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 Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...

, hip hop, or adult contemporary fare. The main genres within this format are alternative rock and mainstream

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

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. The current number one song on the chart is " Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift.

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 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 Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

and

Boyz II Men Boyz II Men (pronounced ''boys to men''), also known as B2M, is an American vocal harmony group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone Nathan M ...

Records and achievements

Most weeks at number one

25 weeks * " Smooth" – Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999–2000) 23 weeks * " Wherever You Will Go" –

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(2001–02) 20 weeks * " Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd (2020) 18 weeks * " Unwell" – Matchbox Twenty (2003) * "

Photograph A photograph (also known as a photo, image, or picture) is an image created by light falling on a photosensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic image sensor, such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are now create ...

" – Nickelback (2005–06) 17 weeks * " Iris" – Goo Goo Dolls (1998) 16 weeks * " Complicated" –

Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne ( ; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. At age 16, she signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut studio album, ''Let Go (Avril Lavigne album), Let Go'' (2002), is the ...

(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 Panic! at the Disco is the solo project of American musician Brendon Urie. It was originally a pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 by childhood friends Urie, Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, and Brent Wilson. They recorded their firs ...

(2018–19) 14 weeks * "

Torn Torn may refer to: Film and television * ''Torn'' (2009 film), an American film by Richard Johnson * ''Torn'' (2013 American film), directed Jeremiah Birnbaum * ''Torn'' (2013 Nigerian film), directed by Moses Inwang * ''Torn'' (TV series), a ...

" – Natalie Imbruglia (1998) * " Everything You Want" – Vertical Horizon (2000) * " Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" – Train (2001) * "

Girls Like You "Girls Like You" is a song recorded by American band Maroon 5 from their sixth studio album ''Red Pill Blues'' (2017). The track was written by lead singer Adam Levine, Starrah, Gian Stone, Cirkut (record producer), Cirkut, and Jason Evigan, wit ...

" –

Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, drummer Matt ...

featuring

Cardi B Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus (, ; born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper and songwriter. She first gained popularity as an influencer on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to early 2017, she appeared as ...

(2018) * " Memories" – Maroon 5 (2019–20) Sources:

Artists with the most number-one songs

Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one

Artists with the most top-ten songs

Longest break between number ones

* Coldplay – eight years and eight months * Train – six years, four months and one week *

– five years, 10 months and one week

Additional achievements

* Shawn Mendes is the first artist to have four songs hit number one on the chart before age 20.

References

External links

Current ''Billboard'' Adult Pop Songs chart
{{Billboard Billboard charts