The Subway Climbs Radio Charts While Slipping Elsewhere — Chappell Roan's Mixed Week on Billboard

Chappell Roan continues to make waves in pop radio, though her latest release shows signs of the typical chart lifecycle. The artist’s current single has just debuted on major airplay charts this week, marking another milestone in her expanding radio presence.

A Strong Radio Debut Amid Overall Chart Decline

“The Subway” officially entered the Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay rankings this frame, landing at No. 37 and No. 36 respectively. The track’s radio chart debut represents a meaningful moment for Roan, who now claims five career entries across both airplay tallies. However, this new radio momentum comes as the song faces headwinds on streaming and sales-based rankings, having already descended significantly from its initial positions.

The Hot 100 Tells a Different Story

On the Hot 100 chart, “The Subway” illustrates the volatility of modern chart performance. The track entered at No. 3 just three weeks prior and has now dropped to No. 28, a steep decline that reflects typical post-debut trajectory for many singles. Simultaneously, the song has retreated on the Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales charts, as well as both of Billboard’s international rankings where it originally secured top 10 positioning.

Building on Established Success

Roan’s career radio dominance remains evident when examining her chart history. The Grammy Award-winning artist has previously scored two number-one hits on Pop Airplay with “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe!”, while “Hot to Go!” peaked at No. 9 on the same chart. Her Adult Pop Airplay achievements show similar strength, with “Pink Pony Club” reaching the summit and “Good Luck, Babe!” climbing to No. 9.

Compared to “The Subway,” Roan’s other 2025 single “The Giver” performed stronger upon its radio introduction, debuting at No. 27 on Pop Airplay and No. 32 on Adult Pop Airplay. This suggests “The Subway,” while starting lower, still has room to climb as it gains traction with radio programmers.

What’s Next

The contrast between Roan’s radio entry and her Hot 100 decline underscores how different chart metrics tell distinct stories about a song’s momentum. Radio adoption often follows streaming peaks, and if “The Subway” continues its upward trajectory on airplay rankings, it could defy the downward pressure currently visible on sales and streaming platforms.