Cage the Elephant Back Atop Adult Alternative Airplay Chart With ‘Neon Pill’
Cage the Elephant tops Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart for the first time in nearly four years, as “Neon Pill” rises to No. 1, from No. 2, on the survey dated March 23.
“Neon Pill” is the act’s first No. 1 since “Black Madonna” led for two weeks in April 2020. In between the two songs, the band reached No. 3 with “Skin and Bones” in February 2021.
Cage the Elephant notches its sixth career Adult Alternative Airplay ruler, having first led with “Come a Little Closer” for two weeks in March 2014. Its other No. 1s: “Mess Around” (two weeks, February 2016), “Ready To Let Go” (one week, March 2019) and “Social Cues” (one week, October 2019).
Concurrently, “Neon Pill” bullets at its No. 3 high on Alternative Airplay and ranks at No. 30, after reaching No. 29, on Mainstream Rock Airplay.
On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “Neon Pill” lifts 6-5 with 5.2 million audience impressions, a gain of 2%, March 8-14, according to Luminate. It’s the band’s 11th top five hit and first since “Skin and Bones” reigned for five weeks beginning in February 2021.
“Neon Pill” is the lead single and title track from Cage the Elephant’s sixth studio album, set to be released May 17 via 110/RCA Records. It follows Social Cues, which debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in May 2019, and has earned 469,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated March 23 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday (March 19).
Kevin Rutherford
Billboard