R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. posts her sixth No. 1 in record time on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart as “Damage” ascends to the summit on the list dated June 26 to become the radio format’s most-played song of the week. The single, which previously ranked at No. 2 for five consecutive weeks, climbs from No. 3 and ousts Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” after a 12-week command.
“Damage” rises from No. 3 despite essentially remaining even in its play count for the week ending June 20, according to MRC Data. The previous week’s No. 1 and No. 2 titles — Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” and Tank’s “Can’t Let It Show,” respectively — each backtrack one spot from their perches due to 5% and 10% respective declines in plays during the tracking week.
With “Damage,” H.E.R. becomes the fastest artist to accumulate six No. 1s on the Adult R&B Airplay chart since it began in 1993. As her first, “Focus,” led the chart dated Oct. 6, 2018, she has reached the half-dozen mark in two years, eight months and three weeks. Previously, Alicia Keys held the mark with her first six leaders arriving in a span of four years, three months and three weeks.
To recap H.E.R.’s six No. 1s:
Song Title, Artist (if other than H.E.R.), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Focus,” one, Oct. 6, 2018
“Best Part,” Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R., four, Oct. 20, 2018
“Slow Down,” with Skip Marley, three, May 23, 2020
“Make the Most,” Lonr. featuring H.E.R., one, Oct. 24, 2020
“Gotta Move On,” Toni Braxton featuring H.E.R., two, Feb. 20, 2021
“Damage,” one (to date), June 26, 2021
“Damage” appears on H.E.R.’s Back of My Mind, released on June 18. The LP marks the singer-songwriter’s first full-length studio album after multiple mixtapes and compilations releases in the last five years.
