Todd Dulaney & Smokie Norful Top Gospel Airplay Chart With ‘Satisfied’
The song marks Dulaney's record-breaking fifth consecutive leader, and Norful's first since 2007.
Todd Dulaney‘s “Satisfied,” featuring Smokie Norful, ascends to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Sept. 17). In the tracking week ending Sept. 11, the song increased by 7% in plays, according to Luminate.
The coronation marks the sixth for Dulaney and the third for Norful on Gospel Airplay. It’s also the fifth in a row for Dulaney – a new record streak over the chart’s 17-year history. Norful, meanwhile, reigns again after a record wait of over 15 years.
“Satisfied” follows Dulaney’s “Revelation 4,” which led for a week last September. Before that, “Psalms 18 (I Will Call Your Name)” topped the survey for a week in October 2020; “You’re Doing It All Again,” featuring Nicole Harris, led for one frame in September 2019; and “Your Great Name” dominated for eight weeks beginning in March 2018.
Dulaney one-ups Jonathan McReynolds, who boasts an active streak of four Gospel Airplay No. 1s (encompassing his career total), having most recently led with “Grace” in August 2021. McReynolds could extend his streak and tie Dulaney with his latest single, “Your World,” which pushes 18-17 for a new high (up 6%).
Prior to his record run, Dulaney first hit Gospel Airplay as featured on Jessica Love’s “I Draw Near” (No. 19, 2015); notched his first No. 1 with “The Anthem,” which reigned for six weeks starting in April 2016; and hit No. 3 in August 2017 with “Victory Belongs to Jesus.”
The 38-year-old Dulaney, a former professional baseball player in the New York Mets organization, wrote “Satisfied” solo. He co-produced it with Dontaniel Jamel Kimbrough.
“I always remind myself that this level of success is not common and should never be taken for granted,” Dulaney tells Billboard. “I’m blown away to have yet another song at the top of the chart.”
Norful lands his first Gospel Airplay No. 1 since “Um Good” ruled for 13 frames starting in January 2007. He first led with “I Understand,” for three weeks beginning in March 2005. He ends the longest break between leaders: 15 years, five months and three weeks (during which time he notched four other top 10s). He passes fellow enduring format star CeCe Winans (15 years and three months between solo No. 1s in 2006-21), while Byron Cage went 14 years, 10 months and two weeks between leaders (also in 2006-21, as he returned to the summit with “I Can’t Give Up”).
Notably, Winans led in between those solo turns at the top via her and Bebe Winans’ single as a duo “Close to You,” for 10 weeks in 2009. (She most recently ruled on her own for two weeks earlier this year with “Believe for It.”)