“Asking for a Friend” earns Foo Fighters a lucky thirteenth No. 1 on Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, replacing “Ensenada” by Sublime in first place. LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 20: Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters performs on stage at London Stadium on June 20, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Foo Fighters)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Foo Fighters
Some bands and musicians need to campaign and do all they can to promote a new single to make it a hit at radio, while those who have already proved their ability to rack up wins and produce songs that the world falls in love with easily regularly return to No. 1 on Billboard’s airplay rosters. Programmers and DJs favor acts that have a track record and that they are familiar with, and in the rock world, there are few that are more beloved than the Foo Fighters.
The Dave Grohl-led troupe earns a new champion in the United States this frame as the outfit’s latest single “Asking for a Friend” climbs to the top of one of the most competitive airplay tallies, earning the band a very lucky new leader.
Foo Fighters Score a New No. 1
“Asking for a Friend” ascends to No. 1 on the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart this week. The Billboard-published list ranks the tunes that collect the greatest number of total audience impressions across all radio stations in the U.S. that focus on any form of rock or alternative music. The track only needs to step up one space, as it sat in the runner-up rung last time around.
Foo Fighters Finally Replace Sublime at No. 1
For several weeks, Foo Fighters sat behind Sublime as the band refused to budge atop the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart. Sublime’s “Ensenada” dominated for 10 frames, and stands as the outfit’s only No. 1 – and only top 10 smash. This week, Sublime dips just one spot to No. 2 as “Ensenada” begins what may be a very slow descent.
“Asking for a Friend” Gives Foo Fighters a Lucky Thirteenth Win
“Asking for a Friend” is the lucky thirteenth No. 1 for Foo Fighters on the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart. The band has only missed the highest rung with a top 10 hit a few times, as it is up to 19 top 10 smashes and 21 total appearances on the list.
Here is a list of all of the Foo Fighters tunes that reached No. 1 on the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart.
- “Rope”
- “Something from Nothing”
- “Rescued”
- “Shame Shame”
- “Today’s Song”
- “Walk”
- “Making a Fire”
- “Under You”
- “Waiting on a War”
- “Asking for a Friend”
- “Wheels”
- “The Sky Is a Neighborhood”
- “Congregation”
What Are the Foo Fighters Songs With the Most Weeks at No. 1?
UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 28: READING FESTIVAL Photo of Dave GROHL and FOO FIGHTERS (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns)
Redferns
Four Foo Fighters tunes have led the Rock and Alternative Airplay tally for double-digit weeks, which is an impressive run on any of Billboard’s airplay charts. “Rope” is easily the biggest of the bunch, as it commanded the roster for 20 periods. “Something from Nothing” comes next with 16 frames at No. 1, while both “Rescued” and “Shame Shame” are matched with 11 stints in the spotlight.
Foo Fighters Add Two New Radio No. 1s in One Year
Foo Fighters have collected two new champions in 2025 alone. “Today’s Song” debuted on the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart on the list dated July 12, and two frames later, the track hit No. 1. “Asking for a Friend” needed less than a month to conquer, as it opened on the chart dated November 1 and reached the summit before December rolled around.
Are Foo Fighters Working on a New Album?
Both “Today’s Song” and “Asking for a Friend” are assumed to be the first samples of an upcoming album, but the band has yet to announce anything formally. The rockers last delivered a full-length in the summer of 2023 when But Here We Are dropped. While no new project is officially in the works, at least as far as the public is concerned, Foo Fighters are headed back out on the road, and it’s likely that “Today’s Song” and “Asking for a Friend” will be highlighted during the Take Cover Tour, which is expected to begin next year.
“Asking for a Friend” Almost Hits No. 1 on Several Billboard Charts
As “Asking for a Friend” leads the Rock and Alternative Airplay chart, it also hits a new all-time high on the Mainstream Rock Airplay list. The single improves to the runner-up spot and could become another No. 1 for Foo Fighters very soon.
“Asking for a Friend” Lives on Five Billboard Charts at Once
“Asking for a Friend” lives on five different Billboard tallies this frame. In addition to the aforementioned airplay lists, the tune also improves slightly on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart to No. 48 while simultaneously living inside the top 10 on both the Alternative Airplay and Hot Hard Rock Songs rankings, settling at Nos. 5 and 10, respectively.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/11/29/foo-fighters-finally-hit-no-1-with-new-single-after-waiting-patiently/
