Alternative Airplay

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{About|the music chart|the music genre|Alternative rock}} {{short description|Billboard chart}}

'''Alternative Airplay''' (formerly known as '''Modern Rock Tracks''' between 1988 and 2009, and '''Alternative Songs''' between 2009 and 2020) is a music chart published in the American magazine ''Billboard'' since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played songs on alternative and modern rock radio stations. Introduced as Modern Rock Tracks, the chart served as a companion to the Mainstream Rock chart (then called Album Rock Tracks), and its creation was prompted by the explosion of alternative music on American radio in the late 1980s. During the first several years of the chart, it regularly featured music that did not receive commercial radio airplay anywhere but on a few modern rock and college rock radio stations. This included many electronic and post-punk artists. Gradually, as alternative rock became more mainstream (spearheaded by the grunge explosion in the early 1990s), alternative and mainstream rock radio stations began playing many of the same songs. By the late 2000s, the genres became more fully differentiated with only limited crossover. The Alternative Airplay chart features more alternative rock, indie pop, and pop punk artists while the Mainstream Rock chart leans towards more guitar-tinged blues rock, hard rock, and heavy metal.

The chart is based solely on radio airplay ranked by a calculation of the total number of spins each song receives per week. As of 2012, approximately 80 alternative radio stations across the United States are electronically monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BX&s_site=sunherald&p_multi=BX&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10C3552E00587870&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|title = The charts|work = The Sun Herald|date = August 25, 2005|access-date = January 18, 2008|format = fee required}}</ref> The chart had 30 positions when it was introduced in September 1988 and expanded to 40 positions on September 10, 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Column, Chart Expand Coverage of Modern Rock |magazine=Billboard |date=September 10, 1994 |volume=106 |issue=37 |page=6}}</ref>

The chart was renamed to Alternative Songs beginning with the June 20, 2009, issue after ''Billboard'' fully absorbed ''Radio & Records'', whose similar chart was called "Alternative" and to reflect the music industry's more common use of the term.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chart-beat-pink-black-eyed-peas-shinedown/ |title=Chart Beat: Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Shinedown |author=Gary Trust |magazine=Billboard |date=June 10, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> In June 2020, ''Billboard'' introduced the separate Hot Alternative Songs chart, which uses similar methodology as the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 by measuring the popularity of songs classified as alternative across all radio formats, streaming services, and sales within the United States. To avoid confusion, Alternative Songs was renamed Alternative Airplay.

== History == The first alternative chart, called Modern Rock Tracks, appeared in the September 10, 1988, edition of ''Billboard'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/alternative-songs-chart-25th-anniversary-top-50-artists-most-top/|title=Alternative Chart 25th Anniversary: Top 50 Artists, Most Top 10s, Most No. 1s & More|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> The first number-one song of the chart was Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Peek-a-Boo", which topped the charts for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.popradiotop20.com/Modern-Rock/Siouxsie.htm|title=Siouxsie & The Banshees|website=www.popradiotop20.com|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> In the chart's early years, the chart was closely associated with college rock, new wave, post-punk and electronic genres with a large presence of British, Irish and Australian artists, as only 24 of the chart's first 82 number-one hits were by American acts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/article/9214-radio-friendly-unit-shifters-25-years-of-billboards-alternative-music-chart/|title=Radio-Friendly Unit Shifters |website=Pitchfork|date=September 9, 2013 |language=en|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> Bands such as Depeche Mode, R.E.M., the Cure, the B-52's, the Replacements, and Midnight Oil scored multiple number one hits on the chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name=":1" />

In 1991, with the release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (which reached No. 1 on November 23, 1991),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/312336/nirvana/chart?f=377|title=Nirvana – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> grunge became a new form of alternative rock to chart. However, grunge did not have a dominating presence on the chart in its heyday; over time, grunge would grow into popularity as a representation of alternative rock in the mainstream. Iconic grunge songs fared decently on the Alternative Songs chart but better on the Mainstream Rock Songs.<ref name=":1" /> For example, "Black" by Pearl Jam peaked only at No. 20 on the former but No. 3 on the latter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/328459/pearl-jam/chart?page=2&f=377|title=Pearl Jam – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/328459/pearl-jam/chart?page=1&f=376|title=Pearl Jam – Chart history |website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> This was because the college rock and new wave of the 1980s remained the dominant styles of the format, while grunge became an alternative rock style that was popular on the Mainstream Rock format.

In the mid-1990s, alternative rock songs began to crossover to Pop radio, with acts such as Green Day, the Offspring and Alanis Morissette being played on Pop stations after establishing hits on the Alternative chart.<ref name=":1" /> Dominant genres included pop punk and softer alternative rock, as grunge acts such as Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots did not reach No. 1, while Britpop, a form of alternative rock from the UK, was represented only by Oasis.<ref name=":1" /> By the late 1990s, the Alternative Songs chart was ruled by relatively lighter alternative rock bands such as Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty and Sugar Ray and a plethora of one-hit wonders.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://grantland.com/features/haim-days-gone-indie-rock-death-rattle/|title=Indie Rock's Tuneful Death Rattle|last=Hyden|first=Steven|date=October 1, 2013|work=Grantland|access-date=August 8, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

At the turn of the century, alternative radio embraced nu-metal/rap rock with bands including Korn, Limp Bizkit and most famously, Linkin Park. Chris Molanphy of ''Pitchfork'' stated that "possibly the most loathed period for music of the last half-century, the rap-rock years—when looked through the prism of the Modern Rock chart's evolution—are a logical endpoint to a decade when alt-culture steadily de-wussified itself."<ref name=":1" /> Garage rock from the likes of the White Stripes and the Strokes also became hits in the early 2000s as a counter to the over-aggression of rap rock.<ref name=":1" />

In the mid-2000s, the Alternative charts were ruled at the top by its most dominant members. From 2003 to 2008, the No. 1 song was by either Foo Fighters, Green Day, Incubus, Linkin Park or Red Hot Chili Peppers 49% of the time – 152 out of 313 weeks.<ref name=":1" /> During this time, 1990s alternative groups such as Nine Inch Nails and Weezer enjoyed their biggest success, while emo (Jimmy Eat World), indie rock (Modest Mouse) and pop punk (Fall Out Boy) also were popular.<ref name=":1" /> In 2007, "The Kill" by Thirty Seconds to Mars set a record for the longest-running hit in the history of the US alternative chart when it remained on the national chart for 52 weeks.<ref name="thekill">{{cite web|url=http://melodic.net/#!/news/7430|title=30 Seconds to Mars Breaks Modern Rock Record|date=February 2, 2007|first=Kaj|last=Roth|work=Melodic|access-date=April 23, 2013}}</ref> Rise Against's "Savior" later broke the record by spending 65 weeks, followed around the same time by "1901" from Phoenix at 57.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGl78gyjknMC&q=savior+rise+against+alternative+songs+record&pg=PA42|title=Extended Stays|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=October 2, 2010|page=42|volume=122|issue=39|access-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref> In 2009, ''Billboard'' renamed the chart to "Alternative Songs".<ref name=":0" />

In the 2010s, the Alternative charts were led by softer indie pop and folk, and crossed over new acts to pop radio for the first time since the late 1990s, such as Foster the People, Imagine Dragons, Fun, and Gotye.<ref name=":1" /> The chart also began to diverge from the Mainstream Rock chart, as only 10 of 40 songs were shared between the two in November 2012, compared to 23 of 40 in November 2002.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/474293/jangle-all-the-way-new-acts-soften-alternative-airwaves|title=Jangle All The Way: New Acts Soften Alternative Airwaves|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref> For the chart's 25th anniversary in 2013, ''Billboard'' published a list of the 100 biggest hits in the history of the Alternative chart. "Uprising" by Muse was listed at No. 1, having spent 17 weeks on the top of the chart and 53 weeks in total. "Savior" by Rise Against was listed at No. 2, peaking at #3 but staying on the chart for a record-breaking 65 weeks.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/5687158/alternative-chart-25th-anniversary-top-100-songs|title=Alternative Chart 25th Anniversary: Top 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref>

On October 11, 2018, ''Billboard'' released its Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs 30th-anniversary recap. Foo Fighters continued its reign as the chart's No. 1 act over the list's first 30 years, after leading the 25th-anniversary recap. Muse's "Uprising" retained its standing as the all-time No. 1 song. Rise Against's "Savior" again ranked at No. 2, while Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" entered at No. 3, the highest debut on the 30th anniversary songs list, following its record 20-week reign in 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/alternative-songs-anniversary-foo-fighters-muse-uprising/|title=Foo Fighters Top Act, Muse's 'Uprising' No. 1 Song in Alternative Songs Chart's 30th Anniversary Recaps|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> Four artists have charted at least once in the all five decades (1980s through 2020s) of the chart's existence: Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and U2.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/nine-inch-nails-rare-alternative-airplay-feat-3-other-acts/|title=Nine Inch Nails Achieve Alternative Airplay Feat Accomplished by Just 3 Other Acts|magazine=Billboard|date=August 6, 2025|access-date=October 17, 2025|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin}}</ref> Although the Alternative Songs chart "tends to be heavily male-dominated", ''Billboard'' released a list of the top-performing women in the chart's archives as part of the 30th anniversary of the Alternative Songs chart, with Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries taking the lead spot.<ref name="BB-Zellner-2018-10-11">{{cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=October 11, 2018 |title=Dolores O'Riordan, Alanis Morissette, Hayley Williams & More: The Top 30 Female Artists in the Alternative Songs Chart's History|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/alternative-songs-female-artists-cranberries-alanis-paramore/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200405163320/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8479043/alternative-songs-female-artists-cranberries-alanis-paramore |archive-date=April 5, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2020}}</ref> The current number-one song on the chart is "Until the Sun Explodes" by Sublime.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2026-05-30/|title=Alternative Airplay|date=May 30, 2026|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 28, 2026}}</ref>

==Chart achievements== === Artists with the most number-one songs ===  {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. 1s !! Artist !! Source(s) |- | 15 || Red Hot Chili Peppers || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="9" | <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Penuell |first=Russ |title=Twenty One Pilots Tie for Second-Most Alternative Airplay No. 1s With 'Drag Path' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/twenty-one-pilots-tie-2nd-most-alternative-airplay-number-1s-1236233508/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 29, 2026 |date=April 28, 2026}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 14 || Linkin Park |- | Twenty One Pilots |- | rowspan="2" | 13 || Cage the Elephant |- | Green Day |- | 12 || Foo Fighters |- | rowspan="3" | 8 || The Black Keys |- | U2 |- | Weezer |- | 7 || Imagine Dragons || style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="Imagine Dragons-charts"/> |}

=== Acts who have reached number one in at least three decades === ==== Four decades ==== Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blink-182/chart-history/mrt/|title=Blink-182 Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=May 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/green-day-breaks-alternative-songs-no-1s-record/|title=Green Day Breaks Alternative Songs No 1s Record|date=April 14, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Foo-charts" /><ref name="RHCP-charts" /> :Blink-182 (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :Foo Fighters (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :Green Day (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :Red Hot Chili Peppers (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s)

==== Three decades ==== Source:<ref name="Beck">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/beck-up-all-night-alternative-songs-number-one/|title=Beck Scores Record-Breaking No. 1 on Alternative Songs with 'Up All Night'|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=December 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/weezer-leads-alternative-airplay-chart-in-third-decade-with-hero/ar-BB187bVl |title=Weezer Leads Alternative Airplay Chart in Third Decade With 'Hero' |website=MSN Entertainment |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin|date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Modest-Mouse">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9616925/modest-mouse-we-are-between-tops-alternative-airplay|title=Modest Mouse Adds Alternative Airplay No. 1 in Third Decade With 'We Are Between'|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref> :Beck (1990s, 2000s, 2010s) :Coldplay (2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :Linkin Park (2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :Modest Mouse (2000s, 2010s, 2020s) :U2 (1980s, 1990s, 2000s) :Weezer (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)

===Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one===  {| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks at No. 1 !! Artist !! Source |- | 95 || Foo Fighters || <ref name="Foo Fighters-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Foo-Fighters/chart-history/mrt/|title=Foo Fighters Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref> |- | 91 || Red Hot Chili Peppers || <ref name="RHCP-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/chart-history/mrt/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2024}}</ref> |- | 84 || Linkin Park || <ref name="Linkin Park-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Linkin-Park/chart-history/mrt/|title=Linkin Park Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref> |- | 80 || Twenty One Pilots || <ref name="Twenty One Pilots-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Twenty-One-Pilots/chart-history/mrt/|title=Twenty-One-Pilots Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref> |- | 65 || Green Day || <ref name="Green Day-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Green-Day/chart-history/mrt/|title=Green Day Chart History − Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 11, 2024}}</ref> |- | 55 || Imagine Dragons || <ref name="Imagine Dragons-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/imagine-dragons/chart-history/mrt/|title=Imagine Dragons Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> |- | 49 || Cage the Elephant || <ref name="Cage the Elephant-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage-the-elephant/chart-history/mrt/|title=Cage the Elephant Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 10, 2025}}</ref> |- | 48 || Blink-182 || <ref name="Blink-182-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Blink-182/chart-history/mrt/|title=Blink-182 Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref> |- | 46 || Muse || <ref name="Muse-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Muse/chart-history/mrt/|title=Muse Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2024}}</ref> |- | 44 || The Black Keys || <ref name="The Black Keys-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-black-keys/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Black Keys Chart History – Alternative Airplay|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref> |}

===Number-one debuts=== *"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by R.E.M. (1994)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1994-09-24|title=Alternative Airplay: September 24, 1994|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> *"Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2006-04-22|title=Alternative Airplay: April 22, 2006|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> *"What I've Done" by Linkin Park (2007)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2007-04-21|title=Alternative Airplay: April 21, 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>

===Artists with the most top-ten songs=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Entries !! Act !! Source |- | 34 || Foo Fighters || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/foo-fighters/chart-history/mrt/|title=Foo Fighters – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 28, 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2 | 28 || Green Day || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/green-day/chart-history/mrt/|title=Green Day – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 28, 2025}}</ref> |- | Red Hot Chili Peppers || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/chart-history/mrt/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> |- | 23 || U2 || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/u2/chart-history/mrt/|title=U2 – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> |- | 22 || Linkin Park || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linkin-park/chart-history/mrt/|title=Linkin Park – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 21 || Pearl Jam || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pearl-jam/chart-history/mrt/|title=Pearl Jam – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> |- | Twenty One Pilots || <ref name="Twenty One Pilots-charts" /> |- | Weezer || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/chart-history/mrt/|title=Weezer – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> |- | 20 || The Offspring || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-offspring/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Offspring – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 1, 2025}}</ref> |- | 18 || Cage the Elephant || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage-the-elephant/chart-history/mrt/|title=Cage the Elephant – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 28, 2025}}</ref> |-  |}

===Artists with most chart entries=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Entries !! Act !! Source |- | 44 || Foo Fighters || <ref name="Foo-charts">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/foo-fighters/chart-history/mrt/|title=Foo Fighters – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref> |- | 44 || U2 || <ref name="U2_20170915">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/u2/chart-history/mrt/|title=U2 – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 14, 2023}}</ref> |- | 42 || Pearl Jam || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pearl-jam/chart-history/mrt/|title=Pearl Jam – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> |- | 40 || Green Day || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/green-day/chart-history/mrt/|title=Green Day – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref> |- | 37 || Red Hot Chili Peppers || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/chart-history/mrt/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 34 || Weezer || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/chart-history/mrt/|title=Weezer – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=August 24, 2023}}</ref> |- | Linkin Park || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linkin-park/chart-history/mrt/|title=Linkin Park – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref> |- | 32 || Coldplay || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/coldplay/chart-history/mrt/|title=Coldplay – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref> |- | 31 || The Offspring || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-offspring/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Offspring – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref> |- | 29 || The Smashing Pumpkins || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-smashing-pumpkins/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Smashing Pumpkins – Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref> |}

=== Songs with most weeks on the chart ===  {| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks !! Song !! Artist !! Source |- | 88 ||"Monsters" || All Time Low featuring Blackbear || <ref name="ATLChartHistory">{{cite magazine |title=Chart History All Time Low |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/all-time-low/chart-history/MRT |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |access-date=October 4, 2021 |ref=ATLChartHistory}}</ref> |- | 76 ||"Broken" || Lovelytheband ||<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2019-05-11|title=Alternative Songs Chart the Week of May 11, 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 14, 2023}}</ref> |- | 65 ||"Savior" || Rise Against || <ref name="MostWeeks2019">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lovelytheband-broken-breaks-alternative-songs-longevity-record/|title=lovelytheband's 'Broken' Breaks Alternative Songs Longevity Record|magazine=Billboard|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> |- | 64 ||"First" || Cold War Kids || <ref name="MostWeeks2019"/> |- | 63 || "Trampoline" || Shaed || <ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2020-02-22|title=Alternative Songs Chart the Week of February 22, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 14, 2023}}</ref> |- | 58 ||"Do I Wanna Know?" || Arctic Monkeys || <ref name="MostWeeks2019"/> |- | 57 ||"1901" || Phoenix || <ref name="MostWeeks2019"/> |- | 56 || "Wish I Knew You" || The Revivalists || <ref name="MostWeeks2019"/> |- | 55 || "Sit Next to Me" || Foster the People || <ref name="MostWeeks2019"/> |- |rowspan="2"| 54 || "Enemy" || Imagine Dragons and JID || <ref name="Imagine Dragons-charts"/> |- || "Too Sweet" || Hozier || <ref name="Hozier-charts">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/hozier/chart-history/mrt/|title=Hozier – Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 26, 2025}}</ref> |}

===Songs with most weeks at number one=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks !! Song !! Artist !! Year !! Source |- | rowspan="2" | 20 || "Feel It Still" || Portugal. The Man || 2017 || <ref name="Portugal 2017">{{cite news|last1=Rutherford|first1=Kevin|title=Portugal. The Man's 'Feel It Still' Breaks Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Alternative Songs Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/portugal-the-man-feel-it-still-alternative-songs-number-one-breaks-record/|access-date=May 7, 2018|work=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard Music|date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> |- || "One More Time" || Blink-182 || 2023–24 || <ref name="Blink-182-charts" /> |- | 19 || "Madness" || Muse || 2012–13 || <ref name="Portugal 2017"/> |- | rowspan="2" | 18 || "The Pretender" || Foo Fighters || 2007 || <ref name="Portugal 2017"/> |- || "Monsters" || All Time Low featuring Blackbear || 2020–21 || <ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Unterberger |first1=Andrew |title='Monster' Hits: Justin Bieber & Shawn Mendes, All Time Low and More Monstrous Hot 100 History |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9508817/monster-all-time-low-justin-bieber-shawn-mendes/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Alternative Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2021-01-23 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 2, 2021 |date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> |- | 17 || "Uprising" || Muse || 2009–10 || <ref name="Portugal 2017" /> |- | rowspan="4" | 16 || "Scar Tissue" || Red Hot Chili Peppers || 1999 || <ref name="Portugal 2017" /> |- || "It's Been Awhile" || Staind || 2001 || <ref name="Portugal 2017" /> |- || "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" || Green Day || 2004–05 || <ref name="Portugal 2017" /> |- || "High Hopes" || Panic! at the Disco || 2018–19 || <ref>{{cite web |title=High Hopes Alternative Songs Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/panic-at-the-disco/chart-history/mrt/ |website=billboard.com |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> |}

=== Songs that have taken the longest time to reach number one === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Weeks !! Song !! Artist !Source |- | 42 ||"Running Up That Hill" || Meg Myers |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2020-02-01/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=February 1, 2020|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 33 ||"Out of My League" || Fitz and the Tantrums |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2013-10-12/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=October 12, 2013|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- ||"Novocaine"|| The Unlikely Candidates |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2020-03-14/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=March 14, 2020|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"| 32 ||"Just Pretend" || Bad Omens |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bad-omens-just-pretend-number-1-alternative-airplay-chart-1235405150/|title=Bad Omens Top Alternative Airplay Chart for the First Time|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=September 1, 2023|accessdate=September 1, 2023|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |- ||"Mountain at My Gates" || Foals |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2016-03-19/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=March 19, 2016|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- ||"Animal" || Neon Trees |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2010-10-02/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=October 2, 2010|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 31 ||"Toxic" || BoyWithUke |<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=June 28, 2022 |title=BoyWithUke Notches First No. 1 on a Billboard Songs Chart With 'Toxic' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/boywithuke-toxic-alternative-airplay-chart/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 16, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |- ||"1901" || Phoenix |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2010-02-20/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=February 20, 2010|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- | 30 || "Dissolve" || Absofacto |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2020-01-18/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=January 18, 2020|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="6" | 29 ||"Feel Good Drag" || Anberlin |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2009-05-02/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=May 2, 2009|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- |"Back Against the Wall" || Cage the Elephant |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2010-03-06/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=March 6, 2010|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- |"Safe and Sound" || Capital Cities |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2013-06-15/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=June 15, 2013|accessdate=April 12, 2023}}</ref> |- |"Little Talks" || Of Monsters and Men |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2012-07-21/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=July 21, 2012|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}</ref> |- |"Records" || Weezer |<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Weezer Scores Eighth Alternative Airplay No. 1 With 'Records'|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/weezer-records-number-1-alternative-airplay-1235256084/|access-date=February 24, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |- |"God Needs the Devil" || Jonah Kagen |<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=May 17, 2025|title=Jonah Kagen Snags First Billboard No. 1 With 'God Needs the Devil'|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/jonah-kagen-billboard-number-1-god-needs-the-devil-1235974611/|access-date=June 3, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |}

===Albums with at least three number ones=== Source:<ref name="FiveSongs">{{cite news|last1=Rutherford|first1=Kevin|title=Imagine Dragons' 'Evolve' Is First Album With 3 Alternative Songs No. 1s This Decade|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/imagine-dragons-whatever-it-takes-evolve-alternative-songs-number-one/|access-date=March 15, 2018|work=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard Music|date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> :5 songs ::''Meteora''{{snd}}Linkin Park ("Somewhere I Belong", "Faint", "Numb", "Lying from You", "Breaking the Habit", 2003–04) :3 songs ::''Neon Pill''{{snd}} Cage the Elephant ("Neon Pill", "Rainbow", "Metaverse", 2024–25) ::''Scaled and Icy''{{snd}} Twenty One Pilots ("Shy Away", "Saturday", "The Outside", 2021–22) ::''Social Cues''{{snd}}Cage the Elephant ("Ready to Let Go", "Social Cues", "Skin and Bones", 2019{{ndash}}21) ::''Trench''{{snd}} Twenty One Pilots ("Jumpsuit", "Chlorine", "The Hype", 2018–19) ::''Evolve''{{snd}}Imagine Dragons ("Believer", "Thunder", "Whatever It Takes", 2017–18) ::''Only by the Night''{{snd}}Kings of Leon ("Sex on Fire", "Use Somebody", "Notion", 2008–09) ::''Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace''{{snd}}Foo Fighters ("The Pretender", "Long Road to Ruin", "Let It Die", 2007–08) ::''Stadium Arcadium''{{snd}}Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Dani California", "Tell Me Baby", "Snow (Hey Oh)", 2006–07) ::''With Teeth''{{snd}}Nine Inch Nails ("The Hand That Feeds", "Only", "Every Day Is Exactly the Same", 2005–06) ::''American Idiot''{{snd}}Green Day ("American Idiot", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Holiday", 2004–05) ::''Californication''{{snd}}Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Scar Tissue", "Otherside", "Californication", 1999–2000) ::''Jagged Little Pill''{{snd}}Alanis Morissette ("You Oughta Know", "Hand in My Pocket", "Ironic", 1995–96) ::''Dookie''{{snd}}Green Day ("Longview", "Basket Case", "When I Come Around", 1994–95) ::''Achtung Baby''{{snd}}U2 ("The Fly", "Mysterious Ways", "One", 1991–92)

=== Top female performers (1988–2018) === Source:{{efn|"The Top 30 Female Alternative Songs Artists ranking is based on weekly performance on the Alternative Songs chart from its September 10, 1988, inception through September 8, 2018".<ref name="BB-Zellner-2018-10-11"/>}}  {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Position !scope="col"|Artist |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1 |Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2 |Meg White (The White Stripes) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|3 |Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|4 |Shirley Manson (Garbage) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|5 |Alanis Morissette |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|6 |Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson (The B-52s) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|7 |Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|8 |Natalie Merchant{{efn|"Mary Ramsey replaced Merchant in 1993, though all of the band's Alternative Songs entries were in the Merchant era".<ref name="BB-Zellner-2018-10-11"/>}} (10,000 Maniacs) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|9 |Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (Of Monsters and Men) |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|10 |Hannah Hooper (Grouplove) |}

==Other chart achievements==

*Blink-182's album ''One More Time...'' has generated songs with the highest total number of weeks spent at number one, with thirty-three weeks total. Red Hot Chili Peppers' album ''Californication'' and Linkin Park's album ''Meteora'' come next with thirty weeks each.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

*Sublime have had the longest time between number-ones (28 years, 10 months), with "What I Got" (1996) and "Ensenada" (2025).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sublime-ensenada-number-1-alternative-airplay-chart-1236065624/|title=Sublime Has Its First Alternative Airplay No. 1 in Almost 30 Years|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=September 12, 2025|access-date=September 21, 2025}}</ref> The record was previously held by Sum 41, who waited 22 years, 5 months and 3 weeks, between "Fat Lip" (2001) and "Landmines" (2023) for their next number one.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sum-41-landmines-first-alternative-airplay-number-1-22-years-1235619924/|title=Sum 41 Ends Record Break Between No. 1s on Alternative Airplay Chart With 'Landmines'|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=March 1, 2024|access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref> *The band to have the most charted songs without reaching number one is Korn, with 21.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} * Fifteen songs released on an independent record label have reached number one on the chart. The first three were "Come Out and Play" by The Offspring, "What It's Like" by Everlast and "Panic Switch" by Silversun Pickups.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Chart Beat: Lady Gaga, Kenny Chesney, Silversun Pickups |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/chart-beat-lady-gaga-kenny-chesney-silversun-pickups-26835 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2 March 2024 |date=17 June 2009}}</ref> These were followed by "1901" by Phoenix, "Lay Me Down" by The Dirty Heads featuring Rome Ramirez, "Do I Wanna Know?" by Arctic Monkeys, "Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)" by Awolnation, "The Sound of Winter" by Bush, "First" by Cold War Kids, "Bored to Death" by Blink-182, "Take It All Back" by Judah & the Lion, "No Roots" by Alice Merton, "Sober Up" by AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo, "Trampoline" by Shaed and "Running Up That Hill" by Meg Myers.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} *Although Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" did not hit number one on the chart, peaking at number two on July 2, 1994,<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 | title=Modern Rock Tracks | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Nielsen Business Media | volume=106 | issue=27 | date=July 2, 1994 | access-date=June 13, 2013 | page=102}}</ref> it became the Modern Rock Tracks year-end number one single of 1994,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19941223/1948755/music-notes | title=Music Notes | work=The Seattle Times | date=December 23, 1994 | access-date=June 13, 2013 | author=Macdonald, Patrick}}</ref> the only song to do so without ever being number one on the weekly chart. *In August 2013, Lorde became the first woman to top the chart since Tracy Bonham in 1996 when her song "Royals" reached number one in August 2013;<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Lorde First Woman in 17 Years to Top Alternative with 'Royals'|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/5646336/lorde-first-woman-in-17-years-to-top-alternative-with-royals|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 16, 2013|date=August 16, 2013}}</ref> the next woman to top the chart was Elle King with her song "Ex's & Oh's" which hit the top spot in September 2015.<ref name="billboard-alternative-top">{{cite magazine|last1=White|first1=Emily|title=Elle King Is Just Second Woman to Top Alternative Songs Chart in Two Decades|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/elle-king-alternative-songs-chart-record/|access-date=September 9, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> In September 2013, Lorde surpassed Alanis Morissette to become the woman with the longest-running single at number one when "Royals" spent its sixth week at number one.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Lorde Links Longest Alternative Songs Reign By A Woman With 'Royals'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5695480/lorde-links-longest-alternative-songs-reign-by-a-woman-with-royals|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2013|date=September 16, 2013}}</ref> Since then, five other women have also topped the chart (Alice Merton (2018), Lana Del Rey (2019), Billie Eilish (2019), Meg Myers (2020), and Lola Young (2025)), as have female-fronted bands Shaed (2019), Cannons (2021), and Paramore (2023). *Lorde is the youngest solo artist to reach number one, achieving this feat at the age of 16 with "Royals".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billie-eilish-first-airplay-chart-nuber-1-bury-a-friend/|title=Billie Eilish Scores First Airplay Chart No. 1 as 'Bury a Friend' Tops Alternative Songs|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=May 20, 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> *Billie Eilish holds the records for most number ones on the chart for a soloist and most number ones for a female artist or band with female vocals, having topped the chart four times.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kevin |title=Billie Eilish Breaks Record for Most Alternative Airplay No. 1s Ever Among Soloists |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9519474/billie-eilish-breaks-record-alternative-airplay/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> *Yellowcard holds the record for the longest wait between their first entry and their first number one single on the chart. 21 years, 11 months, and three weeks separated the debut of "Way Away" in September 2003 and the ascension of "Better Days" to the pole position in August 2025.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kevin |title=Yellowcard Sets Alternative Airplay Record with First No. 1 Song 'Better Days' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/yellowcard-better-days-new-record-alternative-airplay-chart-1236050046/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 23, 2025 |date=August 22, 2025}}</ref> * Debbie Harry holds the record for the longest gap between entries on the chart: "Kiss It Better" last appeared on the chart in January 1990 and she did not reappear again until a featured credit on "Soul Train" by Just Loud in December 2018, 29 years later. Kate Bush has the longest gap between entries for a lead artist: "Rubberband Girl" last appeared on the chart in January 1994, and she did not chart again until a re-release of her 1985 single "Running Up That Hill", which debuted on the chart 28 years later in June 2022. Blur has the longest gap between entries for a band: "Crazy Beat" last appeared on the chart in May 2003, and they did not chart again until "The Narcissist" debuted on the chart 20 years later in June 2023.<ref name="gaps1">{{cite magazine |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kevin |title=Blur Returns to Alternative Airplay Chart After 20-Year Break |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/blur-the-narcissist-returns-band-alternative-airplay-chart/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=21 July 2023 |date=8 June 2023}}</ref>

==Notes== {{noteslist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay Current Alternative Airplay chart], Billboard.com.

Category:1988 establishments in the United States Category:Billboard charts Category:Alternative rock