Country Airplay

History

Earlier versions

Throughout its history of ranking country songs by popularity, Billboard has had several different airplay-only charts to measure the top-played songs on radio stations. The first of these was called "Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys", and debuted with the December 10, 1949, issue. Like the other charts of the time, the number of positions was not standardized; the chart had anywhere from eight to 15 positions, varying from week to week. The chart, which had several other names, continued until October 13, 1958, when it was merged with the "best sellers" chart to become the Hot Country Songs chart.

Starting with the October 20, 1984 issue, there were separate charts for radio airplay and singles sales, similar to the Hot 100 Airplay and Singles Sales charts that also debuted with this issue, it was a component chart that helped determine placement on the Hot Country Singles chart. The airplay chart was discontinued in 1987 as Hot Country songs became solely based on disc jockey reports, but the sales chart continued until 1989.

With effect from the issue dated January 20, 1990, the Hot Country Singles chart began to be based solely on country music radio airplay as opposed to a combination of airplay and physical sales. At this time the chart consisted of 75 positions. Four weeks later, on February 17, the chart was retitled "Hot Country Singles & Tracks" to reflect the fact that songs which had not been released as singles could chart based on airplay. Beginning with the January 13, 2001, issue, the chart was cut from 75 to 60 positions, and effective April 30, 2005 the chart was renamed "Hot Country Songs".

Current chart

Beginning with the chart dated October 20, 2012, Billboard changed the methodology of Hot Country Songs to again incorporate sales and now also include streaming. In addition, the airplay component of the chart now factored in plays on stations of all genres instead of the previous genre-specific radio panel. At this point a second chart called Country Airplay was launched, based only on country radio airplay. Billboard now recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, until October 13, 2012, as part of the history of both listings.

Chart policies

As with most other Billboard charts, the Country Airplay chart features a rule for when a song enters recurrent rotation. Starting with the chart week of December 2, 2006, a song is declared recurrent on the country charts if it has been on the charts longer than 20 weeks; is not gaining in spins or audience impressions; and is lower than 10 in rank for either audience impressions or spins. Since December 2008, any song that is ranked below #10 in spins or audience and has not shown an increase in audience or spins for more than two weeks is also declared recurrent, even if it has not charted for 20 weeks.

Chart achievements

Chart achievements listed below cover Country Airplay since its launch in 2012 as well as Hot Country Songs between 1990 and 2012.

Most weeks at number one

10 weeks

• "You Proof" – Morgan Wallen (2022–2023)
• "World on Fire" – Nate Smith (2023–2024) 8 weeks
• "Amazed" – Lonestar (1999)
• "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" – Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett (2003)
• "Last Night" – Morgan Wallen (2023)
• "I'm the Problem" – Morgan Wallen (2025) 7 weeks
• "The Good Stuff" – Kenny Chesney (2002)
• "Have You Forgotten?" – Darryl Worley (2003)
• "There Goes My Life" – Kenny Chesney (2003–2004)
• "Live Like You Were Dying" – Tim McGraw (2004)
• "Beautiful Crazy" – Luke Combs (2019)
• "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" – Shaboozey (2024)

Most number-ones

Most number-ones by female artists

Most entries by male artists

Most number-ones by duos or groups

Most Top-10 by duos or groups

Most Entries by duos or groups

Most top 10 entries

Most top 10 entries by males

Most top 10 entries by women

Most entries by women

Most entries

Use in media

Since September 2017, the Country Airplay chart has served as the data source for the weekly radio program American Country Countdown.

References

References

1. "Country Airplay Chart".
2. Whitburn, Joel. (2008). "Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008". Record Research, Inc.
3. Owen, Chris. (2019). "The Country Music Charts Everything You Need To Know". The Boot.
4. "Morgan Wallen Chart History".
5. Asker, Jim. (2024-02-16). "'World' Record: Nate Smith Ties for Longest-Leading No. 1 in Country Airplay Chart History".
6. Asker, Jim. (2024-09-06). "Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' Tops Country Airplay for 7th Week, Surpassing Carrie Underwood's Record".
7. "Kenny Chesney Chart History".
8. Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad. (January 9, 2026). "Blake Shelton Country Airplay Chart History".
9. "Tim McGraw Chart History".
10. "Alan Jackson Chart History".
11. Asker, Jim. (June 19, 2018). "David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney Set Records Atop Country Airplay Chart".
12. "Luke Bryan Chart History".
13. "Jason Aldean Chart History".
14. "Keith Urban Chart History".
15. "Thomas Rhett Chart History".
16. "Brad Paisley Chart History".
17. "Garth Brooks Chart History".
18. "Morgan Wallen Chart History".
19. "Luke Combs Chart History".
20. Asker, Jim. (July 19, 2016). "Carrie Underwood Rings in 15th No. 1; Sam Hunt Earns High Five".
21. "Most country no.1s for a female artist in the US".
22. "Reba McEntire Chart History".
23. Jessen, Wade. "Carrie Underwood Has Her Longest Reign at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart".
24. "Miranda Lambert Chart History".
25. "Dixie Chicks Chart History".
26. "Trisha Yearwood Chart History".
27. "Martina McBride Chart History".
28. "Sara Evans".
29. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History".
30. "Lainey Wilson Chart History".
31. "Lauren Alaina Chart History".
32. Asker, Jim. (June 26, 2018). "Morgan Wallen 'Up' To First Country Airplay No. 1 With FGL, Who Also Top Hot Country Songs".
33. "Florida Georgia Line Chart History".
34. "Rascal Flatts Chart History".
35. Asker, Jim. "Zac Brown Band Makes History on Country Airplay Chart; Randy Houser Debuts".
36. "Lonestar Chart History".
37. Mahananda, Bibhu Prasad. (December 8, 2020). "Dan+Shay Country Airplay Chart History".
38. "Alabama Chart History".
39. "Old Dominion Chart History".
40. "Sugarland Chart History".
41. "Parmalee Chart History".
42. "The band Perry Chart History".
43. "Brooks & Dunn Chart History".
44. "Zac Brown Band Chart History".
45. "Lady Antebellum Chart History".
46. "Sugarland Chart History".
47. "George Strait Chart History".
48. "Brooks & Dunn Chart History".
49. "Blake Shelton".
51. "Carrie Underwood".
52. "Carrie Underwood".
53. "Faith Hill".
54. "Taylor Swift".
55. "Shania Twain".
56. "Taylor Swift".
57. "Faith Hill".
58. "Dolly Parton".
59. "Megan Moroney".
60. "Eric Church Chart History".
61. (August 14, 2017). "American Country Countdown Returns to Billboard Chart".