Imagine Dragons make Billboard chart history with’ ‘Radioactive’

Imagine Dragons, the breakout rock group of the last two years, have made Billboard chart history. The group’s hit single “Radioactive,” performed at the Grammys last month as part of a mash-up with local rap star Kendrick Lamar, has spent a record-breaking 77 weeks on the trade publication’s Hot 100 chart.

The single’s chart hasn’t seen such a run since Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” hit 76 weeks in 2008-2009, reports the keeper-of-all-things charts. But it appears “Radioactive” has a challenger and, surprise, it comes not from pop superstars at the top of the tally but another electronic-tinged rock ‘n’ roll act.

Awolnation’s “Sail” has spent 76 weeks on the chart itself. “Sail” sits at No. 40, while “Radioactive” is at No. 26. The latter has sold more than 6.6 million downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, while “Sail” has sold about 4.8 million downloads.

PHOTOS: Iconic rock guitars and their owners

It’s been a blessed year and a half for Imagine Dragons. The act’s full-length debut album, “Night Visions,” is currently at No. 6 on the U.S. album chart and has sold 2.1 million copies in its 76 weeks on the chart.

In scoring a Hot 100 chart record, some of the songs “Radioactive” bested were LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” songs that held their grip on the chart for 68 and 65 weeks, respectively.

Produced by Alex Da Kid (best known for his work on rap cuts by Eminem and Dr. Dre), “Radioactive” presents a rock vision that’s influenced in equal parts by hip-hop and the dance worlds. It’s a genre dabbler, and it’s representative of a generation that was raised on equal parts Snoop Dogg, Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana.

The song was nominated for record of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards, but lost to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” The song did, however, take top honors in the rock performance category.

ALSO:

Pharrell Williams, a ‘Happy’ and busy guy

Arctic Monkeys win album, group prizes at U.K.’s Brit Awards

Elton John, Kanye West, Jack White anchor Bonnaroo festival