Death Cab for Cutie Returns to No. 1 on Alternative Airplay Chart

Death Cab for Cutie tops Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart for the first time in a decade with “Here to Forever,” which rises to No. 1 on the tally dated Oct. 22.

The song is the Ben Gibbard-led band’s second Alternative Airplay leader, after “You Are a Tourist” notched a week on top in July 2011. The break between No. 1s marks the longest since Beck went 12 years, eight months and two weeks between the reigns of “E-Pro” in April 2005 and “Up All Night” in December 2017.

In between “Tourist” and “Forever,” Death Cab for Cutie reached Alternative Airplay six times, with three top 10s in that span, paced by the No. 2-peaking “Black Sun” in 2015.

“This kind of amazing news is something we never expect but are beyond happy to receive,” the band shared in a statement to Billboard. “A huge thank you to our stellar team at Atlantic Records for this accomplishment.”

Alternative Airplay is the second airplay chart that “Forever” has conquered in 2022. It ruled Adult Alternative Airplay for eight weeks beginning in August (and currently ranks at No. 3), having become the group’s seventh No. 1 on the survey.

On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “Forever” bullets at No. 3, after reaching No. 2, with 3.7 million audience impressions, up 2%, according to Luminate.

“Forever” is the lead single from Asphalt Meadows, Death Cab for Cutie’s 10th studio album. The set debuted at No. 4 on the Top Alternative Albums chart dated Oct. 1 and has earned 27,000 equivalent album units to date.