Nickelback has notched its first Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 in more than a decade. The milestone marks the band’s ninth chart-topper at the format and its first since 2014. Frontman Chad Kroeger has now reacted to the achievement.
The update focused on the chart performance of the band’s latest single, “Rattle the Cage.”
Nickelback’s “Rattle the Cage” hit No. 1 on this week’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, earning the band its ninth No. 1 at the format and its first since 2014.
Following the announcement, Kroeger addressed the news directly, thanking fans for their support.
“Hey everybody, Chad from Nickelback here. Just found out that our song ‘Rattle the Cage’ went number one at Active Rock,” Kroeger said. “Huge, huge thank you to everyone who requested it, played it, listened to it and enjoyed it. Thank you so, so much, and stay tuned because we’ve got more coming your way.”
The chart run behind “Rattle the Cage” tells a longer story about Nickelback’s climb back to the top of rock radio.
“Rattle the Cage,” featuring Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5, was released on July 14. It climbed steadily over several weeks before finally taking the top spot. The track posted an 8% increase in plays during the tracking week of Sept. 11–17, the push that ultimately carried it past the competition to No. 1. Before reaching the summit, the song moved through the chart in stages, hitting No. 6, then No. 4, then No. 2, in the weeks prior.
The single also serves as the lead track from Nickelback’s upcoming 11th studio album, “Everything Under the Sun,” set for release on Oct. 30. The project marks the band’s first release under Virgin Music Group. This signals a new chapter for the group as it re-enters the rock radio conversation after years away from the top of the charts.
The gap between chart-toppers stretched back to 2014, when “Edge of a Revolution” last put Nickelback at No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay. “Rattle the Cage” closes that decade-long wait. It also adds another entry to a chart history that now spans more than 25 years, dating back to when “How You Remind Me” became the band’s very first No. 1 in 2001.
With the new album on the horizon and radio momentum building, Nickelback appears positioned for a broader comeback moment. Kroeger’s message suggests the band is eager to build on that momentum in the months ahead.
