The Beatles’ new single “Now and Then” helped the band make history in multiple ways when it was first released a month ago. In the weeks since, it has largely fallen down the Billboard charts or disappeared completely…but not on all of them. Now, it’s risen to an important high on one list, defying the odds.
“Now and Then” climbs to No. 1 on this week’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Last frame, it sat in the runner-up rung, but now it’s swapped spots with U2. The Irish rockers ruled for several turns with their most recent single “Atomic City.” Their most recent winner slips to second place.
The Beatles score their first No. 1 hit on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart with “Now and Then.” The band has only landed a trio of placements on the tally, as their heyday largely preceded the introduction of the radio-focused list, which tracks the most-played rock hits that are primarily aimed at a more mature audience.
Before “Now and Then” arrived, The Beatles had never reached the top 10 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. The group had previously topped out at No. 11 with “Free as a Bird.” That tune missed out on the top 10 by a single space in early 1996.
That same year, they doubled their total number of placements on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Follow-up single “Real Love” stalled at No. 16 a few weeks later, though it lived on the tally for longer than its predecessor.
“Now and Then” enjoyed a lofty beginning on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, opening at No. 9. It instantly became the band’s highest-charting hit on the ranking, and that turned out to be just the beginning for the tune. The “last” single from the group turned out to be a very quick winner, as it has only spent four frames on the roster.
