Jonah Kagen Snags First Billboard No. 1 With ‘God Needs the Devil’

Jonah Kagen reigns on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart for the first time, topping the May 24-dated survey with “God Needs the Devil.”

The song, which rises a spot, marks Kagen’s first ruler on any Billboard ranking, earned with his second charted title. Previously, Kagen spent a week on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs in 2021 with the Matoma collaboration “Summer Feeling.”

Kagen becomes the sixth act to rule Alternative Airplay for the first time in 2025. Almost Monday accomplished the feat first in February (“Can’t Slow Down”), followed by Justice and Tame Impala (both on “Neverender” in March), Balu Brigada (“So Cold,” March) and Lola Young (“Messy,” April). Of that group, Justice, Balu Brigada and Young led in their first appearances on the list, like Kagen.

Roughly halfway through 2025, the year is the best for acts notching inaugural Alternative Airplay No. 1s with their first entries on the chart in five years; in 2020, Absofacto, White Reaper, Sub Urban and All Time Low all reigned on their first tries.

Kagen’s 29-week trip to No. 1 is the lengthiest since 2023, when Bad Omens’ “Just Pretend” took 32 weeks.

Concurrently, “God Needs the Devil” lifts 9-8 for a new high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.6 million audience impressions, up 10%, in the week ending May 15, according to Luminate. The song peaked at No. 22 on Adult Alternative Airplay in November.

“God Needs the Devil” is on Kagen’s EP Black Dress, which was released in November and has earned 27,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated May 24 will update on Tuesday, May 20, on Billboard.com.