Wednesday 30 August 2017

Chris Young invited to join The Grand Ole Opry

CHRIS YOUNG INVITED TO JOIN THE GRAND OLE OPRY

Country Music Hall of Fame and Opry member Vince Gill surprises the Grammy-nominated vocalist following a #1 party backstage for the pair’s single “Sober Saturday Night” 


FORMAL OPRY INDUCTION TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 17

CLICK to ENLARGE
L-R Brett Warren, Chris Young, Brad Warren, Vince Gill
Photo Credit: Chris Hollo / Grand Ole Opry

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (August 29, 2017) – Grammy nominated vocalist Chris Young was surprised during his Grand Ole Opry performance this evening by Country Music Hall of Fame and Opry member Vince Gill with an invitation to become an official Opry member. The invite came just prior to Young’s performance of their chart-topping duet “Sober Saturday Night.” Growing up in nearby Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Young dreamt of one day taking the stage at the Opry, making his debut on June 15, 2006. Another dream came true for the 32-year-old singer with tonight’s Opry invitation. Young’s formal induction will take place Tuesday, October 17, just days before the release of his 7th album, Losing Sleep. 




Joining Young on stage, Gill laughed that he’d never been paid for his work on the “Sober Saturday Night” session. “I’ll make you a deal,” Gill said. “I’ll forgive the session fees if you’ll be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Accepting the invitation to a standing ovation, Young answered Gill, saying, “You’re getting triple scale at this point!” Noting his surprise, he added, “Dang, you got me good! I love you guys. I love everybody here. I love this place.”

“As a friend and someone that’s been out here for 30 years, you will not believe the friendships, the relationships, and the heart that you will gain from being out here for the rest of your life,” Gill added. “It’s going to be really powerful to you, so congratulations.”

“Since making his Opry debut more than a decade ago, Chris Young has won legions of fans around the world and has earned the honest respect of his industry peers,” said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. “Both are evident every time Chris plays the Opry, as our audiences light up and his fellow artists watch from the wings. Chris has an incredible passion and love for the Opry; he lauds its past and is excited about its future. He continues to make significant contributions to country music and to his community, and we could not be more excited to officially welcome Chris to his musical home with his Opry induction in October.”


L-R Vince Gill, Chris Young Photo Credit: Chris Hollo / Grand Ole Opry





























Earlier in the evening, BMI songwriters Young, Gill, Brad and Brett Warren, were surrounded by music industry friends and supporters inside Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House to celebrate the chart-topping success of “Sober Saturday Night” from Young’s ACM Album of the Year nominated 5 th record, I’m Comin’ Over. Written by Young with The Warren Brothers, “Sober Saturday Night” marks the ninth #1 for Young as an artist. RCA Records Nashville also presented Young with an award for R.I.A.A. Platinum certification of his acclaimed album Neon and plaques for R.I.A.A. certified singles “Think Of You” (Platinum) and “Sober Saturday Night” (Gold), bringing his total tally to 16 Gold and Platinum certifications.

About Chris Young: After earning multiple ACM, BBMA, CMA, CMT, Grammy and RDMA nominations and scoring three consecutive chart-topping singles – including his ninth No. 1 “Sober Saturday Night” with Vince Gill – from his “excellent” ( New York Times) album I’m Comin’ Over, Chris Young continues to set the bar even higher with the release of his brand new single, “Losing Sleep,” which amassed more than 1.25 Million on-demand streams in its first week of release. With six albums to his credit, including 2016’s It Must Be Christmas and 2015’s Gold-certified studio album, I’m Comin’ Over, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, Chris continues to reach new heights with his hotly anticipated seventh album — Losing Sleep — due October 20, 2017. Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, the upcoming record will be the RCA Records artist’s third project in less than two years. An international ambassador for country music, Chris performs to packed houses around the world including his recent appearance at the sold-out C2C Festival in the UK. With a hit-packed set that highlights his nine chart-toppers — including “Gettin’ You Home,” “Voices,” “Tomorrow,” “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Think Of You,” — and sixteen Gold/Platinum certified projects, Chris has joined reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean as special guest on his They Don’t Know Tour through October before resuming his own headlining dates later this year.
For a full list of tour dates and more information:

CONNECT with Chris Young:
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About The Grand Ole Opry: 
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through December 12 and Wednesday shows returning for a fall run September 13. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).  For more information, visit opry.com.


Ashton Lane confirm new single and European Tour Dates

ASHTON LANE CONFIRM OCTOBER RELEASE FOR
 NEW SINGLE & EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

The country duo's latest track 'Breathe You In' will be released on October 27th






















Glasgow-based country duo Ashton Lane have confirmed the release of their latest single ‘Breathe You In’, out on 27th October 2017, and a run of European tour dates starting with Millport Country Festival this weekend. Co-written by the duo - Esther & Tim O'Connor - with James Duffin & Jacqueline Tessier, the new song tells of a longing to get out of our busy cities and lives, head for the hills and those wide open spaces where we can breathe a little deeper... In the words of lead singer Esther O'Connor: "I love living in Scotland. Tim and I are based in the heart of the city yet a short road trip north of Glasgow and we’re in the expanse of lochs, mountains, rivers and forest. Crunching along a pebble beach with the wind stinging my face reminds me I’m alive and it’s good to be!”


Breathe You In’ was promoted on the August 2017 #224 Hotdisc and has to date climbed to #14 on the European Hotdisc Top 40 (chart dated Aug 27, 2017)





































The band have enjoyed a great summer festival season, from small rural events like Fynefest in the Scottish highlands and country music weekend Buckle and Boots, to the Hard Rock stage at this year's Isle of Wight. Now gearing up to play the forthcoming Millport Country festival alongside The Shires, Ward Thomas and Mark Chesnutt, before heading to Austria and Bavaria later in the year. Esther said "We travel with the whole family, hire a splitter and cover a lot of miles in 3 weeks on the road. Over the last couple of years we have gigged and road tripped around Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Germany. All stunning places to visit as we play and share our music.”
'Breathe You In' will be released on 27th October, with a video & pre-order link coming soon.

Tickets are available now for all tour dates:
3rd September 2017 - Millport Country Festival, Millport (UK)
Fri 13th October 2017 -
Falkirk Trinity Church, Manse Place, Falkirk FK1 1JN (UK) with The Smart Set.
Fri 20th October 2017 - Murrayfield UF Church, Stirling (65 Main St, Bannockburn, FK7 8LX) (UK)
Sat 4th November 2017 - Broomhill Bistro, Glasgow G11 7BN (UK)

17th November 2017 - Kulturfabrik, Kufstein (Austria)
18th November 2017 - Kunst and Kulturhaus, Oblarn (Austria)
21st November 2017 - Eremitage Kultur Restaurant, Schwaz (Austria)
22nd November 2017 - Sudpunkt, Nurnburg (Germany)
23rd November 2017 - Café Gramsci, Dachau (Germany)
24th November 2017 - Spiegelsaal, Königsbrunn (Germany)
25th November 2017 - Kulturkneipe Hirsch, Metzingen/Glems (Germany)
29th November 2017 - Kulturverein Reigen, Vienna (Austria)
30th November 2017 - Schutzhaus, Vienna (Austria)
1st December 2017 - Gasthaus & Kleinkunstbühne Beim John, Obing (Germany)
2nd December 2017 - Freiraum, Uebersee (Germany)


“A force to be reckoned with” - Maverick Magazine (5 STARS)

“To say this is an excellent album from Ashton Lane is an understatement” – Up Country

"It's clear from the title track that you are listening to something special... " - Sunday Express

“Lady Antebellum are Nashville’s answer to Ashton Lane if you want my opinion” - Baylen Leonard (Chris Coutry/ Radio 2 Country)

ABOUT ASHTON LANE:
Ashton Lane, husband and wife duo Esther and Tim O’Connor, are part of a new wave of homegrown, modern Country/Americana music in the UK.

Having debuted at Country to Country (C2C) London in 2016 and nominated both for best duo and best song at the BCMA (British Country Music Association) Awards, a successful festival season so far this year included an appearance at the legendary Isle of Wight festival in June this year, on the Hard Rock stage.  The last year has also seen Ashton Lane, with the addition of guitarist Graeme Duffin (co-writer/producer), extending their popularity across Europe, touring in Finland, Denmark and North Germany with further shows scheduled for Bavaria and Austria in the autumn, as well as receiving another BCMA nomination this year for best duo.

Breathe You In’ - the first of three singles planned for release in the coming months - will be supported by the band’s extensive autumn/winter touring schedule, kicking off with a full band performance at the Millport Country Festival alongside The Shires and Mark Chestnutt, before a run of shows across the UK.

Ashton Lane's most recent album, NASHVILLE HEART was offered directly to fans, and has received 5 star reviews and radio support across the UK and Europe.  They are also currently showcasing new material on their highly popular ‘Kitchen Sessions’ (over 1.6 million views and counting), much of which will be destined for their forthcoming album in 2018.  An already strong online presence is continuing to gather worldwide support for this independent, creative Scotland-based duo.

CONNECT with Ashton Lane:
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Monday 28 August 2017

New music from Casey Donahew, coming to the UK in October

Burleson, Texas Country singer-songwriter Casey Donahew 
has gone from strength to strength
New single 'Kiss Me'.
Coming to the UK for the first time in October to play the Texas Music Takeover Festival in London between Oct 9-16th

ABOUT CASEY DONAHEW:
In just over ten years, Casey Donahew has risen from being a favorite on the local Texas music scene to a nationally popular touring act who has racked up thirteen #1 singles and consistently sells out venues across the USA. Donahew has released four independent albums to critical and commercial acclaim. His 2011 release, 'Double Wide Dream', spawned three #1 singles; the title track, 'Double Wide Dream', 'Let’s Not Say Goodbye Again' and 'One Star Flag'. Casey’s last album 'Standoff', quickly topped the iTunes Country Chart at #1 upon its release, and yielded five #1 radio singles; 'Whiskey Baby', 'Small Town Love', 'Lovin’ Out of Control' - Donahew’s fastest rising single to date - 'Not Ready To Say Goodnight' and 'Loser'.

His most recent #1 single 'Feels This Right' (
Almost Country Entertainment; sent to radio March 7, 2016) from his EP release ' Pre-Party', marks his latest Texas radio hit. Donahew released his most recent studio album ' All Night Party' in 2016 and it immediately rocketed to #3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, #13 on the Top Album Sales Chart and Top Current Album Sales Chart and #40 on the Billboard 200 Chart (dated Sept 3, 2016; 11,452 copies sold), along with a #3 position on the Independent Albums chart.
Donahew worked with acclaimed producer Josh Leo (Love & Theft, Timothy B. Schmit and Alabama, among others) on this latest project, marking the first time he has engaged an outside producer. Leo has performed on over 150 records, produced twenty-one #1 singles on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, written six singles that reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart, and has won 6 BMI Millionaire awards. 

Published on Aug 19, 2016 "Kiss Me" from the All Night Party Album.



'Kiss Me' (writers Casey Donahew, John Newsome), the lead single from 'All Night Party' is at radio worldwide now, and Casey is due to perform in London for the first time as part of the Texas Music Takeover, between October 9th - 16th 2017.

CONNECT with Casey Donahew:
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Country Billboard Chart News August 21, 2017

Country Billboard Chart News August 21, 2017

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (2 non-consecutive weeks) THIS ONE’S FOR YOU Luke Combs
Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (28 weeks) ** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt
Country Airplay ** No.1 (1 week) “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore
Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (28 non-consecutive weeks) ** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)

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

Kesha claimed her second No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as her new effort, RAINBOW, bowed atop the list. The set, which was released on Aug. 11 through Kemosabe/RCA Records, earned 116,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 17, according to Nielsen Music.
Of that sum, 89,614 were in traditional album sales. Rainbow scored the second-largest week for an album by a woman in 2017 in terms of both units and sales. Only Katy Perry's Witness logged a bigger frame among women, when it launched with 180,000 units and 162,000 in sales (July 1). Rainbow's sales bow of 89,000 was aided in part by a concert ticket/album bundle sale redemption promotion with Kesha's upcoming tour.

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)
Top Country Albums now ranks the most popular country albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA)).
10 digital track sales from an album = 1 track equivalent album (TEA) “sale”
1,500 on demand song streams from an album to one streaming equivalent album (SEA) “sale”.
Nielsen Music compiles the sales and streaming data. Billboard continues to publish pure album sales charts (subscription to billboard biz ), exclusively comprising Nielsen’s sales data.

Based on multi-metric album consumption in its 11th week, Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/ Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) led Billboard Top Country Albums for a second frame (3-1, #40-36; Billboard 200; 13,000 equivalent album units, up 9%; selling 4,985 copies (up 9%; 11-week total 89,572).). The title first reigned upon its June 24 debut.

Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) held at #2 (36-38 Billboard 200) selling 5,649 copies (down 14%, 120-week total 2,042,150). Stapleton’s From a Room: Volume 1 (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) fell 5-6 (45-48 BB200) selling 7,471 copies (down 10%; 15-week total 490,100).

In his second frame Brett Eldredge with his self-titled (Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville) fell 1-3 (2-39 BB200) selling 7,319 copies (down 80%; 2-week total 43,514).

Lindsay Ell with her debut full-length, THE PROJECT (Stoney Creek/Broken Bow Music Group) made a debut No.4 on Top Country Albums (#40 BB200). It also topped the Country Albums Sales chart at No.1 selling 10,252 copies.  
Produced by Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), the set started with 11,000 units in the week ending Aug. 17.
I must say that when I hear that news, it’s just kind of surreal,” Ell told Billboard from a stop on Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior Tour in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Ell is a native of Calgary, Alberta.) “I worked on the album for a long time. Plus, I have been on the road, and we even did a grass-roots tour of sorts, visiting several radio stations during the release week, so stopping for a second and celebrating the news is really gratifying.”
“I'm a firm believer good things happen to good people, and today is the epitome of that," said BBR MUSIC GROUP EVP Jon Loba. "Lindsay Ell has worked long and hard for this moment and we are so happy for her. She is a special person, and it's so gratifying to see this album receiving the accolades it deserves."

The Project’s Top Country Albums start is the highest for a female artist’s debut entry since June 10, when Lauren Duski’s The Voice: The Complete Season 12 Collection also bowed at No. 4 (19,000 sales). Before Duski, RaeLynn’s rookie set, Wildhorse, galloped in at No. 1 on the April 15 chart (20,000 units; 16,447 in pure sales).
The lead single from The Project, “Waiting on You,” which Ell co-wrote (as well as another eight of the album’s 12 songs), pushed 52-50 for a new Country Airplay peak (although it’s down 6% to 1.6 million).

Critical reception for Lindsay Ell’s Worth the Wait:
6 Tracks/ Time: 21:40 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Sounds Like Nashville (Rating: Positive) ..The 28-year-old artist explores matters of the heart throughout the track list. The title track, “Worth the Wait,” is a song of vulnerable desperation. Her voice comes through as raw, adding to the lyrics’ impact.
Ell wraps the project up with her rendition of Mayer’s “Stop This Train.” Her version has a slower tempo, but maintains the same sentiment of wishing everything wouldn’t go by so fast.
Worth the Wait shows off Ell’s talent in all capacities, as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. With this release, she now has us on the edge of our seats waiting for her first full-length album.

Keith Urban with RIPCORD (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville) rose 8-7 (#57-52 BB200) selling 3,602 copies (67-week total 642,900).

Brett Young with self-titled debut (BMLG) rose 9-8 (#59-53 BB200) selling 3,609 copies (up 6%; 27-week total 121,500).

Florida Georgia Line with DIG YOUR ROOTS (BMLG) rose 10-9 (#60-61 BB200) selling 1,564 copies (down 8%; 51-week total 416,000).
Kane Brown with self-titled KANE BROWN (Zone 4/RCA Nashville) climbed 12-10 (#74-62 BB200) selling 2,610 copies (37
-week total 181,300).

Outside the Top 10
Jon Pardi with CALIFORNIA SUNRISE held at #11 (66-65 BB200) selling 1,754 copies (down 11%; 61-week total 173,250).
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), rose 15-13 (112-92 Billboard 200) selling 4,332 copies (up 2%; 10-week total 117,716).
The late Glen Campbell’s farewell studio set, ADIOS, rose 20-14 with 6,461 copies sold (up 26%). It was 4th best country seller.

Miranda Lambert with THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS (Vanner/ RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) fell 19-21 (132-133 BB200) selling 2,285 copies (up 4%; 39-week total 381,000).
Various Artists with Now That's What I Call Country Volume 10 (Universal Music Group) fell 18-23 (#122-140 Billboard 200) selling 5,300 copies (down 12%; 10-week total 87,616).

FALLING SHORT of Top 50:
On the Country Album Sales list (pure sales; old methodology)

Will Hoge with Anchors (EDLO Records) made a debut at #23 selling 1,911 copies.
Critical reception for Will Hoge’s Anchors:
11 Tracks/ Time: 38:42 Folk Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Music News (Rating: 4 STARS) ..Although the album leans predominantly towards the melancholic ballad, the rocker within has not been lost in the equation. At it's most compelling are two songs at opposing ends of the spectrum. The absolutely epic closer Young As We Will Ever Be is an anthem for all ages. This is one you will sing out loud and proud at the next Will Hoge concert you attend. Little Bit Of Rust, a duet with Sheryl Crow, is a stunning dissection of a marriage gone stale for a couple determined to make it last....

Nashville Cast with the 17 track The Music of Nashville Season 5 Vol 3 (Lions Gate/ Big Machine Records; Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com) set made a debut at No.26 selling just 1,600 copies.
The album includes "Good Rain Or Jesus," "Clockwork," "Stand Up," and many more songs from the show.
The 17-track disc marks the first ever third volume in the history of the series. Featuring fan-favorites, each song reflects the personal and artistic growth of each beloved character viewers continue to embrace.
Since “Nashville” debuted in 2012, Big Machine Records has released 11 soundtracks as viewers created an unwavering community around the cast’s musical journey. More than one million albums and five million single track downloads have been sold with over 200 million streams to date.
The Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 1 released Dec 11, 2012 debuted at #4 on Billboard Top Country Album chart (#14 Billboard 200) selling 55,896 copies,
The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 2 released May 7, 2013 debuted at #5 Country (#13 Billboard 200) selling 27,199 copies.
The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1 released Dec 10, 2013 debuted at #7 Country (#34 Billboard 200) selling 17,621 copies
The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 2 released on May 6, 2014, debuted at #4 Country (#13 Billboard 200) selling 16,626 copies.
The Nashville Season 3, Volume 1 Official Soundtrack released Dec 9, 2014; debuted at #10 Country (#75 Billboard 200) selling 11,000 copies.
Nashville: On The Record, Volume 2 released April 11, 2015, debuted at #3 Country (#31 Billboard 200) selling 12,600 copies.
Nashville: The Music Of, Season 3, Volume 2; released May 12, 2015, debuted at #3 Country (#28 Billboard 200) selling 12,220 copies.
The Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 1 was released on Dec 4, 2015

The Music Of Nashville, Season 4: Volume 2; released May 13, 2016, debuted at #12 Country (#165 Billboard 200) selling 3,700 copies.
The Music Of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 1 Soundtrack (Lions Gate/ABC Studios/Big Machine | BMLG) made a debut at #12 Country (#65 BB200) selling 5,149 copies.
The Music of Nashville: Season 5, Volume 2, released June 1, 2017 and didn’t chart.

(11 Aug 2017) Alex Williams with BETTER THAN MYSELF (Big Machine Records) made a debut at #43 selling 800 copies. 
Williams debut was produced by Julian Raymond (Jennifer Nettles, Justin Moore, Glen Campbell), its basic tracks recorded live on the studio floor in two days. He wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs, with titles including “Old Tattoo,” “Freak Flag” and “Hellbent Hallelujah.”
Critical reception for Alex Williams’ Better Than Myself:
12 Tracks/ Time: 48:53 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

Roughstock (Rating; Very Positive) If you're looking for real, genuine country music, you've
found it. "Better Than Myself" is one of 2017's best releases, if not THE best....It’s a post-Sturgill, Post-Stapleton and Post-Isbell era we’re living in where artists who bring the traditions from country music’s past back to the present. That’s exactly what Alex Williams does on Better Than Myself, his sterling 12 track collection of songs released via Big Machine Records and produced by Julian Raymond.....The title track is a sly slice of writing that recalls Willie Nelson, especially with the balance of acoustic guitars, Mickey Raphael-assisted harmonica and lyrics about a reckless, ramblin’ journeyman who is self-aware to know that his music is good but he will also ignore the haters who try to bring him down in the process....Alex Williams is an artist who is right up there with Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton is letting their individualist yet reverential brand of country music “Freak Flag” fly.

Year-To-Date Albums
12,590,000 (Physical sales 8,423,000 (down -14.3%) + Digital sales 4,167,000 (down -20.1%) which is 16.3% down at the same point in 2016 (15,043,000 sales) 

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks

45,151,000 down 23.8% at the same point in 2016 (59,216,000)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)
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 with “Body Like a Back Road(MCA Nashville) continued its record march at No.1 on Hot Country Songs, extending its reign to 28 weeks. It also paced Country Digital Songs for a record-lengthening 28th week (36,000 sold, down 4%) and Country Streaming Songs, also for its 28th week (15 million, down 4%). Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” — which “Road” bested for the all-time No.1 longevity mark on Hot Country Songs (24 weeks; 2012-2013) — holds the streaming chart’s mark with 33 weeks at No. 1. In addition, “Body” ruled Country Airplay for three weeks, starting on the May 6 list. Now off the tally, it drew 33 million in audience in the latest tracking week and has ranked as the most-heard country radio recurrent in each of its four weeks since ending its run on that chart.

Hot County Songs
** No.1 (28 weeks) ** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt
** Airplay Gainer” No. 5 “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart” Old Dominion
** Streaming Gainer ** No.12 “When It Rains It Pours” Luke Combs
** Digital Gainer ** No. 21 “Fix A Drink” Chris Janson
** Hot Shot Debut ** No. 24 “Sixteen” Thomas Rhett
Debut No.31 “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone” Dustin Lynch
Debut No.32 “Unapologetically” Kelsea Ballerini
Debut No.42 “Fly” Annie LeBlanc

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)

In its 43rd week on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, Justin Moore with “Somebody Else Will” (Valory) ascended 2-1, up by 8% to 43.6 million audience impressions in the week ending Aug. 20, according to Nielsen Music.






































Somebody,” written by Kelly Archer, Adam Hambrick and Tebey Ottoh, marked the sixth Country Airplay leader for Moore, among nine top 10s. “First and foremost, I’m beyond thrilled and excited about this song being my sixth No. 1,” Moore told Billboard. “Secondly, it reminds me of all of the great moments I’ve been able to experience over the past 10 years.”
“Somebody” is the second single and second No.1 from Moore’s fourth studio full-length, KINDA DON’T CARE. The set’s lead track, “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” topped the Country Airplay chart dated Oct. 8, 2016. Moore first reached the list’s pinnacle with his second charted single, “Small Town USA,” on the Oct.3, 2009, list.
Concurrently, “Somebody” lifts into the top 10 (12-9) on Billboard’s multimetric Hot Country Songs chart where it’s Moore’s seventh top 10.
In addition to its airplay increase, “Somebody” rose 5% to 5,000 downloads sold and 2% to 3.5 million U.S. streams.

Country Airplay
*** No.1 (1 week) *** “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore 43.559 million audience (+3.242 million) / 7,801 radio plays (+286)
** Most Increased Audience ** No.2 “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart” Old Dominion +3.988 million audience gain
** Most Added ** No. 33 “Smooth” Florida Georgia Line (34 ADDS)
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.53 “Roots” Zac Brown Band
Debut No.58 “When Someone Stops Loving You” Little Big Town
Debut No.60 “Love In A Bar” Ryan Hurd

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart 
(Chart issue week of September 2, 2017)

Sam Hunt with Body Like a Back Road” (MCA Nashville) held at No.1 (#8 non-mover Digital Songs; 36,000 sales; down 4%; 29-week total 1,544,000) leading the chart for a record-lengthening 28th week.
It was seven places behind Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber with "Despacito" which extended its record domination on the Digital Song Sales chart to 16 weeks at No.1, with 83,000 downloads sold (up 2%) in the week ending Aug. 17, according to Nielsen Music.

Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina with “What If’s” held at #2 (#21-19 Digital Songs; 14-week total 257,000).
Dustin Lynch with “Small Town Boy rose held at #3 (#29-22 Digital Songs; 19,000 sales; 25-week total 312,000). Dustin also debuted at #4 (#28 NE Digital Songs) with “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone”.
Kelsea Ballerini with "Unapologetically" the title cut from her second full-length, due Nov. 3, debuted at No.5 on Country Digital Song Sales (#32 NE Digital Songs), selling 16,000 first week downloads. On Hot Country Songs, it opened at No.32. Ballerini joined Thomas Rhett to co-host CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock on ABC (Aug. 16).  

Thomas Rhett with “Sixteen” (Valory) made a debut at #6 (#35 NE Digital Songs; 15,000 sales)
Luke Combs with “When It Rains It Pours” (River House | Columbia Nashville) rose 8-7(#43-38 Digital Songs; 15,000 sales; 6-week total 88,000).
Brett Young with “In Case You Didn’t Know” fell 6-8 (#4-41 Digital Songs; 14,000 sales; 46-week total 863,000)
Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris with “Craving You” held at #9 (#46-43 Digital Songs; 14,000 sales; 20-week total 342,000) as Rhett’s “Unforgettable” (Valory) fell 5-10 (#39-46 Digital Songs; 13,000 sales; 3-week total 54,000) in his third frame.

Outside the Top 10
Midland with “Drinkin’ Problem” fell 4-11 (#38-48 Digital Songs; 12,000 sales; 18-week total 268,000).
Brothers Osborne with “It Ain't My Fault” (EMI Nashville) rose 16-12 in their 14th frame (12,000 sales; 14-week total 251,800).
Chris Janson with “Fix A Drink” (Warner Bros. | WAR) re-entered the chart for a second frame at #13. (12,000 sales; total 90,000)
Jon Pardi with “Heartache On The Dance Floor” (Capitol Nashville) fell 7-14.
Eric Church with “Round Here Buzz” (EMI Nashville) was a new entry at #21 selling 8,000 copies.
Annie LeBlanc the singer/ gymnast/ dancer wannabe with her cover of Maddie & Tae's "Fly" made a debut at #24 selling 7,000 copies.

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

21 Aug 2017

Congrats to Justin Moore, George Briner, Ashley Sidoti and the Valory staff on securing the week’s No.1 with “Somebody Else Will.” The song is the second chart-topper from KINDA DON’T CARE following “You Look Like I Need A Drink.” Writers are Kelly Archer, Adam Hambrick and Tebey Ottoh.



















"Somebody Else Will.” (Valory) logged 8,590 radio spins (+525) and 55.753 million audience impressions (+3.837 million) with 25036 Total Points from 159 tracking stations for the tracking week August 13 August to August 19, 2017 and published chart August 21st 2017.

Kudos to Matthew Hargis and the BMLG Records team for notching 32 adds on Florida Georgia Line’s Smooth”. The song topped the "Most Added" board for a second chart week.

Florida Georgia Line Celebrates Being Most-Added For Second Consecutive Week
Pictured L-R: BMLG Executive Asst. Andrew Thoen; BMLG Records Coord./Promotion Leah Fischer, Dir./Southwest Promotion Lauren Longbine, Dir./National Promotion Michelle Kammerer, and SVP/Promotion Matthew Hargis

Mediabase Adds (Selective)

Artist/Title (Label)                                                                      TW         Total Historic Adds
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Smooth (BMLGR)                              32          104      
CHASE BRYANT/Hell If I Know (Red Bow)                                 29          31        
RASCAL FLATTS/Back To Us (Big Machine)                              26          29        
BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)                   23          35        
DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)                                21          98        
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River)                                18          113      
LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista)                                            17          154      
CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow)              10          54        
LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours (River House/Columbia)  10          155      
ZAC BROWN BAND/Roots (SouthernGrnd/Elektra/WAR            10          62        
LINDSAY ELL/Waiting On You (Stoney Creek)                             2           56        
ALEXANDRA DEMETREE/Outta My Head (SSM/Star Farm)      1            7         
DANIELLE BRADBERY/Sway (BMLGR)                                      1            7

Year To Date Charts: Down The Stretch
As Mediabase make the turn for home in this year’s chart races, here’s how Country radio airplay stacked up as measured by the top songs, top artists and top labels at the three-quarter pole of the chart year.
Tim McGraw leads the Top 10 artists, garnering the most airplay points for the first three-quarters of the 2017 chart year. He leads Blake Shelton by a nose.
Trailing Blake, the rest of the field has Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Brett Young, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi and Dustin Lynch.
While the Top 10 is led by an artist who had his first hit some 23 years ago, four of those 10 – Lynch, Pardi, Rhett, and Young – have been on the national scene five or fewer years.
The second-place non-solo male act is Old Dominion, at No. 12.
Women aren’t faring too well thus far, with Lauren Alaina coming in at 20 and Kelsea Ballerini at 22.
The Hits: Jon Pardi’s Dirt On My Boots” has posted more airplay points than any other song at this point in the chart year and has a narrow lead on Blake Shelton’s A Guy With A Girl.” Rounding out the Top 10 are Sam Hunt’s Body Like A Back Road,” Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw’s May We All,” Michael Ray’s Think A Little Less,” Brett Eldredge’s Wanna Be That Song,” Little Big Town’s Better Man,” Luke Combs’ “Hurricane,” Lauren Alaina’s Road Less Traveled,” and Dustin Lynch’s Seein’ Red.”

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 564 - Aug 21, 2017 [PDF File] Magazine View
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: #17
Event Venue City/State: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Andra Day Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn.
Dates: Aug. 4-5, 2017 Gross Sales: $2,231,533 Attend: 28,357/   28,357
Shows/ Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $119.50, $89.50, $69.50
Promoters: Messina Touring Group/AEG Presents

Rank Artist: #30
Event Venue City/State: Jimmy Buffett MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre Tampa, Fla
Dates: June 3, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,163,836 Attend: 18,752/ 19,347
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (595 unsold tickets) Prices: $128, $28
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #41
Event Venue City/State: Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Kane Brown, Dee Jay Silver Klipsch Music Center Noblesville, Ind.
Dates: July 15, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,055,253 Attend: 24,563/ 24,563
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $72.75, $31.75
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #76 Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, Chris Janson Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix, Ariz.
Event Venue City/State:
Dates: Aug. 19, 2017 Gross Sales: $693,162 Attend: 19,330/       19,330
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $60.25, $26
Promoters: Live Nation 

Rank Artist: #89
Event Venue City/State: Zac Brown Band, Darrell Scott DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, Mich.
Dates: June 8, 2017 Gross Sales: $610,426 Attend: 14,926/ 15,169
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (243 unsold tickets) Prices: $81.75, $32.75
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #291
Event Venue City/State: Sunny Sweeney, Dan Adams Band Stubb's Bar-B-Q/Waller Creek Amphitheatre Austin, Texas
Dates: Aug. 19, 2017 Gross Sales: $2,628 Attend: 204/ 250
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (46 unsold tickets) Prices: $15, $12
Promoters: C3 Presents

Rank Artist: #314
Event Venue City/State: Lillie Mae Rough Trade NYC New York, N.Y.
Dates: June 27, 2017 Gross Sales: $970 Attend: 97/150
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (53 unsold tickets) Prices: $10
Promoters: The Bowery Presents

Rank Artist: #315
Event Venue City/State: Andrew Combs Rough Trade NYC New York, N.Y.
Dates: April 6, 2017 Gross Sales: $892 Attend: 86 /150
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (64 unsold tickets) Prices: $12, $10
Promoters: The Bowery Presents
Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart