Thursday 23 November 2017

Country Billboard Chart News November 13, 2017

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of November 25, 2017)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (1 week) ** TEXOMA SHORE Blake Shelton
Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (1 week) ** “When It Rains It Pours” Luke Combs
Country Airplay ** No.1 (1 week) ** "Every Little Thing” Carly Pearce
Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (1 week) “Female” Keith Urban

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of November 25, 2017)

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

Sam Smith's 'The Thrill of It All' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart
Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini and Kid Rock debut in top 10.



Sam Smith scored his first No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as THE THRILL OF IT ALL made a debut atop the list.
The set earned 237,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Nov. 9, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 184,711 were in traditional album sales (his best sales week). The album is Smith’s second full-length studio effort, and was released on Nov. 3 through Capitol Records. It follows his debut studio set, IN THE LONELY HOUR, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the July 5, 2014-dated chart (166,000 copies sold; total to date of 2.4 million copies.)
The Thrill of It All’s starting unit sum of 237,000 is the seventh largest bow for an album in 2017, and the third biggest for a pop album. Among pop album debuts this year, it trails only Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide) (451,000 units on the March 25-dated chart) and P!nk’s Beautiful Trauma (408,000; Nov. 4). The largest debut of the year among all genres belongs to Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., with 603,000 units (May 6). Following Lamar: Drake’s More Life (505,000; April 8), Sheeran, P!nk, JAY-Z’s 4:44 (262,000; July 29), Logic’s Everybody (247,000; May 27) and Smith.

Blake Shelton arrived at No.4 with his latest album, TEXOMA SHORE, starting with 63,000 units (54,937 in traditional album sales). It’s Shelton’s 11th top 10 album, stretching back to 2003’s The Dreamer, which debuted and peaked at No. 8.
This year marks Shelton’s eighth consecutive year where he’s debuted at least one new album on the chart. Before Texoma Shore, he hit the chart with IF I’M HONEST (No.3, 2016), RELOADED: 20 #1 HITS (No. 5, 2015), BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE (No. 1, 2014), Based on a TRUE STORY (No. 3, 2013), CHEERS, IT’S CHRISTMAS (No. 8, 2012), RED RIVER BLUE (No. 1, 2011) and a trio of titles in 2010: LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton (which peaked at No. 11 in 2011), ALL ABOUT TONIGHT (No. 6, 2010), and HILLBILLY BONE (No. 3, 2010).

Kenny Chesney with LIVE IN NO SHOES NATION fell from No.1 to No. 6 in its second week, earning 52,000 units (down 76%). It also fell 76% in traditional album sales (sliding to 51,000 sold).

Kelsea Ballerini bagged her first top 10 album, as her second studio effort, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, debuted at No. 7 (44,000 units, 34,856 in traditional album sales). It followed her first album, the appropriately titled THE FIRST TIME, which debuted and peaked at No.31 in 2015 (13,465 copies; #31 Billboard 200/ #22 Top Albums Sales/ #4 Country).
Ballerini is only the fourth female country act to reach the top 10 in 2017. She follows: Shania Twain (Now, No. 1, Oct. 21-dated chart), Alison Krauss (Windy City, No. 9, March 11) and Reba McEntire (Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, No. 4, Feb. 25).

Kid Rock nabbed his ninth top 10 album with the No.8 debut of SWEET SOUTHERN SUGAR (43,000 units; 40,794 in traditional album sales). It followed Kid Rock’s 2015 effort First Kiss, which launched with 146,000 units (137,000 in traditional album sales).

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of November 18, 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.

Blake Shelton earns his sixth Top Country Albums No.1 (#4 Billboard 200), all of which have debuted at the summit, as TEXOMA SHORE (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) arrived atop the chart dated Nov. 25, earning 63,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Nov. 9, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 54,937 were in traditional album sales.


CHART HISTORY
His self-titled BLAKE SHELTON released July 31, 2001 made a #45 Billboard 200 debut (#3 Country) but went on to be certified PLATINUM by Feb 6, 2014 nearly 13 years later.

BARN AND GRILL released Oct 26, 2004 landed at #20 on the BB200 (#3 Country) and was certified GOLD by May 31, 2005.

Pure BS released May 1, 2007 made a debut the chart week of chart week May 19, 2007 selling 48,494 copies #8 BB200 (#2 Country) then 20,801 the following week (69,391 after 2 weeks) and was certified GOLD by March 5, 2009.
RED RIVER BLUE (Warner Bros. Nashville | WMN) released July 12, 2011 made a No.1 debut the chart week of July 30, 2011 selling 116,402 copies.  
BASED ON A TRUE STORY...released March 26, 2013 made a debut the chart week of April 13, 2013 selling 199,086 copies.
BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE released by Warner Bros. Nashville Records on Sept. 30, 2013 sold 100,544 copies in the week ending Oct. 5, 2013 earning Shelton his second No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart (BB200).
Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits, released October 23, 2015 made a debut at No.5 on the Billboard 200 and #2 Country with 40,000 equivalent-album units (32,749 in pure album sales)
RELOADED was Shelton’s second greatest hits album, following LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton (released November 9, 2010), which debuted at No.24 (22,893 sales chart dated Nov 27, 2010) and peaked at No.8 on the Billboard 200 and #4 Top Country Albums in 2011.
IF I’M HONEST (released: May 20, 2016) launched at No.1 on Top Country Albums and No.3 on the Billboard 200 (June 11, 2016; 170,000 units, with 153,030 in traditional sales).

Blake Shelton - TEXOMA SHORE (Warner Bros.) released 3 Nov 2017, was named for Lake Texoma, the Oklahoma native’s 11th studio album was produced by Scott Hendricks and features lead single “I’ll Name The Dogs,” plus cuts by Ben Hayslip, Josh Osborne, Craig Wiseman, Dallas Davidson, Ross Copperman, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley and more.
"Lake Texoma has always been a place of great memories, new and old," said SHELTON of the album's title. "I literally recorded this album on its shore, so it's full-circle for me to take the love of this place and my love of Country music. When you listen to the record, it will go from something traditional, to something that will make your head spin back, to something even more traditional. That's just what you can expect from my albums. At this point in my career, it's always good for me to try something different, with different sounds, and I think that you'll hear hints of that on this record. I've explored just about every part of Country music you can explore, and it seems like I always keep coming back to my roots, which is traditional Country music. I love great songs, and there are so many talented writers in NASHVILLE, but I do have a song on the album that I wrote, and I'm very proud of it."

Promoting the album Warner Bros./WMN's Blake Shelton appeared on NBC-TV's "Late Night With Seth Meyers" Weds (Nov 1) to chat with Meyers about filming Season 13 of NBC-TV's "The Voice," as well as duetting with Kelly Clarkson. Shelton also shared the writing process behind "Texoma Shore" and spilled that he wrote one of the tracks for girlfriend Gwen Stefani. Watch those clips here and here, respectively. In addition, SHELTON capped the night off with a performance of "Turnin' Me On".
Shelton appeared on ABC-TV's "Live With KELLY And RYAN" Friday morning (Nov 3) to celebrate the release of his album.  SHELTON discussed his coaching style for NBC-TV's "The Voice" here, shared stories about participating in pageants as a child here, talked about someone crashing a car into his lake house here, and detailed his home life and fishing with girlfriend Gwen Stefani here. He also performed his current single, "I'll Name The Dogs." Check out his full performance here.

Critical reception for Blake Shelton’s Texoma Shore:
11 Tracks/ Time: 38:23 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Saving Country Music (Rating: 1 1/4 Guns Up (6/10) ...Texoma Shore suits the same people who watch The Voice, which is 40-somethings, like Shelton. It’s divorcee country. Piggy backing off his high-profile relationship with that girl from No Doubt, Shelton sells some of the better cuts from this record like “Why Me” and “The Wave” with passion, while the first song and single “I’ll Name The Dogs,” and the last song “I Lived It” show off his aw shucks country side that makes him endearing to many. The melody of “Got The T-Shirt” is devilishly good....Blake Shelton’s Texoma Shore does not come recommended by Saving Country Music. Shelton and crew still leave much to be desired, and still give ample reason
for the sheer sound of his name to anger the blood. But if you put all of your predisposed dispositions aside (as well as the song “Money”), and be honest with yourself, it’s pretty clear that Blake Shelton is not part of the big problem with country music today. He may not be part of the solution, but if most any given song from Texoma Shore comes on the radio when you’re driving with your in-laws to Chili’s, or forced to sit in a cubicle next to a pop country fan, it won’t give you a reason to wince. At least it won’t if you’re being honest with yourself and reacting to the song, and not the name. And that’s an improvement for Shelton, and for country music in general, that is only fair to recognize.

Roughstock (Rating: Positive) …18 Months after “If I’m Honest,” Blake Shelton returns with this, a tight 11 track project....There are a few songs here where Shelton reminds fans that he’s one of the best country singers out there when he sings something more rooted in the early part of his career than the superstar era and “Hangover Due” and “Beside You Babe” are two of those songs while “When The Wine Wears Off” feels like a cousin to “Sure Be Cool If You Did” and the album closer “I Lived It,” a classic country story song full of memories of life with family and small hometowns like Blake’s own Oklahoma hometown.

CrypticRock (Rating: 5 STARS) ...Texoma Shore is Blake Shelton at his happiest: bubbly, infectious, and very much in-love. In fact, dare it be said that this newfound joy for life has allowed Shelton’s vocals to truly soar, amping up his already solid and impressively fun performances. Do not expect keen insight into current events or intellectual debates, no: Shelton is a simple man of simple pleasures who enjoys a little whiskey, some laughter, and a whole lotta love in the sticks. There is no reason not to smile when you are spending time with Texoma Shore.

Allmusic (Rating: 3.1/2 STARS)... His paramour and Voice co-star Gwen Stefani isn't heard, but she's felt, specifically in the album's deft blend of glamour and comfort, but also in a fleeting lyric reference to Stefani's endorsement deal for a specific cosmetic line. This line undercuts Shelton's occasional attempt at down-home charm, particularly on the disingenuous "Money," a song where he and his girl aren't able to afford Charmin, sport second hand cut-offs/ and leave "the doors unlocked because there's nothing left to steal."..There are some surprises to be found in the production by Scott Hendricks -- notably, "Beside You Babe" has a nimble R&B beat and "Turnin' Me On," the only song co-written by Shelton, plays like Lindsey Buckingham producing Alabama in 1982 -- and that's enough to make Texoma Shore into a cozy record that's not complacent.

Sounds Like Nashville (Rating: Positive)..Blake Shelton returns to his roots on his new album Texoma Shore and embodies a sound that’s grounded and down-to-earth, much like the beloved early hits that turned him into one of the genre’s modern day staples....But it’s the album’s final number that will arguably stick with you more than most. “I Lived It” is a humble, heartfelt way to gracefully close out the project, taking the listener inside a simple childhood on the countryside that is so descriptive, it sounds like Shelton could’ve written it himself. Details of comforting childhood memories of driving around in his grandfather’s truck and spending the summers mowing lawns for cash are backed by a poignant melody will tug at your heartstrings, just as much as the sincere lyrics. Texoma Shore showcases what Shelton does best, combining a little bit of humor, a touch of romance and a whole lot of country.

Previous week’s No.1 Kenny Chesney with LIVE IN NO SHOES NATION (Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville) slipped 1-2 (#1-6 Billboard 200) selling 51,288 copies (down 765; 2-week total 268,092)

Kelsea Ballerini with her second LP, UNAPOLOGETICALLY (Black River), opened at No.3 on Top Country Albums (No7 Billboard 200, 44,000 units) selling 34,856 copies, the 6th best seller on Top 200 Albums Sales.
Unapologetically marks the singer-songwriter’s best start on the chart; her debut full-length, THE FIRST TIME, began at No.4 (#31 Billboard 200/ #22 Top Albums Sales) on June 6, 2015, with 13,465 copies sold. Her self-titled EP opened at #40 Country selling 1,100 copies (chart dated March 28, 2015).


Additionally, Ballerini became one of only four female country acts to earn a Top 10 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Chart in 2017. Joining Shania Twain (NOW, No. 1), Reba McEntire (Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, No. 4), and Alison Krauss (WINDY CITY, No. 9).  Kelsea debuting at No. 1 in the UK on iTunes and charted No.2 of Official Country chart marked the strongest album debut from Black River Records. 

“The Black River team is very pleased with our first-week number, and we are looking forward to the upcoming holiday season!” says Rick Froio, EVP of Black River Records.
Picking up almost directly where The First Time left off, Unapologetically is the chronological story of Ballerini’s last three years, in three sections; loss, life, and love. Songwriting is a crucial part of Ballerini’s artistry and, as is the case with her history-making GOLD-certified The First Time, each of the 12 tracks found on Unapologetically is written or co-written by Ballerini.
Promoting the album Ballerini was set to make five additional national television appearances, and in movie theaters nationwide, fans can hear Ballerini on “Children Go Where I Send You,” from Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, as featured on The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Tuesday, November 21, Ballerini  was set to perform her Top 20 single “Legends” on LIVE With Kelly and Ryan (check local listings) and later that evening on the season 25 finale of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars (8/7c). 



UNAPOLOGETIC PROMOTION - The Black River Entertainment artiste celebrated the forthcoming release of her sophomore album in her hometown of KNOXVILLE, TN (Nov 1). The show teamed Ballerini with Snapchat and the Tennessee Department Of Tourist Development as part of the ongoing series, "The Soundtrack Of America”.
Review: Kelsea Ballerini shares heart, soul at Central High School concert

Kelsea visited CBS-TV's "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" (Fri Nov 3, 2017) performing "I Hate Love Songs" >> Watch

She’s the featured headliner on CBS’ The Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23. Wrapping the month, Ballerini will perform a pop-remixed version of “Legends” during the Nickelodeon HALO Awards airing Sunday, November 26 at 7 pm ET/PT on Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons. The following night, Ballerini once again joins some of the biggest names in Country music for the eighth annual CMA Country Christmas. Hosted by the incomparable Reba McEntire, the two-hour holiday special was filmed in Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry and airs Monday, November 27, at 8/7c on ABC.

Critical reception for Kelsea Ballerini’s Unapologetically:
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:23 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Paste Magazine (Rating: 8.1/10)..The 24-year-old’s second album Unapologetically has the patina of modern pop, with programmed drum beats and attention grabbing bombast. It’s more country by reputation—and the artful twang in Ballerini’s voice—than in sound. But within the album, the songs eschew lovesick notions and bitter revenge fantasies. Instead, Ballerini looks at the wreckage of an old relationship, and the blooming of a new one, with something like bemusement and relief...But she’s yet to reach the cultural ubiquity of her peers like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Which is why when she sings on the glistening “In Between” of being in this valley that connects her youthful days and her adulthood, there’s a note of frustration just beneath the surface of her voice. She wants the stadium-sized success but isn’t quite there yet. Unapologetically may be the album to get her there. We just have to wait and see how well she plays the promotional game and how easily the suspicious tastemakers in country radio take to this strong album of defiant ear candy.

Vulture.com (Rating: Mixed) ..It might be tempting to say that she’s never as good as The First Time, and in all honesty it’s hard to prefer the new album, which at times settles for a slickness typical of industry pop and country alike, to the more homespun, gentler textures
of the old. Still, growing pains like these are necessary for an artist, whether it’s to avoid becoming a one-trick pony or to merge into the lane of pop stardom (an ambition about which Ballerini is refreshingly honest in interviews). One exits Unapologetically more confident in her presence and artistry than ever before, but it’s difficult to imagine her becoming a household name until she can fully reconcile the facts of cruel experience with the charm of innocence.

NY Times (Rating: Mixed) Kelsea Ballerini Upends Country Music’s Patriarchy on ‘Unapologetically’: ..There are oodles of recent country songs by male singers about how rural cowboy charm can seduce even the most stylish and committed woman of the city, but there are precious few from the perspective of the woman who, for good reason, left the small town — and its heroes — behind....But if Ms. Ballerini has a crutch, it’s the specter of Ms. Swift, who has demonstrated more than anyone how to dismantle Nashville’s patriarchy in recent years, and whose playbook she is sometimes peeking at. Throughout this album, there are melodies, chord changes, lyrical images and structural tricks that feel indebted to Ms. Swift’s first three albums. Even the way Ms. Ballerini lingers over certain vowels suggests the shadow of Ms. Swift. In order to fully come into her own, though, Ms. Ballerini needs to shake free of that as effectively as she brushes off country music’s simpleton men.

Roughstock (Rating: Positive) .. The self-written “High School” is a song most young women will relate to. This one is probably deserves the most praise and press on Unapologetically and is paired with “In Between” and the title track as the emotional anchors of this sophomore album. The songs on Unapologetically suggest a superstar. Here’s hoping country radio doesn’t decide to bypass Kelsea, it wouldn’t be a wise decision.

Allmusic (Rating: 3.1/2 STARS)..Unapologetically is a defiant title for a sweet record, yet it also suits Kelsea Ballerini's second album. Emboldened by the success of her 2015 debut The First Time, Ballerini embraces the possibilities of being a country-pop star, expanding her sonic palette and allowing herself to seem vulnerable throughout the album... Like her clear idol Taylor Swift, she's writing about matters of the heart with sensitivity. And like Swift, Ballerini does seem to have her eye on a mainstream pop stardom that doesn't exist entirely within the confines of country music. Make no mistake, Unapologetically is certainly a country record -- there's an adherence to old-fashioned song structure and a bit of an arena twang threaded throughout the record -- but every number is given a slick electronic gloss that pushes it in the direction of adult contemporary MOR. Far from being a detriment, however, that's the strength of Unapologetically: It remains vibrant and fresh even though it sounds measured and mature.


Digital Journal (Rating: A) ..Overall, Kelsea Ballerini delivers on her new autobiographical studio album, Unapologetically. There is something in it for everybody, especially since all of the songs are very personal to Ballerini.

Kid Rock made his first appearance with his Southern rock/country set SWEET SOUTHERN SUGAR (Top Dog/BMG/Broken Bow Music Group), new at No. 4 (#8 Billboard 200; 43,000 units) selling 40,794 copies in traditional sales.

Two of its tracks have hit Hot Country Songs: “Po-Dunk” (No. 27, August) and “Tennessee Mountain Top” (No. 36, September). Rock reached a No. 4 Hot Country Songs peak in 2008 with the No. 4 smash “All Summer Long,” which rose to No. 3 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, boosted by heavy pop airplay.
Nearly three years since his last studio album, Kid Rock also claimed No.1 on both Independent and Rock Albums charts and  No.5 Digital Albums. This solidifies the five-time Grammy nominee’s ninth Top 10 album on the Billboard 200, selling over 26 million albums to date. The Parental Advisory 10 track album has 5 tracks with explicit lyrics.
Co-produced by Kid Rock and veteran Justin Niebank (Vince Gill, Ashley Monroe), SWEET SOUTHERN SUGAR enlists a multitude of seasoned Nashville musicians to collaborate on a sound that brings Kid Rock back to his Country-charged roots. In addition to production duties, Kid Rock wrote or co-wrote eight of the album’s ten tracks. Introspective songs like “Stand the Pain” and “I Wonder” achieve new levels of musical and emotional depth, while also maintaining a swagger and intelligence that are hallmarks to Rock’s musicality.
Associated Press took note, “there are satisfying arena-ready rockers like ‘Greatest Show on Earth,’ 'American Rock 'n Roll" and "Stand the Pain" along with proud Southern-fried tunes like ‘Tennessee Mountain Top’ and the playful, bluesy ‘Raining Whiskey.’
Kid Rock’s current single “Tennessee Mountain Top,” continues to breakthrough and leave its mark on Country radio. Directed by Mark Staubach (Charlie Puth, Lupe Fiasco), watch the official music video HERE.

Critical reception for Kid Rock’s Sweet Southern Sugar:
10 Tracks/ Time: 42:56 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Allmusic (Rating: 3 STARS) ....Living in the past is the key not just to Sweet Southern Sugar but Kid Rock's reinvention as a country singer. The music hasn't changed much, nor has his swagger, but the times have, leaving Kid Rock sounding older and squarer than his years.
Rollingstone (Rating: 3 STARS).....What's notable about his 11th studio set is how entertaining, even empathetic, it can occasionally be.

CMA Awards 2017 Sales Spikes
Chris Stapleton with his CMA Awards 2017 Album of the Year From a Room: Volume 1 (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) pushed 11-5 (70-31 BB200) selling 11,081 copies (up 91%; 28-week total 564,800) whilst TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) fell 7-8 (53-43 BB200) selling 7,431 copies (up 41%; 132-week total 2,110,300).

Former No.1 Kane Brown with his SELF-TITLED album fell 3-6 (#40-33 Billboard 200) selling 6,130 copies (up 27%; 49-week total 250,400).

Lee Brice with his SELF-TITLED LP (Curb), arrived at No.7 (#36 Billboard 200; 15,000 units) selling 12,244 copies in pure sales marking his fourth top 10.
Brice co-produced his fourth LP, which features 15 tracks including “I Don’t Smoke” (with guitars by Warren Haynes), “Story To Tell (Little Bird),” (cowritten by Edwin McCain, who also guests on the track), and the album’s first single “Boy.”

Critical reception for Lee Brice’s self-titled album:
15 Tracks/ Time: 52:59 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Sounds Like Nashville Chuck Dauphin (Rating: Positive)…Though Lee Brice recorded his new disc long before the events of Las Vegas on October 1, it seems as the Curb recording artist was thinking about life’s priorities as he was working on this, his self-titled fourth
album. Many of the songs on this album have a sense of urgency about just how important life is – likely something we will be seeing quite a bit of over the next album cycle from many of our favorite artists – which is very understandable. For Brice, the album leads off in this manner with a thought-provoking up-tempo number, where Brice asks the listener to contemplate what is truly important in life. “Little Things” seems like a party-type song from the outside in, but even on this song, about the pleasures of having your girl, your dog, and a cold beer, there seems to be a sense of being content in the moment. If nothing else, Brice sounds like he is having a great deal of fun...At the end of the day, the best material on this disc comes from real life and appreciating your blessings of what you have in life. It’s a sentiment that comes across on such cuts as the moving “Songs In The Kitchen,” as well as the masterfully-written “Story To Tell (Little Bird),” which the singer penned alongside with pop powerhouse Edwin McCain and Phillip Lammonds. The moving lyrics prove that we’ve all got a past, a present, and a future, something that we all have to embrace and accept from one another. It’s a message that perhaps is more timely than ever, and Brice delivers many such messages on this lyrically powerful disc!

Former No.1 Thomas Rhett with LIFE CHANGES (Valory/Big Machine Label Group) fell 4-9 (#44-41 Billboard 200) selling 4,525 copies (9-week total 163,800).
Former No.1 & CMA Awards new Artist nominee Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/ Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) slipped 8-10 (#55-45 Billboard 200) selling 5,476 copies (up 50%; 23-week total 145,100).

Outside the Top 10
Brett Young with self-titled debut (BMLG) pushed 12-11 (#71-63 BB200) selling 2,553 copies (39-week total 154,400).
CMA Awards 2017 New Artist of the Year Jon Pardi with CALIFORNIA SUNRISE (Capitol Nashville | UMGN) moved 15-12 (104-72 BB200) selling 2,796 copies (73-week total 194,600) .

In his third week Darius Rucker with WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), fell 5-13 (8-26 Billboard 200) selling 6,739 copies (down 30%; 3-week total 46,422).

Former No.1 Chris Young with LOSING SLEEP (RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) dropped 6-15 (51-79 BB200) selling 4,479 copies (down 38%; 3-week total 43,572).

CMA Awards 2017 Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert with THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS (Vanner/RCA Nashville | SMN) sprinted 38-16 (#90 Re-Entry Billboard 200) selling 3,634 copies (51-week total 399,500)

CMA Awards 2017 Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne with PAWN SHOP (EMI Nashville | UMGN) lifted 47-17 (91 Re-Entry Billboard 200) selling another 3,730 copies (86-week total 174,200).

Reba McEntire with her 14 track re-issued MY KIND OF CHRISTMAS (Nash Icon | BMLG | Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com ) set made a re-entry at No.18 (Re-entry #99 Billboard 200) selling 6,954 copies (16 chart weeks)
Debut: #13 UK Country iTunes (#293 overall UK Albums chart) | Sat #20 | Tues Oct 17: Off the top 200
The 3 new songs include “Mary Did You Know” (feat. Vince Gill & Amy Grant), “Back to God” (feat. Lauren Daigle) & “Silent Night” (feat. Kelly Clarkson & Trisha Yearwood)

2 - Jessie James Decker with former No.1 SOUTHERN GIRL CITY LIGHTS (Epic) made a re-entry at #24 (#126 Re-Entry Billboard 200) selling 5,271 copies (3 chart weeks, total sales 27,100)

Outside the Top 25

Roy Orbison With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with A LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL (Roy's Boys/Monument | Legacy) made a debut at No.26 selling 4,518 copies (45th best seller in US)

Former 1-week No.1 Shania Twain with NOW (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) fell 17-27 (126-152 Billboard 200) selling 4,979 copies (down 10%; 6-week total 173,530).

Elvis Presley with IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME (RCA Special Products/Sony Commercial Music Group) made a debut at No.36

Ned LeDoux with his 12 track SAGEBRUSH (Powder River | Thirty Tigers; Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com ) made a debut at No.38 selling 3,977 copies (No.16 Country Album Sales).
The debut album was produced by Mac McAnally and includes eight songs Ned wrote or co-wrote, including “You Can’t Tell Me We Ain’t Got It All” (the first original song he co-wrote with his dad, the late Chris LeDoux).
Chris LeDoux’s son Ned, who started playing drums in his father’s backing band Western Underground way back in 1998, has stepped up to take the reigns from his father. Though first a bit timid to take center stage in his father’s absence, he now sees it as his duty to introduce a new generation of country fans to his father’s music, while also bringing his own voice to the forefront.
It is the follow-up to his debut EP FOREVER A COWBOY, which was released last year (#44 debut; 2,000 sales).
His mom, Peggy, gave him a shoebox full of song ideas that his dad had written down many years ago, and with the help of McAnally, they turned them into songs, where they included his legendary father as a co-writer. Four of those songs are featured on the album, such as "Never Change," "Cowboy Life," "We Ain't Got It All" and "Forever A Cowboy."
The songs on the album are about the LeDoux history and family values such as cowboys, ranching, the highway, as well as the simplicity of life.
Finally, the album features a duet with Broken Bow Records recording country artist Chase Rice, where he collaborates with LeDoux on "This Cowboy's Hat," which was his father's signature tune. Read more & interview here

In her fourth week Carly Pearce with EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine | BMLG) fell 24-43 selling 1,594 copies (4-week total 16,193).

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

Alan Jackson with Let It Be Christmas (Gaither | Capitol CMG) made a debut at No.38

Various Artists with 12 track compilation WINTER WONDERLAND (Curb; Amazon UK - Amazon.com ) made a debut at No.49

Year-To-Date Albums
17,334,000 (Physical sales 11,658,000 (down -12.4%) + Digital sales 5,676,000 (down -18.7%) which is 14.6% down at the same point in 2016 (20,295,000 sales) 

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks
57,734,000 down 24.0% at the same point in 2016 (76,012,000)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of November 25, 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:

Luke Combs with “When It Rains It Pours” (River House/Columbia Nashville) ascended 2-1 on Hot Country Songs, marking his first leader on the ranking, which blends streaming, airplay and sales data.
“Rains” is the second single from Combs’ LP THIS ONE’S FOR YOU, which bowed atop the June 24 Top Country Albums chart (43,000 units; pure sales 35,009). Debut single “Hurricane” peaked at No.3 on Hot Country Songs and led Country Airplay for two weeks beginning May 27.
“Rains” rose by 6% to 9.6 million U.S. streams, as it held at its No.2 peak on Country Streaming Songs (chart) . On Country Airplay, where it ruled for two weeks beginning Nov. 4, it remains in the top five (2-4; down 9%
to 39.9 million in audience). It dropped 3-8 on Country Digital Song Sales but gained by 6% to 14,000 sold.

Hot County Songs
** No.1 (1 week) ** “When It Rains It Pours” Luke Combs
** Airplay Gainer” No.7 “Every Little Thing” Carly Pearce
** Digital Gainer ** No.18 “Broken Halos” Chris Stapleton
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.21 “Female” Keith Urban
** Streaming Gainer ** No.22 “Legends” Kelsea Ballerini
Debut No.36 “Most People Are Good” Luke Bryan
Debut No.39 “I Hate Love Songs” Kelsea Ballerini
Debut No.47 “Scarecrow In The Garden” Chris Stapleton

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of November 25, 2017)

For just the third time in almost 12 years, a woman’s debut single topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. In its 35th frame, Carly Pearce with “Every Little Thing” (Big Machine) romped 3-1, increasing 10% to 44.7 million audience impressions. On Hot Country Songs, it held at No.7 (after reaching No. 5).
Pearce’s co-written ballad is from her debut full-length, which debuted and peaked at No.4 on Top Country Albums (Nov. 4; 15,000 multi-metric consumption units; 9,692 pure sales).
“Thing” marked the first career-opening Country Airplay No.1 by a solo woman since Kelsea Ballerini’s “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which topped the July 4, 2015, chart. Prior to Ballerini, nine years had passed since Carrie Underwood arrived with her first single officially promoted to country radio, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which began a six-week reign on Jan. 21, 2006.
“You work so hard, dreaming and praying you’ll be able to do this professionally in any capacity,” Pearce told Billboard.
“To have [“Thing”] come from such a real place in my life and to have done what it’s done is indescribable. To be alongside Carrie and Kelsea is the greatest honor. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing country music. Every dream is coming true.”

Eric Church scored his 13th Country Airplay top 10, as “Round Here Buzz” (EMI Nashville) pushed 12-10 (27.8 million, up 6%). It’s his second top 10 of 2017, following the Rhiannon Giddens-assisted “Kill a Word” (No. 6, April).

Country Airplay
*** No.1 (1 week) *** "Every Little Thing” Carly Pearce 44.661 million audience (+4.193 million) / 8,061 radio plays (+588)
** Hot Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience / Most Added ** No.23 “Female” Keith Urban 10:414 million audience gain thanks to 75 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)
Debut No.44 “Everything's Gonna Be Alright” David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
Debut No. 57 “Heaven South” Brad Paisley

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart 
(Chart issue week of November 25, 2017)

Featuring Keith Urban’s wife, Nicole Kidman, on background vocals, “Female” was released Nov. 8, ahead of Urban’s performance of the song at that night’s CMA Awards. 
The single landed the week’s highest debut on Country Airplay (No.23; 10.4 million in audience) and Hot Country Songs (No. 21), and started as his first No.1 debut (and second overall leader) on Country Digital Song Sales (#17 Digital Songs; 21,000 sales).
It was 16 places behind

"Call It What You Want," from Taylor Swift's album REPUTATION, which debuted as the set's fourth No.1 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart, arriving atop the list (dated Nov. 25) with 68,000 downloads sold in the tracking week ending Nov. 9, according to Nielsen Music.
With the track's launch start on Digital Song Sales, Swift extended her record for the most No.1s in the chart's history to 15. She also added to her mark for the most No.1 debuts: 14.
The first three tracks from Reputation each likewise opened atop Digital Song Sales: "Look What You Made Me Do," on the Sept. 16-dated chart with 353,000 sold, the greatest weekly total for a song in 2017; "...Ready for It?" (135,000, Sept. 23); and "Gorgeous" (68,000, Nov. 11; the song started with slightly more than that of "Call" before figures were rounded off).
Swift matches the four sales toppers from her last album, "1989." On the Hot 100, she passes Aretha Franklin for the second-most appearances among women.

CMA Male Vocalist of the Year- Chris Stapleton with “Broken Halos” climbed 13-2 (#18 Digital Songs Re-Entry, 20,000 sales; 11 weeks total 222,000)
Previous week’s No1 LANco with “Greatest Love Story” (Arista Nashville) fell 1-3 (#22 Digital Songs; 18,000 sales; 19-week total 358,000) to top the Country Digital Singles Chart summit.
Former No.1 Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina with “What If’s” slipped 2-4 (#26-23 Digital Songs; 18,000 sales; 26-week total 515,000). 
CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne with “It Ain't My Fault” made a re-entry at No.5 (#30 Digital Songs Re-Entry, 18,000 sales; total 342,000)
Thomas Rhett with “Unforgettable” (Valory) held at No.6 (#45-33 Digital Songs; 16,000 sales; 15-week total 210,000).
Blake Shelton with “I'll Name The Dogs” (Warner Bros) fell 5-7 (#37-34; 16,000 sales; 9-week total 120,000 Digital Songs).
Luke Combs with “When It Rains It Pours” (River House | Columbia Nashville) fell 3-8 (#32-36 Digital Songs; 14,000 sales; 18-week total 274,000).
Sam Hunt’s 31 non-consecutive week No1 “Body Like a Back Road” (MCA Nashville) fell 8-9 (#48-43 Digital Songs; 12,000 sales; 41-week total 1,756,000).
CMA Awards 2017 performers Tim McGraw & Faith Hill with “The Rest Of Our Life” made a re-entry at No.10 (#44 Digital Songs Re-Entry; 12,000 sales; total 46,000).

Outside the Top 10
Luke Bryan with “Most People Are Good” made a debut at No.12 (#48 Digital Songs Re-Entry, 11,000 sales).
Kelsea Ballerini with “I Hate Love Songs“ (Black River) made a debut at No.13 with 10,000 sales.
Former No.1 Carly Pearce with Every Little Thing (Big Machine/Big Machine Label Group), fell 7-14 (10,000 sales; 21-week total 324,000).

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

13 Nov 2017

Carly Pearce Hits #1 With 'Every Little Thing'
Congratulations to Big Machine Records' Carly Pearce, who scored the #1 spot on the MEDIABASE Country singles chart this week with her single, "Every Little Thing." This marks Pearce's first career #1.




















Every Little Thing” (Big Machine) logged 8,715 radio spins (+847) and 59.404 million audience impressions (+5.937 million) with 23603 Total Points (+2389) from 158 tracking stations for the tracking week November 5 to November 11, 2017 and published chart November 13th 2017.

February 2017. I jumped in a van with a million country music dreams and started my journey of radio tour with my little ballad of a broken heart. I said no matter what happens, I'm blessed. You know why? Because I got to be introduced to country radio & fans with a song that is 100% up and down who I am. Fast forward to today, that little ballad broke all the rules and is sitting as the #1 song in the country. THANK YOU country radio for taking a chance on this song and embracing me with open arms. THANK YOU to my radio team and my band for the hours you spent driving and flying to play in every conference room in America, THANK YOU to my label and publishing company for believing, THANK YOU fans for turning this song up in your car and truly changing #everylittlething.

And to my co-writers, busbee and Emily. I couldn't have asked to share this with any 2 people more special. You have both unwaveringly believed. Thank you for sharing your gifts on this song.
"Every Little Thing" is officially Number One. Dreamers, I'm your light.
Her Opry performance of "Every Little Thing" is nominated for Grand Ole Opry Moment of the Year!  -
Tweet: WOW! Carly Pearce is the ONLY solo female this year with a charting country debut single certified with over 500,000 in consumption sales!

Keith Urban Is Most-Added With 'Female'
Kudos to Capitol Nashville's Keith Urban, who earned 95 MEDIABASE adds with his new single, "Female". The song topped the "Most Added" board this chart week.


Mediabase Adds (Selective)

Artist/Title (Label) TW Total Historic Adds

KEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol)            95         95        
KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)   33         52        
DAVID LEE MURPHY & KENNY CHESNEY/Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Reviver/Blue Chair)   21         71        
DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)  16         97        
TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL/The Rest Of Our Life (Arista)         13         127      
BRAD PAISLEY/Heaven South (Arista)   10         48        
SHANIA TWAIN/We Got Something They Don't (Mercury)           10         39        
SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers) 8          131      
OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA)       7          138      
JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol)        6          87        
DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)   5          104      
DELTA RAE/No Peace In Quiet (Valory) 5          26        
JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)        5          74        
MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)         5          103      
MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud)  5          11        
ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR)         4          43        
MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA) 3          40        
JACKSON MICHELSON/Rollin' (Curb)    2          27        
LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)   2          2         
RASCAL FLATTS/Back To Us (Big Machine)      2          92        
STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)     2          8         
ALEXANDRA DEMETREE/Outta My Head (SSM/Star Farm)       1          8         
BLAKE SHELTON/At The House (Warner Bros./WMN)    1          12        
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River)        1          155      
LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury)      1          110      
MAREN MORRIS f/V. GILL/Dear Hate (Columbia)           1          29        
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Tin Man (RCA)     1          139      
REBA MCENTIRE/God And My Girlfriends (Valory/Nash Icon)     1          15        
RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)         1          70        
TAYLOR SWIFT/New Year's Day (Big Machine/Republic)            1          1         

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 576 - Nov 13, 2017 [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: #1
Event Venue City/State: The Classic West: Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Journey, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Doobie Brothers Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, Calif.
Dates: July 15-16, 2017 Gross Sales: $17,057,843 Attend: 84,228 /94,860
Shows/ Sellouts: 2/0 (10,632 unsold tickets) Prices: $2,750, $99
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #39
Event Venue City/State: Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Brent Cobb Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
Dates:  Oct. 13-14, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,743,783 Attend: 27,865/ 27,865
Shows/ Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $70.75, $50.75, $35.75, $25.75      
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #72
Event Venue City/State: Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge, Granger Smith Glen Helen Amphitheater Devore, Calif.
Dates: Oct. 27, 2017 Gross Sales: $1,194,687 Attend: 25,058/ 27,354
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (2,296 unsold tickets) Prices: $83.25, $34.50
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #120
Event Venue City/State: Zac Brown Band BB&T Pavilion Camden, N.J.
Dates: July 15, 2017 Gross Sales: $812,910 Attend: 24,895/ 25,191
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (296 unsold tickets) Prices: $85.75, $35.75
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #126
Event Venue City/State: Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, Brent Cobb Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines, Iowa
Dates: Oct. 6, 2017 Gross Sales: $794,174 Attend: 12,519/ 13,150
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (631 unsold tickets) Prices: $70.75, $50.75, $35.75, $25.75
Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #270
Event Venue City/State: Outlaw Music Festival: Willie Nelson, My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price Lakeview Amphitheater Syracuse, N.Y.
Dates: July 16, 2017 Gross Sales: $304,789 Attend: 7,617/ 17,094
Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (9,477 unsold tickets) Prices: $275, $30
Promoters:  Live Nation
Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart