One Of John Mayer's Chart Records Has Been Beaten — Again

Forbes

10-04-2025

The Black Keys score a ninth No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Airplay chart with 'The Night ... More Before,' breaking a tie and moving up the all-time leaderboard. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 07: (L-R) Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys attend the Eighth Annual LOVE ROCKS NYC Benefit Concert For God's Love We Deliver at Beacon Theatre on March 07, 2024 in New York City. (Photo byfor LOVE ROCKS NYC/God's Love We Deliver )
The Black Keys have been churning out bluesy, rocking jams for more than two decades, and the group is still finding ways to climb to the top. The Grammy-winning duo has built a catalog of gritty, soulful tracks that helped bring blues — at least the band's version of the style – into mainstream consciousness again, and the rockers continue to do so, with the latest focus track leaning more toward the alternative side of things. This week, the act returns to a familiar spot: the top of a Billboard chart, and in doing so, the rock musicians make a little history.
The Black Keys claim the No. 1 song on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. That ranking, which highlights the most successful tunes on a radio format that skews toward a more low-key, often guitar-driven sound, welcomes a new leader as 'The Night Before' rises from No. 3 to the top.
As the cut takes over the penthouse, it knocks The Lumineers' 'Same Old Song' out of the highest space. That former champion falls from No. 1 to No. 3, trading places with The Black Keys' latest hit. In between the two sits Mumford & Sons' 'Rushmere,' which holds steady at its all-time peak of No. 2.
'The Night Before' marks The Black Keys' ninth ruler on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. With this latest success, the band now holds the fifth-most No. 1s on the tally outright. As recently as last week, the band had to share that honor with three other names – but that is no longer the case.
With nine chart-toppers to the band's credit, The Black Keys inch ahead of a trio of other acts that are all still tied with eight apiece. Death Cab for Cutie, John Mayer, and The Lumineers — notably replaced by the band at the top this week — are all stuck at that figure. That said, any of them could add to their totals in the future and once again change the order of this ranking of the most successful names on this list.
The Black Keys still have a long way to go if the group hopes to challenge the all-time leaders, those that have conquered this radio roster the most. U2 continues to reign with 14 total rulers on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, while Coldplay follows closely with 13. Dave Matthews Band – when also including two solo hits from its frontman – sits at 11. That act is tied with Jack Johnson, who also has 11 leaders under his belt.
'The Night Before' is the latest single from The Black Keys and serves as a preview of the band's upcoming album, which may be titled No Rain No Flowers. While the group hasn't revealed much about the as-yet-unannounced full-length, this early taste suggests it's another collection fans will love, since the tune has already become a No. 1 in America.