For King & Country, the duo of siblings Joel and Luke Smallbone, notches its 14th leader on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart (dated Nov. 18) with “What Are We Waiting For?” The song increased by 7% to 6 million audience impressions Nov. 3-9, according to Luminate.
The twosome extends its record streak to 11 consecutive Christian Airplay No. 1 singles (encompassing songs in lead roles promoted as proper, non-holiday radio singles, unless seasonal songs contribute to that run).
The siblings co-authored their latest leader.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve loved music,” Luke Smallbone tells Billboard. “I never thought I’d be a songwriter, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the true power of music – it can impact someone’s eternal destination. For us to be a part of that journey in someone’s life is an immense privilege and honor.”
For King & Country’s 14 Christian Airplay No. 1s mark the second-most among all acts since the chart began in 2003, after MercyMe’s 18. Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and TobyMac rank third with 12 each.
“What Are We Waiting For?” follows for King & Country’s “Love Me Like I Am” (with Jordin Sparks), which ruled for two frames starting in February. Before that, the pair led with “Joy to the World” for a week in December 2022 and “For God Is With Us” for three weeks that July.
The other No. 1s in the duo’s active streak: “Relate,” which ruled for three weeks starting in December 2021; “Amen” (one week, July 2021); “O Come O Come Emmanuel” featuring NEEDTOBREATHE (two weeks, starting in December 2020); “Together” with Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly (five, beginning in August 2020); “Burn the Ships” (five, starting in January 2020); “God Only Knows” (10, beginning in April 2019); and “joy.” (four, starting in August 2018).
Amid that stretch, the tandem’s holiday track “Heavenly Hosts” reached No. 2 in January 2022. Plus, the duo featured on older sister Rebecca St. James’ “Kingdom Come,” which hit No. 26 that May.
For King & Country scored its first Christian Airplay No. 1 with its seventh entry, “Fix My Eyes,” for a week in September 2014.
Grear & Co. Get First Gospel No. 1
James Grear & Company’s “I Wanna Say Thank You” featuring Maurette Brown Clark hits the Gospel Airplay summit. In the Nov. 3-9 tracking week, the song gained by 14% in plays.
James Grear & Company earns its first No. 1 in its second appearance on the chart, after “It’s My Season” peaked at No. 29 in 2015.
Brown Clark leads Gospel Airplay for a second time, after “It Ain’t Over (Until God Says It’s Over)” dominated for five frames in 2009. Her first of eight entries, “One God,” hit No. 2 in 2007, her first of four top 10s.
Brown Clark has an additional song on the Nov. 18 tally: “I See Good” ranks at No. 18, after reaching No. 14.
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