Country Billboard Chart News October 24, 2013

Country Billboard Chart News October 24, 2013

In Brief:  Billboard Country Charts

Country Album Chart ** No. 1 (1  week) ** SEE YOU TONIGHT  Scott McCreery

Hot Country Songs ** No. 1 (10 weeks) **  “That’s My Kind of Night” Luke Bryan

Country Airplay **  No. 1 (2 weeks) ** “It Goes Like This” Thomas Rhett

Country Digital Songs ** No. 1 ** (10 weeks)  “That’s My Kind of Night” Luke Bryan

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News

Pearl Jam captured its fifth No.1 album on the Billboard 200 (BB200) as "Lightning Bolt" landed atop the chart, selling 165,879 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last week's No. 1, Miley Cyrus' "Bangerz," slipped to No. 2 with 72,145 sales (down 73%).  Paul McCartney entered at No. 3 with his new studio album, "New." It sold 67,196 copies in its first week. It's the 19th top 10 set for the Beatle, counting his solo work and releases with Wings (but not his Beatles material).

Inde Folk Rock/Americana band The Avett Brothers arrived at No. 5 with "Magpie and the Dandelion," scoring their second-largest sales week, as the album enters with sales of 57,520 copies.

2011 "American Idol" winner Scott McCreery returned with his second studio album, SEE YOU TONIGHT, and made a debut at No. 6 on the BB200 with 52,240 copies sold. 

It also made a bow at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, his second chart-topper on that list. It represents a 74% drop from McCreery's debut album, CLEAR AS DAY, which arrived at No. 1 on both charts back on the chart Oct 12, 2011, selling 196,739 units and sold a million in its first year. He then followed it with a holiday effort, "CHRISTMAS WITH SCOTTY MCCREERY," which hit No. 2 on the country chart in 2012 and No.4 on the Billboard 200 which opened with 40,258 sales.

Seven of the first 10 American Idol winners saw their first-week sales plummet by more than 50% from their first post-Idol album to their second. The second studio albums typically arrive a couple of years later, after the Idol confetti has long since been swept up. The biggest exception was Carrie Underwood, whose first-week sales soared by 67% from her star-making first album to her second. Idol contestant Kellie Pickler has also logged 2 No.1 Country albums.

Scotty displaced The Season 3 NBC The Voice winner Cassadee Pope's FRAME BY FRAME who dropped 9-18 on the BB200 and 1-5 Country with second week sales of 15,935 (down 63%)

Critical reception for Scotty McCreery’s “See You Tonight”:

16 Tracks / Time: 57:36  CD - MP3 -  UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Roughstock: (Rating 4.5 STARS) If his sophomore album proves anything, it's that he's certainly ready to be a big star as the songs on See You Tonight are youthful and current, something that was the biggest problem folks at radio likely had with Clear As Day. A good example of the youthful, current sound is "Feelin' It," a hook-filled arena-ready sing-a-long summer song ....McCreery's strong Baritone voice works well with these kinds of songs as well as they do on strong ballads like "Feel

Good Summer Song"... the baker's dozen tracks that fill See You Tonight show a remarkable amount of growth and maturity for the young star. And See You Tonight showcases that Scotty McCreery is more than just a moderately talented guy who won a TV show....if radio doesn't want to play the songs on this album, then they're just holding some sort of grudge because of where Scotty got his start, not because the music is good enough. That's because it clearly is.

Allmusic (Rating: 3.5 STARS) Much of Scotty McCreery's appeal on American Idol relied on his old-fashioned charm, how he seemed like a nice, everyday guy who just happened to be a deep-voiced crooner of classic country.... but if his 2013 sequel See You Tonight is any

indication, there clearly was some worry in Scotty's camp that he couldn't perform the same trick twice. ...This modern country is so glossy and effervescent it appears that McCreery's voice has jumped a couple of octaves; he's shaken off the studied affectations of his debut and seems fresh-faced and boyish as he sings songs that have almost nothing to do with a dusty honky tonk. See You Tonight is unapologetically following the Luke Bryan/Jake Owen blueprint so closely that some of its song titles recall older hits by those country hunks -- Scotty sings of a "Blue Jean Baby" and Jake of a "Barefoot Blue Jean Night"; Bryan had a "Buzzkill" while McCreery is "Buzzin'" -- and if he somehow forgot to sing a song about a truck, he's at least leaning against a rusted old beater on the album cover. Scotty's redefinition of himself as a sports bar-hopping bro is plainly shameless but, strangely enough, See You Tonight works...

GAC ...there’s plenty of evidence on See You Tonight that Scotty is developing into one of the genre’s finest singers. Performances are consistently dynamic as he shows off some serious vocal agility... Alison Krauss joins on the Appalachian-tinged “Carolina Moon” to offer sparkling harmonies as Scotty sings lovingly of his home state while Southern stars are dancing around the North Carolina moon. While See You Tonight features a more progressive sound than Scotty’s first release, it also displays an older and wiser perspective.

Scotty McCreery takes fans behind the scenes of his ’See You Tonight’ >> music video

Willie Nelson entered at No. 9 on the BB200 (#2 Country) with the collaborations set "TO ALL THE GIRLS," selling 42,622 copies. His last album, LET’S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE released this year debuted at No.16 (No.49 BB200) on the Country chart (week of May 4, 2013) with first week sales of 9,587 copies

"TO ALL THE GIRLS" is not only his highest-charting album since 1982, but also just his second top 10 set ever. The 80-year-old Nelson was last in the BB200 top 10 with 1982's "Always on My Mind," which spent four weeks at No. 2. (It was stuck behind Asia's self-titled album.) It’s also Nelson's highest-charting set on the Country Album chart since 1989, when "A Horse Called Music" also peaked at No. 2.

Nelson's new all-star album (which features him singing with everyone from Carrie Underwood to Dolly Parton) was supported by a promotional campaign with QVC. The shopping network hosted a live concert with Nelson on Sept. 12, and industry sources suggest the program helped drive around half of the album's first-week sales. The QVC version of the album also sported six exclusive bonus live tracks. The title of the album is a nod to Nelson's 1984 hit "To All The Girls I've Loved Before," a genre-bridging (if gimmicky) collabo with Julio Iglesias which made the top five on the Hot 100 (See Artwork Image).

Critical reception for Willie Nelson’s “To All The Girls”:

18 Tracks / Time: 01:06:12  CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Allmusic (Rating: 3.5 STARS) As a duets album comprised entirely of female partners, To All the Girls is, like Heroes, driven by superstar guest power but the intimate, relaxed feel is reminiscent of Let's Face the Music and Dance. Such a quiet, comfortable setting is welcoming to a wide variety of partners, ranging from living legends Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, and Emmylou Harris to more recent superstars Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.... Although there is not a bad cut here -- this is all assured, easy, impeccably tasteful work from Willie and his partners -- the 70-minute length of To All the Girls does make the album feel a little samey, but that can be a good thing, as it makes for nice, romantic mood music or a drowsy Sunday afternoon at home.

The Telegraph (Rating 4 STARS): ..Nelson has the rare ability to make his voice work in so many different styles – hence the unashamedly sentimental Parton song sits easily

alongside the brilliant and soulful Bill Withers composition Grandma's Hands, on which track Nelson is joined by Mavis Staples, who sings with such amazing force. There is a languid grace to Walkin', with Norah Jones, and Carrie Underwood performs well on yet another version of Always On My Mind. The range of the album is impressive, too, from upbeat gospel (It Won't Be Very Long, with the Secret Sisters) to Latin (No Mas Amor with Alison Krauss) ...Nelson's guitar playing is as sweet and distinctive as ever on To All The Girls and his voice is holding up well. He may have had fun making the record, but it's lovely for the listener, too.

Roughstock (Rating: 4 STARS) Everything about To All The Girls…is a delight. It's the kind of classic duets albums that rarely get made anymore but it's fitting that a classic star like Willie Nelson would be the man to pull in such a wide-ranging collection of female talent from all points of music to collaborate with him. 18 tracks of fantastic duets, what more could fans want?

Willie Nelson the story of  >> "To All The Girls"

Rising star Chase Rice made a debut at No.16 on the BB200 (#4 Country) with his EP READY SET  ROLL selling 16,903 copies.

Rice, who gained recognition as a co-writer of Florida Georgia Line’s summer crossover hit “Cruise,” is also a co-writer on each of the EP’s songs. The album’s lead single “Ready Set Roll” peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Songs chart in both the U.S. and Canada, racking up total sales of more than 48,000 in its first week.

Taste Of Country Chase Rice‘s new EP comes dripping with testosterone. The first six songs (of seven if you purchase a physical copy) are loud, rowdy party anthems that feature the star as the next to merge hip-hop and country music. Colt Ford makes a guest appearance on one particularly rowdy cut called ‘Party Up.’ the title track sets the tone before the meat of the production-heavy arrangement kicks in. A synthesized voice says: “Ready, set, let’s roll” before Rice opens with “Damn, pretty girl you went and done it again / You gone and turned the sexy all the way up to 10.” The most notable line — and perhaps the lyric that will help those new to his music decide if they’re in or out — comes during the chorus.

“Ready set let’s roll / Ready set let’s ride / Get your little fine a– on the steps / Shimmy up inside,” Rice sings.

Later, during ‘Country in Ya,’ Rice asks for an invite to “Let me put a little country in ya.” The suggestive nature of the early songs makes ‘Jack Daniels and Jesus’ all the more surprising. .....Producers Rhett Akins, Chris DeStefano, Scott Cook and Chad Carlson push the production further than anything on country radio today, but the result is a good fit for this singer. The hip-hop influences are obvious, as are the ’80s rock influences. Fans of Def Leppard may recognize a few sounds throughout this EP.

Will Hoge the Grammy-nominated recording artist released his new album NEVER GIVE IN on October 15. It made its debut at No.126 on the BB200 and snagged a No.23 place on Country Chart selling around 3,000 copies. 

The title also serves as the life motto for Hoge, a Nashville native who catapulted into the national spotlight with the release of his top-selling single “Strong” (Used in new Chevy Silverado commercial for the 2014 Silverado). NEVER GIVE IN, produced by Hoge, showcases his soulful voice and storytelling talents on all 11 tracks. Will penned every song featured on the record including “Strong,” the newly added bonus track >> Watch Video. It recently was a Hot Shot Debut at No.56 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and has sold in excess of 100,000 copies.

“Having started my own label I’m incredibly excited to have NEVER GIVE IN be the first album I release,” shared Will “The initial success of ‘Strong’ has already opened so many doors and given me some amazing opportunities”. Will embarked on his first major headlining tour – NEVER GIVE IN TOUR 2013. The 27-city nationwide tour kicked off on October 11 at The State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Critical reception for Will Hoge’s “Never Give In”: - CD - Amazon.com

No Depression From the opening chords of album opener, “A Different Man,” you know that Will Hoge’s latest release, Never Give In, is going to take you on a heartfelt, full blast trip. Featuring 11 original songs, and not a dud in the bunch, this is Hoge’s strongest release to date...Hoge is not only ‘strong’ but stellar on what will be the Album of late 2013 and all of 2014.

Roughstock (Rating: 4.5 STARS) A decade ago Will Hoge's music was considered by "Nashville" to be "Too rock for Country" and "New York" thought it was "Too country for

rock." But a funny thing happened in the decade since, The genres have blurred their lines so much so that Will Hoge is now embraced as both a songwriter ("Even If It Breaks Your Heart," a #1 multi-platinum hit for Eli Young Band) and as an artist.... Will Hoge has released Never Get In at the perfect time, all the while never changing his style one iota for either "Rock" or "Country."...What's really great about Never Give In is how Will Hoge balances everything that sums up what makes Nashville such an awesome place for musicians to live. There are equal parts of Country ("Still Got You On My Mind"), Rock ("Bad Ol Days") and Soul on Never Gives In and that makes the album well worth seeking out and one that should easily become the biggest album of Will Hoge's still building career.

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Placings

(Issue dated Chart week of November 2, 2013)

(Country Album positions #1 - #25)

(TW) This Week, (LW) Last Week, Co (Country Album Chart placing / Movement)

Billboard Music Video Sales – See Top 3

New on the chart at No.1 saw “Night Train To Georgia” from Jason Aldean make a bow with Joey + Rory’s new DVD  “Inspired: Songs Of Faith & Family” enter at #2! The Award-winning, husband-and-wife duo share songs of faith that are dear to their hearts on this all-new, gospel LIVE DVD collection. Known for their hit TV series, 'The Joey+Rory Show' on RFD-TV, the singer/songwriter couple has combined tried-and-true fan favorites with brand new tunes. Hosted in the studio by Bill Gaither and filmed before an intimate audience at the rustic, historic West Barn just south of Nashville, Inspired, Songs of Faith and Family captures the honest country sounds

Joey+Rory Inspired [DVD] [2013] [Region 1] [NTSC] * Requires an all region coded DVD Player for the UK Amazon.com

Carrie Underwood moved 3-6 with “The Blown Away Tour: Live”

Top 25 Hot Country Songs (week of November 2, 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, (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 Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night” enjoyed a 10th week atop Hot Country Songs.

It's the first hit by a male solo artist to stay on top that long since Buck Owens' "Love's Gonna Live Here" had 16 weeks on top in 1963. Owens was on Capitol. Bryan is on Capitol Nashville. "That's My Kind Of Night" tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week

Top 25 Hot Country Songs:

Luke Bryan with “That’s My Kind Of Night” stays Top The Chart! #1

Thomas Rhett with “It Goes Like This” stays at #2

Blake Shelton with “Mine Would Be You” is up one, #4 - #3 p

Chris Young  with “Aw Naw” is up four, #8 - #4 p

Jason Aldean with “Night Train” is down two, #3 - #5 q

Tim McGraw with “Southern Girl” is up three, #9 - #6 p

Florida Georgia Line with former #1 “Cruise” moves,  #6 - #7 q

Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert with “We Were Us” is up, #11 - #8 p

Billy Currington with “Hey Girl” falls four, #5 - #9 q

Tyler Farr with “Redneck Crazy” falls, #7 - #10 q

Joe Nichols with “Sunny And 75” is up one, #12 - #11 p

Lee Brice with “Parking Lot Party” is up two, #14 - #12 p

Cassadee Pope with “Wasting All These Tears” falls, #10 - #13 q

Parmalee with “Carolina” is up one, #15 - #14 p

Eli Young Band with “Drunk Last Night” is up two, #17 - #15 p

Florida Georgia Line with “Round Here” is down three, #13 - #16 q

Taylor Swift with “Red” is down one slot, #16 - #17 q

David Nail with “Whatever She’s Got” is up two, #20 - #18 p

Jake Owen with “Days Of Gold” is up five slots, #24 - #19 p

Luke Bryan with “Crash My Party” is down two, #18 - #20 q

Florida Georgia Line with “Stay” jumps up, #28 - #21 p

Darius Rucker  with former No.1 “Wagon Wheel” is down, #19 - #22 q

Randy Houser with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” is down two, #21 - #23 q

Blake Shelton with “Boys ‘Round Here”  is down two, #22 - #24 q

Hunter Hayes with “I Want Crazy” is down two slots, #23 - #25 q

Hot Country Songs

** No.1 (10 weeks) **  “That’s My Kind Of Night” Luke Bryan

** Airplay Gainer ** No.6 “Southern Girl” Tim McGraw

** Digital Gainer ** No.32 “See You Tonight” Scotty McCreery

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.38  “A Life That’s Good” Lennon & Maisy

** Streaming Gainer  ** No.42 “Weed Instead Of Roses” Ashley Monroe

Debut No.48 “Forget To Forget You” Scotty McCreery

Debut No.50 “The Outsiders” Eric Church

Billboard Country Airplay Chart Week of November 2, 2013

Thomas Rhett logged a second week at No.1 with “It Goes Like This” (Valory), in his 26th chart week, thus becoming the second newcomer this year to reign for more than one week with their first chart-topper. Among first-timers at the summit in 2013r, Rhett’s feat follows a two-week run by Brett Eldredge’s “Don’t Ya” in August and Randy Houser scored his first No.1 in February with “How Country Feels” and returned for two weeks in August with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight.”

Rhett’s single logged 49.343 million audience impressions(+1.637) receiving 7,244 radio plays (+132) thus capturing the biggest weekly audience sum since the chart’s ranking method changed from total plays to total audience impressions in January 2005.

Top local audience contributors for Rhett’s track during the tracking week: KKBQ Houston (1.5 million impressions), WUSN Chicago (1.5 million), KEEY Minneapolis (1 million), KMNB Minneapolis (1.2 million), WYCD Detroit (887,000) and WKLB Boston (842,000).

Joe Nichols scored his first top 10 in more than three years (his ninth overall) on the Billboard Country Airplay tally, as “Sunny and 75” (Red Bow) rose 12-10 in its 25th chart week.

He logged 28.5 million audience impressions, up 6%, to register the first Country Airplay top 10 for the Red Bow imprint (launched a year ago by Broken Bow Music Group in partnership with Sony’s RED Distribution). He’d most recently competed in the upper tier with “Gimme That Girl,” which spent two weeks at No.1 in May 2010, after which he stopped at No.17 in March 2011 with “The Shape I’m In” and peaked at No. 25 seven months later with “Take It Off.” Nichols’ Country Airplay chart history includes two other leaders: “Brokenheartsville” (2003) and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” (2005).

Lady Antebellum took home the week’s Most Added honours with “Compass” (Capitol Nashville), which registered 26 new airplay commitments (ADDS) at stations that BDS monitors for the Country Airplay chart as it moved up 48-35. The song is due to be included on a deluxe edition of the trio’s GOLDEN album, due to drop Nov.12. The album’s lead single, “Downtown,” spent two weeks atop Country Airplay in April/May, followed by a No.11 peak with “Goodbye Town” in September.

At No.26 “Stay” from Florida Georgia Line won Most Increased Audience honours logging 10.081 million audience impressions, a gain of 3.765 million and received 1,728 radio plays (+624).

Kacey Musgraves' "Follow Your Arrow" won the trophy for Hot Shot Debut with a No.56 bow. In February, Billboard reported that "Follow Your Arrow" (written by Musgraves, Brandy Clark and  Shaun McAnally) was a song that one anonymous country programmer "wish[es] I could play on my station." With such lyrics as, "Kiss lots of boys or kiss lots of girls, if that's what you're into / When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint, I would," a country consultant described the song as "pushing the envelope" at a format not historically known for potentially eyebrow-raising content. Perhaps Musgraves' rising star status and six CMA nominations is giving her leeway with KKBQ Houston its best supporter with 27 plays.

For the first time in 55 weeks, Craig Campbell’s “Outta My Head” did not make the chart. Others to chart for at least 54 weeks: “Love Like Crazy” (Lee Brice; 56 weeks), “Bouquet Of Roses” (Eddy Arnold; 54 weeks) and “Outta My Head” (Craig Campbell; 54 weeks)

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (2 weeks) *** "It Goes Like This” Thomas Rhett

** Airpower ** No.17  “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” The Band Perry

 ** Most Increased Audience ** No.26 “Stay” Florida Georgia Line 

** Most Added ** No.35 “Compass” (Capitol Nashville) Lady Antebellum 

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.56 “Follow Your Arrow” (Mercury) Kacey Musgraves

Debut No.59 “Doin’ It Right” (Curb) Rodney Atkins

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart Week of November 2, 2013

Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” held onto the No.1 for a tenth week. Sales were 64,000 (down 18%) which were enough to pass the Platinum 1 million mark (1,001,000 total).

Florida Georgia Line with “Stay” (4th single from Here’s To The Good Time) jumped up 11 slots (19-8) to enter the Top 10. Meanwhile their huge smash "Cruise" at No.9, topped the 6 million mark in digital sales this week. It's the second country song to reach that milestone. They join and trail Lady Antebellum's monster hit "Need You Now" (6,231,000). Neither of these songs quite reached #1 on the Hot 100. "Need You Now" stalled at #2 and "Cruise" reached #4.

The Nashville ABC TV series sister duo, Lennon & Maisy, with “A Life That’s Good “(from Season 2) sold 23,000 in its debut week to land a No.12 slot.

Chase Rice’s “Ready Set Roll” dropped down from No.2 to No.13 (sales down 45% in 2nd week)

Following the release of Scotty McCreery’s album his single “See You Tonight” made a 37-18 hop.

Jason Aldean and newly wed Kelly Clarkson made a re-entry at No.28 with their hit duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” following a massive sales spike, probably due to TV exposure on the current series for Team Blake Shelton on The Voice 5 Battle Round  (Justin Chain and Shelbie Z).

Top 30 Digital Singles in Country Music (published October 23, 2013)

 (LW) Last Week  (TW) This Week  

Country Aircheck/ Mediabase chart

Luke Bryan moved 3-1 to head the Country Aircheck/ Mediabase chart for the tracking week Oct 13 – Oct 19.  “That's My Kind Of Nightl” logged  7,522 radio plays (+665) with an audience of 56.47 million impressions.  

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 368 - October 21, 2013 [PDF File]