Snoh Aalegra captures her first No. 1 on a Billboard chart as her single “I Want You Around” climbs 2-1 on the Adult R&B Songs airplay chart dated March 14. The move also wraps a historic run: “Around” reaches the summit in its 41st week, a new record for the longest trek to the top.
The song, which debuted on the April 13, 2019, chart, finally crowns the list with a 3% bump in plays in the week ending March 8, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
With 41 weeks to No. 1, “Around” overtakes the previous longevity holder, R. Kelly’s “Step in the Name of Love,” which required 34 weeks before it arrived at No. 1 in November 2003.
With “Around” on top, here’s an updated look at the longest climbs to No. 1:
Weeks to No. 1, Song, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
41, “I Want You Around,” Snoh Aalegra, March 14, 2020
34, “Step in The Name of Love,” R. Kelly, Nov. 1, 2003
33, “Love Calls,” Kem, Sept. 13, 2003
32, “Permission,” Ro James, Sept. 10, 2016
31, “For The Rest of My Life,” Robin Thicke, Jan. 11, 2014
31, “Please Don’t Go,” Tank, May 19, 2007
“I’m so thankful for all the love that this record has been getting,” Aalegra tells Billboard. “It’s a very special song to me. The journey has been pretty insane. I’ve worked extremely hard to get here and yet I’m only just getting started.”
While adult stations have carried “Around” for now, mainstream stations are now also embracing the tune. The single debuts at No. 40 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, where it generates an 11% boost in plays in the week.
Gains on both the adult and mainstream formats help the song achieve its best week in audience on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. “Around” registers 12 million in audience impressions, up 9%, despite a 14-15 dip on the chart’s ranking.
“Around” appears on the singer-songwriter’s Ugh, Those Feels Again album. The set, released last August, debuted at No. 6 on the Top R&B Albums chart.