The Beatles Hit No. 1 On A Billboard Radio Chart For The First Time In Half A Century
The Beatles may be perhaps the most successful musical act in the history of the Billboard charts, but there are still new heights for the band to reach, even after all they’ve done. This week, the band hits No. 1 on a ranking for the first time, and in doing so, they earn their first leader on a specific type of tally in half a century.
This week, The Beatles reach the No. 1 spot on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, Billboard’s ranking of the top-performing tracks at radio stations that focus on this specific style of rock music. Typically, adult alternative outlets cater to older, more mature audiences, so it makes sense that the band would perform especially well on this list.
The Beatles see their new single “Now and Then” rise to the peak spot, stepping up from No. 2. The tune was released in November to much fanfare, as it marked the first new offering from the group in decades. Now, it’s become a massive radio hit in the rock world and brought the Fab Four back to the peak position on one of these important lists.
Amazingly, it’s been more than 50 years since The Beatles last hit No. 1 on any of Billboard’s radio charts. The company notes that the last time they ruled over one of the many radio-focused lists was back in 1970. That year, “Let It Be” controlled the Adult Contemporary ranking.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
