Country Billboard Chart News October 21, 2019

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (49 non-consecutive weeks) ** THIS ONE’S FOR YOU Luke Combs

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “10,000 Hours” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber

Country Airplay ** No.1 (1 week) ** “Good Vibes” Chris Janson

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “10,000 Hours” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

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

Rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again scoreds his first No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as AI YoungBoy 2 debuted atop the list.

The set, which was released on Oct. 11 via Never Broke Again/Atlantic Records, starts with 110,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 17, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, just 3,000 were in album sales, while the rest was overwhelmingly powered by streaming activity. 1,000 were in TEA units, while 106,000 were in SEA units. The latter figure equates to 144.7 million on-demand audio streams earned for the album’s tracks in its first week.

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

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.

At the Top Country Albums apex, Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) rebounded 2-1 (#18-20 Billboard 200; 19,000 units; 2,100 sales; 124-week total 533,400). It was the 9th best country seller of the week.  

The set, which debuted at No. 1 in June 2017, led for a 49th frame and is now just one week from potentially tying for the longest rule in the chart’s history. Shania Twain’s Come On Over dominated for 50 weeks beginning in November 1997.

Additionally, Combs’ latest release, THE PREQUEL (River House/Columbia Nashville/ Sony Music Nashville) fell 4-6 (#51-55 BB200) in its 18th frame.

Cody Jinks with AFTER THE FIRE (Late August) flew onto Top Country Albums at No. 2 (#33 Billboard 200 New Entry; 15,000 equivalent album units; 12,700 sales), the set started as his first No.1 on Country Album Sales.

The Texan tallied his third straight career-opening Top Country Albums top 10 and ties his best rank. LIFERS opened at its No. 2 peak in August 2018 (24,000 consumption units), and I’M NOT THE DEVIL debuted at its No.4 high in September 2016 (#39 Billboard 200; debut sales 11,331 copies)

Critical reception for Cody Jinks’ After the Fire:

10 Tracks Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com

Roughstock (Rating: Positive) Even if Cody ends up competing with himself for sales and attention, the talent he possesses is that which few artists possess in 2019 and we’re all the better for him choosing to release a cohesive collection of songs like After The Fire.  

Allmusic (Rating: 4 STARS) ..Jinks nimbly glides between the light and dark on After the Fire, never dwelling too long in either extreme, and that balance helps the album feel both modest and fully realized. It's too humble to be seen as a major statement, but its ease and craft are a testament to the depths of Jinks' talent as both a songwriter and a singer.

Saving Country Music (Rating: 1 3/4 Guns Up (8.5/10) But ultimately it’s the music that you remember, that you go back to over and over, and numbers and achievements feel meaningless compared to how a record like After The Fire can make you feel overall. The other way artists are judged is as husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, as bandleaders, and friends. All the money and fame can still leave you bankrupt if your priorities are not properly aligned, and After The Fire doesn’t just capture Cody Jinks making sure those priorities are in proper order, it reminds and inspires the audience to do the same. 

Dan + Shay with their self-titled album (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) held at No.3 (#35-40 BB200; 800 sales; 69-week total 161,300) in their 69th frame.

Previous weeks’ No.1 Brantley Gilbert with FIRE & BRIMSTONE (Valory/Big Machine Label Group) fell 1-4 (#9-51 BB200; 5,700 sales; down 80%; 2-week total 33,900).

Morgan Wallen with IF I KNOW ME (Big Loud Digital EX) moved 6-5 (#56-54 BB200; 600 sales; 72-week total 37,300) in his 72nd frame.

Chris Stapleton’s 233-week TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) rose 9-7 (#65 non-mover BB200; 2,000 sales; total 2,545,400).

Former No.1 Carrie Underwood with CRY PRETTY rose 12-8 (#92-80 BB200; 4,300 sales; 57-week total 515,800) in her 57th week.

Former No.1 Kane Brown with sophomore album, entitled EXPERIMENT rose 10-9 (#82 non-mover BB200; 500 sales; 49-week total 228,000) in his 49th week as his self-titled album held at No.14 (#108-105 BB200;).

Former No.1 Maren Morris with GIRL (Columbia Nashville/ Sony Music Nashville [SMN]) fell 8-10 (#62-86 BB200; 500 sales;32-week total 73,800) in her 32nd frame.

Outside the Top 10

In his third week Jon Pardi with HEARTACHE MEDICATION (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville) fell 7-11 (#60-86 Billboard 200; 3,100 sales; 3-week total 30,300).

Former 6-week non-consecutive week No.1 Jason Aldean with REARVIEW TOWN (Macon/Broken Bow Records) held at No.13 (#97-106 BB200) in his 78th week.

Former No.1 Kacey Musgraves with GOLDEN HOUR (MCA Nashville) rose 17-15 (#135-147 BB200) in her 75th frame.

Blanco Brown with his first LP, HONEYSUCKLE & LIGHTNING BUGS (Trailer Trap Music/BMG/Broken Bow Music Group | Amazon UK - iTunes), arrived at No.16 (#130 Billboard 200; 7,000 consumption units; 1,200 album sales). Lead single “The Git Up” commanded Hot Country Songs for 12 weeks beginning in July.

In his third frame Sturgill Simpson with SOUND & FURY (Elektra/EMG) fell 5-19 (#55-152 Billboard 200; 3,900 sales; 3-week total 37,900).

Florida Georgia Line with CAN’T SAY I AIN’T COUNTRY (Big Machine Label Group) fell 19-20 (#153-163 BB200; 500 sales; 35-week total 97,900) in their 35th chart frame.

Outside the Top 25

Former No.1 Zac Brown Band with THE OWL (ZB Collective/BMG | Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com) fell 18-27 (#151 -off the top 200 Billboard 200) in their fourth week.

FALLING SHORT of Top 50:

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

Chris Knight with the 11-track ALMOST DAYLIGHT (Drifter's Church Productions | Amazon UK - iTunes) made a debut at No.6 selling 2,800 copies.

Brothers Osborne with Live: At The Ryman (EMI Nashville | Amazon UK – iTunes) made a debut at No.14. selling 1,300 copies.

Trigger Hippy with FULL CIRCLE & THEN SOME (Turkey Grass) made a debut at No.24. selling 800 copies.

Various Artists with Five Decades, One Voice (Cracker Barrel, Universal Special Markets) made a debut at No.45. selling 300 copies.

Kelleigh Bannen with the 14-track FAVORITE COLORS (Whiskey Rain | Amazon UK - iTunes) made a debut at No.48 selling 300 copies.

Kendell Marvel with SOLID GOLD SOUNDS (Easy Eye Sound) made a debut at No.49.  selling 300 copies.

Year-To-Date Albums

8,056,000 sales which is 28% down at the same point in 2018 (11,182,000 sales).

Album consumption is 42,087,000 units which is 6.8% up at the same point in 2018 (39,421,000 units)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

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:

Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber’s “10,000 Hours” (Warner Music Nashville/ WAR) held at No. 1 (chart dated Oct. 26), following the collaboration’s second full week of tracking.

Cole Swindell banked his ninth Hot Country Songs top10 as “Love You Too Late” (WMN) rose 12-9. The song climbed 4-3 on Country Airplay, up 5% to 33.1 million in audience, while sporting 5 million U.S. streams and 2,000 downloads sold.

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (2 weeks)/ Airplay Gainer ** “10,000 Hours” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber

** Streaming Gainer/ Digital Gainer ** No.10 “Kinfolks” Sam Hunt

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.37 “What You See Is What You Get” Luke Combs

Debut No. 42 “Got What I Got” Jason Aldean

Debut No. 47 “Tequila Does” Miranda Lambert

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

Chris Janson scored his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Good Vibes” (Warner Music Nashville/WAR) rose 2-1 in its 34th week on the tally (dated Oct. 26). The song reigned with a 10% gain to 40.1 million audience impressions in the week ending Oct. 20, according to Nielsen Music.

On Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart “Good” ascended 8-6.

“I’m humbled to have a No. 1 hit,” Janson told Billboard. “I’m even more humbled to be able to do this for a living. I feel really blessed, and that’s exactly what ‘Good Vibes’ expresses in song.”

“Good,” which Janson wrote with Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, is the launch single from Janson’s third LP, Real Friends, released Oct. 18. Janson co-wrote all 13 tracks on the set, with “Done” following as the next

single (going for adds on Nov. 25).

Janson has logged nine Country Airplay entries, including four top 10s. The Missouri native, who became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2018, first charted in 2010 with the No. 56-peaking “ ’Til a Woman Comes

Along.” He sailed to his breakthrough hit and first top10 with “Buy Me a Boat,” which reached No. 3 in 2015. His additional top 10s prior to his first leader: “Fix a Drink” (No. 2, 2017) and “Drunk Girl” (No. 7, 2018).

Hootie & The Blowfish, fronted by Darius Rucker, made its inaugural appearance on a Billboard country chart as its genre debut, “Hold On” (Capitol Nashville), entered Country Airplay at No. 30 with 6.3 million audience impressions.

The track, written by Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers, is the first single from the band’s album Imperfect Circle, due Nov. 1. It was released Friday, Oct. 18, so it achieved its chart start from just three days of airplay,

aided in its first day by hourly plays on participating iHeartMedia stations.

The group scored three Billboard Hot 100 top 10s in the mid-1990s (“Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You”), all from debut LP Cracked Rear View, the 20th-best-selling album in the United

States (10.4 million copies) since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991.

Rucker has been a country format staple since his 2008 genre debut, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” became his first of eight Country Airplay No.1s.

Ingrid Andress with More Hearts Than Mine co-written by Andress, her debut single reached the Country Airplay top 25 (26-24), up 8% to 9.4 million audience impressions.

Country Airplay

*** No.1 (1 week) *** “Good Vibes” Chris Janson 40.074 million audience (+3.637 million) / 7,943 radio plays (+649)

** Hot Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.30 “Hold On” Hootie & The Blowfish 6.336 million audience gain thanks to 52 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)

Debut No.59 “Getting Good” Lauren Alaina

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart 
(Chart issue week of October 26, 2019)

Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber with "10,000 Hours" held at No.1 (#1-4 Digital Song Sales; 17,000 sales; down 68%; 2-week total 71,000) in the week ending Oct. 17. It charged onto Radio Songs at No. 28 (30.5 million, up 56%), while commanding Hot Country Songs for a second week.

It was three places behind Maroon 5's "Memories" which jumped 20-12 on the Hot 100, hitting a new high, as it posted a second week atop Digital Song Sales (21,000, up 3%).

Sam Hunt with Kinfolks (MCA Nashville), following its first full week of tracking, bounded onto Country Digital Song Sales at No. 2 (#7 New Entry Digital Song Sales 13,000 sold), marking Hunt’s 15th top 10. On Hot Country Songs, it rocketed 38-10, awarding the artist with his seventh top 10.

14 non-consecutive week No1. chart topper Blanco Brown with “The Git Up” (Trailer Trap Music/BMG/Broken Bow) climbed 5-3 (#17-11 Digital Songs; 10,000 sales; 20-week total 400,000).

Marshmello & Kane Brown with “One Thing Right” fell 3-4 (#15-12 Digital Songs; 10,000 sales; 15-week total 156,000) in their 15th frame.

Luke Combs with “Even Though I'm Leaving” (River House/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) fell 4-5 (#16-14 Digital Songs; 9,000 sales; 14-week total 114,000) as “Beer Never Broke My Heart” fell 8-13 (#30-37 Digital Songs; 4,000 sales; 24-week total 275,000) in his 24th frame. Additionally, “What You See Is What You Get” climbed 23-16 (#44 New Entry Digital Sales; 4,000 sales; 2-week total 6,000).

Old Dominion with “One Man Band” (RCA Nashville) held at No.6 (#19-17 Digital Songs; 8,000 sales; 18-week total 131,000) in its 18th frame.

Jason Aldean with “Got What I Got” (Broken Bow, BMG, Macon) made a debut at No.7 (#21 New Entry Digital Songs; 6,000 sales).

Miranda Lambert with “Tequila Does” (RCA Nashville, Vanner) made a debut at No.8 (#23 New Entry Digital Songs; 6,000 sales).

Matt Stell with “Prayed For You” (Arista Nashville) fell 7-9 (#26-24 Digital Songs; 5,000 sales; 10-week total 112,000) in his tenth frame.

Kacey Musgraves with “Rainbow” (MCA Nashville) made a re-entry at No.10 (#31 Re-Entry Digital Songs; 5,000 sales; total 122,000).

Outside the Top 10

Maren Morris with “The Bones“ (Columbia Nashville) fell 2-11 (#7-35 Digital Songs; 4,000 sales; 9-week total 98,000).

Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins with “Hell Right” (Warner Music Nashville) slipped 11-12 (#36-38 Digital Songs; 4,000 sales; 9-week total 45,000) in their 9th week. Additionally, 9 non-consecutive week No1. Blake Shelton with “God’s Country” (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) retreated 14-15 (#45-41 Digital Songs) in his 29th frame.

Dan + Shay with “Speechless” (Warner Music Nashville) fell 9-18 (#31-50 Digital Songs; 4,000 sales; 69-week total 563,000).

Chris Lane with “I Don't Know About You“ (Big Loud) fell 10-20 (#27-35 Digital Songs; 3,000 sales; 16-week total 158,000).

Ingrid Andress with “More Hearts Than Mine” (Atlantic, Warner Music Nashville) fell 18-22 (3,000 sales; total 43,000) in her 4th frame.

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

October 21, 2019

Chris Janson Hits #1 With 'Good Vibes'

Congratulations to Chris Janson, Kristen Williams, Tom Martens, James Marsh and the Warner/WAR promotion team on landing at No. 1 with “Good Vibes.” It is the first single from Janson’s third studio album, Real Friends. Songwriters are Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley and Janson.

“Good Vibes” (Warner/WAR) climbed 2-1 logging 8,724 radio spins (+972), 53.207 million audience impressions (+5.083) with 27865 Total Points (+2736) from 157 tracking stations (157 ADDS) for the tracking week October 13 to October 19, 2019 and published chart dated October 21, 2019.

 Warner Music Nashville/WAR's Chris Janson (r) celebrated his single, "Good Vibes," hitting #1 with a custom cake he shared with Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters KKGO (Go Country 105)/Los Angeles' Michael Levine (l). "Good Vibes" marks Janson's third career #1

Kudos to Bobby Young and the Capitol reps on notching 57 adds for Hootie And The Blowfish’s “Hold On”. The song topped the "Most Added" board this chart week.

Hootie & the Blowfish earn most-added distinction at Country radio with their first new music in nearly 15 years. The band will perform new single “Hold On,” praised by Rolling Stone for its “uplifting” message and “funky, staccato guitar riff,” live on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Friday, Nov. 1 to celebrate Imperfect Circle’s highly-anticipated release date.
Since bursting onto the scene with their Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View, Hootie & the Blowfish have been difficult to box into a genre, demonstrating influences ranging from pop and rock to folk, soul and blues. With “Hold On,” penned by Country music stalwart Chris Stapleton together with Jim Beavers, the GRAMMY Award-winning band makes their debut at Country radio, where frontman Darius Rucker has found success throughout the past decade of his solo career.

“I truly believe that ‘Let Her Cry’ is the first Country song I ever wrote. What we’re doing now and the music we made in our earliest days, even what I’ve done in my solo career – the lines are all so blurred that it’s hard to define genres today.” shares Rucker. “It’s really exciting for me to be back on the Country charts, now with my Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, and to know that at the end of the day people are still connecting with our music all these years later.”

“Hold On” follows “Rollin’,” “Miss California” and “Lonely On A Saturday Night” as a preview of what’s to come with the November 1 release of Imperfect Circle, available for pre-order now.
 

Mediabase Adds (Selective)

Artist/Title (Label)        TW       Total Historic Adds

HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH/Hold On (Capitol)          57         57

LAINEY WILSON/Dirty Looks (Broken Bow)       24         24

CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE/I Hope You're Happy Now (Big Machine/Curb)    10         91

DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER/10,000 Hours (Warner/WAR)     10         134

RILEY GREEN/I Wish Grandpas Never Died (BMLGR)    9          124

SAM HUNT/Kinfolks (MCA)        9          134

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Blessings (BMLGR)   6          84

RYAN HURD/To A T (RCA)        6          128

DUSTIN LYNCH/Ridin' Roads (Broken Bow)       5          150

KANE BROWN/Homesick (RCA)            5          129

LAUREN ALAINA/Getting Good (Mercury)         5          63

THE HIGHWOMEN/Redesigning Women (LCS/Elektra/WMN)      5          15

BRETT YOUNG/Catch (BMLGR)            4          114

MAREN MORRIS/The Bones (Columbia)            4          92

MORGAN WALLEN/Chasin' You (Big Loud)       4          94

GABBY BARRETT/I Hope (Warner/WAR)            3          75

INGRID ANDRESS/More Hearts Than Mine (Warner/WEA)          3          130

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Whatcha Drinkin 'Bout (Rebel Engine)      2          11

LAINEY WILSON/LA (Broken Bow)        1          1

LANCO/What I See (Arista)        1          2

MARSHMELLO & KANE BROWN/One Thing Right (RCA)           1          4

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly October 21, 2019, Issue 675  - 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: #11

Event Venue City/State: Eric Church Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dates: Oct. 04-05, 2019 Gross Sales: $2,165,044 Attend: 21609/ 21609

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $149, $17.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group/AEG Presents

Rank Artist: #17

Event Venue City/State: Eric Church Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, Pa.

Dates:  Gross Sales: Attend:

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** (1** unsold tickets) Prices:

Promoters:

Oct. 11-12, 2019 $1,727,753 24814/24814 02-Feb $149, $20 Messina Touring Group/AEG Presents

Rank Artist: #20

Event Venue City/State: Florida Georgia Line Glen Helen Amphitheater Devore, Calif.

Dates: Sep. 21, 2019 Gross Sales: $1,629,688 Attend: 26814/ 31418

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** (1** unsold tickets) Prices: $109.25, $35.25

Promoters: Live Nation

Rank Artist: #39

Event Venue City/State: Thomas Rhett Madison Square Garden New York, N.Y.

Dates: Sept 20, 2019 Gross Sales: $1,345,659 Attend: 13367/ 13367

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** (1** unsold tickets) Prices: $112.75, $45.75

Promoters: Live Nation

Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart