Sombr celebrates his first No. 1 on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart with "Back to Friends," a self-written, self-produced hit.
- January 31, 2026
AceShowbiz - Sombr has achieved a significant milestone as his track “Back to Friends” ascends three positions to secure the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart for the week of February 7.
This marks the first time the artist, born Shane Boose, has claimed the top position on this chart. He previously made waves with his other top 10 hit, “Undressed,” which peaked at No. 4 in September.
“Back to Friends,” released under SMB/Warner Records, stands out as a unique achievement, being a self-written and self-produced track that has reached the pinnacle of the Pop Airplay chart. It is the first song to be solely penned by a single writer to top the chart since Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves,” crafted by frontman Dave Bayley in February 2022. This marks a notable return to such individual credits, as the last instance dates back to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” in early 2018.
Moreover, “Back to Friends” is also the first Pop Airplay No. 1 that is entirely authored and produced by one individual since Bayley’s accomplishment with “Heat Waves.” Pharrell Williams previously held this distinction with his iconic track “Happy,” which dominated the charts in 2014.
Interestingly, only 6% of all Pop Airplay No. 1s since the chart’s inception in October 1992 have also reached the top of the Alternative Airplay chart. “Back to Friends” led the Alternative chart for five weeks during June and July. In 2025, only one song, Lola Young’s “Messy,” has managed to achieve this dual success, following two tracks that did so in 2024: Myles Smith’s “Stargazing” and Hozier’s “Too Sweet.”
Sombr is also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, alongside seven other talented acts, including Lola Young, who are set to perform during the 68th annual Grammy ceremony on February 1.
In a recent conversation with Billboard, Sombr expressed his thoughts on the evolving music landscape: “I think people are just craving real music with real instruments and real bridges and really thoughtful writing. I think we’re headed in the right direction.” He highlighted the impressive current state of the charts, mentioning fellow nominees like Olivia Dean and RAYE.
All charts dated February 7 will be updated on Billboard.com on Tuesday, February 3.
