Brittany Howard reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart as a solo artist for the second time with “What Now,” which rises to the top of the Dec. 23-dated tally.
The song rules in its ninth week on the survey, after Howard’s first No. 1, “Stay High,” took 11 frames to crown the chart in October 2019, ultimately reigning for three weeks.
In between “Stay High” and “What Now,” Howard peaked at No. 28 on Adult Alternative Airplay in February 2020 with “He Loves Me,” the second single from 2019’s Jaime.
Howard boasts one other Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 by virtue of fronting Alabama Shakes; “Hold On” led for a week in June 2012. An additional top 10 for the group (among seven charted titles), “Don’t Wanna Fight,” hit No. 2 in April 2015.
Concurrently, “What Now” leaps 37-31 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.3 million audience impressions, up 3%, Dec. 8-14, according to Luminate. It’s now Howard’s highest charting entry as a soloist on the survey; “Stay High” peaked at No. 35. Alabama Shakes has hit a No. 19 best on the chart with “Don’t Wanna Fight.”
“What Now” is the lead single and title track from Howard’s second studio album, due Feb. 2, 2024. Its predecessor, Jaime, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums ranking in October 2019 and has earned 128,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated Dec. 23 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
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