Hozier and Mumford & Sons debut at No. 1 on two Billboard charts with “Rubber Band Man,” the first single from the upcoming Mumford & Sons album Prizefighter. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 01: Hozier performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 1, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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After the global success of his single “Too Sweet,” which took over charts all around the planet in 2024, Hozier has been in high demand. The Irish singer-songwriter is in between eras at the moment, likely working on his next full-length to follow his third project, Unreal Unearth, which arrived in multiple versions and included several reissues.
Since then, Hozier has teamed up with stars like Lucy Dacus, Barbra Streisand, and most recently, Mumford & Sons, as his talent and name are especially attractive right now. The latter group recently recruited the Grammy nominee for the new single “Rubber Band Man.” The combination of Mumford & Sons and Hozier proved to be music to the ears of millions, as “Rubber Band Man” debuts on more than half a dozen Billboard charts in America this week, leading the charge on several of them at the same time.
“Rubber Band Man” Debuts at No. 1 on Two Billboard Charts
“Rubber Band Man” launches in first place atop two rosters thanks to first week sales of 2,100 copies, according to Luminate. The collaborative cut starts its time at No. 1 on both the Rock Digital Song Sales and Alternative Digital Song Sales charts.
How Many No. 1 Songs Has Hozier Charted?
On both rankings, Hozier earns his third champion. On the alternative-only list, both “Take Me to Church” and “Too Sweet” commanded for an even 20 frames. On the Rock Digital Song Sales tally, “Too Sweet” is the longer-running success, with 25 stays at the summit to its credit, while “Take Me to Church” managed 20.
Mumford & Sons Earn Another No. 1 With “Rubber Band Man”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, and Ted Dwane attend the 2024 Albie Awards presented by the Clooney Foundation for Justice at New York Public Library on September 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
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Mumford & Sons is now up to four rulers on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. On the rock roster, the band is matched with Hozier, as both “The Cave” and “Believe” have already spent short stints running the show before “Rubber Band Man” arrived.
“Rubber Band Man” Debuts on Multiple Billboard Charts
Outside of the two rosters where “Rubber Band Man” starts at No. 1, the single doesn’t reach the top 10 on any other Billboard rankings, although it debuts in impressive starting positions on several tallies. The cut misses the highest tier on the Rock & Alternative Airplay list by one spot and also enters the Digital Song Sales, Hot Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts inside the top 20, opening at Nos. 14, 15, 17, and 19, respectively.
On another two other radio tallies, “Rubber Band Man” gets started at No. 23, landing in that spot on both the Alternative Airplay and Adult Alternative Airplay charts simultaneously.
Mumford & Sons Prepares New Album Prizefighter
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 15: Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons performs during 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 15, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Erika Goldring/FilmMagic)
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In late October, Mumford & Sons surprised fans by announcing a new album titled Prizefighter. The set is scheduled to arrive in mid-February. The shock comes as Mumford & Sons typically spaces albums out by several years, usually three. The group’s Rushmere, its fifth studio LP, became available in March 2025, seven years after Delta and less than a year before Prizefighter is scheduled to drop. The upcoming effort seems like it will differ from many of the band’s previous collections, as it features not only the collaboration with Hozier, but also duets with names like Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton, and Gigi Perez.
“Take Me to Church” and “Too Sweet” Are Still Charting
As Hozier scores a new No. 1, two of his career-making smashes are still present on at least one tally apiece. “Take Me to Church” climbs more than 10 spots on the Billboard Global 200, while “Too Sweet” falls more than 20 rungs on the same tally and dips ever so slightly on the Alternative Streaming Songs roster — where, interestingly, “Rubber Band Man” is nowhere to be found.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/11/09/hozier-charts-a-new-no-1-smash-alongside-a-superstar-collaborator/
