Country Billboard Chart News June 20, 2013
In Brief: Billboard Country Charts
Country Album Chart ** No. 1 (1 week) ** “Here’s To The Good Times” Florida Georgia Line
Hot Country Songs ** No. 1 (16 weeks) ** “Cruise” Florida Georgia Line
Country Airplay ** No. 1 (1 week) ** "Boys 'Round Here" Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
Country Digital Songs ** No. 1 ** “Cruise” Florida Georgia Line
Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News
Almost 43 years after Black Sabbath debuted on the Billboard 200 (BB200), the iconic rock band earns its first No. 1 album this week with the arrival of "13." The set starts at No. 1 with 154,890 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "13" is the band's 23rd chart entry, and first studio album with singer Ozzy Osbourne since 1978's "Never Say Die!" The new release is only the group’s second top 10, following 1971's "Master of Reality," which reached No. 8. Sabbath made its Billboard 200 debut the week of Aug. 29, 1970, with its self-titled album.
Florida Georgia Line benefitted from Father's Day gifting and a temporary price cut at digital retailers, as HERE’S TO THE GOOD TIMES (Republic Nashville/Big Machine Label Group) rose to a new peak of No. 5 on the BB200 (up from No. 8) with 33,000 (up 20%).
The FGL duo thereby score their first leader on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, as rose from its previous No. 3 peak to No. 1 in its 28th week since its December 4, 2012 release date.
The album is the first in more than a year, and one of just three during the past six years, to reach No. 1 without debuting on top (excluding titles that bowed early due to street-date violations). Jason Aldean last accomplished the feat with My Kinda Party, which reached No. 1 in its 14th week (Feb. 19, 2011) after it opened at No. 2.
This week’s coronation marks the longest climb to No. 1 since Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut took 39 weeks (2006-’07), eventually dominating for 24 frames.
Darius Rucker's TRUE BELIEVERS slipped 5-6 on the BB200 and holds at No.2 on the Country chart with nearly 33,000 units sold (down 3%). He was less than 1,000 copies shy of FGL’s pole position.
Blake Shelton's "BASED ON A TRUE STORY" fell 4-7 (BB200) and moved 1-3 (Country) with 31,000 sales (down 15%).
Brad Paisley with a No.11 Country slot also saw a Father’s Day sales boost of 20% for WHEELHOUSE selling some 9,000 copies to reach 216,000 sold in 10 weeks.
There were 26 country albums in the Top 100 of the BB200 chart.
The only new entry on the top 40 Country placings is Now That's What I Call Country Volume 6 (UMG Nashville/Sony) the latest album from the Now! Series containing 18 of Country's Biggest Chart Topping Hits! After its June 11th release some 23,000 fans took home the compilation as it landed at No.16 on the Top 200 and debuted at No.4 (Country)
Review:
Allmusic (Rating: 3.5 STARS) Covering hits from the back half of 2012 and the first part of 2013, Now That's What I Call Country, Vol. 6 rounds up staples of contemporary country radio. Among the highlights are the Band Perry's defiant "Better Dig Two," Dierks Bentley's party anthem "5-1-5-0," Kip Moore's "Something 'Bout a Truck," Luke Bryan's "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," Jake Owen's "The One That Got Away," Chris Young's "I Can Take It from There," Miranda Lambert's "Fastest Girl in Town," Brad Paisley's anthemic "Southern Comfort Zone," and Little Big Town's breezy "Pontoon," a sizable number of highlights for an 18-track collection, which means Now That's What I Call Country, Vol. 6 offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Various Artists - Now Country 6 18 tracks / Time: 1:01:54 available at:
As mentioned last week (see Blog) Jason Isbell the alt-country new solo album titled SOUTHEASTERN made a significant impact this chart week with its digital release on June 11 via Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers. It landed a No.23 on the Billboard 200 with impressive sales of 17,521 copies.
Over on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart The Roys new album GYPSY RUNAWAY TRAIN (Rural Rhythm) released June 4, 2013 makes its first appearance in the top 10 at No.5.
Critical Acclaim for “Gypsy Runaway Train” - 13 Tracks Time: 43:18
Roughstock (Rating: 4 STARS) The evolution of The Roys continues on Gypsy Runaway Train, the brother and sister duo's third album for Rural Rhythm Records (after 2011's Lonesome Whistle and 2012's New Day Dawning). Gypsy Runaway Train features a mixture of Lee and Elaine Roy's influences (such as Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky," Flatt & Scruggs' "He Too Your Place," Merle Haggard's "Ramblin' Fever") with six original tracks including the title track.
The original songs were recorded with producer/musician Andy Leftwich while the cover songs were produced and recorded by The Roys with their touring band. Everything about Gypsy Runaway Train is enjoyable and with the audible evolution of The Roys music from three years ago 'til now, there's no doubting that their rise to the top of the Bluegrass circuit is well-deserved and worthy of continuing with the album.
It’s available at:
Billboard Top 200 Placings / Top 25 Country Albums
(Issue dated Chart week of June 29, 2013)
(Country Album positions #1 - #25)
(TW) This Week, (LW) Last Week, Co (Country Album Chart placing / Movement)
Billboard History
#1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, and 1988:
2008: “Last Name” Carrie Underwood (Arista)
2003: “Beer For My Horses” Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (Dreamworks)
1998: “I Just Want To Dance With You” George Strait (MCA)
1993: “Blame It On Your Heart” Patty Loveless (Epic)
1988: “I Told You So” Randy Travis (Warner Bros)
16 Years ago on the Billboard Country Album Chart
Billboard Top Ten For Week Ending June 21, 1997:
1. “Everywhere” Tim McGraw (Curb)
2. “Carrying Your Love With Me” George Strait (MCA)
3. “Blue” LeAnn Rimes (Curb)
4. “Unchained Melody: The Early Years” LeAnn Rimes (Curb)
5. “Did I Shave My Legs For This” Deana Carter (Capitol)
6. “Greatest Hits” Pam Tillis (Arista)
7. “Rumor Has It “ Clay Walker (Giant)
8. “Here's Your Sign” Bill Engvall (Warner Bros.)
9. “Dreamin' Out Loud” Trace Adkins (Capitol)
10. “Everything I Love” Alan Jackson (Arista)
Top 25 Hot Country Songs (week of June 29, 2013)
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, according to BDS it results in:
Florida Georgia Line logged a notable week atop Hot Country Songs, where the twosome’s “Cruise” leads for a 16th cumulative week. The reign is the longest since Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here” topped the survey for an equal stretch in 1963-64.
Six more weeks at #1 and they could be in the company of the biggest hits by Eddy Arnold (I'll Hold You In My Heart Till I Can Hold You In My Arms-1947), Hank Snow (I'm Moving On-1950-the #1 country hit of all time), and Webb Pierce (In The Jailhouse Now-1955)
Randy Houser claimed his third top 10 with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” (Stoney Creek). It earned the Airplay Gainer nod (up 19%, according to Nielsen BDS), and rose 12-8. He previously competed in the upper tier with “How Country Feels,” which stopped at No. 6 in February, and peaked at No. 2 with “Boots On” four years ago.
Carrie Underwood adds to her top 10 count with “See You Again” (19/Arista Nashville),which becomes her 18th top 10 with Streaming Gainer honors (778,000 total streams, up 36%) in its first complete Monday-Sunday tracking week following the June 5 video premiere on “Good Morning America” (and
simultaneously on ABCnews.com).
The Swon Brothers follow a third-place finish on “The Voice” (NBC, June 18) with Hot Shot Debut applause at No.16 , opening with “Danny’s Song” (Republic). Anne Murray’s recording of “Danny’s Song” (written by Kenny Loggins) rose to No.10 on the chart in 1973. The Swons also show up at No. 29 with their cover of Bob Seger’s 1973 classic “Turn the Page.”
The “Voice” 2013 winner Danielle Bradbery opens at No.22 on the list (No.78 Hot 100 ) with the Republic release “Who I Am” (written by Brett James and Troy Verges), which originally spent three weeks at No. 1 for Jessica Andrews in 2001.
Danielle also made a bow at No. 30 with “Please Remember Me” (written by Rodney Crowell and Will Jennings), a former five-week chart topper for Tim McGraw in 1999
Top 25 Hot Country Songs:
Florida Georgia Line with “Cruise” stays Top The Chart #1
Blake Shelton with “Boys ‘Round Here” stays at #2
Darius Rucker with former No.1 “Wagon Wheel” stays at #3
Luke Bryan with “Crash My Party” is up one, #5 - #4 p
Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift with “Highway Don’t Care” is down one, #5 q
Hunter Hayes with “I Want Crazy” stays at #6
Jake Owen with “Anywhere With You” is up one, #8 - #7 p
Randy Houser with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” is up four, #12 - #8 p
Carrie Underwood with “See You Again” is up five, #14 - #9 p
Brad Paisley with “Beat This Summer” is down one notch, #11 - #10 q
The Band Perry with “Done” is down one, #10 - #11 q
Florida Georgia Line with “Get Your Shine On” is down three, #9 - #12 q
Brett Eldredge with “Don’t Ya” is up five, #18 - #13 p
Kip Moore with “Hey Pretty Girl” is up one, #15 - #14 p
Miranda Lambert with “Mama’s Broken Heart” drops #13 - #15 q
The Swon Brothers with “Danny’s Song” debuts at #16 NEW
Keith Urban with “Little Bit Of Everything” is up two, #19 - #17 p
Zac Brown Band with “Jump Right In” is up two, #20 - #18 p
Easton Corbin with “All Over The Road” is up three, #22 - #19 p
Lady Antebellum with “Downtown” is down three slots, #17 - #20 q
Tyler Farr with “Redneck Crazy” is up three, #24 - #21 p
Danielle Bradbery with “Who I Am” debuts at #22 NEW
Brantley Gilbert with “More Than Miles” debuts at #23 NEW
Blake Shelton with former No.1 “Sure Be Cool If You Did” falls, #21 - #24 q
Eric Church with “Like Jesus Does” falls #16 - #25 q
Hot Country Songs
*** No.1 (16 weeks) *** “Cruise” Florida Georgia Line
** Airplay Gainer ** No.8 “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” Randy Houser
** Streaming Gainer ** No.9 “See You Again” Carrie Underwood
** Digital Gainer ** No.13 “Don’t Ya” Brett Eldredge
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.16 “Danny’s Song” The Swon Brothers
Debut No.22 “Who I Am” Danielle Bradbery
Debut No.29 “Turn The Page” The Swon Brothers
Debut No.30 “Please Remember Me” Danielle Bradbery
Debut No.42 “When I See This Bar” Kenny Chesney
Debut No.46 “Sunny And 75” Joe Nichols
Debut No.50 “Better” Maggie Rose
Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of June 29, 2013
Blake Shelton claimed his 14th leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay tally, as “Boys ’Round Here” (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) in its 12th chart week, gained 2.131 million audience impressions (43.1 million total impressions, according to Nielsen BDS) and rose 2-1. It was released on March 26, 2013 and was written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Craig Wiseman.
The track, which features Pistol Annies & Friends, is Shelton’s ninth consecutive No.1 (counting non-seasonal, promoted singles), a string that started with “Hillbilly Bone” (featuring Trace Adkins) three years ago. The new leader follows “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” which topped the chart for two weeks in March/April 2013. Both tracks are from Shelton’s new album, BASED ON A TRUE STORY .
The featured group on “Boys” is led by Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert, marking the third time in the chart’s history (since January 1990) that a husband and wife have ruled the list. The first married couple to reach the summit were Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who spent six weeks at No.1 in 1997 with “It’s Your Love.” Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black led with “When I Said I Do” two years later.
“Boys” received 6,537 radio plays (+108) during the BDS tracking week. The Top local audience were led by KKBQ Houston (1.3 million impressions), and include KKGO Los Angeles (1.2 million), WUSN Chicago (1.1 million), WNSH New York (862,000) and WXTU Philadelphia (785,000).
Kip Moore and Hunter Hayes freshened up the Top 10. Moore’s “Hey Pretty Girl” (MCA Nashville) took a 11-8 hop, becoming his third straight top 10. He previously rose to No.3 with “Beer Money” last December and scored his first leader with “Somethin’ ’Bout a Truck” a year ago.
Hunter Hayes also notches his third consecutive top 10 with “I Want Crazy” (Atlantic/WMN), which jumps 12-10. Both of his prior top 10s reached the summit: “Wanted” (last Autumn) and “Somebody’s Heartbreak” (April 2013).
Kenny Chesney won the weeks “Most Added” cup as “When I See This Bar” (Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville) earns 69 new airplay ADDs and flew 32-24 on Country Airplay. The song drew a 7.750 million audience (+5.443); with 1,276 radio plays (+994)
Toby Keith’s track "Drinks After Work” won both the “Hot Shot Debut” and “Increased Audience” trophies, opening at No.26 on Country Airplay thanks to 50 new radio commitments (ADDS) reaching a 7.454 million audience (+7.454) with 948 new radio spins.
Country Airplay
*** No. 1 (1 week) *** "Boys 'Round Here" Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
** Most Added ** No.24 “When I See This Bar" Kenny Chesney
** Hot Shot Debut / Increased Audience ** No.26 "Drinks After Work" Toby Keith
Debut No.50 "Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About" (Stoney Creek) Thompson Square
Debut No.57 "Drunk Last Night" (Republic Nashville) Eli Young Band
Debut No.60 "Red" (Big Machine) Taylor Swift
Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of June 29, 2013
Florida Georgia Line stayed at No.1 with “Cruise” once again. Sales of 205,000 (including the Nelly remix version) were down 9%, taking the single to a tally just short of 4.3 million tracks sold after 53 chart weeks.
Blake Shelton’s now 9th-consecutive Airplay No.1 “Boys ‘Round Here” moved 3-2 with sales of 136,000 (up 10%).
Once again a sprinkling of “The Voice” contestants released tracks impact the Top 30.
The 3rd place runners up Swon Brothers debut at No.4 (73,000 sales) with their version of “Danny’s Song” and also land at No.10 with a cut of Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page”
>> YouTube
The season winner Danielle Bradbery scored another Top 10 single with her cover of Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am” (selling over 60,000 copies) and her other new single “Please Remember Me” bowed at No.11.
Brett Eldredge moved up 5 places (18-13) with “Don’t Ya” , sales of 44,000 were up by 52%.
Jake Owen (“Anywhere With You”), Kip Moore (“Hey Pretty Girl”) and Eric Church’s “Like Jesus Does” all passed the ½ million RIAA Gold status this week logging similar totals.
Gloriana made a re-entry into the Top 50 at No.33 with “Can’t Shake You” (sales up 81%)
Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published June 19, 2013)
(LW) Last Week (TW) This Week
*Numbers are rounded to nearest 1000th
