AC/DC Quietly Pulls Off A Major Chart Comeback

AC/DC is one of the rare musical acts that has been going strong for decades that often appears on Billboard charts with both songs and albums. There are only a handful of names that have been working for many years that can consistently show up on rankings in the United States with either a compilation, a bestselling album, or a career-making hit that simply won’t disappear. AC/DC is in rarefied company with continued success with both individual tracks and full-lengths, and the rockers prove once again that they’re doing it like almost nobody else, as Americans continue to consume one classic project while multiple tunes from the Australian outfit’s discography return and become big wins once more.

“Highway to Hell” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” Return

Two of AC/DC’s most famous singles return to the same American-based tally this frame. “Highway to Hell” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” surge back onto the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart, Billboard’s weekly rundown of the most successful tunes in that genre on platforms like Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and others. “Highway to Hell” breaks back in at No. 18, while “You Shook Me All Night Long” lands in last place at No. 25.

Which One is the Bigger Hit?

Between those two cuts, “Highway to Hell” is the more successful in terms of peak position. The tune is one of the group’s two No. 1s, alongside “Thunderstruck,” while “You Shook Me All Night Long” only climbed as high as No. 2.

When looking at longevity, however, the roles are reversed. “You Shook Me All Night Long” has now spent 245 weeks somewhere on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs ranking, while “Highway to Hell” has yet to make it to the 200-turn milestone.

“Thunderstruck” Remains AC/DC’s Longest-Running Smash

AC/DC fills three spaces on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs list this time around, as “Thunderstruck” remains the act’s biggest success at the moment. 283 weeks into its time on the tally, the group’s longest-running champion is steady at No. 4.

“Thunderstruck” Keeps AC/DC on the Billboard Charts

“Thunderstruck” isn’t just AC/DC’s most-streamed tune in the U.S. — it also manages to appear on multiple other rosters. Like “Highway to Hell” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” the AC/DC classic returns to one roster, the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. That list ranks the most successful songs around the planet with streams and sales from American consumers excluded from its methodology. “Thunderstruck” reappears at No. 169 after previously topping out at No. 134.

“Thunderstruck” Remains AC/DC’s Biggest Win

Of AC/DC’s three charting wins at the moment, “Thunderstruck” is the only one to appear on multiple rosters. “Highway to Hell” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” only manage to find space on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart, while “Thunderstruck” also lives on both the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales and Rock Digital Song Sales lists, as well as both of Billboard’s worldwide rankings.

AC/DC’s Back In Black Album Keeps the Band Going

While AC/DC sees multiple songs appear on at least one tally, just a single album from the group is present on a Billboard roster. Back in Black, as is almost always the case, is featured once more on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart. This frame, the set dips several spaces to No. 22. In the past, Back in Black has peaked at No. 2, and has spent well over a decade as one of the most consumed hard rock full-lengths in the United States.

AC/DC Joins Kansas as This Frame’s Only Returning Acts

AC/DC stands out as one of only two acts to return to the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart in what has turned out to be a fairly quiet moment for the chart. Only “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas also breaks back in, at No. 23. The rest of the roster — including the highest four spaces — remains exactly as it was last time around, with Linkin Park’s “In the End,” Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” and Evanescence and Paul McCoy’s “Bring Me to Life” holding at Nos. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.