Country Billboard Chart News September 12, 2013

Country Billboard Chart News September 12, 2013

In Brief:  Billboard Country Charts

Country Album Chart ** No. 1 (4  weeks) ** CRASH MY PARTY   Luke Bryan

Hot Country Songs ** No. 1 (4 weeks) **  “That’s My Kind of Night” Luke Bryan

Country Airplay ** No. 1 (1 week) ** “Round Here” Florida Georgia Line

Country Digital Songs ** No. 1 ** (4 weeks)  “That’s My Kind of Night” Luke Bryan

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News

This week on the Billboard 200 (BB200) albums chart, budding 20-year-old-singer/actress pop princess Ariana Grande claimed her first No. 1. Her debut album, YOURS TRULY, has sold 137,548 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Luke Bryan's CRASH MY PARTY slipped 2-5 on the BB200 with nearly 68,000 sales (down 26%) in its 4th chart week. 

The album is #1 on Top Billboard Country Albums for the fourth straight week. It’s sold 847,000 copies in America with world wide sales of 898,000.

It’s the first album to spend its first four weeks at #1 on the country chart since Taylor Swift’s RED, which spent its first 13 weeks on top (and 16 weeks overall). It’s the first album by a male solo artist to spend its first four weeks at #1 country since Brad Paisley’s 5TH GEAR in early summer 2007. This week Bryan received his first CMA Awards nomination for Entertainer of the Year. The word on the street is that Luke will be replaced next week by Keith Urban’s new set FUSE

Luke’s SPRING BREAK…HERE TO PARTY, rebounded from #93 to #90 (BB200, No.17 Country) its 27th week, topped the 500K mark in sales last week to go GOLD. That makes him the only artist with two albums that have sold 500K or more copies so far in 2013.

Blake Shelton’s BASED ON A TRUE STORY gained 70% in sales last week and moved 25-13 on the BB200 and jumped up to No.2 on the country standings, to bring total sales to 876k sold to date.

Florida Georgia Line’s latest album HERE’S TO THE GOOD TIMES is at #3 with sales to date in 40 chart weeks of nearly 1.07 million copies. The “hot newbie’s” were new to the CMA Awards nominees list this week picking up four nominations and brought rapper Nelly along for the ride.

At #4 Country (#8 - #29 BB200) is the Show Dog-Universal compilation ALABAMA & FRIENDS. The tribute (with assist by Alabama) sold 15,000 (down 54%) to shift 47,000 copies in two weeks.

Little Big Town’s TORNADO (No.86 BB200, No.16 Country), the country quartet's fourth studio album celebrated its one-year 52-week anniversary on the chart this week, having sold a total of 978,000. It has moved four times as many copies as their last album, 2010's "The Reason Why" (239,000). Only their first set, 2005's "The Road to Here" (1.3 million), has moved more than “Tornado.”

On Top Country Albums, Louisiana boy Frank Foster’s third DIY independently released album, SOUTHERN SOUL (Frank Foster Music), draws Hot Shot Debut applause at No.11 (No.67 BB200, 6,000 copies sold). 

He previously appeared on the chart with his second set, “Red Wings and Six Strings”, which peaked where it debuted at No. 30 on the Sept. 22, 2012, chart.

From his website: My music is original. It leans towards the feel Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. more than anything. That being said, you can hear every influence from Lynyrd Skynyrd all the way back to Hank Williams Sr. if you listen close enough. The bottom line is my music is the truth pertaining to me... Willie, Waylon, Skynyrd, Steve Earle, Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers, Black Crowes, and so many more have influenced me tremendously. As far as my personal music goes, I guess it was kind of a surprise to everyone, including me. A guitar fell in my lap during my junior year of college and changed my life”

The new disc features the brand new single but rather clichéd >> “Backwoods Babydoll”.

“Southern Soul” CD (Import) is available at Amazon UK - CD - MP3 - Listen on Spotify

Foster beat out and outsold Craig Morgan’s THE JOURNEY (LIVIN HITS), an artist with a much higher profile who puts out lots of promotional press material. His new album landed at No.12 (No.78 BB200) with sales of around 5,000 copies. 

It is co-produced with long-time collaborator Phil O’Donnell; Morgan created four new tracks for the album featuring the single "Wake Up Lovin' You." The album also contains new recordings of eight hits including, "That's What I Love About Sundays."

In July 2013 Morgan signed a new management deal with Nashville-based F3 Entertainment, a multi-faceted artist management and television development/production company - Monarch Publicity

Critical reception for Craig Morgan’s THE JOURNEY - 

12 Tracks/ Time: 44:02  CD - MP3

Billboard by Chuck Dauphin Since he first broke onto the scene back in 2000 with the top-40 “Something To Write Home About,” Craig Morgan has carved out quite a career singing about real life – and the ups and downs that happen in lives like yours and mine. In doing so, he’s provided the Country format with some of the best moments of the past thirteen years. His latest disc – his second for Black River – reflects back on many of those hits that have left a mark on his audience – and gives us a taste of what’s to come!.. Morgan has re-created some of his previous singles, and he gives each an energetic workout – and in some cases, he manages to outdo the original.....He’s had a good run so far….but listening to this album gives me an idea that for Craig Morgan, the best is simply yet to come. And, I’m good with that, aren’t you?

Roughstock (Rating: 4 Stars) With The Journey: Livin' Hits Craig Morgan is bringing fans an opportunity not only listen to four new songs but also seven of his biggest hits from the past few years, recorded slightly different than before -- based on years of experience singing them to fans. It's an interesting collection of songs that show Craig Morgan where he has been where he is and where he's going....new songs represent the future for Craig Morgan and they're all strong tracks with potential to be hits with radio while the other songs on the record represent the recent past and the deep past of Craig Morgan's career...Normally, such a release would be met with yawns by the artist's biggest fans but if they look at The Journey: Livin' Hits like it's a new EP with extra -- and familiar -- tracks for only a couple bucks more, it feels right. 

At No.22 on the Country chart (No.106 BB200) saw Austin's own Reckless Kelly return with their 8th studio album, LONG NIGHT MOON (No Big Deal Records) with sales of 4,000 copies. 

The Texas/ Red Dirt/Americana album is the follow-up to 2011's Grammy Nominated "Good Luck & True Love," which took home four Lone Star Music Awards, and sent three singles to #1 on Texas Radio. 

Produced by band members Willy & Cody Braun, along with lead guitarist David Abeyta, Long Night Moon was mixed by Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris), and features additional instrumentation from legendary steel guitar player Lloyd Maines, as well as Bukka Allen (piano, organ) and Jeff Plankenhor (dobro).

Reckless Kelly has spent seventeen years cementing their place in the Americana/Roots Rock genre. The group is known for their explosive live shows and a passion for making albums of substance. “Long Night Moon” is no exception to this rule.

The Last Goodbye Audio >> YouTube

About the album + Live on the Texas Music Scene >> YouTube

“Long Night Moon” - Blog Review

Available at Amazon UK 12 Tracks / Time: 47:33 CD - MP3

Outside the Top 40 Billboard Country saw Chris Janson’s debut EP (“Chris Janson EP”) selling around 1,000 copies.

Earlier in the year the Bigger Picture Group country newcomer made his Grand Ole Opry debut. He opened with his “addictive” new single “Better I Don’t,” (written with his wife, Kelly, and Pat Bunch) which peaked at #40 on the Billboard Country Airplay. He closed out the Opry debut sharing the stage with one of his best buddies, James Otto, to perform the moving song “When I’m Holding Her” that they co-wrote. Both songs feature on the 5 track EP >> YouTube - Amazon.com

Janson signed to BNA Records in October 2009 and released his debut single, "'Til a Woman Comes Along," in April 2010 which made No.52 on Hot Country Songs. After BNA was re-structured, Janson left the label. He co-wrote along with 3 other writers Tim McGraw's 2012 single "Truck Yeah" and played harmonica on Lee Brice's album Hard 2 Love. When Chris signed with Bigger Picture Music Group he began working with producer Keith Stegall.

(Issue dated Chart week of September 21, 2013)

(Country Album positions #1 - #25)

(TW) This Week, (LW) Last Week, Co (Country Album Chart placing / Movement)

Top 25 Hot Country Songs (week of September 21, 2013)

On Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart - which blends:

a) All-format airplay, as monitored by BDS 

b) Sales, as tracked by Nielsen SoundScan and

c) Streaming, (tracked by Nielsen BDS from such services as Spotify, Muve, Slacker, Rhapsody, Rdio and Xbox Music, among others) according to BDS it results in:

Luke Bryan rules Billboard’s Hot Country Songs for a fourth straight week as his “That’s My Kind of Night” (Capitol Nashville) leads the sales/airplay/streaming hybrid songs list.

Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” (Broken Bow) , adds Streaming Gainer honours (728,000 streams, up 13%, according to Nielsen BDS) and bullets for a second week at its No. 4 peak so far.

Newcomer Tyler Farr is the Digital Gainer (47,000 downloads sold, up 13%) with “Redneck Crazy” (Columbia Nashville), which reached a new peak, up 7-5.

Thomas Rhett at No.6 with “It Goes Like This” (Valory) snagged the list’s Airplay Gainer (39 million audience impressions, up 14%, according to Nielsen BDS).

New to the Hot Country Songs top 10 is Easton Corbin (11-9), who picks up his first upper tier-hit in three years with “All Over the Road” (Mercury), and Blake Shelton’s “Mine Would Be You,” (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville), which becomes the artist’s 17th top 10 with a 13-10 leap.

Sara Evans, posted a career-high start at No.43 with “Slow Me Down” (RCA Nashville), the lead track from her next studio album. The new song bests her previous opening-week mark, set when “I Keep Looking” bowed at No. 46 in 2002.

Top 25 Hot Country Songs:

Luke Bryan with “That’s My Kind Of Night” stays Top The Chart! #1

Florida Georgia Line with “Cruise” stays at #2

Florida Georgia Line with “Round Here” stays at #3

Jason Aldean with “Night Train” stays at #4

Tyler Farr with “Redneck Crazy” is up two, #7 - #5 p

Thomas Rhett with “It Goes Like This” is down one, #5 - #6  q

Keith Urban with “Little Bit Of Everything” is down one, #6 - #7  q

Billy Currington with “Hey Girl” is up two, #10 - #8 p

Easton Corbin with “All Over The Road” is up two, #11 - #9 p

Blake Shelton with “Mine Would Be You” is up three, #13 - #10 p

Luke Bryan with “Crash My Party” is down two, #9 - #11 q

Tim McGraw with “Southern Girl” jumps up six, #18 - #12 p

Brett Eldredge with “Don’t Ya” falls five, #8 - #13  q

Randy Houser with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” is down two, #12 - #14 q

Justin Moore with “Point at You” is up one two,  #17 - #15  p

Chris Young  with “Aw Naw” jumps up five, #21 - #16 p

Hunter Hayes with “I Want Crazy” is down two,  #15 - #17 q

Lee Brice with “Parking Lot Party” is up two,  #20 - #18 p

Darius Rucker  with former No.1 “Wagon Wheel” stays at #19

Blake Shelton with “Boys ‘Round Here falls, #16 - #20 q

Carrie Underwood with “See You Again” falls seven, #14 - #21 q

Taylor Swift with “Red” is up one slot, #23 - #22  p

Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift with “Highway Don’t Care” is up, #24 - #23 p

Joe Nichols with “Sunny And 75” is up three, #27 - #24 p

Lady Antebellum with “Goodbye Town” is down three, #22 - #25 q

Hot Country Songs

** No.1 (4 weeks) / **  “That’s My Kind Of Night” Luke Bryan

** Streaming Gainer ** No.4 “Night Train” Jason Aldean

** Digital Gainer ** No.5  “Redneck Crazy” Tyler Farr

** Airplay Gainer ** No.6 “It Goes Like This” Thomas Rhett

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.43 “Slow Me Down” Sara Evans

Debut No.44 “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” The Band Perry

Debut No.49 “Even The Stars Fall 4 U” Keith Urban

Debut No.50 “Sweet Annie” Zac Brown Band

Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of September 21, 2013

Florida Georgia Line with “Round Here” (Republic Nashville) rose 2-1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay tally, to become the second duo/group in the chart’s 23-year history to score three straight career-opening No. 1 singles. 

The song written by Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins and Thomas Rhett and produced by  Joey Moi was first released on June 3, 2013.

The only other duo/group to achieve that feat is Brooks & Dunn.

Florida Georgia Line’s debut single, “Cruise,” topped the Nielsen BDS fuelled chart for three weeks last December, followed by two weeks at No. 1 in May with “Get Your Shine On.” Brooks & Dunn, who racked up 20 leaders before Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn split to pursue solo careers three years ago, opened with four straight multi-week leaders in 1991-92: “Brand New Man” (two weeks), “My Next Broken Heart” (two weeks), “Neon Moon” (two weeks) and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” (four weeks). Their streak stopped when fifth single “Lost and Found” peaked at No. 6 in December 1992.

“Round Here” logged 46.449 million audience impressions (+2.855 million) and received 6,683 radio plays (+359).Top local audience contributors for “Round Here” during the tracking week: WUSN Chicago (1.5 million impressions), KKGO Los Angeles (1.1 million), WNSH New York (930,000), WKLB Boston (920,000) and KMNB Minneapolis (882,000).

Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” (Valory), moves into the Top 10 rankings, up 12-9 in its 20th chart week. It became the artist’s first top 10 in three tries on Country Airplay, adding Most Increased Audience stripes with an increase of 3.8 million impressions during the tracking week with a 31.637 million audience (+3.788) and received 4,652 radio plays (+408).

Rhett previously rose to No. 15 with début single “Something to Do With My Hands” a year ago, followed by “Beer With Jesus,” which stopped at No. 19 in January. He also has the distinction of being the only second-generation solo artist on the chart: His father, Rhett Akins, charted 13 singles between 1994-2006, including “Don’t Get Me Started,” his lone No. 1 in 1996. The only other generational country artist with a current chart entry is Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, whose parents, Lang Scott and Linda Davis, each have solo chart histories.

Singer/songwriter Lee Brice claimed his fifth top 10 with “Parking Lot Party” (Curb), which steps 11-10 in its 20th chart week. Brice’s last three singles all topped the chart, a streak that started with “A Woman Like You” in April 2012 and was continued by “Hard to Love” in November 2012 and “I Drive Your Truck” in April.

Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert snagged the “Hot Shot Debut” cup at No. 49 on Country Airplay with “We Were Us,” which is being jointly promoted to country stations by Urban’s Capitol Nashville staff and Lambert’s RCA Nashville team. The song is the second single from Urban’s new FUSE album which dropped Sept 10th.

At No. 33 the Zac Brown Band with "Sweet Annie" bagged the week’s “Most Added” honours with 26 new radio commitments (ADDS) resulting in 848 plays (+352)

Craig Campbell crossed the Airpower threshold with “Outta My Head” (Bigger Picture), which jumped 21-19 in its 49th chart week, marking the longest top 20 ascent in the chart’s history (1990-present). That surpassed the 40 weeks it took Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” to reach the top 20 on its way to the chart’s all-time longevity record of 56 weeks and a No.3 peak three years ago.

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (1 week) *** "Round Here”  Florida Georgia Line

 ** Most Increased Audience ** No.9 "It Goes Like This" Thomas Rhett

** Most Added ** No. 33 "Sweet Annie" Zac Brown Band 

** Hot Shot Début ** No.49 "We Were Us" Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert

Debut No.59 "Little Bit Gypsy" (Black River) Kellie Pickler

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of September 21, 2013

Luke Bryan remained #1 for a fourth straight week with “That’s My Kind Of Night”. Sales of 107,000 were down 5% with a 4-week total of 509,000 to qualify for GOLD RIAA certification.

 “Cruise” from Florida Georgia Line (including remix with rapper Nelly) stayed at No.2 and Thomas Rhett held at #3 with his breakout hit “It Goes Like This,” the title track to his upcoming debut.

Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” moved 8-4 with sales up 38%.

Keith Urban “Little Bit Of Everything” moved up 6 places to No.10 and his sales of 27,000 took him to a 503K tally to go past GOLD certification level in 17 retail weeks.

The biggest climbers this week were Sheryl Crow “Easy,” (#39-#19), Joe Nichols “Sunny & 75” (#28-#20), Craig Campbell “Outta My Head” (#42-#27) who benefitted from a US iTunes 69 cent single sale.

Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published September 12, 2013)

 (LW) Last Week  (TW) This Week 

*Numbers are rounded to nearest 1000^th