Country
Billboard Chart News March 7, 2016
In
Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of March 19, 2016)
Country Album
Chart ** No.1 (15 weeks) TRAVELLER Chris
Stapleton
Hot Country
Songs ** No.1 (17 weeks) ** Die A Happy Man” Thomas Rhett
Country Airplay
** No.1 (1 week) ** “We Went” Randy Houser
Country Digital
Songs ** No.1 “My Church” (2 weeks) Maren
Morris
The
Billboard 200 chart measures multi-metric album consumption, which includes
traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent
albums (SEA).
The
1975 Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart
3/6/2016
by Keith Caulfield
Alternative
band The 1975 scored its first No.1
album on the Billboard Top 200 Album
Chart (BB200), as its second full-length effort, “I Like It When You Sleep,
For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware”, debuted atop the list. The set earned
108,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 3, according to Nielsen
Music. It sold 98,164 in pure album
sales.
Not
only is I Like It When You Sleep the first chart-topper for The 1975, but it’s
also the first top 10 set for the British
group, whose self-titled debut album bowed and peaked at No. 28 on the
Sept. 21, 2013-dated chart. On the latest Billboard 200, The 1975 returned to
the list at No.140 (5,000 units; up 25 percent), for its 71st non-consecutive
week on the chart. The set has sold 349,000 and has remained a steady weekly
seller since its arrival. Comparatively, it took 26 weeks for The 1975 to sell
what I Like It When You Sleep sold in its first week.
The
new album is also No.1 in the band’s homeland, as it bows atop the Official U.K.
Albums Chart. The 1975 follows such recent British acts as David Bowie, Adele,
Muse and Florence + The Machine, who all also simultaneously debuted at No. 1
on both the Billboard 200 and the Official U.K. Albums Chart with their latest
releases.
Bonnie Raitt with her new 12 track album DIG IN DEEP (Redwing Records; Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com ) arrived at No.11 on the Billboard 200, No7 on Top Selling albums and No.1 on Billboard Folk Albums after selling 32,095 copies (32,966 equivalent album units).
It marked her twentieth album, on Redwing Records, her own, independent
label. The record follows Bonnie's hugely successful 2012 release 'Slipstream',
which was one of the best-selling independent albums of 2012 and earned Bonnie
a GRAMMY for Best Americana Album - her tenth career GRAMMY win. Critical
acclaim:
American
Songwriter (Rating: 4 STARS)
Raitt kicks off with the
swampy “Unintended Consequence of Love,” a co-write with keyboardist Jon Cleary
that plays to her sweet spot, leaving room for her typically sizzling
Willie Nelson with Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin his new 11 track album ( Amazon UK - Amazon.com) made a debut at No.40 On the Billboard 200 and No.1 on Billboard Jazz Albums (Chart dated March 19, 2016) with
13,172 pure album sales. It did not
therefore appear on the Country listings.
“If you have some
non-country fans over this is the album to play for a dinner party - (Duncan Warwick editor Country Music People)
Willie Nelson's new album of pop standards, penned by America's
legendary songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin, follows the selection of
Willie as the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for
Popular Song. Among the 11 Gershwin classics recorded by Willie Nelson for his
new album are two duets: "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" with Cyndi
Lauper (the song was originally introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in
the 1937 film Shall We Dance) and "Embraceable You" with Sheryl Crow
(the song was performed by Ginger Rogers in Girl Crazy, recorded by Billie
Holiday in 1944 and inducted into the Grammy Hall
of Fame in 2005).
Chris Stapleton with his Platinum-certified
TRAVELLER (Mercury Nashville | UMGN)
slipped 5-7 on Billboard 200 in his 24th chart frame and remained top on Billboard Top Country Albums chart in
his 44th chart frame selling another 33,990
copies (44-week total of 991,700)
In
their third chart frame Joey + Rory with former No.1 HYMNS (Farmhouse/Gaither/Capitol
Christian Music Group)
slipped
8-10 on the multi-genre Billboard 200 and held at #2 Country selling another 32,408
copies (down 12%; 3-week total 138,300). The album may possibly return to #1
next week following the March 5th announcement of Joey Martin Feek's sad passing.
On Billboard’s Music Video Chart Hymns:
That Are Important To Us was #1 for a third week.
HYMNS
landed in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Music Video chart and on the
Christian Video chart. In addition, the
audio recording took the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. - Rory stated, "When the label called to give us the news I immediately took the phone
in to Joey. This recording was 'hers'
from the beginning. This is one that she
has always wanted to make, and she's worked so hard to make it happen, in spite
of the difficult circumstances she is facing.
As I congratulated her, she responded through tears, 'No, Honey, this is
God's record....'"
President
of Gaither Music Group Barry Jennings stated, "When we first started working with Joey+Rory a few years ago Rory said,
'I want to live a story.' Well, what a
'story' he and Joey have lived, perhaps not the one they wanted, but a story
that has touched countless lives around the world. We have all been changed by their 'story' and
are so honored to have been a small part of this project."
Old Dominion with debut major-label
full-length MEAT AND CANDY (RCA
Nashville/Sony Music Nashville), rode the wave of a $3.99 sale at both iTunes
and GooglePlay stores to jump 109-35 on the BB200 and 20-3 Country, the band's new high water mark for their debut album
via RCA Records and Tapes. It sold another 10,193 copies (up 340%) to log a
17-week tally of 79,900. It first opened with 21,000 copies (No.5; chart dated Nov.
28, 2015).
Sam Hunt with MONTEVALLO (MCA Nashville | UMGN) fell 16-25 BB200 & 3-4 Country (8,802 sales; down 20; 71-week
total 1,063,600).
Chuck Wicks with his new album TURNING POINT (Blaster Records), his second
studio album, made a debut at No.167 on Billboard 200 and No.12 Country selling 3,676
copies.
It
includes the singles "Salt Life", "Us Again",
"Saturday Afternoon", "I Don't Do Lonely Well" (which was
previously recorded by Jason Aldean on his 2012 album, Night Train) and
"She's Gone”.
Watch
the video for "Us Again."
Critical
reception for Chuck Wicks’ Turning Point:
Country
Weekly (Rating:
B+) Most of that continuity comes from
Chuck’s velvety vocals. One of the finest singers in the format, it’s about
more than range, pitch and tone with Chuck.
His tender tenor is emotive,
whether in the soaring single, “She’s Gone,” the pleading “Us Again” or the
waltzy standout track “Whole Damn Thing.”...Whether fast or slow, happy or
heartbroken, Chuck does love well.
Really well. Better than
most fellas in the format. That makes it even more puzzling that there are
weird studio effects applied to a voice that is about as close to perfection as
you can get on “Whatcha Got Girl,” but, in his defense, it’s also the most
sonically and lyrically connected to what’s happening on country radio today .
. . be that for better or worse.
Sounds Like Nashville (Rating:
Positive)..../Chuck Wicks is back with Turning Point, his first full-length
album in eight years. In actuality, though, he never really left. The
singer-songwriter and co-host of NashFM’s America’s Morning Show has continued
writing songs and getting cuts over the past few years by artists including
Jason Aldean, Frankie Ballard, Steve Holy and The Swon Brothers....Turning
Point showcases Wicks’ growth as a vocalist and songwriter, as he co-wrote each
of the 11 songs on the album. Additionally, he co-produced the record with
friend Andy Dodd. ...A solid release, Turning Point marks a triumphant return
for Wicks. Only his sophomore album, the 11 tracks combine his songwriting
skills with his emotive vocals for a release that will satisfy longtime fans
who have been waiting eight years for new music from the singer.
Digital Journal (Rating: A)... it is a solid musical project....It opens
with the laid-back, mid-tempo tune "She's Gone" and it is followed by
"Fix Me," which has a modern edge to it. He showcases his rich and
impressive vocals on the orchestral ballad "Us Again."...He tackles
the subject matter of loneliness effectively well on the polished ballad
"I Don't Do Lonely Well." .... Another noteworthy ballad is
"Always," while "Watcha Got Girl" is more fun and sassy,
which has a bro-country vibe to it
Outside the
Top 25 Country Albums
In
their second chart frames Sister Hazel with LIGHTER IN THE DARK (Croakin’ Poets 278) slumped 4-48 Country following their debut selling
7,914 copies. Austin-based artist, Sam Riggs, with BREATHLESS fell off the top 50 after a No.12 Country debut (3,801
sales)
Hailing from Brandon, FL Soul Circus Cowboys with
their 11 track set TAILGATE COUNTRY
(Diamondisc Records; UK iTunes - Amazon.com ) made a debut at No.45 Country selling 700 copies.
Blurb: When the sum total is greater than the individual parts, it’s
called “synergy” or in this case, “The Soul Circus Cowboys.”
Their diverse life experiences and eclectic blend of musical styles combine to create a truly unique new band with a sound that is all their own. Soul Circus Cowboys are four extremely talented individuals, Billy McKnight; vocals, band leader and songwriter, Jason Alfano; drummer, Michael Bach; bass, vocals and Rick Morgan on guitar.
Their diverse life experiences and eclectic blend of musical styles combine to create a truly unique new band with a sound that is all their own. Soul Circus Cowboys are four extremely talented individuals, Billy McKnight; vocals, band leader and songwriter, Jason Alfano; drummer, Michael Bach; bass, vocals and Rick Morgan on guitar.
Gene Watson with his new album REAL COUNTRY (CD of the Month in UKs
Country Music People Magazine) sold just 400 copies and did not appear on the
Top 50 Country albums.
Critics had been raving about the country legend’s 33rd studio album: -
“The best thing about the new Gene
Watson album is that it's a new Gene Watson album. Check out his covering a
couple of low key classics such as Kris Kristofferson's "Enough For
You" and "Help Me," an Elvis Presley charmer.” - Huffington
Post, Mike Ragogna
"The fourteen carat mind that
crafted 'Love in the Hot Afternoon' shows that he's just as capable of polished
pathos as ever with Real.Country.Music - an album that takes Watson fans into
the tumultuous waters of lost love and through the ringer. It's as iconic an
album as one could hope to make, bucking the artificial followers of the genre
to make room for those in search of sympathetic songs." -The Rowdy,
Justin Stokes
“In striving to consistently live up to his audience’s expectations,
Watson acknowledges the ongoing struggle that inevitably ensues in his efforts
to live up to his own...That’s why Watson’s latest LP, REAL.COUNTRY.MUSIC.,
includes songs by such songwriting stalwarts as Kris Kristofferson (“Enough For
You”), Larry Gatlin (“Help Me”), and Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran, and Keith
Whitley (“She Never Got Me Over You”).” - No Depression, Donald Gibson
Of Note: Mountain Fever Records proudly announced the self-titled new
album by Dave Adkins made its debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top
Bluegrass Albums Chart (dated March 19,
2016). The album was released February 26 and was produced by Adkins who also
contributed six original songs to his ground-breaking new project. Adkins is a
consummate Singer-Songwriter as evidenced by his recent sold-out live concerts
and hot selling new album. Bluegrass Today agrees saying, “Adkins is entertaining,
and truly has one of the most powerful voices in bluegrass today.”
(26 Feb 2016) Dave Adkins -
Self Titled (Mountain Fever Records)
Year-To-Date
Albums
3,831,000 (Physical sales 2,480,000
(down 9%) + Digital sales 1,350,000 (down -17.2%)) which is 10.5% down at the same point in 2015 (4,282,000
sales)
Year-To-Date
Digital Tracks
15,806,000 down 22.7% at the same point in 2015 (20,448,000)
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:
AT 17: Thomas Rhett with
“Die a Happy Man” (Valory) ranked at
the summit for a 17th week (the last
16 in succession). The song now stands alone for the third-most weeks spent at No.1,
dating to the chart’s 1958 launch as an all-encompassing genre ranking, passing
Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here”
(16 weeks, 1963-64). Florida Georgia
Line’s “Cruise” (2012-13) reigned with 24 weeks at No.1, followed by Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By” (19
weeks, 1961-62)
Hot County
Songs
** No.1 (17
weeks) ** “Die A Happy Man” Thomas Rhett
** Airplay
Gainer ** No.7 “We Went” Randy Houser
** Digital
Gainer ** No.22 “T-Shirt” Thomas Rhett
** Streaming
Gainer ** No.13 “Somewhere On A Beach” Dierks
Bentley
Debut
No.48 “Merica” Granger Smith feat. Earl
Dibbles Jr.
Debut
No.50 “Mayday” Cam
Randy
Houser with “We Went” (Stoney Creek), the first
single from his fourth studio album, FIRED UP (due March 11), jumped 3-1
on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated March 19), increasing by 11% to
45.5 million audience impressions in the tracking week, according to Nielsen
Music. The gritty country-rocker is Houser’s third leader, following “How
Country Feels” and “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” both in 2013.
On Hot Country Songs, “Went” became Houser’s sixth top 10, rose 12-7. It
was also boosted by a 3% lift to 731,00 weekly domestic streams. 2009’s
No.2-peaking “Boots On” marks his highest rank on the survey.
“The research on the song has been
consistently strong,” said Entercom Communications director of country
programming Mike Moore, adding that Houser “continues
to find songs that resonate with the audience.”
Houser’s next single, “Song Number 7,” goes for adds on March 28.
The song, which Rolling Stone Country notes “not only takes the singer on a wild adventure, [but] also represents
something of a new musical direction for him,” is one of 17 new tracks on
Houser’s tour de force of an album, out via Stoney Creek Records Friday March
11. Prior to the album’s street date, Houser will perform “We Went” live on
ABC’s Good Morning America this Wednesday, March 9.
“This is just so cool to have our fourth number one the same week that
our album is coming out,” said Houser. “It’s
always humbling when you have a song that really connects like that, and I’m
really looking forward to getting our new music out there and playing it live
on the road this summer.”
Produced by Derek George, who also guided Houser’s breakthrough 2013
album HOW COUNTRY FEELS, “Fired Up” is already earning the attention of
critics. Rolling Stone Country notes that the album “captures what the Mississippi native does
best: huge-voiced heartbreak ballads and roadhouse rockers” and RARE
Country calls Fired Up “a complete collection
of what Houser does best and is built on Houser’s strengths – guitar-heavy
rockers and country ballads that truly have something to say.”
PERFECT 10s:
Three other songs reach the Country Airplay top 10. Florida Georgia Line’s “Confession”
(Republic Nashville) climbed 12-7 (32.8 million, up 7%), marking the
10th top 10
for the duo (Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard). The sum includes seven
No.1s, starting with the pair’s 2012 debut, “Cruise.” “Confession” is the fifth
single from FGL’s second album, Anything Goes. With its first two full-lengths
(Here’s to the Good Times arrived in 2012) having each generated five Country
Airplay top 10s, FGL is just the fifth act to accomplish the feat with its
first two major-label albums, following Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks (who
scored six from their second set), Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band.
Chase
Bryant with “Little Bit of You” (Red Bow) made
Country Airplay history, as it entered the top
10 in its 47th week (11-8;
32.1 million, up 4 percent). The song passed Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy”
(2010) and Chase Rice’s “Gonna Wanna Tonight” (2015), which each took 46 weeks
to reach the tier. “Forty-seven weeks
doesn’t feel like a long time when you believe in someone as much as we
believed in Chase,” says Red Bow vp promotion Renee Leymon. Bryant scored
his second Country Airplay top 10 and bests the peak of his prior (and debut)
entry, “Take It on Back” (No. 9, 2015).
Rascal
Flatts with “I Like the
Sound of That” (Big Machine) likewise hits the Country Airplay top 10 (13-9;
30.3 million, up 5%), becoming the trio’s 30th top 10, a mark that just
10 other acts have reached dating to the chart’s 1990 inception. The fourth
single from Rewind was written by Jesse Frasure, Shay Mooney and best new
artist Grammy Award winner Meghan Trainor (who first beamed to Billboard about
the song nearly two years ago).
Country
Airplay
***
No. 1 (1 week) *** "We Went” Randy
Houser 45.546 million audience (+4.554 million) / 8,461 radio plays (+840)
** Hot
Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.33 “American Country Love
Song Jake Owen (+5.521 milion audience
gain, 57 fresh radio commitments (57
ADDS)
Debut
No.53 “Reckless” Martina McBride
Debut
No.59 “If The Boot Fits” Granger Smith
Maren
Morris remained at No.1 on the Billboard Country Digital
Singles Chart as the best-selling star this chart frame with "My
Church" (Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) (up #27-18 Digital Songs; 36,732
sales; up 7%; #18 Digital Songs; 8-week total 216,589)
Cole
Swindell with “You Should Be Here” rose 3-2 (31,328 sales; up 5%; #22
Digital Songs; 12-week total 344,312)
Tim
McGraw with poignant song “Humble And Kind” climbed
5-3 (29,808 sales; up 23%; 7-week total 152,960)
Thomas
Rhett with "Die A Happy Man" fell 2-4 (27,996 sales; down 9%;
20-26 Digital Songs; 24-week total 1,209,022).
Brett
Eldredge with “Drunk On Your Love” rose 6-5 (24,777 sales; up 6%; 34-31 Digital
Songs; 13-week total 241,249)
Dierks
Bentley with “Somewhere On A Beach" climbed 8-6
(24,207 sales; up 27%; 44-32 Digital Songs; 7-week total 130,603)
Country Aircheck MEDIABASE
Chart
7
March 2016
Congrats to Randy Houser, Carson James, Chris Loss, Heather Propper and the rest of the Stoney Creek promo crew on landing the week’s No.1 with “We Went.” The song is the first single from his album FIRED UP, which will be released Friday (March 11).
The
song logged 8,659 radio spins (+956)
and 60.929 million audience
impressions (+6.581) with 27865 Total
Points from 157 tracking stations for the tracking week February 28 to March 5,
2016 and published chart March 7th 2016.
"We Went" is Houser's fourth career #1, following "Goodnight Kiss," "Runnin' Outta Moonlight," and "How Country Feels" from his "How Country Feels" album. "We Went" is the first single from HOUSER's forthcoming "Fired Up" album, set to release this FRIDAY, MARCH 11th. The career achievement also coincided with a personal milestone, as HOUSER shared via FACEBOOK, "TODAY my son turns four years old, and I got my fourth #1 song! What a SUNDAY!"
"We Went" is Houser's fourth career #1, following "Goodnight Kiss," "Runnin' Outta Moonlight," and "How Country Feels" from his "How Country Feels" album. "We Went" is the first single from HOUSER's forthcoming "Fired Up" album, set to release this FRIDAY, MARCH 11th. The career achievement also coincided with a personal milestone, as HOUSER shared via FACEBOOK, "TODAY my son turns four years old, and I got my fourth #1 song! What a SUNDAY!"
Kudos
to Keith Gale and the RCA staff on
notching 60 adds for Jake Owen’s “American Country Love Song,” topping the week’s "Most Added" board.
Billboard Boxscores (Selective Country
concerts)
Rank
Artist: #26
Event
Venue City/State: Blake Shelton, Chris Janson Sprint Center Kansas City,
Mo.
Dates:
Feb. 26, 2016 Gross Sales: $889,922 Attend:
15,163 /15,163
Capacity
Shows: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Sellouts
Prices: $69, $49
Promoters:
Live Nation
Rank
Artist: #52
Event
Venue City/State: Chris Young, Cassadee Pope Modell Performing Arts
Center at the Lyric Baltimore, Md.
Dates:
Feb. 26, 2016 Gross Sales: $123,629 Attend: 2,514 / 2,514
Capacity
Shows: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Sellouts
Prices: $59, $29
Promoters:
AEG Live
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