be confused with adult contemporary where rather lesser-known and more ballad-driven songs are played.
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.[2]
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."[2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
Records and achievements
Most weeks at number one
25 weeks
- "Smooth" – Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999–2000)
23 weeks
- "Wherever You Will Go" – The Calling (2001–02)
18 weeks
- "Unwell" – Matchbox Twenty (2003)
- "Photograph" – Nickelback (2005–06)
17 weeks
- "Iris" – Goo Goo Dolls (1998)
16 weeks
- "Complicated" – Avril Lavigne (2002)
15 weeks
- "Don't Speak" – No Doubt (1996–97)
- "How to Save a Life" – The Fray (2006–07)
- "High Hopes" – Panic! at the Disco (2018–19)
14 weeks
- "Torn" – Natalie Imbruglia (1998)
- "Everything You Want" – Vertical Horizon (2000)
- "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" – Train (2001)
- "Girls Like You" – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B (2018)
- "Memories" – Maroon 5 (2019–20)
Artists with the most number-one singles
Number | Artist | Source |
---|---|---|
Maroon 5 | [7] | |
Pink | [7] | |
Katy Perry | [7] | |
Taylor Swift | [7] | |
Shawn Mendes | [7] | |
Adele | [7] | |
Nickelback | [7] | |
Ed Sheeran | [7] | |
Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one
Weeks | Artist | Source |
---|---|---|
100 | Maroon 5 | [8] |
54 | Matchbox Twenty | [9] |
47 | Santana | [10] |
40 | Rob Thomas | [11] |
38 | Pink | [12] |
35 | Nickelback | [13] |
Adele | [14] | |
34 | Katy Perry | [15] |
Ed Sheeran | [16] | |
28 | Taylor Swift | [17] |
27 | Train | [18] |
Kelly Clarkson | [19] |
Artists with the most top 10 singles
Number | Artist | Source |
---|---|---|
25 | Maroon 5 | [20] |
22 | Taylor Swift | [21] |
17 | Pink | [22] |
16 | Kelly Clarkson | [23] |
Katy Perry | [24] | |
14 | Goo Goo Dolls | [25] |
Train | [26] | |
13 | Matchbox Twenty | [27] |
Longest break between number ones
- Coldplay – eight years and eight months
- Train – six years, four months and one week
- Maroon 5 – five years, 10 months and one week
Source: [28]
Additional achievements
- Shawn Mendes is the first artist to have four singles hit number 1 on the Adult Pop Songs Chart before Age 20.[29]
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Top 40 chart
- Adult Contemporary (chart)
- Mainstream Top 40
References
- "Current Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
- "Updated Charts: Heatseekers, AC". Billboard. 108 (11): 109. March 16, 1996. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
- "Adult Pop Songs chart". Billboard. October 7, 1995. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- "Adult Pop Songs chart". Billboard. March 16, 1996. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- "Panic! at the Disco's 'High Hopes' Is Longest-Leading Adult Pop Songs No. 1 This Decade". Billboard. March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- "Maroon 5 Top Artist, Santana's 'Smooth' Top Song of Adult Pop Songs Chart's First 20 Years". Billboard. March 16, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- Trust, Gary (December 2, 2019). "Maroon 5 Scores Record-Extending Adult Pop Songs No. 1 With 'Memories'". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- "Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Santana Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- "Rob Thomas Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- "Pink Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Nickelback Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Adele Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Katy Perry Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- "Train Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- "Maroon 5 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Pink Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Katy Perry Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Train Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- Trust, Gary (June 1, 2017). "Coldplay Ends Longest Break Between No. 1s on Adult Pop Songs Chart". billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- Trust, Gary (31 July 2018). "Shawn Mendes Is the First Artist to Land Four No. 1s on the Adult Pop Songs Chart Before Age 20". billboard.com. Billboard Music. Retrieved 1 August 2018.