A Perfect Circle Has Topped Rock Airplay Charts
The band reached the No. 1 spot on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with their latest single, Starless.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Rock
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A Perfect Circle has secured the No. 1 position on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated Oct. 3, 2026, with the song Starless. This achievement marks the band's first return to the top of the chart in over two decades.
Why it matters
The success of Starless marks a significant resurgence for the group, ending a 22-year and 11-month gap since their last No. 1 single. It highlights the band's enduring appeal in the rock radio landscape.
Starless reached No. 10 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.9 million audience impressions and generated 229,000 chart-eligible streams. The band's 2018 album Eat the Elephant has accumulated 292,000 equivalent album units.
The players
A Perfect Circle
This American rock band is known for its atmospheric sound and has been active since the late 1990s.
The details
Starless hit the top spot through a combination of sustained radio airplay and digital streaming performance. The song also currently holds the No. 12 position on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart.
Timeline
A Perfect Circle last hit No. 1 with Weak and Powerless in 2003.
The Outsider peaked at No. 3 in 2004.
A Perfect Circle released the album Eat the Elephant in 2018.
The tracking week for the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart ended Sept. 24, 2026.
The Mainstream Rock Airplay chart date for the Starless No. 1 is Oct. 3, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The success of Starless follows a pattern established by the band's 2003 chart-topping hit, Weak and Powerless. This milestone updates the historical record by ending a 22-year gap, signaling an ongoing relevance for veteran rock acts in the current streaming-driven era.
Listeners can access the single through standard radio broadcasts and major streaming platforms that contributed to the song's chart-eligible metrics. No changes to concert access or physical media availability were announced alongside this chart performance.
The takeaway
The return of a long-standing act to the top of the charts demonstrates how legacy bands can still leverage radio airplay alongside modern streaming metrics. Fans of the group can view this as a successful revitalization of the band's mainstream commercial presence.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the industry, see our Rock coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Billboard.
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