Country
Billboard Chart News February 20, 2017
RIAA
Certifications
Feb.
23, 2017 - Dierks Bentley with his eighth studio album
BLACK (Capitol Records Nashville)
has earned GOLD certification by the
RIAA (500,000 units). Validating Bentley's ability “to combine commercial and
critical success” (Nashville Scene), the new certification makes it the only
ACM “Album of the Year” nominated project to reach this mark.
In
Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of March 4, 2017)
Country Album
Chart ** No.1 (2 weeks) Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope Reba McEntire
Hot Country
Songs ** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “Body Like A Back
Road” Sam Hunt
Country Airplay
** No.1 (1 week) ** "Better Man” Little Big Town
Country Digital
Songs ** No.1 (3 weeks) ** “Body Like A Back
Road” Sam Hunt
The
Billboard 200 chart measures multi-metric album consumption, which includes
traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent
albums (SEA).
The Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), earning 123,000 equivalent
album units in the week ending Feb. 16, according to Nielsen Music. Of that
sum, 71,652 copies were in traditional
album sales. The set was released through Universal Studios/Republic Records on
Feb. 10.
Fifty
Shades Darker is the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, which saw its companion
soundtrack debut and peak at No. 2 on the chart dated Feb. 28, 2015.
Some
26 million people watched THE GRAMMY AWARDS show, up from both
2015 and 2016 and a week on it fuelled activity in the music marketplace. The
sum of all the songs performed generated a 140% increase in song sales and a
30% increase in on-demand streams, with the median title increasing 354% in
song sales and 46% in on-demand streams.
Other
findings included:
The
songs performed on the GRAMMY AWARDS added 319K in song sales and nearly 21
million on-demand streams for the songs performed
Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like” was
the second-leading song with an increase of 63,800 in unit sales (308%
increase)
At
No.2 on the new Billboard 200, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic rose 7-2 with 66,000 units
and a 108% gain, following his two performances on the Grammy Awards (Feb. 12).
The album sold 36,213
copies during
the tracking frame -- up 137%. On the Grammys, Mars sang 24K Magic’s current
single “That’s What I Like,” and contributed to a segment celebrating Prince,
by covering his “Let’s Go Crazy.”
Chance The Rapper's streaming-only
"Coloring Book" led all album on-demand streams with a unit increase
of 15,548,000; Adele’s
"25" was a distant second with a unit increase of 5,165,000 on-demand
streams. Adele’s 25, which won the Grammy Award for album of the year, zoomed
from No. 21 to No. 6 with 47,000 units (up 137%). The former No.1 shifted
another 30,443 copies in the latest
tracking week, a gain of 238%. Adele also opened the Grammy Awards with a
performance of the album’s lead single, “Hello.”
Beyoncé’s LEMONADE flew from No.33
to No.9, following the diva’s elaborate performance of the set’s “Love Drought”
and “Sandcastles”. Lemonade earned another 38,000 units (a gain of 190%)
shifting 29,371 in pure sales.
Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood's “The Fighter” saw a 574% increase in
song sales.
Sturgill Simpson's Grammy winning Country album
A SAILOR’S GUIDE TO EARTH saw a 163%
increase in on-demand streams.
Reba McEntire
Spends Second Consecutive Week Atop Christian/Gospel And Country Charts
Reba McEntire with her first faith-based
set, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith &
Hope (Nash Icon/Big Machine Label Group), paced both Top Country Albums and
Top Christian Albums for a second consecutive week, with 26,000 equivalent
album units (down 52%).
Of that sum 25,340 copies were pure sales (down 53%). On the Billboard 200 Sing It Now
retreated 4-16.
The
double-disc project debuted at #1 last week after it earned 54,426 equivalent
albums (52,039 were traditional pure sales)
in the week ending Feb. 9. McEntire resumed her Vegas residency with Brooks
& Dunn this week.
Brett Young with self-titled debut full-length (BMLG) opened at No.2 (#18 BB200).
Young’s LP, produced by Dann Huff, began with 25,000 equivalent album units
earned in its launch week (ending Feb. 16). Pure sales were 17,827 and it logged the 13th
best-selling album in America this chart frame.
Young
co-wrote 11 of the set’s 12 songs, including latest single “In Case You Didn’t
Know,” which pushed to a new high (17-14) on Hot Country Songs. The move was
sparked in part by the song’s 28% gain to 20,000 sold, as it climbed 6-5 on
Country Digital Song Sales, and its 25% boost to 7.1 million impressions; on
Country Airplay, were it advanced 31-29.
Young’s
first single from the LP, “Sleep Without You,” peaked at No.2 on Country
Airplay and No.3 on Hot Country Songs back on December 2016.
Critical
reception for Brett Young’s self-titled set Brett Young:
Sounds Like Nashville Laura Hostelley (Rating:
Positive) Young is a featured co-writer
on 11 out of the 12 tracks on the album, which was produced by Dann Huff and
recorded in Nashville. Six of the songs were previously released on his EP,
with the additions rounding out the project. The production through the record
is minimal, leaving room for the rising country star to use his soft but
graveled voice to portray emotion and tell the tales of love....Olivia Mae”
reveals a love story throughout the lyrics. The song describes an admirable
pursuit of a girl that turns into being the romance for a lifetime. Though not
likely to be a single, “Olivia Mae” stands out on the record for its
traditional formula and endearing subject matter.
Country Standard Time (Rating: Mixed) Make no mistake that Young's vocal delivery
is satisfying, a bit gritty. The piano driven "Mercy" works well in
showcasing Young's sensitive, emotive side.
Young slows it down a bit on
"You Ain't Here to Kiss Me" in a more mournful delivery with the
liquor not helping him in a love gone wrong song. More material like that would
have been welcome because, otherwise, Young is one of a long line of country
singers with a soulful sound that goes down real easy. he problem though is
exactly that - Young is another cog in the machine. The songs are
interchangeable pretty much, almost all focusing on love lost and
found....Young probably has done what one is supposed to do these days with a
debut - attract some airplay, playing it ultra safe by not taking chances and
hopefully build a career. Not projections on the future, but for Young, anyway,
two out of three ain't bad.
Roughstock (Rating: Positive) Mid-tempo songs are where Brett and his
blue-eyed soul vocals shine. He's able to end lyrics and melody. "Olivia
Mae" and "Back On The Wagon" showcase this, blending the classic
sounds of soul and pop with Dann Huff's sturdy country production.
"...Each of the 12 songs here showcase Brett Young as a potential
superstar and perhaps no song does that better than the Adele-like
"Mercy," an emotive relationship ballad. It's a hell of an
exclamation point on a well-crafted debut album project.
Keith Urban with RIPCORD (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville) climbed
4-3 (39-23 BB200) selling 11,584 copies
(41-week total 461,800)
Garth Brooks with THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION rose 5-4 (41-24 BB200) with 20,530 copies
sold (10-week total 466,200).
Brantley Gilbert with THE DEVIL DONT SLEEP (Valory) fell 2-5 (12-25 BB200) with 14,116 copies
sold (3-week total 99,500).
Maren Morris with HERO (Columbia Nashville) climbed 11-6 (82-26 BB200) with 10,469 copies sold (37-week total 184,500).
Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) fell 3-7
(29-44 BB200) selling 8,449 copies (94 week total 1,734,700).
Sturgill Simpson with
the 2017 Grammy
winning Country album A SAILOR’S GUIDE
TO EARTH (Atlantic) rocketed up 34-8
(BB200 #44 Re-Entry) thanks to sales of 11,151 copies (41-week total 184,350).
Jason Aldean with THEY DON'T KNOW (Macon/Broken Bow)
lifted 10-9 (80-55 BB200) selling 6,845 copies
(23-week total 336,700)
Thomas Rhett with TANGLED UP (Valory) rounded
out the top 10 falling 6-10 (54-33
BB200) selling 3,060
copies (73-week
total 541,660).
No other albums
charted on the third week of the new
consumption-based
methodology top 50 Top Country Album chart.
On
the Country Album Sales Chart Top 50 there was one new entry at #23 as Old Crow
Medicine Show
with BEST OF OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW made a
debut based on 2,240
copies
sold.
Two
artists with Grammy exposure awarding winning Lori McKenna for “Humble Of Kind”, saw her album THE BIRD & THE
RIFLE re-enter at #31 (3 chart weeks) and Country Album nominee Brandy Clark with BIG DAY IN A SMALL
TOWN returned at #48 (her 8th week on the tally)
Year-To-Date Albums
2,438,000 (Physical sales 1,633,000
(down -11.86%) + Digital sales 805,000 (down -23.6%)) which is 16.0% down at the same point in 2016 (2,904,000
sales)
Year-To-Date Digital Tracks
9,549,000 down 22.8% at the same point in 2016 (12,375,000)
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:
Sam Hunt remained at No.1, with “Body Like a Back
Road” (MCA Nashville) for a second week. The song also held at #1 on both Country
Streaming Songs and the Country Digital Song Sales chart.
Keith Urban with “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood (Hit Red/Capitol
Nashville), soared 46-5 on Hot
Country Songs following their performance of the pop-flavoured track on the
59th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast on CBS on Feb. 12. The song — from Urban’s
latest album, Ripcord — vaulted 25-2 on Country Digital Song Sales, surging
370% to 45,000 downloads sold. It also jumped by 371% to 1.7 million U.S.
streams. On Country Airplay, it reached the top 40 (44-33; 5.9 million, up
145%).
“The Fighter”
is Urban’s 38th Hot Country Songs top 10, all achieved consecutively (counting
songs in lead roles officially promoted to country radio and excluding holiday
fare), extending his unmatched active streak that started with the No.4-peaking
“Your Everything” in 2000.
 |
| Carrie Underwood (L) & Keith Urban (R) perform "The Fighter" at the 2017 Grammy Awards |
Underwood earns
her 26th Hot Country Songs top 10, also all linked consecutively (and encompassing
all of her promoted country music, excluding holiday material).
Her run began
with her first country single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” her first of 15 Country
Airplay No.1s and 14 Hot Country songs leaders, in 2006. Underwood extended the
longest streak of top 10 promoted singles from a career’s start on both charts;
Tracy Lawrence ranks second with 19 out-of-the-gate top 10s in 1992-97.
Brad Paisley banked his 32nd Hot Country Songs top 10 as “Today”
(Arista Nashville) bumped 11-10. On
Country Airplay, the ballad rose 6-4 (36.5 million, up 8%).
Hot County
Songs
** No.1 (2 weeks)
** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt
** Digital
& Streaming Gainer ** No.5 “The Fighter” Keith Urban feat. Carrie
Underwood
** Airplay Gainer ** No.7 “Think A Little Less”
Michael Ray
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.37 “Once” Maren Morris
Debut
No.41 “More Girls Like You” Kip Moore
Debut
No.46 “Every Time I Hear That Song” Blake
Shelton
Little Big
Town scored their second No.1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart
(dated March 4), as “Better Man” (Capitol Nashville; released October
20, 2016), written by Taylor Swift, pushed 2-1 in its 18th week. It increased
8% to 40.8 million audience impressions in the tracking week ending Feb.
19, according to Nielsen Music.
“So blown away by the reaction to this song,” LBT’s Karen Fairchild told
Billboard. “We’re popping the champagne right now. Thanks to our fans and
country radio for all the love and support. And thanks to Taylor Swift for
sending us this beautiful song.”
“Better Man” is the lead single from Little Big Town’s eighth studio
album, The Breaker, produced by Jay Joyce and due Friday (Feb. 24).
Little Big Town previously led Country Airplay with “Pontoon” for two
weeks beginning Sept. 15, 2012. Notably, “Girl Crush,” which ruled the Hot
Country Songs chart (the list blends airplay, sales and streaming) for 13-weeks
in
2015, peaked at No.3 on Country Airplay. “Better Man” topped Hot Country
Songs for two frames (Feb. 11 and 18).
“Better Man” is the first Country Airplay No. 1 by a single author since
Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind,” penned by Americana/country singer-songwriter
Lori McKenna, topped the list dated June 25, 2016. That ballad became the first
No.1 penned by one person in more than four years since Swift’s self-authored
“Ours” (March 31, 2012).
Country
Airplay
***
No. 1 (1 week) *** "Better Man” Little
Big Town 40.760 million audience (+3.113 million) / 7,770 radio plays (+523)
** Most
Increased Audience ** No.3 “Think A Little Less” Michael Ray 4.667 million audience gain
**
Most Added ** No.33 “The
Fighter” Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood (39 ADDS)
**
Hot Shot Debut ** No.48 “Every Time I Hear That Song” Blake Shelton
Debut
No.56 “More Girls Like You” Kip Moore
Debut
No.59 “Close” Ryan Kinder
Debut
No.60 “What Ifs” Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina
Billboard Country Digital
Singles Chart
Sam Hunt with “Body Like a Back Road” (MCA Nashville) held at No.1 on the Billboard Country Song Sales Chart .
On
the Digital Song Sales chart, it fell 4-6 five places behind the No.1 “Shape Of
You” by Ed Sheeran.
Keith Urban with “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville), leapt
25-2 shifting 45,000 downloads (up 370%) in their 7th frame (#9 Re-entry Digital Songs).
Little Big Town with “Better Man” slipped 2-3
(#30-31
Digital Songs)
whilst their award winning smash hit “Girl
Crush” rose 23-10 in its 87th
chart frame.
Maren Morris with “My Church” fuelled by her Grammy award and performance made a
re-entry at #4. (#33 Re-entry Digital
Songs) as her new single “Once”
arrived at #13.
Brett Young with “In Case You Didn’t Know” rose 6-5
(#42 Digital Songs) in his 20th frame.
Jon Pardi with “Dirt On My Boots”
fell 4-6 (#41-44 Digital
Songs) in his 21st week.
Keith Urban with “Blue Ain’t Your Color” fell 5-7
(#42-48 Digital Songs) in his 31st week.
Kelsea Ballerini with “Peter Pan” was a re-entry at #8
after performing the song at The Grammys. She sold another 15,000 downloads (up
292%).
Chris Young feat Vince Gill with
“Sober Saturday Night” re-entered at
#9.
Outside the Top 10
Zac Brown Band with “My Old Man” slipped back #2-12
in their second week.
Kip Moore with “More Girls Like You” made a debut at #14
Country Aircheck MEDIABASE
Chart
20
February 2017
Congrats
to Little Big Town, Royce Risser, Bobby Young, David Friedman and the Capitol promotion team on scoring this
week’s No.1 with “Better Man.” The song is the first
single from the band’s album The Breaker, out Friday 24 Feb.
The
song logged 8,381 radio spins (+550) and 57.269 million audience impressions with 25507 Total Points from 158 tracking
stations for the tracking week February 12 to February 18, 2017 and published
chart February 20th 2017.
And
kudos to Katie Bright and the WMN
staff on notching 48 adds for Blake Shelton’s “Every Time I Hear That Song”. The song topped the "Most Added" board this chart
week.
Billboard Boxscores (Selective Country
concerts)
Rank
Artist: #4
Event
Venue City/State: Eric Church, Sprint Center, Kansas
City, Mo.
Dates:
Jan. 31, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,044,361 Attend: 17,076/ 17,076
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$89, $27
Promoters:
Messina Touring
Group/AEG Live
Rank
Artist: #5
Event
Venue City/State: Eric Church, TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Dates:
Jan. 28, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,018,761 Attend: 16,697/ 16,697
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$89.50, $28.50
Promoters:
Messina Touring
Group/AEG Live
Rank
Artist: #25
Event
Venue City/State: Alan Jackson, Pensacola Bay Center,
Pensacola, Fla.
Dates:
Jan. 27, 2017 Gross Sales: $363,608 Attend: 6,031/ 6,031
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$99.50, $39.50
Promoters:
AEG Live
Rank
Artist: #34
Event
Venue City/State: Brantley Gilbert, Tucker
Beathard, Luke Combs, Brian Davis, Glens Falls Civic Center
Dates:
Feb. 16, 2017 Gross Sales: $180,376 Attend: 4,638 / 4,638
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$52, $34.75
Promoters:
Frank Productions/NS2/CMoore
Live
Rank
Artist: #35
Event
Venue City/State: Kenny Rogers, Linda Davis Broward
Center for the Performing Arts, Au-Rene Theater, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Dates:
Jan. 24, 2017 Gross Sales: $178,382 Attend: 2,400/ 2,526
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/0 Prices: $125, $45 Promoters: Broward Center
Rank
Artist: #36
Event
Venue City/State: Lee Brice & Justin Moore, William Michael Morgan Greensboro Coliseum,
Greensboro, N.C.
Dates:
Feb. 4, 2017 Gross Sales: $177,014 Attend: 4,514/ 5,809
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 Prices: $179, $26 Promoters: Police
Productions/Spectra Presents
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