Death Cab for Cutie Earns Milestone 10th Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 With ‘Stone Over Water’

Death Cab for Cutie claims its 10th No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart (dated Oct. 24), as “Stone Over Water” rises 2-1.

Released June 5 via Anti-/Epitaph Records, the song reaches the summit with a 4% increase in plays at the format during the Oct. 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate.

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The group becomes just the fifth act in the chart’s 30-year history to reach double-digit No. 1s, joining U2 (14), Coldplay (13), Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band/Dave Matthews (11 each).

Here’s a look at all of Death Cab for Cutie’s Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1s:

Title, Peak Date

• “Stone Over Water,” Oct. 24, 2026
• “Riptides,” May 16, 2026
• “Pepper,” March 11, 2023
• “Here to Forever,” Aug. 20, 2022
• “Northern Lights,” Feb. 9, 2019
• “Gold Rush,” July 28, 2018
• “Black Sun,” March 28, 2015
• “You Are a Tourist,” May 21, 2011
• “I Will Possess Your Heart,” May 17, 2008
• “Soul Meets Body,” Nov. 19, 2005

“Stone Over Water” became the band’s 20th entry on Adult Alternative Airplay when it debuted in July. The group first appeared on the chart in October 2005 with “Soul Meets Body,” which went on to rule for 10 weeks. At the time, it was only the 10th song in the chart’s history to spend 10-plus weeks at No. 1.

“Stone Over Water” is also the second Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 for Epitaph Records, following Death Cab for Cutie’s “Riptides” in May. The band’s eight previous leaders were released via Barsuk/Atlantic Records.

The new No. 1 is the third single from Death Cab for Cutie’s 11th studio album, I Built You a Tower. Released in June, the set reached No. 12 on Alternative Albums. It also hit No. 14 on Independent Albums, as it marked the band’s first album released on an independent label since its fourth LP, Transatlanticism, in 2003.