Depeche Mode Becomes Second Act With Entries in Every Decade of Alternative Airplay Chart

Depeche Mode becomes one of just two acts to appear on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in each decade of the list’s existence thanks to “Ghosts Again,” which debuts at No. 27 on the Feb. 25-dated survey.

The song is the act’s 21st appearance on Alternative Airplay, which began in 1988, and first since “Where’s the Revolution,” which hit No. 40 in 2017.

Depeche Mode has made at least one appearance on Alternative Airplay in the 1980s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now the ‘20s, making it the second act to do so, following Red Hot Chili Peppers, which accomplished the feat last year.

The No. 27 entrance of “Ghosts” gives Depeche Mode its best-charting Alternative Airplay hit since “Soothe My Soul” reached No. 27 in 2013, as well as the band’s top debut since “Wrong” started at No. 27 in 2009.

Among its 21 entries, Depeche Mode boasts four No. 1s: 1990’s “Enjoy the Silence” and “Policy of Truth,” and 1993’s “I Feel You” and “Walking in My Shoes.”

Concurrently, “Ghosts” opens at No. 30 on Adult Alternative Airplay, where it’s Depeche Mode’s first song to chart since “Wrong” reached No. 15 in 2009.

On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “Ghosts” bows at No. 24 with 1.5 million audience impressions, according to Luminate. It’s the band’s best rank on the survey, which began in 2009.

“Ghosts” is the first single from Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album, Memento Mori, due March 24.