Country Billboard Chart News July 18, 2016

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (22 non-consecutive weeks) TRAVELLER Chris Stapleton

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (11 weeks) ** H.O.L.Y.  Florida Georgia Line

Country Airplay ** No.1 (1 week) ** Church Bells” Carrie Underwood 

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (11 weeks) ** H.O.L.Y.  Florida Georgia Line “

In this easy-to-use format discover where your favourite acts songs and album are charting across the four Billboard Country charts.

It is prioritized by the first column showing the Hot Country Songs chart frame standings for the week of July 30, 2016.

There are also separate rows highlighting Women of Country music.

Scroll down for further details on each of the individual charts.

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

The Billboard 200 chart measures multi-metric album consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Drake's VIEWS entered double-digit territory at No.  on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as the album jumped 2-1 to collect a 10th non-consecutive week atop the list. The set earned another 92,000 equivalent album units in the week ending July 14 (down 22 percent), according to Nielsen Music.

Views spent its first nine weeks on the chart at No.1, then stepped aside a week ago for Blink-182, which opened at No.1 with California. The latter album slipped to No. 3 in its second week with 37,000 units (down 80%).

** Views is only the 10th album in the last 20 years to spend 10 weeks at No.1.

Albums With 10 Weeks (Or More) at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the Last 20 Years:

Artist, TITLE — Weeks at No. 1 — First Week at No. 1

Adele, 21 – 24 – March 12, 2011

Soundtrack, TITANIC – 16 – Jan. 24, 1998

Soundtrack, FROZEN – 13 – Jan. 18, 2014

Santana, SUPERNATURAL – 12 – Oct. 30, 1999

​Alanis Morissette, JAGGED LITTLE PILL – 11 – Oct. 7, 1995 (its last week at No.1 was on Sept. 7, 1996)

Taylor Swift, 1989 – 11 – Nov. 15, 2014

​Taylor Swift, FEARLESS – 11 – Nov. 29, 2008

Adele, 25 – 10 – Dec. 12, 2015

Backstreet Boys, MILLENNIUM – 10 – June 5, 1999

Drake, VIEWS – 10 – May 21, 2016

In addition, Views now has the most weeks at No.1 for an album by a solo male artist since Billy Ray Cyrus’ SOME GAVE ALL wrapped a 17-week run at No.1 on Oct. 30, 1992. (Views surpasses Usher’s nine-week run at No. 1 with Confessions in 2004.)

Views’ reign at No. 1 is driven mainly by its strong popularity on streaming services. In the latest tracking frame, 58,000 of its units were powered by SEA (63% of the album’s total units for the week).

However, Views is the highest-selling album released in 2016, with 1.34 million copies sold. It’s the second-biggest selling album overall in 2016, behind Adele’s 25 (which was released in 2015) with 1.44 million. (25 has sold 8.88 million overall.)

At No. 2 on the new Billboard 200 is ScHoolboy Q’s debuting BLANK FACE LP, with 74,000 units (of which 52,000 are in traditional album sales). The set also launches at No.1 on the Top Album Sales chart, which ranks the top selling albums of the week.

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

Chris Stapleton and Blake Shelton again swapped places atop the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart as TRAVELLER moved 2-1 (#12-14 Billboard 200) in its 63rd frame selling another 13,800 copies (63-week total 1,460,100). Shelton’s IF I’M HONEST (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) slipped 1-2 (10-20 Billboard 200) selling 11,300 copies (8-week total 315,200).

Various Artists: NOW That’s What I Call Country, Volume 9 (Sony Music/Universal/UMe) climbed 4-3 Country selling 6,500 copies (5-week total 51,800)

Dierks Bentley with BLACK (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group [UMG] Nashville), climbed 6-4 Country (non-mover No.33 BB200) with sales of 5,900 copies (7-week total 149,000)

Keith Urban with RIPCORD (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/ Universal Music Group Nashville) rose 7-5 Country (51-50 BB200; 5,500 sales; 10-week total 208,800)

Cole Swindell with YOU SHOULD BE HERE (Warner Bros. Nashville) fell 3-6 Country (32-57 BB200; 4,800 sales; 10-week total 150,900)

Sam Hunt with MONTEVALLO lifted 12-7 Country (32-57 BB200; 4,800 sales; 90-week total 1,177,800)

Maren Morris with HERO (Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) fell 5-9 Country (38-75 BB200) selling 4,300 copies (6-week total 70,800)

Joey + Rory with HYMNS (Farmhouse/Gaither | Capitol CMG) dropped 10-12 Country (137-167 BB200; 4,000 sales; 22-week total 423,000) and held at #3 on Top Christian Albums.

Mark Chesnutt made his highest Top Country Albums debut in 17 years as his new 15th studio LP TRADITION LIVES (Row/BFD) arrived at No.22 (1,800 sold).

Chesnutt, who has earned 20 top 10s on Hot Country Songs, including eight No.1s, landed his highest start and rank on Top Country Albums since 1999, when I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING began at its No.6 peak. Tradition Lives is Chesnutt’s first appearance on the survey in six years (since 2010’s Outlaw).

They say good things come in threes and for Mark Chesnutt fans that expression rang true. 

The lead single, “Oughta Miss Me By Now,” garnered airplay across the country. In addition to new music, fans craved more content from the classic country superstar who launched a YouTube video series playlist, “Mark Chesnutt’s Honky Tonk Monday” on the Mark Chesnutt YouTube Channel, YouTube.com/MarkChesnuttTV.

Critical reception for Mark Chesnutt’s Tradition Lives:

(8 July 2016) (BFD/ Row Entertainment LLC)

13 Tracks/ Time: 47:23 Amazon UK - Amazon.com

Country Perspective (Rating: 8/10)…Mark Chesnutt really impresses me with Tradition Lives and reminded me of why I was such a fan of his music growing up as a kid. I have to admit I was unsure of how good this album would be, as I’ve been disappointed by some recent releases by veteran artists. But Chesnutt clearly still has his “fastball” and sounds just as great as he did when radio played him. For some fans, this will be their favorite album of the year and I don’t blame them. This album is full of wonderful heartbreak songs, as well as some fun tunes too. If you loved 90s country or are just someone who appreciates traditional country, you need to check this out. Tradition Lives without a doubt lives up to its name, reminding us all that traditional country will never fade away.

Digital Journal (Rating; Mixed) The lead-off single is "Oughta Miss Me by Now" and although it has a solid chorus, for me it didn't bring quite as much joy as the three tunes that preceded it.

The atmospheric and downbeat "So You Can't Hurt Me Anymore" sounds like it could be played over the end credits of a western, while "You Moved Up in Your World" is a lovely sentiment....That wonderful voice sounds as good as ever on "Losing You All Over Again," "Never Been to Texas" and the jazzy "Hot." The last track, a bonus track, is the stripped-down "There Won’t Be Another Now," an emotive tribute to two deceased country icons, Red Lane and Merle Haggard.

Not Chesnutt's best work as a complete package (the excellent first three songs were always going to be hard to follow), but an enjoyable listen and a very welcome return nevertheless.

My Kind Of Country (Rating: Grade A) ..It’s been more than six years since Mark Chesnutt’s last full-length album and more than eight since his last collection of original material. His latest effort, Tradition Lives, which became available last week, reportedly took about three years to record. The long drawn-out process of producing new music has apparently paid off, resulting in the strongest album of Chesnutt’s post-major label career....Fiddle and steel are plentiful throughout the album. There are quite a few uptempo honky-tonkers from the opening track “I’ve Got a Quarter In My Pocket”, “Neither Did I” and “Never Been To Texas”, but the ballads are the tracks that really shine. I particularly liked “Is It Still Cheating”, a Randy Houser/Jamey Johnson/Jerrod Niemann song in which the protagonist knows his wife is cheating on him but doesn’t care because it gives him time to pursue his own extramarital affair. ...Tradition Lives is one the best albums I’ve heard this year; I highly recommend it.

Outside Top 25 Country Albums

Brandy Clark with BIG DAY IN A SMALL TOWN (Slate Creek/ Warner Brothers) fell 26-32 on Top Country Albums selling 800 copies (5-week total 13,000).

Kree Harrison with THIS OLD THING (Plaid Flag Records) made a debut at No.28 selling 900 copies.

Described as a “highly anticipated 2016 debut” from the singer/songwriter, many know Kree from American Idol Season 12 where she finished runner-up in 2013.
 American Idol did an amazing job of highlighting her vocal talent, but the show only scratched the surface of Kree's artistry. THIS OLD THING embodies the timeless sound that Kree has spent her entire life working toward. 

The 13 songs each tell a different story from Kree’s life and they come together to “create a true piece of art” Although timeless, This Old Thing is modern and was described as "fresh, now and tomorrow" by CMT's Stacey Cato.

At just 25 years old, yet a music-business veteran, the Woodville, Texas, native signed a development deal with Nashville's Lyric Street Records at just 10 years old, parting ways with the label after two years with no music having been released. At 14 she started writing songs, and has co-penned nine of the 13 tunes on This Old Thing.

One of the songs on This Old Thing is the Harlan Howard classic, "He Called Me Baby." A hit for female country and R&B greats including Patsy Cline and Candi Staton, it was also cut (as "She Called Me Baby") by Charlie Rich, Glen Campbell and Eddy Arnold, among several others.

Fellow Texan Kacey Musgraves is on the project adding background vocals on Harrison’s new record.

“After years of living in Nashville, being inspired, learning, trying to figure out my own journey, I’m proud to say, I know now I’ve made the record when and how I was supposed to. I’m so excited to share it with everyone!” said Harrison back in April 2016.

Harrison signed publishing and recording contracts with Plaid Flag Music in 2015 and immediately began the creative process.

In early December, Harrison recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville, NC. Harrison worked closely with the Plaid Flag team and writer Benjy Davis to complete the project. Davis teamed up with Jordan Lehning to co-produce the live album. The vintage feel of the studio coupled with Harrison’s timeless vocals prove to be a powerful combination.

“Kree is a true talent and has one of the top and most anticipated voices in music today,” said T.J. Johnson, Executive Director of Plaid Flag Music. “We are so proud of this album. It captures her voice as is – honest, raw and audibly stunning.”

She released “Dead Man’s House” (Plaid Flag Records) to country radio on July 13, 2016 which is based on the true story of a family event during Kree’s childhood.  The song plays reference to a man who took advantage of an unfortunate situation.  Kree’s aunt made the comment ‘he’s just living in a dead man’s house’. Kree had been saving that idea for years and it was the first song she wrote after signing her record deal. The song is described as having “a vibey country backbone with plenty of classic Motown soul”.  Written with co-producer Benjy Davis and rising songwriter Mike Walker, they left no punches unthrown. 

Kree, grew up in Woodville, TX, she first appeared on Rosie O’Donnell’s “Most Talented Kids” show at 10 years old. Then over 13 years, Harrison worked in Nashville writing with some of the top writers in the business, singing demos and backups for various signed artists, and performing whenever possible. The Texas native boasted publishing and record deals when most her age were riding bicycles and climbing trees, but it wasn’t an easy road. Tragedy also struck in those early years for Harrison. She lost her father at age 11 (plane he was on crashed off the coast of Spain), a record deal and then her mother at age 19 (On Sept 22, 2009, Harrison's mother was killed in a head on traffic collision).

Kree was movin’ and shakin’ in her ‘This Old Thing’ music video (published May 4, 2016 | 33K Views). The clip features the season 12 American Idol runner up showing her sassy side while on stage in a theatre amongst a cool jazz band. “This Old Thing” was recorded at the Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina and is the title track from the album.

In 2012, she >> auditioned for “American Idol” season 12, where she wowed fans and the judges with her effortless vocals, moving song choices and calm demeanour, ultimately coming in second place in the competition.

Watch Kree's performances from Hollywood thru Top 9 week: Top 9 ("With A Little Help From My Friends" Beatles), Top 10 ("Crying" Roy Orbison), Top 10 (Victory Song: "Evidence" Susan Tedeschi), Top 20 ("Stronger" Faith Hill), Sudden Death Round ("Up To The Mountain" Patty Griffin) & Hollywood Solo Round ("Stars" Grace Potter & The Nocturnals).

She then wrapped up the “American Idol Live” tour and was living in Nashville.

The Idol Season 12 runner-up sadly remained unsigned after UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan, who had first right of refusal, opted not to pick up the option (only show winners were guaranteed a label deal). While, some observers blamed the tough environment for female singers at Country radio, the situation had some asking if the bloom was off the Idol rose.

The soaring ballad “All Cried Out” (written by Katrina Elam, Gordie Sampson and Steve McEwan) was chosen to be Harrison's potential coronation song had she won the American Idol title and she sung it on the season's final performance night on May 15, 2013. Harrison told reporters that lyrically and melodically, it was perfect for her. "I couldn't have wrote it better myself," she said. "I don't know if they wrote it for me or if it was just in their catalog and they pitched it to me but whatever the case, I'm so thankful that I'm given this and that was the best part of tonight for me was being able to sing my single hopefully to all of these people. The energy in the room was insane... unbelievable."

The tragedy in her Harrison life and the song's lyrics reflected the pain she has been through. After its release it opened at No.34 on Hot Country Singles and made her country bow on Billboard Country Digital Singles (week of June 1, 2013) at No.22 and No.85 on all genre Digital Singles with sales of just 24,325.

Kree Harrison & Candice Glover (L) share the spotlight with Ryan Seacrest 2013

Daily Mail Candice Glover makes it third time lucky as she triumphs in emotional finale

American Idol 2013 winner Candice Glover’s Pop/R&B coronation song “I Am Beautiful” (19 Recordings) sold only 48,291 copies in the week following the show’s finale. That represented the lowest first-week sales tally for the coronation song by an Idol winner since Taylor Hicks’ “Do I Make You Proud” started with sales of 38K back in 2006.

Ratings for the American Idol finale that year plunged to a record low. According to Nielsen Co. figures Candice Glover's victory over Kree Harrison was watched by 14.3 million viewers. That was a 33% dip compared to 2012 when 21.5 million viewers saw Phillip Phillips claim the Idol crown. In effect 0.3% of the TV audience purchased Candice’s single and 0.17% bought Kree’s in their first week. In their second frames Kree fell off the Top 50 Country Digital songs from No.22 selling another 9,188 copies, down 62%, to sell 33,513 in 2 weeks. Glover’s song only managed to sell 22,900 units, which was down 53% and fell 39-92 on the all genre Digital songs tally. It left the question as to where the Idol TV show was to go from there?

FYI; Kree wore a Rosie Eyelet Dress by
Marc by Marc Jacobs (piperlime.gap.com)
 & Kacey sparkled in a Gomez-Gracia blush-pink 
mini dress embroidered with
1000s of hand-sewn iridescent micro-sequins

Kree then went off people’s radar. She was pictured at the CMT Awards with bestie Kacey Musgraves attending at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee then seemed to vanish from the media eye.

This year after her performance on the American Idol Series Finale and Reunion (April 5-7, 2016), Harrison talked to The Shotgun Seat: ...“It is kind of crazy how you can explain the journey to your best friends but meeting strangers who immediately have had that same experience, you have the same bond who went through the same thing…we will all share that idol family feeling forever,” Harrison said. Performing on the stage with past contestants, Harrison had the opportunity to meet and spend time with people that she has admired such as Jordin Sparks. “There was definitely tears, laughter and a lot of whiskey,” she laughed. “Kellie Pickler and my drink of choice, we both love Jack Daniels.”  

3 YEARS on her post-Idol debut album has finally arrived!  Harrison came back full-circle and made a truly authentic record with the people her knew and loved her best: her long-time Nashville friends. The gang gathered in an Asheville, North Carolina, studio to produce what would become her artistic introduction to the world. And for Harrison, it was the hands-down the right decision.

“When I first walked into the studio in Asheville, I felt an overwhelming feeling of sureness,” Harrison told CMT.com.

Critical reception for Kree Harrison’s This Old Thing:

Release date: 8 July 2016 | 13 Tracks/ Time: 48:41 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Sounds Like Nashville by Chuck Dauphin (Rating: Very Positive),….Kree Harrison definitely made an impact on music audiences with her stint on season twelve of American Idol. And, now she satisfies her loyal fan base that she developed on the show with her debut album. I’ve got to say that this is one of the more varied albums I’ve heard from a female vocalist this year. 

When I say “varied,” I simply mean that Harrison seems to know no fear as a performer. There’s tracks that definitely could fit right in the middle of the Country format, and there are a few where she stretcwhes just a little – only to prove her true strength as an artist...The

title cut is a strong example of the latter, with Harrison sporting somewhat of a Motown sound that she pulls off quite handily. Then, she turns on an emotional dime and delivers quite possibly the most seductive and sensual track on the disc with “I’ve Got Time,” which sounds like it could have been right at home on the radio during the AM heyday of the 1970s....The two most notable cuts on This Old Thing couldn’t be further apart from each other – a sure sign of just how deep Harrison’s talent runs. She turns in a funk-filled version of “He Called Me Baby,” a Harlan Howard classic made famous by both Patsy Cline and Charlie Rich that is sure to turn a few ears. Then, there’s the emotional centrepiece of the album – “Wanted It That Way,” where the dramatic turn in the final verse will leave you aching for the lead character in your heart. Harrison slams it out of the ballpark on this cut – and that is definitely an understatement...Kree Harrison’s fans have been waiting for some time on this music, and she delivers the goods. She shows the growth she has made since American Idol, and not only will this album satisfy the fans that were already there, but I think it could very well awake a passion in fans-to-be who have never seen the series. This one’s a keeper, from start to finish! 

CMT (Rating: Very Positive) Holy hairbrush songs, Batman. Harrison just released one of the greatest country soul records I’ve heard in ages. It’s the kind of music that’s born out of the night life in East Nashville where there are at least three major dance parties every Monday night. With pedal steel, gospel keyboards, classic soul horns, “Every Time I Fall in Love” might be the sweetest love song released this summer. It almost plays out like a cute romantic comedy where the leading lady loses her keys and loses her cool every time love comes around. With funky bass lines, girl group strings and dreamy pedal steel, the 10-song collection gets you back to your roots no matter where you’re from. 

Year-To-Date Albums

12,865,000 (Physical sales 8,423,000 (down 9%) + Digital sales 4,442,000 (down -17.5%)) which is 11.7% down at the same point in 2016 (14,572,000 sales)

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks

50,175,000 down 24.6% at the same point in 2015 (66,548,000)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

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 with “H.O.L.Y.” (Republic Nashville) crowned Hot Country Songs for an 11th week. The song from the duo (Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard) also led Country Streaming Songs (6.6 million U.S. streams, essentially even from last week) and Country Digital Songs (61,000 downloads sold, down 11%) for an 11th frame each. On Country Airplay, the lead single from FGL’s third full-length, DIG YOUR ROOTS (due Aug. 26), pushed 3-2 (45.6 million, up 6%).

FIVE FOR FIVE Sam Hunt scored his fifth top 10 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay from his debut album, MONTEVALLO (MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), as “Make You Miss Me” jumped 11-8 on Hot Country Songs (up 7%) and 11-10 on Country Airplay (27.3 million, up 9%). Three of Hunt’s singles have topped both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay: “Leave the Night On,” “Take Your Time” and “House Party, while “Break Up in a Small Town” climbed to No.2 on each survey. Montevallo, which has spent nine weeks atop Top Country Albums after arriving at No.1 on the chart dated Nov. 15, 2014, has sold 1.2 million total copies.

As “Make” entered the top 10 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, Hunt is the first artist to roll up five top 10s on both charts from a debut full length major-label album since Zac Brown Band in 2008 and 2009, as its major-label bow, The Foundation, yielded the No. 1s “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” “Highway 20 Ride” and “Free” and the No. 2-peaking “Whatever It Is.” Prior to ZBB, Taylor Swift logged five top 10s from her self-titled 2006 debut album:

“Tim McGraw,” “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Picture to Burn” and her first two No.1s, “Our Song” and “Should’ve Said No.”

The last solo male before Hunt to score five top 10s on Hot Country Songs (and Country Airplay) from a debut album? Mark Chesnutt, who, coincidentally, also recorded for MCA. Chesnutt’s 1990 launch LP, Too Cold at Home, produced five top 10 singles: the title track, the No.1 “Brother Jukebox,” “Blame It on Texas,” “Your Love Is a Miracle” and “Broken Promise Land.”

Coincidence: Chesnutt made his highest Top Country Albums debut in 17 years this week as Tradition Lives (Row/BFD) blew in at No.22

Jake Owen with “American Country Love Song” (RCA Nashville) lifted 12-10 to become his eighth top 10 on the chart and his first in two years, following the 2014 No.1 “Beachin’ ” (July 19, 2014). On Country Airplay, “American Country Love Song” ascended 10-8 (30 million, up 7%)

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (11 weeks) ** H.O.L.Y.  Florida Georgia Line

** Airplay Gainer ** No.11 “Fix” Chris Lane

** Digital & Streaming Gainer ** No.14 “Different For Girls” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.28 “Smooth” Florida Georgia Line

Debut No.47 “My Girl” Dylan Scott

Debut No.48 “How I’ll Always Be” Tim McGraw

Debut No.49 “Saltwater Gospel” Eli Young Band

Debut No.50 “Are You With Me” Easton Corbin

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

Carrie Underwood with “Church Bells” (19/Arista Nashville) rose 2-1 in its 16th week on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated July 30), increasing by 4% to 48.9 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen Music.

The track becomes Underwood’s 15th Country Airplay No.1, extended her mark for the most leaders among women, dating to the chart’s launch on Jan. 20, 1990. Reba McEntire is second among women with 11 No. 1s; Tim McGraw leads all acts with 28.

“Church,” the third single from Underwood’s fifth studio album, Storyteller, follows “Heartbeat,” which paced the Country Airplay chart dated March 26, and “Smoke Break,” which peaked at No. 2 (Dec. 5, 2015). Storyteller, her sixth No.1 on Top Country Albums (encompassing all of her appearances), has sold 621,000 copies in the United States, dating to its chart-topping debut (Nov. 14, 2015; debut week sales164,212 copies; #2 Billboard 200/ #1 Country).

On the Hot Country Songs chart, which combines airplay, sales and streaming data, “Church” held at its No.2 high.

Carrie rings in 24th #1 single with #ChurchBells! 🔔🔔 https://t.co/Urdp8CbVAA -TeamCU pic.twitter.com/nWeyemHiDz

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) 18 July 2016

Nashville, TN, July 18, 2016 – Seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner Carrie Underwood scored her 24th #1 single of her career with “Church Bells,” the third consecutive chart-topping single from her current album, Storyteller. Landing the #1 slot on both the Billboard and Mediabase country airplay charts, the song also spent two weeks at #1 on Canada’s Mediabase country airplay chart and three weeks at #1 on Australia’s country airplay chart.

Produced by Mark Bright and written by Zach Crowell, Brett James, and Hillary Lindsey, “Church Bells” was singled out by Entertainment Weekly as a “twangy roof-raiser.” In fact, Underwood virtually brought the house down when she performed the prime-time television debut of “Church Bells” at the 51st Annual ACM Awards on CBS in April which drew a standing ovation from the audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “Nothing short of spectacular” is how Rolling Stone Country recapped the ACM Awards moment.

The music video for “Church Bells,” directed by Wayne Isham and filmed during a live concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, is currently #1 on GAC’s fan-voted Top 20 Country Countdown. The goal of director Isham, whose director credits include Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Metallica and Britney Spears, was to capture the country star’s energetic live performance and fans’ reactions and edit it into a 3:40 snapshot of a Carrie Underwood The Storyteller Tour – Stories In The Round experience. Watch the video here: http://smarturl.it/cuchurchbellsvevo.

Underwood begins the second leg of The Storyteller Tour on August 31st in Anchorage, Alaska.

Look for Carrie Underwood to kick off the 2016 season of football and a brand new theme song for “Sunday Night Football” on September 11th on NBC prior to the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals game. Titled “Oh, Sunday Night,” the new song is based on Underwood’s 2014 hit collaboration with Miranda Lambert, “Somethin’ Bad.”

And, later this fall, the country star joins Brad Paisley as co-hosts of the 50th Annual CMA Awards on November 2nd broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena on ABC 8-11 pm Eastern/7-10 pm Central.

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (1 week) *** "Church Bells” Carrie Underwood 48.908 million audience (+2.065 million) / 8,113 radio plays (+170)

** Hot Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.30 “A Little More Summertime” Jason Aldean +6.744 million audience gain thanks to 55 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)

Debut No.39 “How I’ll Always Be” Tim McGraw

Debut No.57 “Long Live Tonight” LANco

Debut No.58 “Move” Luke Bryan

Debut No.60 “Bluebonnet’s (Julia’s Song”) Aaron Watson

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart (Chart issue week of July 30, 2016)

Florida Georgia Line (Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley) with “H.O.L.Y.” (Republic Nashville) secured another week at No.1 for the ninth week on Billboard’s Country Digital Singles Chart with sales of 69,000 downloads (#3-5 Digital Songs; 11-week total 859,000). They also posted a new song as pre-grat track from their Aug 27 album DIG YOUR ROOTS titled “Smooth” blew in at #3 with 22,000 sales.

Kelsea Ballerini with “Peter Pan” (Black River) moved 3-2 (#36-32 Digital Songs; 23,000 sales; 15-week total 290,000).

Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King with “Different For Girls” climbed 13-4 (#41 Re-entry Digital Songs; 21,000 sales; 7-week total 145,000).

Jon Pardi with “Head Over Boots” fell #4-5 in his 37th week (#40-47 Digital Songs; 19,000 sales; 36-week total 511,000), the single swept past the GOLD certification 500K mark.

Carrie Underwood with "Church Bells" fell 5-6 (#42-48 Digital Songs; 19,000 sales; 15-week total 283,000.

Dan+Shay with “From The Ground Up” climbed #12-7 (#50 Re-Entry Digital Songs; 19,000 sales; 23-week total 364,000)

Jason Aldean with "Lights Come On" fell 6-8 (17,000 sales; 15-week total 318,000)

Blake Shelton with “She's Got A Way With Words” moved 11-9 (17,000 sales; 8-week total 131,000)

Eric Church with “Record Year” fell 7-10 (170,000 sales; 20-week total 299,000)

Outside the Top 10:

Darius Rucker with “If I Told You” fell 2-39 (6,000 sales; down 81%; 3-week total 44,000).

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

18 July 2016

Congratulations to Carrie Underwood, Randy Goodman, Steve Hodges, Josh Easler and the whole Arista promotion team on “Church Bells” reaching No.1 on this week’s chart. The song is Underwood’s third Mediabase chart-topper from STORYTELLER. It follows "Smoke Break" in November last year (Nov 23, 2015) and "Heartbeat" in March (March 2014).

The song logged 8,843 radio spins (+441) and 60.132 million audience impressions (+3.177) with 30344 Total Points from 159 tracking stations for the tracking week July 10 to July 16, 2016 and published chart July 18th 2016.

Kudos to Lee Adams and the Broken Bow crew on grabbing 64 adds for Jason Aldean’s “A Little More Summertime”. The song topped the week’s "Most Added" board.

Broken Bow Records celebrate Jason Aldean's
was most addedMediabase
"A Little More Summertime" 18 July 2016

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 508 - July 18, 2016 [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: #5

Event Venue City/State: Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, Old Dominion Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Mo. 

Dates: July 16, 2016 Gross Sales: $3,887,143 Attend: 51,293/ 53,062 (1769 unsold tickets)

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** Prices: $225, $165, $99, $25

Promoters: Messina Touring Group/AEG Live

Rank Artist: #8

Event Venue City/State: Dixie Chicks, Anderson East, Josh Herbert Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, Calif.

Dates: July 12, 2016 Gross Sales: $979,925 Attend: 17,832/ 21,142 (3310 unsold tickets)

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** Prices: $136, $106, $76, $42

Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #16

Event Venue City/State: Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris XFINITY Center Mansfield, Mass.

Dates: June 25, 2016 Gross Sales: $673,264 Attend: 17,425/ 19,732 (2307 unsold tickets)

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** Prices: $59.75, $20 Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #17

Event Venue City/State: Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris DTE Energy Music Theatre Clarkston, Mich.

Dates: June 23, 2016 Gross Sales: $610,290 Attend: 14,609/ 14,950 (341 unsold tickets)

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** Prices: $75.75, $25.75 Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #86

Event Venue City/State: Kacey Musgraves Amos' Southend Charlotte, N.C.

Dates: April 15, 2016 Gross Sales: $49,533 Attend: 1,739/ 2,171 (432 unsold tickets)

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** Prices: $35, $28 Promoters: AEG Live