Country Billboard Chart News May 15, 2014

Country Billboard Chart News May 15, 2014

In Brief:  Billboard Country Charts

Country Album Chart ** No. 1 (1 week) Storyline Hunter Hayes

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (5 weeks) ** “Play It Again” Luke Bryan

Country Airplay ** No. 1 (1 week) ** "Get Me Some Of That" Thomas Rhett

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (6 weeks) ** “Play It Again” Luke Bryan

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News

After 13 non-consecutive weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), the "Frozen" soundtrack (98,721 copies sold, down 7%) stepped aside for the "Now 50" compilation. "Now 50" made a debut at No.1 with 153,276 copies sold in the week ending May 11, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Now 50" is the 50th instalment of the long-running "Now That's What I Call Music!" series, which launched in 1998. It's the 18th No.1 for the "Now" franchise and its best sales week in nearly five years. The last "Now" release to sell more units in a week was "Now 31," which debuted at No. 1 with 169,000 copies in the week ending July 5, 2009.

In addition to the numbered "Now" series -- which features contemporary pop hits -- the "Now" brand has spawned themed compilations like "Now That's What I Call Christmas" and "Now That's What I Call Country." In total, all 50 of the numbered "Now" albums have reached the top 10 of the BB200. "Now That's What I Call Country" peaked at No.7 and "Now That's What I Call Country Vol. 2" at No.10.

Hunter Hayes with his second album, STORYLINE (Atlantic Nashville), sold 69,187 copies to make a bow at No.3 on the BB200 and also debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, Hayes' second leader on the list.

It's the singer's best sales week (beating the 40,227 for chart week Jan 5, 2013 with Christmas sales) and highest-charting album, surpassing the No.7 BB200 peak of his self-titled debut in 2013. That album opened with sales of 17,678 to land at No.18 on the BB200 and No.7 Country on the chart week Oct 29, 2011. That was the same week that Lauren Alaina’s “Wildflower” opened at No.2 Country (69,013 sales) and Martina McBride’s “Eleven” at No.4 Country (40,116 sales). 

A deluxe edition of the Hunter’s debut album, titled Encore, was released in June 2013 with five new tracks, including the singles "I Want Crazy". The album co-produced with Dann Huff, is now Platinum (sales so far 1,138,000 copies) and is on the Catalog list moving 27-15 in its 9th chart week.

Hunter’s new album's lead single, "Invisible," has so far peaked at No.19 on the Country Airplay chart and No.4 on hybrid Hot Country Songs tally (which combines airplay, sales and streaming data).

The Associated Press exclaimed that “Hayes impresses on his second album,” while Rolling Stone People Magazine and The Los Angeles Times all awarded the album 3 stars. Newsday noted “At a time when so many similar-sounding bros are dominating country radio, Hunter Hayes stands out… [with] emotional, inspirational anthems and tender love songs delivered in a sweeter, higher register that makes all his songs sound distinctive. The best new artist Grammy nominee seems poised to make it pay off. Hayes takes Storyline to a new plateau.”

Last week, Hunter also impressively broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS record for “Most Concerts Played in Multiple Cities in 24 hours” teaming up with ConAgra Foods for the 24 Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger.

Critical reception for Hunter Hayes’ “Storyline”:

14 Tracks/ Time: 49:58 CD - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com - US iTunes

Country Weekly (Rating: A) ..Hunter Hayes has once again produced a collection of music that belies his tender age, not only in content, but in vocal confidence. Hunter adds an interesting texture to the album, too, with an instrumental interlude mid-project and a second “jam” closer to the end that almost serve as audio palate cleansers to ready listeners for the next track. The title track, with its line, We’ve got a fast car, a James Dean spirit and a Norma Jean heart, reveals an important musical influence: the equally talented Keith Urban. And we’re OK with that! 

Roughstock: Storyline isn’t as ‘youthful’ as Hunter Hayes was at times. The writing is sharper (“Secret Love,” “Tattoo,” “Still Fallin’”) and the moments of  real storytelling (“Flashlight,” “Invisible”) and uptempo radio-ready fare that are ear worms (“Nothing Like Starting Over,” “Wild Card” and “Storyline”). Storyline is the kind of album that should ensure that Hunter

Hayes avoids the dreaded ‘sophomore slump’ in the music business with a collection of 12 new songs (plus two instrumental interludes) that finds the young twenty something further setting himself up for continued stardom. Storyline may not be a collection of traditionalist country values here there’s definitely Country music at the root of many of the lyrics (and melodies) on the contemporary country music album and that’s something fans should be happy to hear day in and day out.

USA Today (Rating: 2.5 STARS out of 4) Sorry, kiddo, but you shouldn't evoke the spirits of James Dean and Norma Jean in the title track if you came of age in the 21st century and your voice still is stuck in the upper registers.....the multi-instrumentalist tries to sound knowing about love's complexities, even though, at 22, his track record is just starting to form. Wide-eyed exuberance, hand-wringing and licking of surface wounds dominate his lyrics, most of them lightweight. Three standout songs, however, indicate an impressive ability to dig deep: The single Invisible gives wise counsel to victims of bullying; Flashlight quietly affirms his faith; and Secret Love reveals the torment of hiding in the shadows. Download: Wild Card, Invisible, Secret Love, When Did You Stop Loving Me.

Allmusic Guide (Rating: 4 STARS) Storyline differs from its predecessor in that it showcases Hayes' touring band, a move that opens up the music and lets it breathe. Nevertheless, Hayes could never be considered a gritty musician, not by a long shot; he's proud of his sunny disposition and possesses a high, slightly nasal voice that occasionally recalls Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts.... Hunter doesn't bother sounding older than his years nor does he care to put on airs: he's a modern-day Southern boy, raised on radio pop played in big box stores and playing the back porch on a Sunday afternoon, and those two strands come together beguilingly on this second album.

LA Times (Rating: 3 Stars) At a moment when Nashville is busy churning out bro after party-hearty bro, Hayes is an anomaly: a fresh-faced guitar prodigy who writes about his feelings and looks like he’s never cracked a beer, let alone downed one while kicking back on a rusty tailgate. So: invisible? Not quite. But perhaps more of a misfit than he at first appeared. Hayes comes no closer to rowdy bro-country convention on the rest of his new album, “Storyline,” which like his 2011 record he co-wrote and co-produced with the pop-country hitmaker Dann Huff....But if Hayes isn’t rough, he’s not especially smooth, either, as was clear in his Stagecoach gig, which practically vibrated with a jumpy intensity the singer attributed to his social anxiety. That energy courses through “Storyline,” particularly in a handful of tunes where Hayes tries to present himself in a more grown-up light....Set against the album’s slickly assured arrangements, those jitters provide a juicy tension that distinguishes “Storyline” from Hayes’ debut, a record so mild that he invited Jason Mraz, that fedora-topped emblem of chill, to duet with him on one song. Was the ascent of Luke Bryan enough to unsettle Hayes over the last three years? Or was that breakup to blame?...Those are questions for Hayes’ bros. What’s important is that this insider convinces you he’s coming from outside.

Hayes’ album displaced Luke Bryan’s CRASH MY PARTY (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), which moved 9-7 on the BB200 and 1-2 Country but earned the Greatest Gainer nod with 24,000 sold (up 42%). Bryan’s set has topped the chart for 15 cumulative frames, the last three of those running consecutively.

Florida Georgia Line, HERE'S TO THE GOOD TIMES moved 14-11 on the BB200 (2-3 Country; 17,000 sold; up 33%). After 75 weeks on the chart, the album shows no signs of slowing down. It has yet to rank below No.31, nor sell less than 12,000 copies in a week. Its cumulative sales stand at 1.82 million. The duo's current single, "This Is How We Roll," rose 4-2 on the Country Airplay chart, while dipping 3-2 on the Hot Country Songs chart (where it previously spent four weeks at No. 1).

Blake Shelton’s BASED ON A TRUE STORY in its 59th week bulleted at No.6 Country (49-26 BB200) with a 98% blast with fans taking home 11,000 copies, aided by appearances on The Voice.

Nashville: The Music of Nashville: Season 2: Volume 2 (Soundtrack) (ABC Studios/Lions Gate/Big Machine Label Group) opened at No13 on the BB200 (#4 Country) selling 16,626 copies. 

Click to ENLARGE the stunning artwork

This the fourth Volume of music from ABC's Nashville revealed both an 11-track standard version released to digital retailers Tuesday, May 6, while a 21-track deluxe version was made available exclusively at Target. 

See track list for the Target version at Country Weekly. 

The announced came on the heels of ABC-TV’s Nashville: On the Record, which aired Wednesday night (April 23). Immediately following the special, a flurry of sales propelled the three previously released Nashville soundtracks into the Top 15 on iTunes’ country albums chart.

For the chart week May 10, 2014 NASHVILLE: On the Record opened with 17,790 copies landing at No.8 on the Billboard 200 and No.2 Country. In its third week it fell back 7-28 on Top Country Albums.

The ABC TV Drama show has been renewed for a third 22 episode season! The news was announced by Ben Sherwood, co-president of Disney ABC Television Group - Congratz and welcome back for Season 3 to @Nashville_ABC," he tweeted, naming stars Connie Britton, Charles Esten, creator Callie Khouri and "the whole Nashville team and loyal fans."

The Music of Nashville: Season 2: Volume 2 is available at Amazon.com – Target Store

There was no sign of Leah Turner’s digitally released self titled EP (released on May 6th) on the Top 50 Country Albums. On the US Country Album iTunes Chart it currently resides at a lowly #229. This is disastrous news for the Columbia Records Nashville artist. The Morongo Valley, California native has released 2 singles. “Take the Keys"(2013) reached #37 and recent single "Pull Me Back" has so far peaked at #60 on the Country Airplay Chart.

2014 Country Album sales Year-To Date:

10,878,000 (Physical sales 7,141,000 (down 9%) + Digital sales 3,737,000 (down 17.4%)) which is 24.7% down at the same point in 2013 (14,448,000 sales)

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Placings

(Issue dated Chart week of May 24, 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 May 24, 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 with “Play It Again” collected a fifth week atop Hot Country Songs, tying for his second-longest chart-topping run; he led for five weeks with “Drink a Beer” in January/February. He logged his longest reign (12 weeks) with “That’s My Kind of Night” last year. On Country Digital Songs, “Play” nabbed a sixth straight week at the summit (73,000 sold, down 15%).
• Blake Shelton’s “My Eyes,” featuring Gwen Sebastian (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville), rocketed 21-10 with Digital and Airplay Gainer honours after the duo performed the track on the May 5 episode of NBC’s The Voice. The song soared by 150% to 53,000 downloads, spiking 18-3 on Country Digital Songs. On the BDS-fueled Country Airplay chart “Eyes” rolled 21-17 (19.3 million audience impressions, up 33%) in its fifth frame.
• Hunter Hayes impacted with two Storyline tracks: the title song, bulleted at No.41 with Streaming Gainer stripes (244,000 U.S. streams, up 142 percent, according to Nielsen BDS), and “Wild Card,” re-entered at No. 44.

Top 25 Hot Country Songs:

Luke Bryan with “Play It Again” stays at the Top of the Chart #1

Florida Georgia Line feat Luke Bryan with former #1 “This Is How Me Roll” moves #3 - #2 p

Brantley Gilbert with former No1 “Bottoms Up” slips one, #2 - #3 q

Thomas Rhett with “Get Me Some Of That” is up one, #5 - #4 p

Rascal Flatts with “Rewind” moves up 1 slot, #6 - #5 p

Eric Church with “Give Me Back My Hometown” falls two, #4 - #6 q

Miranda Lambert with “Automatic” is up one notch, #8 - #7 p

Jake Owen  with “Beachin’” is up two, #10 - #8 p

Keith Urban with “Cop Car” drops two, #7 - #9 q

Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastion leaps up 11 slots, #21 - #10 p

Brett Eldredge with “Beat Of The Music” holds at #11

Justin Moore with “Lettin’ The Night Roll” is up one, #13 - #12 p

Lee Brice with “I Don’t Dance” slips one, #12 - #13 q

Tyler Farr with “Whiskey In My Water” holds at #14

Chris Young with “Who I Am With You” stays at #15

Hunter Hayes with “Invisible” is up one, #17 - #16 p

Joe Nichols with “Yeah” climbs three, #20 - #17 p

Brad Paisley with “River Bank” is up five, #23 - #18 p

Brantley Gilbert with “17 Again” debuts at #19 NEW

Billy Currington with “We Are Tonight” is done one, #19 - #20 q

Craig Campbell with “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” moves up one, #22 - #21 p

Blake Shelton with “Doin’ What She Likes” falls six, #16 - #22 q

Dustin Lynch with “Where It’s At” moves up one, #24 - #23 p

The Band Perry with “Chainsaw” is up one, #25- #24 p

George Strait with “I Got A Car” rises one, #26 - #25 p

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (5 weeks) ** “Play It Again” Luke Bryan

** Digital Gainer & Airplay Gainer ** No.10 “My Eyes” Blake Shelton feat Gwen Sebastion

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.19 with “17 Again” Brantley Gilbert

** Streaming Gainer” No.41 “Storyline” Hunter Hayes

Debut No.36 “Hillbilly Deluxe” Jake Worthington

Debut No.40 “I Drive Your Truck” Kristen Merlin

Debut No.47 “Small Town Throwdown” Brantley Gilbert feat Justin Moore &Thomas Rhett

Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of May 24, 2014

Thomas Rhett claimed his second leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay tally as “Get Me Some of That” (Valory) jumped 3-1 in its 26th chart week. 

First released on November 18, 2013 the song written by Rhett Akins, Michael Carter and Cole Swindell and produced by Luke Laird is the fourth single from his Oct 29, 2013 released studio album IT GOES LIKE THIS (has sold around 164,000 copies so far).

This chart week the song logged 45.462 million audience impressions (+2.396 million) and relieved 7,386 radio plays (+333).

The artist achieved his first leader in October 2013 with “It Goes Like This,” which held atop the chart for three straight weeks and set unprecedented weekly audience totals (49.3 million; since the ranking methods switched to audience impressions from total plays in January 2005).

Top three local audience contributors for “Get” during the May 5-11 BDS tracking week: WUSN Chicago (1.3 million impressions), KKBQ Houston (1 million) and KKGO Los Angeles (995,000).

On Billboard’s Country Digital Songs, “Get” peaked at No. 5 in March, and has now sold 634,000 downloads to date.

• Blake Shelton bagged the weeks “Most Increased Audience” and “Most Added”  honours with “My Eyes” (featuring Gwen Sebastian) (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville), which flew 21-17 in its fifth week on Country Airplay. It logged 19.381 million audience impressions, a gain of +4.826 million (up 33%); receiving 3,325 radio plays (+896) thanks to 28 fresh airplay commitments (ADDS). Shelton’s wife Miranda Lambert with “Automatic” reached a new peak with a 7-6 hop (a song which has been “B” playlisted by BBC Radio 2)
•  Dan + Shay snagged the “Hot Shot Debut" trophy for the week as their song "Show You Off" blew in at No.51

Women of Country 2014 Watch:

Miranda Lambert at No.6 ("Automatic"), Sara Evans at No.20 (“Slow Me Down”) were the only 2 solo female artists in the Top 30 Country Airplay songs. Cassadee Pope #38, Kacey Musgraves #40, Maggie Rose #48, Lucy Hale #50, Kelleigh Bannen #52, and Danielle Bradbery #54 were an additional six females in the remaining 31-60 slots, to make it 13.3% of the entire Top 60 chart.

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (1 week)*** "Get Me Some Of That" Thomas Rhett

** “Most Increased Audience / Most Added ** No. 17 "My Eyes" Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastian

** Hot Shot Debut **  No.51 "Show You Off" Dan + Shay

Debut No. 57 "Tonight Tonight" John King

Debut No. 60 "Drink You Away" David Fanning

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of May 17, 2014

• Luke Bryan’s single “Play It Again” held for a sixth straight week at No.1 shifting another 73,000 copies (down 15%; 24-week total of 980,000).
• Blake Shelton’s “My Eyes” rocketed to 18-3 bouyed by a live appearance on The Voice featuring Gwen Sebastian pushing sales up 150%.
• Sliding 10-13 Rascal Flatts with “Rewind” sold another 240K copies to pass the ½-million mark (504,000 sold in 17 weeks) making it eligible for GOLD certification  
• Dierks Bentley with “Drunk On A Plane” made a 33-17 leap helped by release of a new video.
• Two new songs from The Voice contestants made chart debuts at #24 and #30.

Women Of Country Watch

Only 3 solo female artists on the Top 30 placings:

Miranda Lambert with single "Automatic" in its 13th week moved 12-11. Hayden Panettiere with “Don’t Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet” made a re-entry at No.23 and Voice contestant Kristen Merlin with a cover of “I Drive Your Truck” debuted at #30

Dropping off the Top 30:

16 - Off The Chart  Hunter Hayes “Invisible”

23 - Off the Chart  Kristen Merlin” Let Her Go”

24-33 Luke Bryan “That’s My Kind Of Night”

25-32 Blake Shelton “Doin’ What She Likes”

26  - Off the Chart  Jamie Lynn Spears How Could I Want

29  - Off the Chart  Audra McLaughlin You Lie

Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published May 15, 2014)

 (LW) Last Week  (TW) This Week

*Numbers are rounded to nearest 1000^th

Country Aircheck/ Mediabase chart

Thomas Rhett with “Get Me Some Of That” (Valory) moved 3-1 to top the Mediabase Country chart for the tracking week May 4th to May 10th. The song logged 7,592 radio spins (+393) and 58.318 million audience impressions (+ 2.921 million) from 149 tracking stations.

So it’s congrats to Valory VP/Promotion George Briner and his entire team, for scoring the week’s #1 chart topper. This is Rhett’s second career chart-topper and follows “It Goes Like This” which hit #1 in Oct 2013.

Last week’s No.1 Eric Church with “Give Me Back My Hometown” slipped 1-5 logging 6,300 radio spins (-1380)

It was also congrats Warner Music Nashville (WMN) SVP/Promotion Kevin Herring, Warner Bros./W.A.R. VP/Promotion Chris

Palmer, Dir./National Promotion Jordan Pettit and the entire W.A.R. promo staff for earning 32 MEDIABASE Country adds on Dan + Shay's "Show You Off." Those adds earned the "Most Added" title for this week. Bagels were due to be delivered to Warner's office (May 13th) to congratulate the staff on their success.

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 396 - May 12, 2014 [PDF File]

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

Rank Artist: #9

Event Venue City/State: We're All For The Hall: Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, David Nail, Brantley Gilbert, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lee Ann Womack Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn.

Dates: May 6, 2014   Gross Sales: $509,487 Attend: 12,270 / 13,299 (1,029 unsold tickets)

Capacity Shows: 1/0 Sellouts Prices: $50, $35  Promoters: The Messina Group/AEG Live

Rank Artist: #15

Event Venue City/State: Willie Nelson, Drive-By Truckers, Shovels & Rope Hearst Greek Theatre Berkeley, Calif

Dates: April 12, 2014  Gross Sales: $397,045  Attend: 8,013 / 8,013  SOLD OUT

Capacity Shows: 1/1 Sellouts Prices: $199.50, $55, $49.50

Promoters: Another Planet Entertainment

Rank Artist: #27

Event Venue City/State: Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Eric Paslay Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dates: May 8, 2014  Gross Sales: $287,536   Attend: 9,076 / 9,076  SOLD OUT

Capacity Shows: 1/1 Sellouts Prices: $37, $24.75

Promoters: Frank Productions/NS2

Rank Artist: #31

Event Venue City/State: Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Danielle Bradbery Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Fort Wayne, Ind.

Dates: Feb. 27, 2014  Gross Sales: $247,014    Attend: 5,891/ 6,223 (332 unsold tickets)

Capacity Shows: 1/0 Sellouts Prices: $59, $39  Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #36

Event Venue City/State: Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, The Devil Makes Three Big Sandy Superstore Arena Huntington, W. Va.

Dates: May 11, 2014  Gross Sales: $212,172    Attend: 3,256/ 5,813 (2,557 unsold tickets)

Capacity Shows: 1/0 Sellouts Prices: $79.50, $39.50  Promoters:NS2

 

Rank Artist: #37

Event Venue City/State: Brantley Gilbert, Eric Paslay Bon Secours Wellness Arena Greenville, S.C.

Dates: May 10, 2014  Gross Sales: $207,007  Attend: 6,489 / 6,489 SOLD OUT

Capacity Shows: 1/1  Sellouts Prices: $37, $24.75  Promoters: Frank Productions/NS2