Mainstream Rock (chart) explained
Mainstream Rock is a music chart in Billboard magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in March 1981 as Rock Albums & Top Tracks, after which the name changed first to Top Rock Tracks, then to Album Rock Tracks, and finally to its current Mainstream Rock in 1996.
History
The Rock Albums & Top Tracks charts were introduced in the March 21, 1981, issue of Billboard.[1] The 50- and 60-position charts ranked airplay on album rock radio stations in the United States.[2] Because album-oriented rock stations focused on playing tracks from albums rather than specifically released singles, these charts were designed to measure the airplay of any and all tracks from an album. Rock Albums was a survey of the top albums on American rock radio, while Top Tracks listed the top individual songs being played. Mike Harrison of Billboard explained that when major artists release albums, more than one song from the album can become popular at the same time. The first number-one song on the Top Tracks chart was "I Can't Stand It" by Eric Clapton.
On September 15, 1984, the Rock Albums chart was discontinued and Top Tracks was renamed Top Rock Tracks.[1] [3] It reduced from a 60-song tally to 50 songs on October 20, 1984,[1] following a major revamp to the magazine. Coinciding with an increase in its reporting panel of album rock stations in the United States, the name of the chart was changed again with the issue dated April 12, 1986, to Album Rock Tracks.[4]
On November 23, 1991, instead of reporting panels, Billboard changed its methodology of measuring airplay by using monitored airplay as provided by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems to compile many of its charts.[1] As a result, this data showed that many songs could spend months to over a year on the Album Rock Tracks chart. Billboard decided to drop to a 40-position chart on the week of June 27, 1992 (still its current format), and songs that fell out of the top 20 and after spending 20 weeks on the chart were moved to a new 10-position recurrent chart.[5] [1] The recurrent chart was scrapped two years later, but not the methodology.
To differentiate between classic and alternative album rock radio formats, Billboard changed the name of the chart to Mainstream Rock Tracks beginning with issue dated April 13, 1996.[1] [6] The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart did not appear in the print edition of Billboard from its issue dated August 2, 2003,[7] being accessible only through the magazine's subscription-based website, Billboard.biz. In late 2013, the chart was reintroduced to its primary website and magazine.
When R&R ceased publication in June 2009, Billboard incorporated its rock charts, Active Rock and Heritage Rock into its own publication. The radio station reporters of the two charts combine to make up the Mainstream Rock chart.[8] In the United States, Active rock stations concentrate on current hits over classic rock standards while heritage rock stations put a greater emphasis on classic rock with a few newer tracks mixed in.[9] The individual Active Rock and Heritage Rock components were discontinued by Billboard at the end of November 2013 due to a growing lack of difference between the two charts.[10]
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the chart, in June 2021, Billboard released two charts ranking the top songs and artists in the history of the chart. "Touch, Peel and Stand" by Days of the New was the number-one song on the Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs and Shinedown was named the number-one artist on the ranking of Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Artists.[11] The current number-one song on the chart is "Magnetic" by Wage War.[12]
Chart achievements
Artists with the most number-one songs
These are the artists with at least 8 songs that topped the Mainstream Rock chart.
Artists with the most consecutive number-one songs
Songs | Artist | Reference |
---|
10 | | [33] |
8 | | |
7 | | |
|
Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one
Artist | Total cumulative weeks | Reference |
---|
| 92 | |
| 86 | [34] |
| 68 | |
| 61 | |
| 59 | |
| 53 | [35] |
| 51 | |
| 48 | [36] |
| 47 | [37] |
| 47 | | |
Artists with the most top-ten songs
Artists with the most charted songs
Songs with the most weeks on the chart
These are the songs that have spent at least one year (52 weeks) on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Songs with ten or more weeks at number one
External links
Notes and References
- Joel Whitburn. Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981–2008. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008. p. 6 .
- Album, Rock Charts Celebrate Anniversaries . Gary . Trust . . March 23, 2010 . June 13, 2013 . live . http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140826141823/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/958877/album-rock-charts-celebrate-anniversaries . August 26, 2014 .
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Rock Tracks . 0-89820-153-5 . 9. Record Research .
- April 12, 1986 . Billboard Announces Expanded Album Rock Chart Panel . . 98 . 15 . 10, 16 . June 13, 2013 . December 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222184150/https://books.google.com/books?id=7yQEAAAAMBAJ . live .
- June 27, 1992 . Album Rock Chart Changes . . 104 . 26 . 67 . June 13, 2013 . December 4, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151204023607/https://books.google.com/books?id=WBAEAAAAMBAJ . live .
- April 13, 1996 . Name Changed on Album Rock Tracks . . 108 . 15 . 6 . June 13, 2013 . May 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520020429/https://books.google.com/books?id=_gwEAAAAMBAJ . live .
- August 2, 2003 . Keith . Girard . The Evolution Continues . . 115 . 31 . 10 . June 13, 2013 . October 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016203709/https://books.google.com/books?id=MhEEAAAAMBAJ . live .
- June 20, 2009 . Keith . Caulfield . Dave Matthews Band Rolls Ahead of Rock Parade . . 121 . 24 . 41 . June 13, 2013.
- News: The Metamorphosis and Splitting of the Rock Music Format. Brian. Cole. Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group. July 15, 2012.
- Gary . Trust . Chart Moves: A Great Big Jump for a Great Big World, Christina Aguilera; Volbeat's Victorious at Rock; Howard Jones Notches First Top 10 in 21 Years . . November 29, 2013 . December 3, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203065053/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5812232/chart-moves-a-great-big-jump-for-a-great-big-world-christina-aguilera . December 3, 2013.
- Kevin. Rutherford. Shinedown & Days of the New Rule Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Charts. Billboard. June 3, 2021. June 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603220935/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9581948/shinedown-days-of-the-new-top-greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-charts/. live.
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- Chart History Shinedown . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172302/https://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/chart-history/rtt/ . November 17, 2021 . August 16, 2022.
- Shinedown Adds to Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 Record With 'A Symptom of Being Human'. Rutherford. Kevin. Billboard. January 12, 2024. January 13, 2024.
- Web site: Three Days Grace Mainstream Rock Chart History . billboard.com . Billboard Music . June 13, 2022 . November 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172302/https://www.billboard.com/artist/Three-Days-Grace/chart-history/rtt/ . live .
- Five Finger Death Punch Chart History . Billboard . June 12, 2024 . live .
- Five Finger Death Punch Ties Record With Seventh Straight Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211012041228/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9594668/five-finger-death-punch-ties-record-mainstream-rock-airplay-number-1 . October 12, 2021 . October 4, 2021 . Billboard.
- Foo Fighters Chart History . Billboard . April 6, 2024.
- Metallica Chart History . Billboard . May 11, 2024.
- Web site: Disturbed Earns Record-Extending Seventh Straight No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Songs. Rutherford. Kevin. September 4, 2019. billboard.com. September 5, 2019. September 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905144218/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8529076/disturbed-no-more-seventh-straight-number-1-mainstream-rock-songs-chart. live.
- Van Halen Chart History . Billboard . June 21, 2022.
- Godsmack Chart History . Billboard . May 29, 2024.
- Disturbed Chart History . Billboard . August 15, 2023.
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Chart History . Billboard . September 20, 2022.
- Volbeat Chart History . Billboard . September 20, 2022.
- Papa Roach Chart History . Billboard . February 21, 2024.
- Linkin Park Chart History . Billboard . April 16, 2024.
- Aerosmith Chart History . Billboard . June 21, 2022.
- Seether Chart History . Billboard . September 20, 2022.
- Green Day Chart History . Billboard . April 23, 2023.
- Nickelback Chart History . Billboard . September 20, 2022.
- Pop Evil Chart History . Billboard . November 7, 2023.
- Five Finger Death Punch Chart History . live . Billboard . https://web.archive.org/web/20200109122145/https://www.billboard.com/music/five-finger-death-punch . January 9, 2020 . February 7, 2020.
- Web site: Shinedown Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay) . billboard.com . Billboard Music . February 3, 2024.
- Web site: 3 Doors Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay) . billboard.com . Billboard Music . January 23, 2024.
- Web site: Seether Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay) . billboard.com . Billboard Music . January 23, 2024.
- Web site: Collective Soul Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay) . billboard.com . Billboard Music . January 23, 2024.
- News: Rutherford . Kevin . Foo Fighters Score 25th Mainstream Rock Songs Top 10 With 'The Line' . June 16, 2018 . billboard.com . Billboard Music . June 15, 2018 . June 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214645/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8461213/foo-fighters-mainstream-rock-songs-top-10-the-line . live .
- Web site: Seether Chart History Mainstream Rock. billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. December 5, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172417/https://www.billboard.com/artist/seether/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Three Days Grace Chart History . Billboard . February 1, 2022.
- U2 Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171103041706/http://www.billboard.com/music/u2/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks. November 3, 2017.
- Tom Petty and the Heatbreakers Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171103041706/https://www.billboard.com/artist/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/. November 3, 2017.
- Van Halen Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001144/https://www.billboard.com/music/van-halen/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks. May 9, 2018.
- Pearl Jam Chart History. Billboard. July 16, 2024.
- John Mellencamp Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172619/https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-mellencamp/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Aerosmith Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117175902/https://www.billboard.com/artist/aerosmith/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Rush Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. February 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210204181544/https://www.billboard.com/music/Rush/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks. live.
- Web site: Ozzy Osbourne Chart History Mainstream Rock. billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. January 29, 2022. November 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211120185609/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ozzy-osbourne/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- The Rolling Stones Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020050524/http://www.billboard.com/music/the-rolling-stones/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks. October 20, 2017.
- AC/DC Chart History. Billboard. February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Korn Chart History Mainstream Rock. billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. June 19, 2022. November 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130130630/https://www.billboard.com/artist/korn/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- R.E.M. Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001144/https://www.billboard.com/music/rem/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks. May 9, 2018.
- Stone Temple Pilots Chart History . Billboard. March 1, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172302/https://www.billboard.com/artist/stone-temple-pilots/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Breaking Benjamin So Cold Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/music/breaking-benjamin/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/song/450846. May 9, 2018.
- Crossfade Cold Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001144/https://www.billboard.com/music/crossfade/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/song/440913. May 9, 2018.
- Fuel Hemorrhage (In My Hands) Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117185123/https://www.billboard.com/artist/fuel/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Trapt Headstrong Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117165929/https://www.billboard.com/artist/trapt/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- 3 Doors Down Loser Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117185150/https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Godsmack Awake Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001144/https://www.billboard.com/music/godsmack/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/song/394970. May 9, 2018.
- 10 Years Wasteland Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117182056/https://www.billboard.com/artist/10-years/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Finger Eleven Paralyzer Chart History. Billboard. December 2, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117193132/https://www.billboard.com/artist/finger-eleven/chart-history/rtt/. live.
- Seether Remedy Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001144/https://www.billboard.com/music/seether/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/song/477205. May 9, 2018.
- Sixx: A.M. Life Is Beautiful Chart History. Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/music/sixx-am/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/song/530800. May 9, 2018.
- 3 Doors Down Loser Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Staind It's Been Awhile Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/staind/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Creed Higher Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/creed/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- 3 Doors Down When I'm Gone Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Days of the New Touch, Peel and Stand Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/days-of-the-new/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/stone-temple-pilots/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Collective Soul Heavy Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/collective-soul/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Staind So Far Away Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/staind/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Green Day Boulevard of Broken Dreams Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/green-day/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Seether Fake It Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/seether/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Disturbed Inside the Fire Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/disturbed/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- The Rolling Stones Start Me Up Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-rolling-stones/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Nickelback How You Remind Me Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/nickelback/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Nickelback Figured You Out Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/nickelback/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Three Days Grace Pain Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/three-days-grace/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- U2 Mysterious Ways Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/u2/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Audioslave Like a Stone Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/audioslave/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Shinedown Save Me Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Dani California Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Chevelle Face to the Floor Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/chevelle/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Shinedown Bully Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- The Black Crowes Remedy Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-black-crowes/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Metallica Turn the Page Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Velvet Revolver Fall to Pieces Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/velvet-revolver/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Avenged Sevenfold Hail to the King Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/avenged-sevenfold/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Metallica Lux Æterna Song Chart History. Billboard. February 14, 2023.
- Live Lightning Crashes Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/live/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Days of the New The Down Town Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/days-of-the-new/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Scar Tissue Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Puddle of Mudd Blurry Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/puddle-of-mudd/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Shinedown Second Chance Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.
- Seether Country Song Chart History. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509001145/https://www.billboard.com/artist/seether/chart-history/rtt/. May 9, 2018.