Bruno Mars Beats Katy Perry And Rihanna With A New No. 1 Hit

Bruno Mars Beats Katy Perry And Rihanna With A New No. 1 Hit
Source: Forbes

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.

One week after Bruno Mars debuted his latest album The Romantic atop every Billboard chart it reached, the set backtracks on most tallies, but not by much. The official second single, "I Just Might," continues to grow across a variety of radio formats, though, like its parent project, it dips on a number of rankings it launched on only a few days ago.

The lead cut, which preceded The Romantic by several weeks, jumps to first place on one of the most competitive airplay rosters in America. As it ascends, the man behind the smash breaks out of a tie with several other hitmakers and makes history.

Bruno Mars' "I Just Might" Hits No. 1 on the Pop Airplay Chart

"I Just Might" leaps from third place to No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart. Billboard publishes the ranking each week to show which 40 tracks reach the largest total audiences via pop stations in the United States. Last time around, "I Just Might" sat at No. 3, and at this moment, it rules the roost.

Bruno Mars Reaches 12 Pop Airplay No. 1s

Mars has now sent a dozen tracks to the summit on the Pop Airplay chart throughout his career. It was a little more than 15 years ago that he first conquered the competitive list alongside hip-hop musician B.o.B, when the pair led the way with "Nothin' on You" for one frame in May 2010. Mars last earned a new champion in 2025, as "Apt." -- his team-up with Blackpink star Rosé -- spent a month running the show beginning in February.

Here are all 12 of Bruno Mars's No. 1 hits on the Pop Airplay chart:

  • "Apt." with Rosé
  • "Die With A Smile" with Lady Gaga
  • "Finesse" with Cardi B
  • "Grenade"
  • "I Just Might"
  • "It Will Rain"
  • "Just The Way You Are"
  • "Locked Out Of Heaven"
  • "Nothin' On You" with B.o.B
  • "That's What I Like"
  • "Uptown Funk!" with Mark Ronson
  • "When I Was Your Man"

Taylor Swift And Bruno Mars Lead the Pop Airplay Chart History

Mars is only the second musician in the history of the Pop Airplay list to make it to 12 winners. He follows Taylor Swift, who recently upped her career total to 15. In a strange bit of coincidence, Swift earned her fifteenth leader recently and was in charge of the Pop Airplay roster as of only a few days ago. "Opalite" falls to No. 3 as Mars's "I Just Might" replaces it on the throne.

Bruno Mars Passes Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber

Before "I Just Might" made it to the highest rung on the Pop Airplay chart, Mars was matched with four other behemoths in the pop space for the second-most No. 1s of all time. Now he pushes Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, and Justin Bieber down to third place on the all-time list, as those four musical acts are steady with their 11 rulers.

"I Just Might" Rules Multiple Pop Radio Rankings

"I Just Might" dominates two of Billboard's three pop radio rankings this frame. As it leads the way on the Pop Airplay chart for the first time, Mars also hits the loftiest spot on the Adult Pop Airplay tally. On that ranking, he has snagged only five winners - less than half of his total on the Pop Airplay tally.

"I Just Might" Leads the Way on Multiple Billboard Charts

In addition to both the Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay charts, "I Just Might" commands half a dozen additional rosters published by Billboard. In some instances, the first single from The Romantic is steady at No. 1, while in other cases - such as on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and R&B Digital Song Sales rundowns - "I Just Might" returns to the throne.

All told, "I Just Might" takes up space inside the top 10 on 16 tallies in America. Those lists are compiled with airplay data, streaming activity, or sales. Mars even manages to lead a handful that are focused on general consumption, as "IJust Might" remains one of the biggest songs in America.