By Derek White Hugh McIntyre Senior Contributor
Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae鈥檚 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 rises to No. 15 on Adult Pop Airplay but barely clings … More to the Country Airplay chart at No. 60, reflecting its pop-focused strategy. Morgan Wallen performs the song “’98 Braves” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The show airs on November 19, 2023 on BBMAs.watch. (Photo by Derek White/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Penske Media via Getty Images
When Morgan Wallen鈥檚 latest album I鈥檓 the Problem debuted on the Billboard charts a little over a month ago, it came with a brand new smash single. 鈥淲hat I Want,鈥 his collaboration with Canadian pop singer Tate McRae, launched atop multiple tallies at once, including the Hot 100, where it gave McRae her first career champion on that list.
Weeks later, it鈥檚 clear that 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 is becoming a major success at pop radio. Meanwhile, the country world 鈥 where Wallen remains the biggest star the scene has experienced in many years 鈥 has yet to fully embrace the track.
鈥淲hat I Want鈥 Returns to the Country Radio Chart
鈥淲hat I Want鈥 returns to the Country Airplay chart this frame, but only barely. The Wallen/McRae duet appears on the ranking of the most successful tunes at country radio at No. 60, in last place.
Morgan Wallen鈥檚 Low-Ranking Hit
This frame is just the second for the track on this roster, as it previously debuted and peaked at No. 55. 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 is likely not being promoted to country radio, or at least not heavily. Instead, it鈥檚 being pushed to pop stations. Although Wallen remains a fixture at country radio, the fact that 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 appears may be due solely to his incredible popularity and the general success of the tune.
鈥淲hat I Want鈥 is a Pop Radio Win
While 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 is off to a very slow start on Country Airplay, it is currently performing significantly better on two of Billboard鈥檚 three pop radio lists. This frame, Wallen and McRae reach a new high point of No. 15 on the Adult Pop Airplay list, up one spot from last time around. 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 also holds its all-time peak of No. 19 on the Pop Airplay tally, the most important top 40 radio list in America.
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Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae Rise on the Radio Songs List
鈥淲hat I Want鈥 is also just getting started on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where the collaboration debuted last week. This time around, it improves slightly, pushing to No. 45, though it still ranks below all of Wallen鈥檚 other successes at the moment.
Morgan Wallen鈥檚 Five Country Radio Smashes
While 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 may never become a breakout hit at country radio, that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 not successful. Wallen and his team are likely just giving different radio formats one or two tracks to focus on at a time instead of flooding the country market.
As 鈥淲hat I Want鈥 returns to the Country Airplay list, Wallen fills five spaces on the 60-spot roster, which is nearly unheard of on one of Billboard鈥檚 most competitive tallies.
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