Country
Billboard Chart News July 31, 2017
RIAA
Certifications
Multi-Platinum
= 2,000,000 plus units
Platinum =
1-million units
Gold = 500,000
units
Note: For ALBUM
certifications the RIAA base their figures
on the number of units SHIPPED together with, track sales and on demand audio/
video stream units and NOT based purely on traditional retail sales.
1,500 on-demand audio and/or video song streams = 10 track sales = 1 album sale.
150 on-demand streams = 1
track download
Gold singles:
Maren
Morris 80s Mercedes released Nov
6, 2015 | Gold July 13, 2017 0.5 Million
Kane
Brown What Ifs (Feat. Lauren Alaina) released Dec 2,
2016 | Gold July 17, 2017 0.5 Million
Michael
Ray - Kiss You In the Morning
Michael
Ray - Think a Little Less released
April 25, 2016 | Gold July 25, 2017 0.5 Million
Steve
Holy - Good Morning Beautiful
Dustin
Lynch - Seein'
Red June 24, 2016 Gold | July 14, 2017 0.5 Million
Dustin
Lynch - Small
Town Boy released Feb 17, 2017 | Gold July 21, 2017 0.5 Million
Josh
Turner - Hometown
Girl released May 13, 2016 | Gold July 17, 2017 0.5 Million
Josh
Thompson - Way
Out Here released Feb 23, 2010 | Gold July 21, 2017 0.5 Million
Blake
Shelton - Gonna
released Aug 3, 2015 | Gold July 25, 2017 0.5 Million
Platinum single:
Cole
Swindell - Middle of a Memory released
May 6, 2016 | Platinum | July 25,
2017 1 Million
3x Platinum single:
Sam
Hunt - Body Like a Back Road released
date Feb 1, 2017 | 3x Multi-Platinum July 27, 2017 3 Million units
2x Platinum album:
Luke
Bryan - KILL THE LIGHTS released Aug 7, 2015 | 2x Multi-Platinum
July 17, 2017 2 Million
In
Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of August 12, 2017)
Country Album
Chart ** No.1 (8 non-consecutive weeks) From A Room:
Volume 1 Chris Stapleton
Hot Country
Songs ** No.1 (25 weeks) ** “Body Like A Back
Road” Sam Hunt
Country Airplay
** No.1 (1 week) “Do I Make You Wanna” Billy Currington
Country Digital
Songs ** No.1 (25 non-consecutive weeks) ** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt
The
Billboard 200 chart measures multi-metric album consumption, which includes
traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent
albums (SEA).
Lana Del Rey Debuts at No. 1
on Billboard 200 Albums Chart, Tyler, The Creator and Meek Mill Bow at Nos. 2
& 3
Lana
Del Rey scores her second No.1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as LUST FOR LIFE bowed atop
the Aug. 12-dated tally. The set, which was released on July 21 through
Polydor/Interscope Records, earned 107,000
equivalent album units in the week ending July 27, according to Nielsen Music.
Of that sum, 80,442
were in
traditional album sales.
Further,
this week marked the first time in 2017 where the top three albums are debuts
that each earned more than 100,000 units. It last occurred on the Dec. 10,
2016-dated list, when Metallica’s Hardwired… To Self-Destruct debuted at No. 1
with 291,000 units, followed by Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic at No. 2 (231,000) and Miranda Lambert’s The Weight of These Wings at
No. 3 (133,000).
Billboard Top Country
Albums (Chart issue week of August 12, 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.
Another One-Two
for Stapleton
Chris Stapleton with From A Room: Volume 1 (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) held
at #1 for a 8th non-consecutive week
(#23-37 Billboard 200) selling 10,246 copies (down 18%; 12-week total 465,100). It
was the biggest selling country album this chart frame.
Stapleton’s
TRAVELLER
(MERCURY/ UMGN) rose 3-2 (30-38 BB200) selling 6,859 copies (down 13%, 117-week total 2,023,600).
Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music
Nashville) rose 4-3 (#36-43 BB200) selling
4,718 copies (down 4%; 8-week
total 75,330).
Sara Evans with WORDS (Born to Fly Records) made a debut at No.4 (#46 BB200). Now on her own label the 46-year old Missouri
native (with 1.75 million Facebook Followers) opened with 9,874 copies sold.
“I keep calling it the album of my lifetime
because I’m that proud of this collection of songs and hope that it takes you
on a journey of happiness, tears, and just enjoying good music” shared Sara.
CHART HISTORY:
Her
last non-seasonal studio album SLOW ME DOWN (RCA) released March 11, 2014 started
at No.9 on the BB200 (#2 Country) selling 26,509 copies.
STRONGER (RCA) released March 8,
2011 debuted at #6 on the
BB200 (#1 Country) selling 55,193 copies which was a successful
comeback after a 5-year absence.
REAL FINE PLACE released October 4, 2005 debuted at No.3
on the BB200 (#1 Country) selling 69,486 copies.
RESTLESS (RCA) released in Aug 19, 2003 was
certified platinum by the RIAA (Dec 3, 2004), it debuted at No.20 BB200 (#3
Country) selling 44,283 copies in its first
week.
Sara
Evans: Talks Career Highlights, Being
a Woman in Today’s Male-Dominated Industry, New Album, “Words,” & More
Critical
reception for Sara Evans’ Words:
“Many musicians like to say their work is
deeply personal but Sara Evans may have taken that a step further in her new,
impressive album…brimming with confidence and using her immensely appealing
voice on a batch of very strong songs, ‘Words’ captures an artist in full
musical flight…artistic freedom has never sounded so good.” Associated Press Washington Post
“Full of songs that address head-on life’s
rawest emotional experiences.” - USA
Today / The Tennessean
“She made every word count for her eighth
studio release.” - CMT
“Sara Evans is swinging for the fences on her
new album, Words…offering fans a surprise or two with an album that is not only
satisfying to discover for the first time, but will hold up well and reveal new
facets over repeat listenings.” - Taste
of Country
Sounds Like Nashville Chuck Dauphin (Very
Positive) “A huge statement from a singer
who is ready to take things to a whole new level.”
Roughstock (Rating: Positive) On some
ways, you could listen to Sara Evans new, independently-released Words album
and feel like she's chasing a train she'll never catch but the reality is that
this is a record for a fans and if she does get some mainstream radio success,
awesome, but if not, that's OK too
because, hits or not, Words is the record of her career. -
Allmusic: (Rating; 4/5 STARS) Sara Evans titled the first album she
released on her own Born to Fly Records Words because that's where she wants
the listener to focus -- the stories these songs tell, not the melodies that
sell the narrative....What gives Words its strength is how it never flaunts its
diversity; instead, its eclecticism is casual, with Evans
Entertainment Focus (Rating: 5/5) Featuring a handful of co-writes from Evans,
Words pools together a wealth of songwriting talent including Ashley Monroe,
Jaida Dreyer and Hillary Lindsey. The album is rich with variety whilst
managing to always stay distinctively Evans. Unlike many artists, Evans doesn’t
get lost in the production and puts her stamp on everything she
does......Everything Evans does is worth your time but there’s something about
Words that feels truly special. It’s a record that has been put together with
love and passion, and that shines through in every track. Evans has never
sounded better and in years to come this record will likely rank as one of her
finest. There’s a real sense of freedom and happiness that resonates from the
record and that makes it all the more enjoyable to listen to. Words is an album
you simply have to listen to and Evans remains a vital force in Country music.
Keith Urban with RIPCORD (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville)
held at #5 (#41-48 BB200) selling 3,961 copies
(down 14%; 64-week total 632,000).
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK (Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), fell
6-7 (43-55
Billboard 200) selling 6,090 copies (down 19%; 7-week total 103,791).
Brett Young with self-titled debut (BMLG) held at #8 (#52-56 BB200) selling 3,270 copies
(down 1%; 24-week total 111,000).
Florida Georgia Line with DIG YOUR ROOTS (BMLG) held at #9
(#56-57 BB200) selling 1,607 copies (48-week total 411,200).
Jon Pardi with California Sunrise held at #10 (69-69 BB200) selling 1,768 copies.
Outside the
Top 10
Kane Brown with
self-titled KANE BROWN (Zone 4/RCA
Nashville) held at #11 (#75-78 BB200) selling
2,528 copies
(up 3%; 34-week total 173,600).
Lucas Hoge with DIRTY SOUTH (Rebel Engine) made a debut
at No.12 (#88 BB200) selling 7,103 copies.
I was the third best selling country album in this chart
frame.
Critical
reception for Lucas Hoge’s - Dirty South:
Roughstock (Rating: Positive) : With a pleasant vocal style and a genuine talent for selecting songs
that suit his voice, Lucas Hoge has steadily been growing into his career as a
major artist at a time when it’s not exactly easy to do so. With 10 tracks,
Dirty South, Lucas’ third album and first for Rebel Engine Entertainment, finds
the artist tackling multiple stories and sounds that are as classic sounding as
they are freshly current...It is only 10 songs deep but Dirty South is the kind
of pleasant brand of music that country music has often been known for. These
are ten good songs with no real ‘fat’ to be found. Here’s hoping the album
finds a wider audience.
Various Artists with Now That's What I Call Country Volume 10 (Universal Music Group)
fell #13-15 (#84-112 Billboard 200)
selling 6,138 copies (down 14%; 7-week total
70,225).
Zac Brown Band with WELCOME HOME (Southern Ground/Elektra/Atlantic Group) fell 2-16 (98-25 BB200) selling 3,898
copies
(down 71%; 11-week total 245,500).
Maren Morris with HERO (Columbia Nashville) fell 18-19
(#141 non-mover Billboard 200) selling 1,558 copies
(down 7%; 60-week total 240,000).
Parmalee with 27861 (Stoney Creek | BBMG) made at debut at #22 (#146 BB200) selling 3,786 copies.
“We love
eastern North Carolina,” Matt Thomas, lead vocalist and guitar player for
Parmalee says. “It’s a big part of our sound, which comes from the music we
grew up hearing and listening to. And the people we grew up around are just as
much a part of this music as we are.”
In 2016,
Parmalee was nominated for ACM’s “New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year.” Their debut
album, Feels Like Carolina, earned the group three Top 10 singles: “Carolina,”
“Close Your Eyes,” and “Already Callin’ You Mine.” The band recently released
“Sunday Morning,” the new single from their upcoming album, 27861.
In a band
tweet, the group gave background on the importance of the album title, "We
all have 27861 tattooed on us. It's the zip code to Parmele, NC where we
started this band."
Critical
reception for Parmalee’s
27861:
Sounds Like Nashville (Rating: Positive)…With their latest album, 27861, Parmalee has a refreshed perspective
and sound like they’re ready to take on the modern world of country music.
Though the 12-track album is filled with entertaining party songs, it’s clear
that the group is moving in a new direction that allows them to be modern while
staying true to their roots....While they’ve always been a quality act,
Parmalee show they belong in the current country format with 27861, creating a
project that is perfect for the now, but is sure to keep their fans listening
for years to come.
Your Life In A Song (Rating: Mixed): The first thing to note is that many of the songs on ‘27861’ follow
that popular modern pattern of programming where the verses are relatively
quiet but the choruses huge. Lead single ‘Sunday Morning’ is a prime example of
that. It is a strong song with a good melody but ultimately predictable in what
it does. ...Nowhere on the album is that current trend for the 70’s more in
evidence than on ‘Mimosas’. It’s an interesting song but I can’t help but feel
I’ve heard it all before....I can’t put my finger on who started this current
obsession with 70’s programming in modern Country music but it’s becoming a
well-trodden and over used technique....There are flaws here though and generic
touches that pervade across the album, leaving ‘27861’ an admirable yet
confusing listen….
Outside the Top 25
Miranda Lambert with THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS (Vanner/ RCA Nashville/Sony Music
Nashville) fell 23-26 (160-169
BB200) selling 1,746 copies (down 10%; 36-week
total 374,200).
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) rewrote the mark for the
most weeks spent atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, as it earns
its 25th frame at No.1 on the Aug.
12 survey.
“Back Road” one-ups the 24-week reign
of Florida Georgia Line’s debut single, “Cruise,” in 2012 and 2013.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
25, "Body Like a Back Road," Sam Hunt, Feb. 25, 2017
24, "Cruise," Florida Georgia Line, Dec. 22, 2012
19, "Walk On By," Leroy Van Dyke, Sept. 25, 1961
18, "H.O.L.Y.," Florida Georgia Line, May 21, 2016
17, "Die a Happy Man," Thomas Rhett, Nov. 14, 2015
16, "Love's Gonna Live Here," Buck Owens, Oct. 19, 1963
Universal Music Group Nashville president Cindy Mabe said,
“I don’t think breaking the record at the
top of the Hot Country Songs chart was the goal” when Hunt released the
song. “But as summer met Sam’s 15 in a 30 Tour, combined with the pent-up
demand for new music, this record has become part of [the] culture and [a] sexy
soundtrack for the summer. I think this is just the tip of the iceberg of
what’s coming for Sam Hunt.”
For now, “Back Road” — co-written by Hunt, Zach Crowell,
Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne — is a stand-alone single following Hunt’s debut
full-length, 2014’s Montevallo, which has sold 1.3 million copies in the United
States to date, according to Nielsen Music.
“Back Road” likewise led Country Streaming Songs (15.9
million U.S. streams, down 5%, in the week ending July 27) and Country Digital
Song Sales (42,000 downloads sold, down 9%) for a 25th week each.
On the latter list, “Back Road” tied “Cruise” for the
most weeks at No.1. On Country Airplay, “Back Road” ruled for three weeks
beginning on the chart dated May 6; as a recurrent, it drew 34.1 million in
country radio audience in the tracking week ending July 30.
Hot Country Songs blends radio airplay, streaming and
sales data. The chart launched as an all-encompassing genre survey in October
1958. It has been purely airplay-based, powered by Nielsen Music, since 1990;
in 2012, it transitioned to its current multi-metric methodology.
Kane
Brown with “What Ifs,” featuring Lauren Alaina (Zone 4/RCA Nashville), rose 11-10 on Hot Country Songs, marking Brown’s first top 10 on the
tally. The track surged 8-3 on Country Digital Song Sales (16,000 sold, up
13%), bulleted at No. 4 on Country Streaming Songs (7 million U.S. streams, up
2%) and lifted 20-18 on Country Airplay (15.6 million in audience, up 18%).
“What Ifs” is Alaina’s second Hot Country Songs top 10, following “Road Less
Traveled,” which reached No.8 (and became her first No. 1 on Country Airplay)
in April.
Hot County
Songs
** No.1 (25
weeks) ** “Body Like A Back Road” Sam
Hunt
Hot Shot Debut No.50 “Like I Loved You” Brett Young
Billy
Currington with “Do I
Make You Wanna” (Mercury) jumped 4-1 in its 36th week on Country
Airplay, gaining by 10% to 43.8 million audience impressions in the
tracking week.
On Hot Country Songs, it returned to its No.8 peak. “Wanna,”
written by Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins and Jerry Flowers, marked
Currington’s 11th Country Airplay leader and the third of four singles
released from his Summer Forever LP.
Lead track “Don’t It” led the list dated June 6, 2015, and “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” reigned
for two weeks beginning Oct. 15, 2016. (Second single “Drinkin’ Town With a Football Problem” hiked to No.30 in November
2015.)
The
song was a strong contender [for first single] for me and I think other people
at the label,” said Billy. “It’s just got that
laid-back thing, and easy to sing and just a really, really cool song. A cool
vibe, that’s definitely what I’d say about this. It’s got that vibe.”
It
was a really simple idea that you’re in a relationship, at the beginning of the
relationship, and in my case, the girl is saying, she just wants reassurance,
and I thought I’d love to hear that in a song where the girl says really simple
things, like ‘What if I fall?’ And the guy’s like, ‘I won’t let you fall?’ ‘And
if I cry?’ ‘I’ll never make you cry.’ ‘And if I get scared?’ The guy says,
‘I’ll hold you tighter, and when they’re trying to get to you, I’ll be the
fighter.’ I just liked the simplicity of all that, because that’s been my
experience. More often than not, the more real, simple scenario is pretty
universal.”
Dustin
Lynch with "Small
Town Boy” (Broken Bow) climbed 12-10 on Country Airplay (31.4
million, up 13%), becoming his sixth top 10.
Country
Airplay
***
No.1 (1 week) *** "Do I Make You Wanna” Billy Currington 43.764 million audience (+4.074 million) / 7,674 radio
plays (+794)
** Hot
Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.33 “Unforgettable” Thomas Rhett +5.400 million audience
gain thanks to 49 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)
Debut
No.52 “Road Trippin’ Dan + Shay
Billboard Country Digital
Singles Chart
Sam Hunt with “Body Like a Back Road”
(MCA Nashville) held at No.1 (#5-6 Digital
Songs; 42,000 sales; down 9%; 26-week total 1,430,000)
leading the chart for a 24rd non-consecutive week.
It
was five places behind Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber with
"Despacito" which dominated
the Digital Song Sales chart for a record-tying 13th week, with 102,000
downloads sold (down 13%) in the week ending July 27, according to Nielsen
Music; the remix with Bieber accounted for 77% of the song's sales for a third
consecutive week (in line with its breakdown in prior weeks).
"Despacito" equalled the 13-week Digital Song Sales reigns of The
Chainsmokers' "Closer," featuring Halsey (2016); "Uptown
Funk!" (2015); and Flo Rida's "Low," featuring T-Pain (2007-08).
Dustin Lynch with “Small Town Boy rose 4-2 (#32-31 Digital
Songs).
Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina with
“What
If’s” rose 8-3 (#38-32 Digital Songs).
Lady Antebellum with “You Look Good” rose 9-4 (#40-42 Digital Songs).
Brett Young with “In Case You Didn’t Know”
held at #5 (#33-43 Digital
Songs)
Keith Urban with “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood (Hit Red/Capitol
Nashville), rose 7-6 (#35-45 Digital Songs).
Midland with “Drinkin’
Problem” fell 6-7 (#34-49 Digital Songs).
Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris with “Craving
You” rose 10-8.
Jon Pardi with “Heartache
On The Dance Floor” (Capitol Nashville) climbed 12-9.
Dylan Scott with “My Girl” retreated 2-10.
Country Aircheck MEDIABASE
Chart
31
July 2017
Congrats
to Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Royce Risser, Bobby Young,
David Friedman and the Capitol promotion
staff, who narrowly – tie-breaker
narrowly – edged out Billy Currington, Royce Risser, Damon Moberly, David
Friedman and the Mercury promo crew, to take the No.1 spot moving (5-1) with “The
Fighter.”
The
first chart-topping points tie in Country
Aircheck history resorted to the tie breakers which are, in order,
plus-or-minus points, spins and plus-or-minus spins.
“The
Fighter” is the fifth-consecutive No.1 from Ripcord. Songwriters are Urban and
Busbee. It followed the success of “Blue
Ain’t Your Color,” “Wasted Time,”
“Break on Me” and “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”
It’s also his 23rd single to reach
the top of the country chart.
LW
TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud
Stations
5 1
KEITH URBAN f/C.UNDERWOOD The Fighter (Capitol) 24098 +3053 8125 +1038 52.763 +6.235
4 2
BILLY CURRINGTON/Do I Make You Wanna (Mercury) 24098 +2281 8064 +764 53.305 +4.144
Kudos
to George Briner and the Valory crew
on notching 83 adds for Thomas Rhett’s “Unforgettable”.
The song
topped the "Most Added" board this chart week.
Artist/Title (Label)/TW
/Total Historic Adds
THOMAS
RHETT/Unforgettable (Valory) 83 83
LEVON/Ms.
Marianne (Columbia) 20 22
BRETT
YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 17 86
CHRIS
JANSON/Fix A Drink (Warner Bros./WAR) 15 146
WALKER
HAYES/You Broke Up With Me (Monument/Arista) 13 58
AARON
WATSON/Outta Style (Big) 12 93
ADAM
CRAIG/Just A Phase (Stoney Creek) 11
 |
| In honor of Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett being most-added at Country radio this week with his new single, “Unforgettable,” All Access delivered bagels to the Big Machine Label Group office. Valory Music Co. Coord./Promotion Lauren Simon (l) and Dir./Southeast Promotion Brooke Nixon (r) accepted the treats on behalf of the Valory team to celebrate an ‘unforgettable’ week. |
For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 561 - July 31, 2017 [PDF File] Magazine View
Billboard Boxscores (Selective Country
concerts)
Rank
Artist: #47
Event
Venue City/State: Florida Georgia Line, Nelly,
Chris Lane, Morgan Wallen Amphitheater
at the Wharf Orange Beach, Ala.
Dates:
July 14-15, 2017 Gross Sales: $938,852 Attend:
18,182/ 18,182
Shows/
Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$81.75, $20
Promoters: Red Mountain Entertainment
Rank
Artist: #49
Event
Venue City/State: Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, Chris
Janson XFINITY Center Mansfield, Mass.
Dates:
July 22, 2017 Gross Sales: $912,847 Attend:
19,928/ 19,928
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices:
$60.75, $26
Promoters:
Live Nation
Rank
Artist: #96
Event
Venue City/State: Miranda Lambert, The Cadillac
Three, Tucker Beathard Bank
of New Hampshire Pavilion Gilford, N.H.
Dates:
June 2-3, 2017 Gross Sales: $451,924 Attend:
7,893/ 14,225
Shows/
Sellouts: 2/0 (6,332 unsold tickets) Prices: $75, $33
Promoters:
in-house
Rank
Artist: #139
Event
Venue City/State: Jason Isbell, Strand of Oaks St. Augustine
Amphitheater St. Augustine, Fla.
Dates:
July 22, 2017 Gross Sales: $132,455 Attend:
3,177/ 3,971
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/0 (794 unsold tickets) Prices: $55, $35
Promoters:
NS2
Rank
Artist: #208
Event
Venue City/State: Billy Currington, Seth Ennis Carpenter Theatre at Richmond
CenterStage Richmond, Va.
Dates:
May 19, 2017 Gross Sales: $32,364 Attend:
823/ 1,141
Shows/
Sellouts: 1/0 (318 unsold tickets) Prices: $40.50, $19.25
Promoters:
NS2
