Country Billboard Chart News July 16, 2018

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (6 non-consecutive weeks) ** THIS ONE’S FOR YOU Luke Combs

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (33 weeks) ** “Meant To Be” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line

Country Airplay *** No.1 (1 week) *** “Get Along” Kenny Chesney

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (4 non-consecutive weeks) “Simple” Florida Georgia Line

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

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

Drake with SCORPION held at No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200) for a second week, logging the biggest sophomore week for any album in more than two years. The set earned 335,000 equivalent album units in the week ending July 12 according to Nielsen Music (down 54 percent from its big start of 732,000 units a week earlier). Of its second week sum, 29,000 were in traditional album sales.

Last week was an all-time low for physical musical sales in the US. The total of all the sales in the Top 200 on the US SoundScan chart, was only 412,229 units purchased in a country of 320 million.

Drake one of world’s top contemporary artists debuted at #1 with 29,354 physical copies of Scorpion (Physical product not available digital sales). Scorpion was heard millions and millions and millions of times through streaming. At No.7.Jason Alden with Rearview Town sold 7,861 copies.

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

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.

Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/ Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) held at No.1 (#14-13 Billboard 200) to top the chart for a 6th non-consecutive week in his 58th chart frame.

Former No1 Dan + Shay with their self-titled album (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) held at No.2 (#20 non-mover Billboard 200).

6-week non-consecutive week No.1 Jason Aldean with REARVIEW TOWN (Macon/Broken Bow Records) held at No.3 (23-22 BB200) in his 13th week.

Kane Brown with his 10 non-consecutive week No.1 SELF-TITLED held at No.4 (#32-31 Billboard 200) selling 3,900 copies in his 83rd week.

Former No.1 Thomas Rhett with LIFE CHANGES (Valory/Big Machine Label Group) rose 6-5 (#42-38 BB200) in his 44th frame.

Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) fell 5-6 (#37-42 BB200) as his set From A Room: Volume 1 (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) held at No.21 (#145-153 BB200) and From A Room: Volume 2 fell 27-31 (falling off the Billboard top 200 for the first time) in its 32nd frame.

Brett Young with self- titled BRETT YOUNG (BMLG) held at No.7 (#51-45 BB200) in his 74th week.

Former No.1 Keith Urban with GRAFFITI U (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville) rebounded 13-9 (#109-84 BB200) in his 11th week.

Former No.1 Luke Bryan with WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY (Capitol Nashville | UMGN) held at No.10 (#84-92 BB200) in his 31st frame.

Outside the Top 10

In his fifth week Dierks Bentley with THE MOUNTAIN (Capitol Nashville | UMGN) fell 15-18 (#114-127 BB200).  

Morgan Wallen with IF I KNOW ME (Big Loud Records) moved 20-19 (#135-144 BB200) in his eleventh frame.

Outside the Top 25

In their fifth week Sugarland with BIGGER (Big Machine/Big Machine Label Group/ UMGN) fell 25-27 (#173-198 BB200).

FALLING SHORT of Top 50:

On the Country Album Sales list (pure sales; old methodology)

Colby Keeling with his 5-track EP WHATEVER IT TAKES (EP; Keelo Records Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com) made a debut at No.44.

Year-To-Date Albums

8,597,000 (Physical sales 6,117,000 (down -16.5%) + Digital sales 2,489,000 (down -30.6%) which is 21.2% down at the same point in 2017 (10,914,000 sales) 

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks

28,325,000 down 27.1% at the same point in 2017 (38,840,000)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

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:

Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line with “Meant to Be” (Warner Bros./BMLG) topped Hot Country Songs for a 33rd week.

If it earns one more week at No.1, the song will tie Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” (34 weeks, 2017) for the most time on top in the chart’s 59-year history.

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (33 weeks) ** “Meant To Be” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line

** Airplay Gainer” No.6 “Mercy” Brett Young

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.19 “Talk You Out Of It” Florida Georgia Line

** Digital Gainer ** No. 25 “Beautiful Crazy” Luke Combs

** Streaming Gainer ** No.38 “She Got The Best Of Me” Luke Combs  

Debut No.45 “Desperate Man” Eric Church

Debut No.48 “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” Travis Denning

Debut No.50 “Take It From Me” Jordan Davis

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

Kenny Chesney Lands at No. 1 with “Get Along”

Kenny Chesney with “Get Along” (Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA) ascended 2-1 in its 15th week on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated July 21) as it increased by 7 percent to 46.2 million audience impressions in the tracking week ending July 15, according to Nielsen Music. Writers are Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne and it was first released on April 6, 2018.

“Along” marks his 30th Country Airplay leader, lifting him into first place for the most No. 1s dating to the list’s Jan. 20, 1990, launch. Chesney passes Tim McGraw, who is now in second place with 29 No.1s. Alan Jackson and George Strait follow with 26 each.

Chesney has now earned multiple No.1s on the survey in the same year for the first time since 2015, when he sent three songs to the summit: “Til It’s Gone,” “Wild Child” (with Grace Potter) and “Save It for a Rainy Day.” In addition to 2018 and 2015, Chesney tallied more than one Country Airplay No.1 in 2012.

“I can’t think of a better song to set a record,” Chesney says. “Everything it says is everything I think makes the world a better place. To have something that has a groove that feels so good wrapped around a song that reminds us it’s the things that bring us together that will make us happy… When you get right down to it, “Get Along’ is a great way to have some pretty important life advice delivered.”

"Even when Kenny does 'art,' he understands the soul of people -- and how to connect,” enthuses Warner Nashville Chairman John Esposito. “'Get Along,' as he said, is a song for times like these -- and radio's response shows it.”

“It feels great to hit No. 1, but ‘Get Along’ also reminds us: we have more in common than we think, and if we start there, if we get along, we can make this world a better place. As our first -- and one of his fastest – No. 1s, I can't think of a better way to kick-off this relationship."

“In some ways, ‘Get Along’ is very different from the rest of Songs for the Saints,” Chesney says. “But in a lot of ways, it boils down every other subject onto the record – and ties it up with a perfect bit of the euphoria that defines the people of the Saints. It was an obvious choice for radio, but it also embodies everything else on a record which lifts up everything that has inspired my music over the last eighteen years.”

Jason Aldean with “Drowns the Whiskey,” feat. Miranda Lambert (Macon/Broken Bow), jumped 12-9 on Country Airplay, increasing by 10 percent to 25.4 million in audience.

“Whiskey” is Aldean’s 28th Country Airplay top 10, a total that includes 18 No.1s. Lambert landed her 12th top 10 and first since “Somethin’ Bad,” with Carrie Underwood, which reached No.7 in October 2014.

Thomas Rhett banked his 12th top 10 as “Life Changes” (Valory) hopped 13-10, gaining by 9 percent to 24.8 million impressions.

Eric Church with “Desperate Man” (EMI Nashville), which was released to country radio on July 12, launched at No.23 on Country Airplay with 11 million audience impressions, his highest debut among 29 visits to the chart.

The song received hourly plays on participating iHeartMedia stations on the afternoon of July 12, with some stations continuing hourly spins on July 13.

Previously, Church’s strongest debut on Country Airplay was “The Outsiders,” which debuted and peaked at No. 25 on Nov. 9, 2013. “Desperate” entered Hot Country Songs at No.45, is the title track from Church’s next studio album, due Oct. 5.

Country Airplay

*** No.1 (1 week) *** “Get Along” Kenny Chesney 46.230 million audience (+2.834 million) / 8,446 radio plays (+434)

** Hot Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.23 “Desperate Man” Eric Church 11.026 million audience gain receiving 1,660 spins thanks 77 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)

Debut No.55 “There Was This Girl” Riley Green

Debut No.59 “Make Him Wait” Abby Anderson

Debut No.60 “Slow Roll” Everette

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart 

(Chart issue week of July 21, 2018)

Florida Georgia Line with “Simple” (BMLG) held at No.1 (#4-7 Digital Songs) for a 4th non-consecutive week atop the chart.

It was six places behind Drake with "Feelings" (71.7 million U.S. streams, up 58 percent) which blasted 9-1 on Digital Song Sales with 89,000 downloads sold.

Florida Georgia Line with "Talk You Out Of It" opened at No.2 on Country Digital Song Sales (#8 Digital Songs; 21,000 sales) in its first week. The ballad is the third sampling from the duo’s upcoming album, following “Simple” and “Colorado.” “Talk”

marked Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley’s 20th top 10. On Hot Country Songs, it arrived at No. 19.

Described as a “sensual new single” the track is said to see “a dramatic switch in style”. "Talk You Out of It" is a mellow, slow burner. Starting with a smooth banjo part that leads up to the entrance of the track's roomy drums, the song gradually eases into an R&B-inspired vocal melody. Lines like "I talked you into slipping down the hall, baby turning on the playlist you play when you're in the shower" imply that the track's style was inspired by '90s slow jams in more ways than one.

Former No1 Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line with “Meant to Be" (Warner Bros. | BMLG) fell 3-4 (#15-13 Digital Songs).

Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) with “Tequila” (Warner Bros. | WAR) fell 2-3 (#14-12 Digital Songs)

Brett Young with “Mercy” (BMLG) held at No.5 (#22-20 Digital Songs).

Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert with “Drowns The Whiskey” (Macon | Broken Bow) rebounded 8-6 (#28-25 Digital Songs) as Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” rose 16-13.

Kenny Chesney with “Get Along” fell 4-7 (#17-27 Digital Songs).

Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line with “Up Down” (Big Loud) slipped 6-8 (#25-33 Digital Songs).

Kane Brown with “Heaven” (Zone 4 | RCA Nashville) rose 11-9 (#37-35 Digital Songs).

Thomas Rhett with “Life Changes” lifted 14-10 (#42 Re-Entry Digital Songs).

Outside the Top 10

Luke Bryan with “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” rose 13-11 (#44 New Entry Digital Songs).

Morgan Evans with “Kiss Somebody” fell 12-14.

A remake of John Denver’s classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” Copilot Music + Sound’s cover (Bethesda) fell 7-19.

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

July 16, 2018

Congrats to Kenny Chesney, Kristen Williams, Adrian Michaels and the WEA promotion team on landing this week’s No.1 with “Get Along.” The song is the first single from Chesney’s upcoming album SONGS FOR THE SAINTS. Writers are Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne.

“Get Along” (Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA) climbed 2-1 logging 9,027 radio spins (+538) and 62.653 million audience impressions (+4.25 million gain) with 24415 Total Points (+1433) from 157 tracking stations (157 ADDS) for the tracking week July 8 to July 14, 2018 and published chart July 16th, 2018.

Dirty Thirty: Blue Chair/Warner Bros.' Kenny Chesney and radio friends celebrate his 30th No. 1 single "Get Along" in Kansas City Saturday (7/14).

Eric Church Earns 116 First-Week Adds With 'Desperate Man'
Kudos to Jimmy Rector and the EMI Nashville crew on securing 116 adds for Eric Church’s “Desperate Man”. The song topped the "Most Added" board this chart week.

In celebration of EMI Nashville's Eric Church earning 116 first-week Mediabase adds with his new single, "Desperate Man," Pictured L-R: (back) EMI Nashville VP/Promotion Jimmy Rector; UMG Nashville VP/Promotion David Friedman holding a cut-out of EMI Nashville Dir./Southwest Promotion John Trapane; UMG Nashville Nat. Dir./Radio Syndication Donna Hughes with cut-out of Church; EMI Nashville Dir./Northeast Promotion Mike Krinik and Coord./Promotion Connor Brock with a "Nick" sign to honor Dir./West Coast Promotion Nick Kaper; (front) UMG Nashville Dir./Promotion & Radio Marketing Chris Schuler holding cut-outs of EMI Nashville Dir./Midwest Promotion Chris Fabiani (l) and Sr. Dir./Southeast Promotion Trudie Daniell (r)

     

Mediabase Adds (Selective)

Artist/Title (Label) TW Total Historic Adds

ERIC CHURCH/Desperate Man (EMI Nashville)  116       116

LEE BRICE/Rumor (Curb)          28         31

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia) 27         83

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/Radioland (Atlantic/WAR)   22         22

DIERKS BENTLEY f/BROTHERS OSBORNE/Burning Man (Capitol)        22         73

KANE BROWN/Lose It (RCA)     12         121

JORDAN DAVIS/Take It From Me (MCA)            8          100

BRETT ELDREDGE/Love Someone (Atlantic/WMN)        7          58

JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek)           7          129

MICHAEL RAY/One That Got Away (Atlantic/WEA)         7          50

DUSTIN LYNCH/Good Girl (Broken Bow)           5          90

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)         5          137

MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)          5          117

CHANCE MCKINNEY/Take It Back (---)  2          2

DAN + SHAY/Speechless (Warner Bros./WAR)   2          2

RILEY GREEN/There Was This Girl (BMLGR)     2          17

SMITHFIELD/Hey Whiskey (Deluge/In2une)        2          41

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)     2          29

ALEXANDRA DEMETREE/Coastin' (SSM)          1          5

JACOB BRYANT/Pour Whiskey On My Grave (American Roots) 1          1

JON PARDI/Night Shift (Capitol) 1          1

KRYSTAL KEITH f/LANCE CARPENTER/Anyone Else (Show Dog)         1          23

LUCAS HOGE/Power Of Garth (Forge)  1          12

RANDY HOUSER/What Whiskey Does (Stoney Creek)    1          3

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 610 - July 16, 2018 | 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: #1

Event Venue City/State: Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Camila Cabello Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pa.

Dates: July 13-14, 2018 Gross Sales: $11,951,047 Attend: 107,378/ 107,378

Shows/ Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $499.50, $49.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

                                     

Rank Artist: #2

Event Venue City/State: Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Camila Cabello FedExField Landover, Md.

Dates: July 10-11, 2018 Gross Sales: $11,396,004 Attend: 95,672/ 95,672

Shows/ Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $499.50, $49.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

Rank Artist: #7

Event Venue City/State: Kenny Chesney, Brandon Lay, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Mo.

Dates: 14 July 2018 Gross Sales: $4,981,733 Attend: 57,582/ 57,582

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $254, $31

Promoters: Messina Touring Group               

Rank Artist: #27

Event Venue City/State: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Devin Dawson KeyArena Seattle, Wash.

Dates: 13 July 2018 Gross Sales: $842,978 Attend: 11,146/ 11,146

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $139.50, $29.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

Rank Artist: #48

Event Venue City/State: Alison Krauss Juanita K. Hammons Hall Springfield, Mo.

Dates: 15 July 2018 Gross Sales: $175,570 Attend: 2,172/ 2,205

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (33 unsold tickets) Prices: $95, $65

Promoters: NS2

Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart