Music chart in Billboard magazine
Mainstream Rock is amusic chart published byBillboard magazine that ranks the most-played songs onmainstream rock radio stations in theUnited States . It is an administrative category that combines the "active rock " and "heritage rock " formats. The chart was launched in March 1981 asRock Albums & Top Tracks . The name changed multiple times afterwards: first toTop Rock Tracks , then toAlbum Rock Tracks , and finally to its currentMainstream Rock in 1996. The first number-one song on this chart was "I Can't Stand It " byEric Clapton on March 21, 1981.
The "Rock Albums & Top Tracks" charts were introduced in the issue ofBillboard that the parent company published on March 21, 1981.[ 1] The 50-slot based and 60-slot based positional charts ranked airplay on album rock typeradio stations in theUnited States .[ 2] Becausealbum-oriented rock stations often focused on playing tracks from entire albums rather than specifically released singles, these charts were designed to measure the airplay of any and all tracks from an album, regardless of context. 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 ofBillboard explained that when major artists release albums, more than one song from the album can become popular at the same time.[ 2] The first number-one song on the Top Tracks chart was "I Can't Stand It " byEric Clapton . "I Can't Stand It" was from Clapton's albumAnother Ticket with its single having the track "Black Rose" onits alternate side .[ 2] [ 3]
On September 15, 1984, the Rock Albums chart was discontinued and Top Tracks was renamed Top Rock Tracks.[ 1] [ 4] 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.[ 5]
On November 23, 1991, instead of reporting panels,Billboard changed its methodology of measuring airplay by using monitored airplay as provided byNielsen 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.[ 6] [ 1]
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] [ 7] The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart did not appear in the print edition ofBillboard from its issue dated August 2, 2003,[ 8] 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.
WhenR&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.[ 9] 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.[ 10] The individual Active Rock and Heritage Rock components were discontinued byBillboard at the end of November 2013, due to a growing lack of difference between the two charts.[ 11]
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 " byDays of the New was the number-one song on the Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs andShinedown was named the number-one artist on the ranking of Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Artists.[ 12] The current number-one song on the chart is "The End" byFive Finger Death Punch .[ 13]
Artists with the most number-one songs [ edit ] These are the artists with the most songs that topped the Mainstream Rock chart.
Artists with the most charted songs [ edit ] Bands who have scored the most charted songs on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Artists with the most top-ten songs [ edit ] Acts who have reached number one in at least three decades [ edit ] Source:[ 20]
Metallica (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Source:[ 39] [ 40] [ 41] [ 42] [ 43] [ 44] [ 45] [ 46] [ 47] [ 48] [ 49] [ 50] [ 51] [ 52] [ 53] [ 54] [ 55] [ 56] [ 57]
AC/DC (1990s, 2000s, 2020s)Aerosmith (1980s, 1990s, 2000s)Alice in Chains (1990s, 2000s, 2010s)Breaking Benjamin (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Chevelle (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Disturbed (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Foo Fighters (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Godsmack (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Green Day (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Linkin Park (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)The Offspring (1990s, 2010s, 2020s)Ozzy Osbourne (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Papa Roach (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Red Hot Chili Peppers (1990s, 2000s, 2010s)Seether (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Shinedown (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Staind (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Theory of a Deadman (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Three Days Grace (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Artists with the most consecutive number-one songs [ edit ] Artists with the most cumulative weeks at number one [ edit ] Albums With the Most Weeks at #1[ edit ] Albums whose singles have spent at least 15 weeks at #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts
Songs with the most weeks on the chart [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] ^a b c d e f Joel Whitburn.Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981–2008. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008.p. 6 Archived August 3, 2020, at theWayback Machine .ISBN 9780898201741 ^a b c Trust, Gary (March 23, 2010)."Album, Rock Charts Celebrate Anniversaries" .Billboard .Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 . ^ https://x.com/billboard/status/447028131485220864 ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002).Rock Tracks . Record Research. p. 9.ISBN 0-89820-153-5 .^ "Billboard Announces Expanded Album Rock Chart Panel" .Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 15. April 12, 1986. pp. 10, 16.Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 .^ "Album Rock Chart Changes" .Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 26. June 27, 1992. p. 67.Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 .^ "Name Changed on Album Rock Tracks" .Billboard . Vol. 108, no. 15. April 13, 1996. p. 6.Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 .^ Girard, Keith (August 2, 2003)."The Evolution Continues" .Billboard . Vol. 115, no. 31. p. 10.Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 . ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 20, 2009)."Dave Matthews Band Rolls Ahead of Rock Parade" .Billboard . Vol. 121, no. 24. p. 41. RetrievedJune 13, 2013 . ^ Cole, Brian (July 15, 2012). "The Metamorphosis and Splitting of the Rock Music Format".Examiner.com . Clarity Digital Group. ^ Trust, Gary (November 29, 2013)."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" .Billboard .Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. RetrievedDecember 3, 2013 . ^ Rutherford, Kevin."Shinedown & Days of the New Rule Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Charts" .Billboard .Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. RetrievedJune 3, 2021 . ^ "Mainstream Rock Songs" .Billboard . November 22, 2025. RetrievedNovember 20, 2025 .^a b c "Chart History Shinedown" .Billboard .Archived from the original on September 16, 2025. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2025 .^ Rutherford, Kevin (September 12, 2025)."Shinedown Has 21st Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 with 'Killing Fields' " .Billboard . RetrievedSeptember 16, 2025 . ^a b c d e "Three Days Grace Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedJuly 17, 2025 .^a b c "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedNovember 20, 2025 .^ "Five Finger Death Punch Ties Record With Seventh Straight Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1" .Billboard .Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. RetrievedOctober 4, 2021 .^a b c d e "Foo Fighters Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedApril 6, 2024 .^a b c d "Metallica Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 11, 2024 .^a b Rutherford, Kevin (September 4, 2019)."Disturbed Earns Record-Extending Seventh Straight No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Songs" .Billboard .Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2019 . ^ "Van Halen Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedJune 21, 2022 .^a b "Godsmack Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 11, 2024 .^a b c "Disturbed Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedApril 17, 2025 .^ "Linkin Park Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2025 .^a b "Papa Roach Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedOctober 9, 2025 .^ "Volbeat Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedOctober 27, 2025 .^ "U2 Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 3, 2017.^a b "Pearl Jam Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedJanuary 25, 2025 .^ "Tom Petty and the Heatbreakers Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 3, 2017.^ "Van Halen Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "John Mellencamp Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Aerosmith Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Rush Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History Mainstream Rock" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 29, 2022 .^a b Rutherford, Kevin (June 15, 2018)."Foo Fighters Score 25th Mainstream Rock Songs Top 10 With 'The Line' " .billboard.com . Billboard Music.Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. RetrievedJune 16, 2018 . ^ "Seether Chart History Mainstream Rock" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 5, 2021 .^ "Three Days Grace Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 1, 2022 .^ "AC/DC Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 15, 2023 .^ "Aerosmith Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Alice in Chains Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Breaking Benjamin Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Chevelle Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Disturbed Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Foo Fighters Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Godsmack Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Green Day Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Linkin Park Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "The Offspring Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Papa Roach Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Seether Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Shinedown Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Staind Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Theory of a Deadman Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "Three Days Grace Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 1, 2025 .^ "3 Doors Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)" .Billboard . RetrievedJanuary 23, 2024 .^ "Nickelback Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedJuly 10, 2025 .^ "Seether Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)" .Billboard . RetrievedSeptember 23, 2024 .^ "Collective Soul Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)" .Billboard . RetrievedJanuary 23, 2024 .^ "3 Doors Down Kryptonite Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 25, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^a b "3 Doors Down Loser Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "3 Doors Down Duck and Run Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 25, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^ "Three Days Grace Animal I Have Become Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^a b "Three Days Grace Pain Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Three Days Grace Never Too Late Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^a b "Days of the New Touch, Peel and Stand Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Days of the New The Down Town Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "The Black Crowes Remedy Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "The Black Crowes Sting Me Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 26, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^ "The Black Crowes Thorn in My Pride Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 26, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^ "The Black Crowes Hotel Illness Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 26, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^a b "Creed Higher Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Three Days Grace The Good Life Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Three Days Grace World So Cold Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^a b "Staind It's Been Awhile Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Velvet Revolver Fall to Pieces Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Nickelback How You Remind Me Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Avenged Sevenfold Hail to the King Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "3 Doors Down When I'm Gone Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Godsmack Bulletproof Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 29, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Godsmack When Legends Rise Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 29, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Godsmack Under Your Scars Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 29, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Godsmack Unforgettable Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 29, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^a b "Green Day Boulevard of Broken Dreams Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Puddle of Mudd Blurry Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Puddle of Mudd Drift and Die Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on January 12, 2025. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^ "Puddle of Mudd She Hates Me Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on January 12, 2025. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^a b "Shinedown Second Chance Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Stone Temple Pilots Vasoline Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on December 24, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^a b "Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "U2 Mysterious Ways Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Alice in Chains Check My Brain Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on March 12, 2025. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^ "Alice in Chains Your Decision Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on March 12, 2025. RetrievedMay 22, 2025 .^a b "Metallica Lux Æterna Song Chart History" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 14, 2023 .^a b "Shinedown Save Me Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^a b "Collective Soul Heavy Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Three Days Grace The High Road Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Three Days Grace Misery Loves My Company Mainstream Rock Chart History" .Billboard.com . Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2025. RetrievedJuly 2, 2025 .^ "Breaking Benjamin So Cold Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Crossfade Cold Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Fuel Hemorrhage (In My Hands) Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Trapt Headstrong Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "3 Doors Down Loser Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Godsmack Awake Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "10 Years Wasteland Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Finger Eleven Paralyzer Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021 .^ "Seether Remedy Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Sixx: A.M. Life Is Beautiful Chart History" .Billboard . Archived fromthe original on May 9, 2018.^ "Staind So Far Away Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Seether Fake It Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Disturbed Inside the Fire Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "The Rolling Stones Start Me Up Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Nickelback Figured You Out Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Audioslave Like a Stone Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Dani California Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Chevelle Face to the Floor Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Shinedown Bully Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Metallica Turn the Page Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Live Lightning Crashes Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Scar Tissue Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.^ "Seether Country Song Chart History" .Billboard .Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.
United States
All-genre charts
Pop Country Rock & Alternative R&B/Hip-Hop Latin Dance Christian/Gospel Other charts
Multinational Other countries (Hits of the World ) Defunct charts
United States Multinational Other countries
Related articles