As Justin Bieber’s “Yukon” debuts on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, he breaks his tie with Chris Brown for the most hits among male artists. LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 13: Singer/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage during An Evening With Justin Bieber at Staples Center on November 13, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Universal Music)
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For the past several years, Justin Bieber was suspiciously quiet when it came to his music career. While paparazzi photos of the singer were still plentiful, he didn’t share a new song or hint at an album for what felt like forever in the fast-paced world of pop music.
Bieber returned with a surprise this summer as he dropped Swag, a highly-anticipated album that people didn’t even know was coming. One of the biggest hits from that project, “Yukon,” becomes a win at pop radio for the first time this week, and as it debuts, the Canadian superstar breaks out of a tie and makes chart history.
Justin Bieber’s “Yukon” Debuts on the Pop Radio Chart
“Yukon” debuts at No. 39 on the Pop Airplay chart this frame. The track barely sneaks onto the 40-spot ranking of the most successful tunes across pop radio stations in the United States, but it’s likely just getting started. As “Yukon” arrives, Bieber collects his forty-third career win on the competitive top 40 list.
Justin Bieber Passes Chris Brown for a Chart Record
Billboard reports that as “Yukon” debuts, Bieber breaks out of his tie with Chris Brown for the most hits of all time among solo male acts on the Pop Airplay chart. Bieber has added to his total twice in just the past few months, and with a swath of new music out, he could further his lead over Brown again.
Which Artists Have Scored the Most Hits on the Pop Airplay Chart?
Bieber claims the fourth-most hits of all time on the Pop Airplay chart when looking at all acts. Rihanna leads with an incredible 52 appearances. Coming in behind her are Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, who have thus far collected 47 and 45 wins, respectively.
Swift may increase that sum again — and perhaps even tie or match Minaj — soon, as her album The Life of a Showgirl is coming in early October and is bound to score at least one Pop Airplay smash.
How Many Pop Radio Hits Does Justin Bieber Have?
Out of Bieber’s 43 career entries, 21 songs have broken into the top 10 on the Pop Airplay chart. That is nearly 50% of all of the tracks that he has placed somewhere on the roster.
Bieber has thus far scored 10 No. 1s on the Pop Airplay chart. He’s currently tied with Ariana Grande for the sixth-most leaders of all time. Swift commands this bit of history with a lucky 13 champions. At the moment, Bieber is just one ruler behind Bruno Mars, who claims the record among solo male acts with 11 leaders.
What Is Justin Bieber’s Longest-Running No. 1?
Bieber’s longest run at No. 1 was with “Stay,” his collaboration with The Kid Laroi. That tune reached No. 1 after several weeks of climbing in September 2021, and would go on to hold for an impressive 13 stays. That’s the third-longest reign of all time on the Pop Airplay chart, coming in behind “The Sign” by Ace of Base, with 14 weeks ruling, and “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. That latter track is about to pass Ace of Base when Billboard refreshes its charts and become the first 15-week No. 1 ever.
Could “Daisies” Become Justin Bieber’s Next No. 1?
As “Yukon” arrives on the Pop Airplay ranking, Bieber’s previous tune aimed at the pop audience climbs again. “Daisies” ascends to a new peak of No. 3, 10 weeks into its time on the tally. If it continues to grow, Bieber may soon tie Mars with 11 rulers, matching the all-time best showing for solo men.
Justin Bieber’s “Yukon” and “Daisies” Lead the Swag Era
“Yukon” was chosen as the second single from Bieber’s latest album Swag. It was pushed as a promotional cut just one week after “Daisies” earned the same treatment. For a while, the two complemented one another by not crossing over very much. “Daisies” made a quick debut on Billboard’s various pop radio rankings, while “Yukon” appeared on R&B-leaning tallies and especially those that measured airplay in that style. After several months, “Yukon” is apparently being sent to pop radio stations as well, as it has turned out to be one of his most popular songs in years.
Swag Arrived with Little Warning
Swag arrived in mid-July, only a few hours after Bieber announced its existence. It had been years since he’d delivered a full-length, and excitement for the project was incredibly high. The album, which also produced the third single “First Place,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, becoming a rare miss for the Canadian talent.
Justin Bieber’s Two Surprise Albums
Earlier this month, Bieber once again surprised his legion of fans by delivering another full-length, Swag II, which is both a continuation and sequel of Swag as well as its own album. That set helped push the original up the charts, as Billboard groups the two together.
Even as songs like “Daisies” and “Yukon” continue to pick up steam at pop radio, several singles from Swag II — such as “Love Song” and “Speed Demon” — have been selected as promotional cuts as well. In time, Bieber may see them become radio wins too, and perhaps even bring him back to the Pop Airplay chart.