Pearl Jam Earn First No. 1 On Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart Since 1998

Pearl Jam have earned their first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart after a gap of over 26 years, as “Dark Matter” climbed to the top spot on the list dated March 16.

“Dark Matter” marks Pearl Jam’s first No. 1 on the chart since “Given To Fly” led for six weeks in January-February 1998.

The massive gap between No. 1s is the longest in the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart’s 43-year history. The gap is much longer than the one recorded by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who went 20 years and 11 months between the six-week reign of “Blue on Black” in 1998 and his featured turn on Five Finger Death Punch‘s cover of the song (alongside Brantley Gilbert and Brian May) in 2009.

Pearl Jam now has four total Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s. In addition to “Given To Fly” and “Dark Matter,” “Daughter” reigned for eight weeks beginning in December 1993 and “Better Man” led for eight frames starting in January 1995.

“Dark Matter,” which is the lead single and title track from Pearl Jam’s 12th studio album, stays at No. 10 on Alternative Airplay and jumps 26-22 on Adult Alternative Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the song is back at No. 1. The song is ranked at No. 2 on Hot Hard Rock Songs chart.

The Dark Matter record is due out on April 19th.