Katy Perry’s “Watch It Burn” helps her break her tie with Justin Bieber and Kelly Clarkson as she claims the fifth-most Adult Pop Airplay chart hits in history. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 11: Katy Perry performs onstage during Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – New York at Madison Square Garden on August 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for KP)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for KP
Throughout much of 2026, Katy Perry has been rising on Billboard’s global charts with her song “The One That Got Away.” The tune was pushed as a single from her album Teenage Dream more than a decade ago, but in today’s entirely online world, anything can go viral at any moment, and seemingly for no reason. Younger audiences first heard “The One That Got Away” on TikTok only a few months ago, while longtime fans embraced the track once more after it surged in popularity.
“The One That Got Away” quickly became the Grammy nominee’s highest-ranking hit on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S., and it rose to new peak positions on tallies all around the world. Perry seized the moment and released a new song, “Watch It Burn,” less than a month ago, hoping to capitalize on the success of her older smash. While “Watch It Burn” underperforms and reaches only a single Billboard roster, the track does help her make history in one specific fashion.
“Watch It Burn” Debuts on Only One Billboard Chart
“Watch It Burn” misses many of Billboard’s most important charts, including the Billboard Hot 100, Digital Song Sales, Streaming Songs lists and both global rosters, but it does become a radio win. The track opens at No. 38 on this week’s Adult Pop Airplay list. The tally ranks the most successful tunes at radio stations throughout the U.S. that focus on the more mature – “adult” – side of pop, and it is one of three pop radio rosters published by Billboard each week.
Katy Perry Claims the Fifth-Most Adult Pop Airplay Hits
“Watch It Burn” earns Perry her thirty-first career placement on the Adult Pop Airplay chart. Billboard reports that as the single arrives, Perry now claims the fifth-most hits on the radio roster. Before “Watch It Burn,” Perry was tied with Justin Bieber and Kelly Clarkson, who have both snagged a milestone 30 smashes.
Katy Perry Trails Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande
Perry only needs a few more hits on the Adult Pop Airplay chart before she advances again. Ariana Grande is her closest competitor with 33 tunes, though with a new album, Petal, expected this month, she will likely add to her total soon. Pink and Maroon 5 are tied with 34 apiece.
Taylor Swift leads all acts, and she sits in a distant first place. The singer-songwriter has sent 55 songs to the Adult Pop Airplay chart, placing her more than 20 hits ahead of both Maroon 5 and Pink, and her record may never be tied.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 09: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE. NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE) Taylor Swift attends the Toy Story 5 Los Angeles World Premiere at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 09, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for for TAS Rights Management)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management“Watch It Burn” Becomes Katy Perry’s Lowest-Peaking Hit
As it launches, “Watch It Burn” becomes Perry’s lowest-peaking and worst-performing hit on the Adult Pop Airplay chart, at least at this early stage in its run. Before this week, “Cozy Little Christmas” owned that distinction after spending one frame at No. 37.
Katy Perry Earned Her Last Hit Less Than a Year Ago
It has been less than a year since Perry earned her thirtieth hit on the Adult Pop Airplay chart. “Bandaids” launched in November 2025, and by February of this year, it had climbed to its peak of No. 11. The single tied “Thinking of You” and “Birthday” by missing out on cracking the top 10 by just a single space.
Katy Perry Has Scored Eight No. 1 Smashes
Of Perry’s 31 tracks to appear on the Adult Pop Airplay chart, 16 have entered the top 10. Exactly half of those have climbed all the way to No. 1.
Here are all of Perry’s No. 1s on Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart.
“California Gurls””Firework””Hot N Cold””Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)””Roar””Teenage Dream””The One That Got Away””Wide Awake”ForbesKaty Perry’s New Single Underperforms And Misses Most Major ChartsBy Hugh McIntyre