For the first time in 13 years, Alabama Shakes is No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart.
“Another Life,” the first new release from the Brittany Howard-led band since its 2015 album Sound & Color, leaps three spots to top the Oct. 25-dated survey.
It’s Alabama Shakes’ second Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1. Its maiden entry, “Hold On,” led for one week in June 2012.
Alabama Shakes’ wait of 13 years, three months and three weeks between No. 1s is the second-longest in the Adult Alternative Airplay chart’s 29-year history, surpassed only by Bruce Springsteen, who went more than 18 years between “The Rising” in 2002 and “Letter to You” in 2020.
Longest Waits Between No. 1s, Adult Alternative Airplay:
- 18 years, two months, four weeks: Bruce Springsteen, “The Rising” to “Next to You” (2002-20)
- 13 years, three months, three weeks: Alabama Shakes, “Hold On” to “Another Life” (2012-25)
- 12 years, eight months: John Mayer, “Who Says” to “Last Train Home” (2009-21)
- 11 years, eight months: Pearl Jam, “Sirens” to “Wreckage” (2013-24)
- 10 years, three months, four weeks: The Killers, “Read My Mind” to “The Man” (2007-17)
Despite its lengthy respite from No. 1, Alabama Shakes reached Adult Alternative Airplay seven times in between “Hold On” and “Another Life,” paced by the No. 2-peaking “Don’t Wanna Fight” in 2015.
Additionally, frontwoman Howard earned two No. 1s amid the band’s break from the top spot: “Stay High” in 2019 and “What Now” in 2023-24.
Concurrently, “Another Life” jumps 36-30 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.3 million audience impressions in the week ending Oct. 16, a boost of 19%, according to Luminate. Alabama Shakes had last reached the top 30 in 2015 with “Don’t Wanna Fight,” which hit No. 19.
“Another Life” is currently a stand-alone single, Alabama Shakes’ first since signing with Island Records, with radio promotion handled by Republic. The act was on hiatus from 2018 to December 2024, when it reunited to play a show in Tuscaloosa, Ala. A tour followed this July through September.
All Billboard charts dated Oct. 25 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
