Country Billboard Chart News June 19, 2014

Country Billboard Chart News June 19, 2014

In Brief:  Billboard Country Charts

Country Album Chart ** No. 1 (2 weeks) “Platinum” Miranda Lambert

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (6 weeks; non consecutive) ** “This Is How We Roll” Florida Georgia Line

Country Airplay ** No. 1 (1 week) ** "Beat Of The Music" Brett Eldredge

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 ** (5 weeks; non consecutive) “This Is How We Roll” Florida Georgia Line

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News

Rocker Jack White claimed his second No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as LAZARETTO made a bow on the top slot with 137,732 copies sold in the week ending June 15, according to NielsenSoundScan.

The effort follows his solo debut, "Blunderbuss," which also opened atop the list and sold 138,000 in its first frame. "Lazaretto" — released on White's Third Man Records label through Columbia Records — also sets the record for the largest sales week for a vinyl album since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. It was also the weeks top selling Digital album

Miranda Lambert with PLATINUM (RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) slipped 1-2 on the BB200 with 62,303 copies sold (down 65%; #3 best selling Digital album) giving the reigning 4 times ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year a second week atop the Billboard Country Album chart.

Brantley Gilbert's JUST AS I AM dipped 3-4 on the BB200 (holding at #2 Country) with 40,000 copies sold in his 4th week (down 18%)

Eric Church with THE OUTSIDERS (EMI Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville) moved 26-19 on the BB200 and rebounded 8-6 Country (sales of 16,000 were up 42%, 18-week total 624,000).

On second chart weeks Various Artists, "Now That's What I Call Country Vol. 7 despite a 26% sales decline, moved 11-10 to hold #3 Country. The set on reaching the top 10 became the 56th "Now That's What I Call Music"-branded album to reach the region. Rural Rapper / Country Rap artist Big Smo with KUNTRY LIVIN’ maintained his first week sales aided by his TV debut of “The Big Smo Show”. Lucy Hale’s debut Road Between sold another 5,000 copies (down 72% on her hirst week) to fall 14-67 on the BB200 (4-1 Country)

Kacey Musgraves’ high profile CMT Crossroads performance with KATY Perry gave“ SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK a sales gain of  55% moving 105-71 (#16-13 Country; 65-week total of 430,000)

Of Note: First Aid Kit with their third album STAY GOLD (Jagadamba / Columbia) made a debut on the Billboard 200 at No.23 selling 14,559 copies. 

Recorded at ARC studios in Omaha and produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk), the duo also enlisted The Omaha Symphony Orchestra to play on the record, with arrangements by Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes, Broken Bells, Rilo Kiley). They say of the recording process, "We took new directions and turns with the arrangements, building them up and creating more dynamics, yet always following where the songs wanted to go."

In the UK the single “My Silver Lining” was playlisted by 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 and became the Swedish folk first Top 200 entry on the singles chart (103-136; 1,394 sales) and the album made a debut at No.11 (11,281 sales).

Criticial reception for “Stay Gold”:

10 Tracks/ Time: 38:25 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  

The Telegraph  (Rating: 4 STARS) 'honey-drenched'....The third album from Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg is the aural equivalent of lying in a sunny meadow, says James Hall Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg first came to attention in 2008 when a video of them belting out Fleet Foxes’ Tiger Mountain Peasant Song as teenagers became a YouTube phenomenon. First Aid Kit’s status was cemented in 2012 when their country-tinged single Emmylou was voted by Rolling Stone

magazine as one of the 10 best singles of the year. The duo’s third album, Stay Gold, finds their close harmonies as honey-drenched as ever. Closer to country than folk, the album sounds as if it’s aimed at cracking the United States, where they have a burgeoning following....

Outside of the Top 25 Country Albums saw debuts for:

(a) Demun Jones with JONES COUNTY (Average Joes Entertainment) made a debut at No.30. The Georgia native and former member of the chart-topping duo, Rehab, released his first solo album June 10, 2014. It’s named after the Georgia county from which Jones hails, not only illustrates his evolution as an artist by infusing his country inspired lyrics with hip-hop grooves, but reveals a bit of his personal growth, as well.

Listen to single >> "Country Fried" (Track 2) Watch the official video (191,679 views) for >> "The Muddy Muddy" (Track 5) which appeared on Mud Digger 4 (Average Joes Entertainment)  compilation which dropped July 2, 2013.

Demomagazine.ca (review): The 12 tracks feature country-inspired lyrics with hip-hop grooves, including "Tannerite," about boys playing with explosives who come across Bigfoot, and "I'm A

Man," inspired by his father. The album’s content is autobiographical and leaves the listeners with an inkling of what it is like to live in the southern United States..... A track that amalgamates the mood of Jones County is the track titled “11 11 (feat. Bubba Sparxxx & LoCash Cowboys).” It features a repetitive fiddle sample over a rough drum track, and the actual rapping is not bad.... Another track worth mentioning is “Boondocks,” purely because of how dirty it is, and the fact that a banjo sample is subtly thrown in.  Other than that, there is absolutely no substantial harmonic content; besides the repeated banjo sample, there is a whopping two notes heard throughout the entire song. However, it is important to keep in mind that musical complexity is not what Jones is about — his lyrics are what makes him shine! “The smell/of burnt fuel fills the air/I got trucks and trailers lined up everywhere” are a sample of the lyrics that accurately pull off what Jones is trying to portray: the imagery and context of his life and career. From what I gather, Demun is a pure country boy, he has grit, and he is a skilled rapper.

“Jones Country” 12 Tracks / Time: 40:21 available MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

(b) Danny Boone with FISH GREASE (Average Joes) made a debut at No.31 Country. The other half of the duo Rehab released a debut country solo album, too. Included in the 12 songs are the title track, which is about the country-rap movement, "1965," inspired by Boone's stepfather, and "My Small Town," a song about how things change over the years.

One Stop Country (review) ...Traditional country music fans are probably gonna hate what we’re about to say, but it is what it is; Country music is facing a huge surge of change even more than

what we are hearing on radio right now. ...the first solo album from Rehab front man Danny Boone, he continues to make an impact on the rap-country sub-genre. With opening track “Raise A Toast,” he instantly gets you singing along with the “oh oh oh’s” and that is just the beginning. While songs like “All They Wanna Hear” gets your arms swaying as it gives a nod to “Bartender” and Boone’s own past successes, songs like “Down To The River” and “My Small Town,” see the familiarness of today’s country mainstream incorporated into them. However, the most enduring track on the album arguably comes through “Don’t Take My Whiskey,” a foot-tapping, front porch feeling type of tune that showcases the many aspects to Danny Boone’s music all in one song. The 13-track album is certainly not going to be for everyone as it is easily geared towards the younger generation of country music fans, but with the feel good grooves and sing-a-long type of songs, Fish Grease is one album from start to finish that is the perfect summertime companion.

Sample Buy “Fish Grease” (AVJ Records) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Spotify Danny Boone – Fish Grease

(c) Gene Watson with MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COUNTRY (Fourteen Carat Music; FCM-0002) made a lowly debut at No.48 Country.

"I recorded these songs to honor my music heroes and pay homage to the artists and the songs that shaped my career" he shared. The album's 11 tracks include Watson's covers of Eddy Arnold's "Make The World Go Away," Johnny Paycheck's "Slide Off Your Satin Sheets" and George Jones' "Walk Through This World With Me."

Critical reception for Gene Watson’s “My Heroes Have Always Been Country”:

11 Tracks/ Time: 34:01 CD - MP3 - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com 

Inside Music Row >> video interview 1361

Billboard (by Chuck Dauphin): ....Simply put, he’s one of Traditional Country’s best friends, and his new disc shows his reverence and respect for many in the format with his take on eleven bonafide Country classics! He starts the set with a stunning version of Dottie West’s “Here Comes My Baby” that is very close to the original – as far as arrangement goes, and the

harmonies – from John Wesley Ryles and Cindy Walker are nothing short of sensational.  He channels the late Ray Price on the gorgeous deep catalog number “Don’t You Believe Her.” A normal singer couldn’t pull the cut off, but Watson is far from ordinary! Some have written some illl-timed obituaries on traditional Country Music these days. And, granted, one does have to search for it a little bit more these days, but Gene Watson is still the real deal – as good now as he’s ever been! You might not hear a lot of acts performing music like this anymore, but this is Gene Watson’s Country Music – and he does. (We’re grateful for it too!)

Alan Cackett ex Maverick Editor (Rating: 5 STARS) Gene Watson is sort of a litmus test of country fan-dom. To younger or casual fans, he is—at most—an old guy who used to have some hit records. Long-time hard-core country fans, however, revere Watson as one of the genre’s truly golden voices, perhaps the best of Lefty Frizzell’s many disciples. He’s always had one of the warmest, most accessible voices in the country field, and at 70 years old, he’s singing better than ever on this beautiful album....The depth of material, coupled with Watson’s aching barroom voice proves to be a perfect match. Strong lyrics and impressive vocal performances are complemented by intelligent and restrained musical arrangements … an education in classic traditional country music for anyone who listens.... These feel like more than songs; they feel like treasures … timeless treasures to be cherished and listened to over and over again.

Country Music People by Duncan Warwick (Rating: 5 STARS)..A tribute to your influences is not the newest idea for an album but that's what Gene Watson has done for his latest release. Of course, it helps that Watson is one of the finest singers ever to wrap his tonsils around a country song, and the title says it all. Gene Watson appreciates a good country song better than just about anybody, and it shows here.....he hasn't compromised the quality of recording, production, or musicianship he was used to in his hit-making days. This sets his recordings head and shoulders above many 'heritage' acts that sometimes scrimp on such details... Ultimately, what all this means is that, if you like your country to be 'real' country, you won't be in any way disappointed with this release, even if personally I would have preferred Watson to switch 'Long Black Veil' and Buck's 'Hello Trouble' for something a tad less hackneyed. However, neither detracts from what is a wonderful and classy album by a guy who is still one of the finest singers out there and someone to whom you should turn if you ever need reminding what a country record should sound like'.

2014 Country Album sales Year-To Date:

14,219,000 (Physical sales 9,365,000 (down 9%) + Digital sales 4,854,000 (down 13.2%)) which is 22.1% down at the same point in 2013 (18,242,000 sales)

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Placings

(Issue dated Chart week of June 28, 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 June 28, 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:

• Florida Georgia Line’s “This Is How We Roll” (Republic Nashville) spent a sixth non-consecutive week at No.1 nabbing the weeks Streaming Gainer honours (2.1 million, up 11%). The song ties “Stay” for the duo’s second-longest No.1 stretch; the latter title finished its six-week command on the Jan. 18 list. The twosome hold the record for the most weeks at No.1 in the chart’s history with “Cruise” (24 weeks, 2012-13). “Roll” returned to No.1 for a second week on Country Streaming Songs, having first topped the April 26 chart. The Derulo remix accounted for 49% of the song’s 106,000 downloads sold in the week ending June 15.
• Chris Young claimed his seventh top 10 with “Who I Am With You” (RCA Nashville), which advanced 14-9 in its 21st chart week. He last reached the upper region with “Aw Naw,” which peaked at No.4 (Nov. 2, 2013). His chart history includes five straight leaders (2009-12), a feat he most recently achieved with “You” (Feb. 11, 2012). An increase in radio play was mostly responsible for the cut’s advance in rank on the sales/airplay/streaming hybrid chart, as it reached a new peak (8-7) on the Country Airplay tally (36 million audience impressions; up 9%) streaming increased (up 2%; 630,000 U.S. streams).
• Scotty McCreery surged 46-37 with Digital Gainer stripes with “Feelin’ It” (19/Interscope/Mercury) (7,000 downloads sold, up 80%). McCreery scored his first top 10 three months ago with “See You Tonight,” which peaked at No.10 (March 1).

Top 25 Hot Country Songs:

Florida Georgia Line feat Luke Bryan with “This Is How Me Roll” stays at #1

Luke Bryan with former #1 “Play It Again” held at #2

Jake Owen  with “Beachin’” stays at #3

Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastion with “My Eyes” climbs five, #9 - #4 p 

Dierks Bentley with “Drunk On A Plane” is up one, #6 - #5 p

Lee Brice with “I Don’t Dance” jumps up four, #10 - #6 p

Justin Moore with “Lettin’ The Night Roll” rises four, #11 - #7 p

Brett Eldredge with “Beat Of The Music” is down one, #7 - #8 q

Chris Young with “Who I Am With You” ascends five, #14 - #9 p

Lady Antebellum with “Bartender” is down two, #8 - #10 q

Brantley Gilbert with former No1 “Bottoms Up” falls six, #5 - #11 q

Tyler Farr with “Whiskey In My Water” is up one, #13 - #12 p

Joe Nichols with “Yeah” is up two, #15 - #13 p

Billy Currington with “We Are Tonight” moves up two, #16 - #14 p

Miranda Lambert with “Automatic” plummets eleven, #4 - #15 q

Brad Paisley with “River Bank” drifts up one, #17 - #16 p

Craig Campbell with “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” climbs one, #18 - #17 p

Dustin Lynch with “Where It’s At” (Yep, Yep) is up one, #19 - #18 p

Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood with “Somethin’ Bad” falls seven, #12 - #19 q

Tim McGraw feat Faith Hill with “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” holds at #20

The Band Perry with “Chainsaw” is up two, #23 - #21 p

Chase Rice with “Ready Set Roll” climbs two, #24 - #22 p

George Strait with “I Got A Car” revs up two, #25 - #23 p

Eric Paslay with “Song About A Girl” hops up two, #26 - #24 p

Brantley Gilbert with “Small Town Throwdown” is up two, #27 - #25 p

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (6 weeks) / Streaming Gainer ** “This Is How We Roll” Florida Georgia Line feat Luke Bryan Luke Bryan

** Airplay Gainer ** No.4 “My Eyes” Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastion

** Digital Gainer ** No.37 “Feelin’ It” Scotty McCreery

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.45 “Broken Windshield View” Chris Lane

Debut No.48 “It’z Just What We Do” Florida Georgia Line

Debut No.49 “Best Night Ever” Gloriana

Debut No.50 “Like A Cowboy” Randy Houser

Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of June 28, 2014

Brett Eldredge claimed his second consecutive leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay tally with “Beat of the Music” (Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville), which logged 46.863 million audience impressions (+0.389; up 1%) and received 7,353 radio plays (+211) during the June 9-15 tracking week. 

The song co-written by Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan  was first released on Sept 30, 2013. It’s a feel-good, catchy and oh-so-summery hit. The music video for the song was filmed in Staniel Cay in the Bahamas (>> Official Video)

Eldredge celebrated his first chart-topper with “Don’t Ya,” which spent the first of two weeks at No. 1 on the Aug. 24, 2013 list. Reigning in its 38th chart week, “Music” reached the summit five weeks faster than “Don’t” (which completed the fourth-slowest No.1 ascent in the chart’s 24-year history). He charted a pair of mid-charting hits in 2011, led by his No.23-peaking debut entry "Raymond"

Top local audience penetration for “Music” during the tracking week were: KKBQ Houston (1.8 million impressions), WUSN Chicago (1.6 million), KKGO Los Angeles (1.2 million), WNSH New York (1 million) and KPLX Dallas (1 million). Eldredge’s No. 1s are the second and third singles from his debut album, BRING YOU BACK, which has sold 108,000 units since its August 2013 release, with a #2 Billboard Country album peak. As of the tracking week ending June 8, “Don’t Ya” has sold 972,000 downloads, while “Music” has shifted 456,000 to date.

• Joe Nichols scored his 10th Country Airplay top 10 with his fastest climb into the upper region in eight years, as “Yeah” (Red Bow) stepped 11-10 in its 23rd chart week. He most recently graced the top 10 when “Sunny and 75” crowned the Dec. 14, 2013 chart. His fastest top 10 ascent was 13 weeks with “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” (2005)! “Yeah” has sold 256,000 downloads so far.
• Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastian with "My Eyes" (6-4) took home “Most Increased Audience” honours logging 40.277 million audience impressions, a gain of +4.261 million and landed 6,363 radio plays (+640)
•  Miranda Lambert duet with Carrie Underwood with “Somethin’ Bad” moved 33-28 and bagged the weeks “Most Added” trophy  receiving 1,444 radiuo plays (+554) thanks to 23 fresh radio commitments (ADDS).
• Newcomer Sam Hunt, a native of Cedartown, GA, snared the Hot Shot Debut at No.53 with “Leave the Night On” (MCA Nashville), which collected 1.1 million audience impressions (up 225%). Hunt’s debut marks the highest in nearly a year for a previously unknown rookie with no prior chart history. The last such act to bow so high was Cole Swindell, who entered at No.52 with “Chillin’ It” (Aug. 10, 2013), which eventually peaked at No. 2 (March 8). Hunt arrives on the chart following a college football career — he was a quarterback at the University of Alabama Birmingham — and as the co-writer of hits by other artists, including Kenny Chesney’s “Come On Over,” Keith Urban’s “Cop Car” and Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight.”

Women of Country 2014 Watch:

Miranda Lambert at No.8 ("Automatic") was the lone solo female artist in the Top 30 Country Airplay songs.

Cassadee Pope #34, Kacey Musgraves #36, Jana Kramer #49, Danielle Bradbery #51, Leah Turner #54 and Sheryl Crow #57, , were an additional six solo females in the remaining 31-60 slots, to make it 11.6% of the entire Top 60 chart.

Country Airplay

*** No.1 (1 week) *** "Beat Of The Music" Brett Eldredge

** “Most Increased Audience ** No. 4 "My Eyes" Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastian

** Most Added ** No.28 “Somethin’ Bad” Miranda Lambert duet with Carrie Underwood

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.53 "Leave The Night On" Sam Hunt

Debut No.59 "Somewhere In My Car" Keith Urban

Debut No.60 "I Can't Wait (Be My Wife)" Ben Rue

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of June 28, 2014

• There was no movement with the Top 5 and no Top 30 debuts. Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan with “This Is How We Roll" logged its fifth non consecutive week at No.1 (106,000 sales; down 18%) and on the overall all genre Hot Digital Songs chart at #10 the song reached its highest ranking to date.
• Former #1 Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood’s “Somethin’ Bad” rebounded 12-7 with sales up 39% with a 4-week tally of  207,000K

Women Of Country Watch

Miranda Lambert with single "Automatic" re-entered at No.21 as the ONLY solo female artist on the Top 30 placings:

Miranda Lambert duet with Carrie Underwood and former #1 “Something Bad” moved up 12-7 in its fourth week

Dropping off the Top 30:

29-31 Eric Church “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published June 19, 2014)

 (LW) Last Week  (TW) This Week

*Numbers are rounded to nearest 1000^th

Country Aircheck/ Mediabase chart

Brett Eldredge landed the No1 on Mediabase with “Beat Of The Music” (Atlantic/WMN) moving 3-1. The song logged 7,650 radio spins (+295) and 58.036 million audience impressions (+ 0.778 million) from 149 tracking stations for the tracking week June 8 to June 14, 2014 and published chart June 16th.

Its congratulations to Kevin Herring, Kristen Williams, Katie Bright and the entire Warner Music Nashville promotion team for nabbing this week’s #1 spot on the MEDIABASE Country singles chart with “Beat Of The Music.” The single is Brett's second consecutive chart-topper, following “Don’t Ya,” which hit #1 in August 19, 2013.

Congratulations to UMG Nashville SVP/Promotion Royce Risser, MCA Nashville VP/Promotion Van Haze and their entire promo team for earning 50 MEDIABASE Country adds on Sam Hunt’s "Leave The Night On." Also congrats to Big Machine VP/Promotion Jack Purcell and his entire promo team who also earned 50 MEDIABASE Country adds on Rascal Flatts’

“Payback.” Those adds gave both Sam Hunt and Rascal Flatts the "Most Added" title for this week. Bagels were due to be delivered to the MCA and Big Machine offices (June 17th) to congratulate the staff on their achievement.

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 401 - June 16, 2014 [PDF File]

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

Billboard Boxscores (Selective Country concerts)

Rank Artist: #2

Event Venue City/State: George Strait, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Asleep at the Wheel AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas

Dates: June 7, 2014  Gross Sales: $18,194,374  Attend: 104,793/ 104,793 SOLD OUT

Capacity Shows: 1/1 Sellouts Prices: $250, $199, $147.50, $25

Promoters:  The Messina Group/AEG Live

Rank Artist: #485

Event Venue City/State: First Aid Kit Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre Montreal, Quebec

Dates: June 7, 2014  Gross Sales: $15,261   Attend: 748/ 775

Capacity Shows: 1/0 Sellouts Prices: $22.28, $20.13

 Promoters: evenko/Greenland Productions

Rank Artist: #699

Event Venue City/State: Charlie Worsham Knitting Factory Spokane, Wash.

Dates: April 18, 2014 Gross Sales: $1,936  Attend: 176/ 900 (724 unsold tickets)

Capacity Shows: 1/0 Sellouts Prices: $11  Promoters: Knitting Factory Presents