Pearl Jam Lands Atop Hot Hard Rock Songs Chart With ‘Dark Matter’

Pearl Jam’s “Dark Matter” becomes the band’s first leader on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, rising to No. 1 from No. 3 on the survey dated March 2.

In the Feb. 16-22 tracking week, the first full tracking frame for “Dark Matter,” which was released Feb. 13, the song accumulated 5.6 million radio audience impressions, 1.2 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold in the U.S., according to Luminate.

“Dark Matter” is Pearl Jam’s second entry on Hot Hard Rock Songs dating to the chart’s inception, following “Superblood Wolfmoon,” which appeared at No. 19 on the inaugural June 30, 2020-dated tally.

“Dark Matter” also leaps 46-28 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, marking Pearl Jam’s highest rank since “Superblood Wolfmoon” peaked at No. 17 in April 2020. The band’s all-time best since the chart began in 2009 belongs to “The Fixer,” which debuted and peaked at No. 2 that August. (Pearl Jam first appeared on Billboard’s charts in November 1991.)

As previously reported, “Dark Matter” jumps 6-1 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay list. It also bounds 17-6 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, where it’s Pearl Jam’s 24th top 10: No. 10 on Alternative Airplay, becoming the band’s 20th top 10; and debuts at No. 39 on Adult Alternative Airplay. The track’s sales place it at No. 3 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales.

“Dark Matter” is the title-cut lead single from Pearl Jam’s 12th LP, due April 19. Its predecessor, Gigaton, debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in April 2020 and has earned 172,000 equivalent album units to date.