Metallica Achieves This Feat for the First Time on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart

Kevin Rutherford
·2 min read

Metallica boasts four No. 1s in a row on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for the first time, as “Screaming Suicide” jumps to the top of the tally dated May 18.

The song follows reigns for “Too Far Gone?” (one week in November 2023), “72 Seasons” (two weeks last July) and “Lux Æterna” (11 weeks beginning in December 2022). All four tracks are from 72 Seasons, Metallica’s 11th studio album, which, also notably, becomes the band’s first to generate four Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s; previously, the group scored as many as two No. 1s apiece.

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While “Screaming Suicide” is the fourth No. 1 from 72 Seasons, it became the LP’s second song to chart on Mainstream Rock Airplay. It debuted at No. 40 on the Feb. 18, 2023-dated survey after its release on streaming services, despite not then being promoted to radio. It returned to the ranking as the album’s fourth radio focus track this March.

Metallica now boasts 14 career No. 1s on Mainstream Rock Airplay, having first reigned with “Until It Sleeps” in 1996. The band ties Five Finger Death Punch and Foo Fighters for the third-most leaders over the chart’s 43-year history.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:

  • 19, Shinedown

  • 17, Three Days Grace

  • 14, Five Finger Death Punch

  • 14, Foo Fighters

  • 14, Metallica

  • 13, Van Halen

  • 12, Disturbed

  • 12, Godsmack

Concurrently, “Screaming Suicide” lifts 17-15 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.6 million audience impressions, up 10%, May 3-9, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated May 11, reflecting data April 26-May 2), “Screaming Suicide” placed at No. 24. In addition to its radio airplay, the song drew 112,000 official U.S. streams. It reached No. 8 upon its debut in February 2023.

72 Seasons launched at No. 1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in April 2023 and has earned 373,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated May 18 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, May 14.

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