Country Billboard Chart News February 13, 2014

Country Billboard Chart News February 13, 2014

In Brief:  Billboard Country Charts

Country Album Chart ** No. 1 “Here’s To The Good Times” (10 non-consecutive weeks) Florida Georgia Line (14,000 sales)

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (5 weeks) ** “Drink A Beer“ Luke Bryan

Country Airplay ** No.1 (2 weeks) **   ** “Drink A Beer“ Luke Bryan

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (2 non-consecutive weeks) ** “Bottoms Up” Brantley Gilbert (49,000 sales)

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News

The new "Now 49" hits compilation opens atop the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200) list. This 17th installment features a solitary country song, track 16 "Drink a Beer" from Luke Bryan. "Now 49" debuted with 98,063 copies sold in the week ending February 9, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This is the fifth consecutive week that the #1 album has sold fewer than 100,000 copies. Eric Church's "The Outsiders" is highly likely to break this soft sales streak next week. Industry sources forecast the country album, released February 11, to sell between 275,000 and 300,000 by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, February 16. That would easily mark Church's best week ever,

"Now 49" is just the 24th various artists compilation to reach No. 1 since the Billboard 200 became a regularly-published weekly chart in 1956. Of the 24 compilations to rule the list, 17 of them were "Now" albums.

Florida Georgia Line with HERE'S TO THE GOOD TIMES jumped from #26 to #19 in its 62nd week (sales up 10%). The album returned to #1 on Billboard Top Country Albums. This is its 10th week on top.

Eric Paslay with his eponymous debut album (Universal Nashville/ EMI Records) made a No.31 bow on the BB200 (#4 Country) with sales of 10,655 copies.

As a songwriting he co-wrote #1 hits:  Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night", Eli Young Band's "Even If It Breaks Your Heart", and Love and Theft's "Angel Eyes". Also he snagged album cuts for Lady Antebellum and the Rascal Flatts 2014 single "Rewind".

Related Post: Eric Paslay reveals the Lyrics to Every Song on his album and explains the significance of track 4 on the LP, "Country Side Of Heaven"

As an outdoor enthusiast he has been chosen as NRA Country’s Featured Artist for February.

Critical Reception for Eric Paslay - Eric Paslay

11 Tracks/ 40:32 CD - Amazon.com - US iTunes

Roughstock (Rating: 5 STARS)...  titled Eric Paslay, showcases an artist who deserves to be placed on the same songwriting field as singer/songwriters like Rodney Crowell, John Hiatt, Jackson Browne and JD Souther with a little bit of The Band thrown in for good measure. He’s that good. He’s that classic sounding. Everything on Eric Paslay, from the brilliant opener “Keep On Fallin’” to the self-penned closer “Deep As It Is Wide” showcases this. In between are songs like “Country Side Of Heaven” (written with Dylan Altman and Shane McAnally), “Less Than Whole” (written with Big Kenny of Big & Rich) and future hit “Song About A Girl,” a song which is should be the anti-Bro Country anthem for 2014. Eric Paslay is the kind of artist Modern Country music needs. There’s nobody like him on the dial and he provides an elegant musical energy and artistry that simply needs to be on the dial. There isn’t a bad song to be found on Eric Paslay and it truly is an early contender for the best Country Album of 2014.

AllMusic (Rating: 3.5 STARS) ....Paslay isn't trying to change the world with his songs, but he does want you to remember them without much strain, and if there's a secret to success in Nashville, that just might be it -- keep it simple and catchy. This self-titled debut release doesn't change the landscape of contemporary country, but it sure recognizes it, and that's Paslay's songwriting strength. He doesn't try to do too much here, other than deliver a good song. He understands the business, he understands his audience, and he understands the marketplace. A song you can sing along to on first listen will always win.

Country Weekly (Rating: A) The gifted songwriter has done an incredible job of showcasing his ability to create a collection that leans away from lyrical trends and toward depth and texture. From the edgy opener “Keep On Fallin’” to the neo-bluegrassy “Here Comes Love,” Eric reveals the complexity of an accomplished artist, and retains the purity of solid country music.

Whiskey Myers with EARLY MORNING SHAKES is new on the BB200 at No.54 (#10 Country) selling around 6,000 copies. An album which would appeal to Bon Jovi, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackberry Smoke fans.

It is the 3rd record from the Texas music scene’s Southern rock contingent known whose name is just the collective persona of five guys from the greater Palestine, TX area, helmed by singer and principal songwriter Cody Cannon. The band put out their first album in 2008 and have since become one of Southern rock’s most emboldened and energetic torch bearers, tearing it up across the country to packed houses of both country and rock fans.

The album, was produced by Dave Cobb, whose previous credits include records by both Waylon and Shooter Jennings—and it's a bluesy collection of the drinking man's music, full of thumping drums and swaggering guitars, like what you might hear from the Allman Brothers Band if they'd grown up with a serious Led Zeppelin fetish. Those classic rock influences are especially apparent on the album's new song, which bears the same name as the record itself. "Early Morning Shakes" may not be destined to make a big impression on a country music audience that's currently obsessed with pick-ups, blue jeans, and moonlight, but there are some thrills within for fans of dirty rock and roll. Singer/guitarist Cody Cannon describes the song as "the coolest song we have ever done," and explains that it's "about life on the road, or at least the life that we live on the road." - Texas Monthly

Critical Reception for “Early Morning Shakes”

12 Tracks CD - Amazon.com - US iTunes

Early Morning Shakes is bold and expansive for a 12-song project. There’s a lot going on in these songs, without any of the compositions coming across as especially busy. Songs like “Early Morning Shakes”, “Where The Sun Don’t Shine”, and “Time Off For Bad Behavior” are each built from a good premise, and fleshed out with excellent guitar work by Cody Tate and John Jeffers....With Early Morning Shakes, the now well-seasoned Whiskey Myers crew affirms themselves as one of the preeminent bands in Texas music and beyond (Saving Country Music)

>> Listen to their music on soundcloud and Watch the Behind the Scenes of "Early Morning Shakes"

New at No.116 (#19 Country) is another Curb Records release from Tim McGraw; an artist that hasn’t called Curb Records home officially for over 2 years. 

The album titled LOVE STORY features McGraw’s “12 biggest love songs,” two previously-unreleased recordings (Tr.13. “I Just Love You” and Tr.14 “What About You”) and was released exclusively through Wal-Mart on February 2nd, 2014. 

14 Tracks / Time: 57:58 MP3 - Amazon.com

Moonshine Bandits (Average Joes Entertainment) made their debut at No.126 (#22 Country) with CALICOUNTRY selling around 3,000 copies.

California’s country hip-hop rebels the Bandits endorse their own brand of Liquor beverage called "Moonshine Bandits Outlaw Moonshine" The 99 proof spirit sold in regional grocery/liquor stores and online at www.outlawshine.com , find them on Facebook

As the Moonshine Bandits gained momentum and their fan base started spreading outside of California to different states, and to Japan, Canada, Sweden, and troops stationed overseas, Shiner Nation Was Built. Shiner Nation was formed to unite all the Moonshine Bandits fans. The Definition of a Shiner is a Rowdy Individual commonly known as a Moonshine Bandit Fan. Living the Shiner Lifestyle isn’t just about the music, it’s also about partying it up and raising hell your own way.

>> “Calicountry” (Album Sampler)

AltSounds Exclusive Stream: “California Country” by Moonshine Bandits

Critical Reception for “Calicountry”:

15 Tracks/ Time: 52:36 CD - MP3 - iTunes - Amazon.com 

Roughstock (Rating: 4 STARS)   After many years of building up their brand on the west coast, California-based The Moonshine Bandits broke out nationwide with Whiskey & Women. Two years later, they’re back with Calicountry, their first album released through Average Joes Entertainment’s Backroads Records. And for as entertaining as previous albums from the band were, nothing has sounded as strong as Calicountry, both lyrically and melodically. Quite frankly, the album takes the band to a completely new level. To be clear, this is not a traditional Country nor is Calicountry even “Frat Boy Country.” What it is, though, is good stuff. It’s Country/rap which makes no apologies for the rap which permeates the album...... There’s quite honestly nothing negative to say about Calicountry if you take the album and the band for what they are and what they do. There are plenty of artists like them who have tried to breakout but didn’t have one iota of the work ethic or savvy that The Moonhine Bandits have. Bird and Tex (who make up the duo) work hard and through their previous albums they’ve built up the band brick by brick and with Calicountry they deliver an album which should not only please longtime fans but also bring in a whole bunch more of new fans into the ‘Shiner family.

2014 Country Album sales Year-To Date:

2,964,000 (Physical sales 1,912,000 (down 9%) + Digital sales 1,052,000 (down 20.6%)) which is 23.1% down at the same point in 2013 (3,854,000 sales)

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Placings

(Issue dated Chart week of February 22, 2014)

(Country Album positions #1 - #25)

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

Top 25 Hot Country Songs (week of February 22, 2014)

 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 logged a fifth straight week at No. 1 with “Drink a Beer” (Capitol Nashville) on Hot Country Songs.
• Eric Paslay’s “Friday Night,” at No. 6 peak added streaming gainer honors (513,000 U.S. streams, up 42%, according to Nielsen BDS).
• Brantley Gilbert collected his third top five with “Bottoms Up” (Valory), which moves 9-5 and returned to No.1 (5-1) on Country Digital Songs.
• Blake Shelton scored his 18th top 10 with “Doin’ What She Likes” (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville), which rose 12-9.
• Dierks Bentley cracked the Top 10 (first time in 20 months following “5-1-5-0,”) as “I Hold On” (Capitol Nashville) jumped 13-10.

Top 25 Hot Country Songs:

Luke Bryan with “Drink A Beer” stays at the TOP the Chart! #1

David Nail with “Whatever She’s Got” stays at #2

Cole Swindell with “Chillin’ It” stays at #3

Jason Aldean with “When She Says Baby” is up one, #5 - #4 p

Brantley Gilbert with “Bottoms Up” jumps up four, #9 - #5 p

Eric Paslay with “Friday Night” stays at #6

Eric Church with “Give Me Back My Hometown” is up four, #11 - #7 p

Lady Antebellum with “Compass” is down one, #7 - #8 q

Blake Shelton with “Doin’ What She Likes” is up three, #12 - #9 p

Dierks Bentley with “Hold On” is up three, #13 - #10 p

Frankie Ballard with “Helluva Life” is up four, #15 - #11 p

Scotty McCreery with “See You Tonight” climbs two, #14 - 12 p

Florida Georgia Line with former No.1 “Stay” falls five, #8 - #13 q

Jerrod Niemann with “Drink To That All Night” is up three, #17 - #14 p

Dan + Shay with “19 You + Me” climbs five, #20 - #15 p

Keith Urban with “Cop Car” stays at #16

Randy Houser with “Goodnight Kiss” is up two, #19 - #17p

Thomas Rhett with “Get Me Some Of That” stays at #18

Thompson Square with “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About” is up, #23 - #19 p

Rascal Flatts with “Rewind” is up one, #21 - #20 p

Danielle Bradbery with “The Heart Of Dixie” is up four, #25 - #21 p

Hunter Hayes with “Invisible” falls 18 slots, #4 - #22 p

Zac Brown Band with “Sweet Annie” drops one place, #22 - #23 q

Brett Eldredge with “Beat Of The Music” jumps up five, #29 - #24 p

Florida Georgia Line with “This Is How Me Roll” jumps up six, #31 - #25 p

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (5 weeks) ** “Drink A Beer“ Luke Bryan

** Digital Gainer ** No.2 “Whatever She’s Got” David Nail

** Streaming Gainer ** No.6 ”Friday Night”  Eric Paslay

** Airplay Gainer ** No11 “Helluva Life” Frankie Ballard

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.27 “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey”  Cole Swindell

Debut No.36 “Automatic” Miranda Lambert

Debut No.42 “Dust”  Eli Young Band

Debut No.45 “Look At You” Big & Rich

Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of February 22, 2014

Luke Bryan’s eighth No.1 on the Billboard Country Airplay tally becomes his fifth to lead for more than one week, as “Drink a Beer” (Capitol Nashville) stays for a second week at the summit. It logged 45.595 million audience impressions (+1.141 million), receiving 7,196 radio plays (+155)

Miranda Lambert posted a career-best debut on Country Airplay, as "Automatic" soared in at No.26 to land Most Increased Audience, Most Added and Hot Shot Debut trophies. Aided by hourly plays on Feb. 5th at Clear Channel-owned stations, the new single logged 9.337 million audience impressions, a gain of +9.337 million, receiving 1,081 radio plays (+1,081) thanks to 58 fresh radio commitments (ADDS). The song previews her fifth studio album; its title and release date have yet to be announced. The ode to simpler times will surely strike a chord with chart fans, thanks to this line: "Seems like only yesterday, I'd get a blank cassette / Record the country countdown, 'cause I couldn't buy it yet." Ultimately, Lambert decides: "When everything is handed to you, it's all only worth as much as the time you put in."

Rand surpassed her previous best, a No.3 bow three years ago for “Baggage Claim.” Lambert also lands the highest debut by a solo female artist since Taylor Swift debuted at No.13 with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” on the Sept.1, 2012 chart.

Dierks Bentley cracked the Country Airplay top 10 for the first time in nearly a year with “I Hold On” (Capitol Nashville), which stepped 11-10 in its 25th chart week to become his 17th career top 10. He most recently appeared in the upper tier with “Tip It On Back,” which peaked at No.5 (March 2, 2013).

Scotty McCreery posted a career-best rank on the Country Airplay scorecard with “See You Tonight” (19/Interscope/Mercury), which jumped 14-12. The 2011 “American Idol” champ’s previous best was a No.15 peak with his first single, “I Love You This Big,” that year.

Women of Country 2014 Watch:

Danielle Bradbery at No.13 (“The Heart Of Dixie”), Miranda Lambert at No.26 ("Automatic") and Sara Evans at No.28 (“Slow Me Down”) were the only 3 solo female artists in the Top 30 Country Airplay songs. Sheryl Crow #35, Leah Turner #40, Lindsay Ell #51 and Lucy Hale #53 were an additional four females in the remaining 31-60 slots to make it 11.6%.

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (2 weeks)*** "Drink A Beer" Luke Bryan

** Most Increased Audience/ Most Added / Hot Shot Debut **  No.26 "Automatic" Miranda Lambert

Debut No. 55 "Close Your Eyes"Parmalee

Debut No. 56 "Miss You" Darius Rucker

Debut No. 59 "I Don't Dance" Lee Brice

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of February 15, 2014

Brantley Gilbert with “Bottoms Up” (Valory Music C), the lead single from his as yet untitled third album, made a 5-1 hop, to return to and head the Billboard Country Digital Chart with sales of 49,000 (up 12%) in its 8th chart week. It made a No.1 debut on Jan. 4th.

David Nail’s current single “Whatever She’s Got” (34% sales gain) made a 8-2 hop in its 28th chart week.

Cole Swindell placed three singles on the week’s chart: “Chillin’ It” moved 9-5 (37 chart weeks), “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” made a debut at No.6 and in its 4th week (due to pre-orders Feb 18 album) and “Hope You Get Lonely” entered the Top 30 with a 41-29 leap (picking up SiriusXM radio airplay).

After his Grammy performance surge Hunter Hayes’ “Invisible”, last weeks No.1, falls back to #10 (sales down 73%) for his lead single from his upcoming as yet untitled second set.

Scotty McCreery at No.25 with “See You Tonight” now has a Gold-certification eligible single as sales passed the ½-million mark.

Dropping off the Top 30:

11 -  “All Too Well”  Taylor Swift (203K sales to date)

27 -  Kacey Musgraves “Merry Go Round”  (825K sales to date)

29-31 Zac Brown Band “Sweet Annie”

30-32 Darius Rucker “Wagon Wheel”

26-33 Jon Pardi “Up All Night”

28-36 Cassadee Pope “Wasting All These Tears”

Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published February 13, 2014)

 (LW) Last Week  (TW) This Week

*Numbers are rounded to nearest 1000^th

Country Aircheck/ Mediabase chart

Luke Bryan with “Drink A Beer” (Capitol) moved 2-1 to top the Country Aircheck/ Mediabase No.1 for the tracking week Feb 2 – Feb 8, 2014. The song logged 7,368 radio spins (+263) and 60.148 million audience impressions (+2.31 million) reported by 148 stations.

Congratulations to Capitol Nashville VP/Promotion Steve Hodges and his entire promo team for scoring the week’s #1 single. This is Bryan’s third consecutive chart-topper from his “Crash My Party” album, which was released in August and quickly achieved Platinum status. The lead single and title cut from the album topped the singles chart for two straight weeks in July, followed by “That’s My Kind Of Night” hitting #1 in October.

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 383 - February 10, 2014 [PDF File]

For the very latest up to the minute Mediabase Chart (Past 7 Days) go here - www.mediabase.com