Bruno Mars has achieved a historic milestone on the Billboard Radio Songs chart, as his collaboration with Lady Gaga, “Die With a Smile,” has solidified its place among the longest-running number-one hits in the chart’s history. The track has now spent its 18th week at the top of the airplay-based ranking, matching the longevity records previously set by Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris,” according to data published by Billboard.
This achievement places the single in a rare tier of radio dominance, trailing only a handful of songs since the Radio Songs chart launched in 1990. The record for the most weeks at number one remains held by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which spent 26 weeks at the summit, followed by Harry Styles’ “As It Was” with 24 weeks, and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” with 23 weeks, as verified by Billboard’s historical archives.
The Radio Songs chart tracks the total audience impressions for songs across all monitored radio stations in the United States. Reaching the top of this list signifies a pervasive level of airplay that cuts across multiple radio formats, including pop, adult contemporary, and rhythmic stations. For “Die With a Smile,” the sustained performance reflects a consistent demand from programmers and listeners alike since its release in August 2024.
Understanding the Radio Songs Chart Methodology
The Billboard Radio Songs chart measures airplay based on total audience impressions, a metric that accounts for both the number of times a song is played and the size of the audience listening at the time of broadcast. Unlike the Billboard Hot 100, which incorporates streaming data and physical sales, the Radio Songs chart is a pure indicator of radio reach.
Industry analysts often view a long run at number one on this chart as a hallmark of a track’s mass-market appeal. By matching the 18-week record held by Miley Cyrus’s 2023 hit “Flowers” and the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 classic “Iris,” the Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga collaboration has demonstrated a durability that is increasingly difficult to maintain in a fragmented media landscape. According to Nielsen Music/Luminate, which provides the data for these charts, audience impression numbers are audited weekly to ensure accuracy in reporting.
Comparing Contemporary and Legacy Success
The history of the Radio Songs chart reveals a significant shift in how songs accumulate airplay. In the 1990s and early 2000s, songs like “Iris” benefited from a radio environment that was more concentrated, with fewer competitors vying for limited rotation slots. Today, the inclusion of “Die With a Smile” and “Flowers” in the record books highlights how modern pop production can sustain high-frequency rotation across diverse digital and terrestrial platforms.
While “Blinding Lights” still maintains a significant lead with its 26-week run, the convergence of these newer tracks at the 18-week mark suggests a high level of consistency in modern radio programming. The following table summarizes the top tier of longevity for Radio Songs number ones:
| Rank | Title | Artist(s) | Weeks at No. 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blinding Lights | The Weeknd | 26 |
| 2 | As It Was | Harry Styles | 24 |
| 3 | One Sweet Day | Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men | 23 |
| 4 | Die With a Smile | Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars | 18 |
| 4 | Flowers | Miley Cyrus | 18 |
| 4 | Iris | Goo Goo Dolls | 18 |
What This Means for Future Chart Performance
As “Die With a Smile” continues to receive heavy rotation, the primary question for industry observers is whether the track can surpass the 18-week threshold to challenge the top three records. Radio airplay typically follows a bell curve, where a song eventually reaches a saturation point, leading to a decline in spins as stations move toward newer releases.
The next official update to the Radio Songs chart will be published by Billboard in the coming week. Fans and industry professionals can monitor these developments through the official Billboard charts portal. Whether the song maintains its momentum or begins its descent, its current standing already marks a notable chapter in the collaborative history of two of pop music’s most successful performers.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on the evolution of radio hits in the comments section below. Stay tuned for further updates as the chart data develops.