The 40-position[1] chart is formulated based on each song's weekly radio spins, as measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems.
[3] The earliest incarnation of the chart was first published on January 20, 1996,[4] as a feature in Billboard sister publication Airplay Monitor.
In 2006, Airplay Monitor ceased publication after Billboard parent company VNU Media's acquisition of rival radio trade magazine Radio & Records,[5] which then subsequently incorporated Airplay Monitor's Nielsen-based Triple A chart.
[6][7] Billboard itself began publishing the Triple A chart in the issue dated July 5, 2008, through their Billboard.biz website,[8] appropriating the same airplay data as Radio & Records.
[6] Radio & Records closed in June 2009, leaving Billboard as the sole publisher of the chart.