Historic Comeback: Sublime Reaches First Alternative Airplay No. 1 in Nearly 30 Years!

Sublime has achieved a significant milestone, securing its first No. 1 position on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in nearly 30 years with their latest track, “Ensenada.” This new song, featuring Jakob Nowell, the son of the late frontman Bradley Nowell, marks the band’s second chart-topper. Their previous No. 1 hit was “What I Got” in 1996, which ascended to the top five months after Bradley Nowell’s passing in May of that year.
The gap between Sublime’s No. 1 hits, a remarkable 28 years and 10 months, stands as the lengthiest in the 37-year history of the Alternative Airplay chart. This duration surpasses the previous record held by Sum 41, who waited 22 years, six months, and three weeks between their 2001 hit “Fat Lip” and their 2024 success “Landmines.” In the interim period between “What I Got” and “Ensenada,” Sublime saw four of their tracks enter the Alternative Airplay chart, including two reaching a No. 3 peak: “Santeria” and “Wrong Way,” both in 1997. Additionally, the band Sublime With Rome, which included the surviving original Sublime members and frontman Rome Ramirez, also had four songs chart between 2011 and 2019.
“Ensenada” has also simultaneously claimed the No. 1 spot on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, marking Sublime’s inaugural leader since the chart’s inception in 2009. The track demonstrated a significant surge, increasing its audience impressions by 51% to 4.1 million in the week ending Sept. 11, according to Luminate data. Furthermore, “Ensenada” made its debut on Mainstream Rock Airplay at No. 38 on the Aug. 23 tally, becoming Sublime’s first entry on that chart in almost 29 years, and is currently positioned at No. 40 on the latest survey.
This chart-topping single serves as a preview for Sublime’s forthcoming album, for which a release date is yet to be announced. This highly anticipated record will be the band’s first LP since their self-titled release in 1996, an album that has accumulated 10.9 million equivalent album units to date. All Billboard charts, including these achievements, will officially update on Tuesday, Sept. 16, for the Sept. 20-dated tallies on Billboard.com.
Recommended Articles
Rock Legends Roar: Papa Roach Smashes Mainstream Chart Records!

Papa Roach's "Braindead," featuring H2O vocalist Toby Morse, has soared to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay ...
Shinedown Extends Reign: 'Killing Fields' Sets New Mainstream Rock Airplay Record!

Shinedown has made history by securing its 21st No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with "Killing Fields," furthe...
Rosalía's Wild Night: Pop Star's 'LUX' Tattoo & Pozole Party with Latin Mafia in Mexico City

Spanish superstar Rosalía recently visited Mexico City for a listening session of her upcoming album, LUX, immersing her...
Mumford & Sons Announce Star-Studded New Album Featuring Gracie Abrams & Hozier!

Mumford & Sons announced their sixth studio album, "Prizefighter," due February 13, 2026, featuring collaborations with ...
Lily Allen's Heartbreak: Suicidal Thoughts & Near Relapse Over David Harbour's Secret Affair Revealed

Lily Allen has opened up about the severe emotional impact of her separation from David Harbour, revealing suicidal thou...
You may also like...
Super Eagles' World Cup Dream Lives On: Playoff Venue Set, Stars Confident of Dramatic Comeback

Nigeria's Super Eagles have completed a dramatic turnaround in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, earning...
Falcons Soar: Nigeria's Super Falcons Eye 11th WAFCON Title, Players Exude Confidence
)
Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo is highly confident that Nigeria will successfully defend their Women's Africa Cu...
Against All Odds: 'The Witcher' Season 4 Conquers Streaming Despite Cavill Exit & Bad Reviews!

Netflix's The Witcher Season 4, starring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, has debuted with mixed reviews but strong vi...
Chaos Unleashed: 'Tulsa King' Season 4 Rocked by Production Turmoil!

The production of "Tulsa King" Season 4 is facing significant turmoil, marked by unexpected crew layoffs, the departure ...
Nigerian Star Adekunle Gold Bravely Shares Personal Health Battle with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold shares his personal battle with sickle cell crises and advocates for greater awareness a...
Iconic Band Oasis Returns After Nearly Two Decades for Electrifying Australian Tour

The legendary rock band Oasis made a miraculous return to the stage, kicking off their Live ’25 world tour in Melbourne,...
'Primal' Creator Unleashes Revolutionary Zombie Apocalypse for Season 3

Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal is set to return for its third season with a surprising zombie twist for its protagonist, Sp...
Royal Insider Exposes Sarah Ferguson's Shock Split from Andrew's Home

Following King Charles's decision to strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles and relocate him, former duchess Sarah Ferg...