Country Billboard Chart News January 23, 2017

Country Billboard Chart News January 23, 2017

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (27 non-consecutive weeks) TRAVELLER Chris Stapleton

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (12 weeks) ** “Blue Ain’t Your Color” Keith Urban

Country Airplay ** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “A Guy With a Girl” Blake Shelton

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (1 week) ** “Better Man” Little Big Town

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News 

(Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

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

The xx scores its highest charting album ever on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (BB200), as the alternative band’s third studio album, I SEE YOU, made a debut at No.2. The set earned 46,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Jan. 19, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 35,918 were in traditional album sales which enabled the title to bow at No.1 on the Top Album Sales chart, which ranks the week’s best-selling albums.

The xx had previously peaked as high as No.5 in 2012 with Coexist, the act’s second album. It debuted at its peak, starting with 73,000 sold in its first week.

I See You was blocked from the No.1 slot on the Billboard 200 by The Weeknd’s STARBOY, which held for a third straight week at No. 1, and collected a fourth week atop the list overall. (It debuted at No. 1 on the chart dated Dec. 17, then returned to the top on Jan. 21, where it has been since.) Starboy earned 61,000 equivalent album units in the latest tracking frame (down 3%). The bulk of those units were generated by streams of the songs from the album, as streaming equivalent album units for Starboy totalled 38,000 for the week (which translates to 57.2 million streams of the album’s tracks). The rest of Starboy’s overall units were powered by track equivalent album units (10,000) and traditional album sales were just 12,854 copies sold (#7 on the Top Album Sales).

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) continued his #1 vacation atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart (dated Feb. 4). The album fell back 10-16 on the Billboard 200 and sold 9,751 copies (down 17%; 90 week total 1,802,200) in the week ending Jan. 19 and lead the list for a 27th (non-consecutive) week.

Keith Urban with RIPCORD (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville) held at #2 (32-34 BB200) selling 6,036 copies (down 1%; 37-week total 432,000)

Sturgill Simpson with his former No. 1 A SAILOR’S GUIDE TO EARTH (Atlantic/Atlantic Group) bounced back from 19-3 (#69 Re-Entry BB200). 

The set also jumped 7-2 on Americana/Folk Albums. Fuelling the flights was Simpson’s Jan. 14 appearance on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (the show’s first episode of 2017), sparking the album’s 311% vault to 6,034 copies sold (37-week total 165,400) in the week ending Jan. 19.

Simpson performed two tracks from A Sailor’s Guide, “Keep It Between the Lines” and “Call to Arms.”

A Sailor’s Guide debuted at No.1 on Top Country Albums on the charts dated May 7, 2016 (with 52,000 sold), marking his first leader on each list.

Miranda Lambert with WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS (Vanner/RCA Nashville) slipped 3-4 (69-81 BB200) in its 9th chart frame selling 4,484 copies (down 15%; 9-week total 258,300).

Jason Aldean with THEY DON'T KNOW (Macon/Broken Bow) held at #5 (74-68 BB200) selling 3,884 copies (up 8%; 19-week total 319,000)

Kane Brown with his self- titled debut KANE BROWN (Zone 4/RCA Nashville) fell 4-6 (113-112 BB200) selling 3,867 copies (up 30%; 7-week total 93,400)

Florida Georgia Line with DIG YOUR ROOTS (BMLG) was down 6-7 hop (49-50 BB200) selling 3,003 copies (down 3%; 21-week total 334,800)

Thomas Rhett with TANGLED UP (Valory) rose held at #8 (46-44 BB200) selling 2,707 copies (up 13%; 69-week total 531,700)

Blake Shelton with IF I'M HONEST (Warner Bros.) moved 11-9 (99-85 BB200) selling 2,509 copies (up 24%; 35-week total 551,700)

Kenny Chesney with COSMIC HALLEUJAH (Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville) rounded out the top 10, down 9-10 (166-173 BB200) selling 2,420 copies (up 6%; 12-week total 183,700)

Outside The Top 10

Garth Brooks with GUNSLINGER (Pearl) fell back 7-11 selling 2,169 copies (down 8%; 8-week total 77,800).

Eric Church with MR. MISUNDERSTOOD (EMI Nashville) rose 14-12 selling 2,110 copies (up 22%; 64-week total 493,600)

Maren Morris with HERO (Columbia Nashville) fell 10-13 (115-131 BB200) selling 2,059 copies (down 8%; 33-week total 166,300).

Jon Pardi with CALIFORNIA SUNRISE (Capitol Nashville) fell 12-14 selling 2,008 copies (up 2%; 31-week total 104,500)

Carrie Underwood with STORYTELLER (19/Arista Nashville) fell 13-15 (110-116 BB200) selling 1,900 copies (65-week total 729,200).

Outside The Top 25

The Infamous Stringdusters with LAWS OF GRAVITY (Compass Records) made a debut at #26 selling 1,200 copies

The album represents a return to form for The Infamous Stringdusters, one of the most successful bands to emerge from bluegrass in recent years and one that is known for its incomparably tight yet improvisation-infused live shows. Over their decade together, they have won three International Bluegrass Music Association awards, earned a “Best Country Instrumental” Grammy nomination in 2011 and garnered widespread critical acclaim. 
The album was recorded in Nashville with Billy Hume (Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins) in the co-producer’s chair. Band members Andy Hall (dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), and Travis Book (upright bass) are showcased as writers, singers, and players on an all original set of honest songs with a fresh yet familiar bluegrass/Americana/progressive feel.

Critical reception for The Infamous Stringdusters’ “Laws Of Gravity”:

(13 Jan 2017) 13 Tracks/ Time: 54:04 Bluegrass / Americana

Amazon UK – UK iTunes – Amazon.com

Pop Matters (Rating: 7/10) …This much shows in the tangential jam sessions that the band takes on throughout the whole of their work, culminating with the blazing “Black Elk” on this record amidst the likes of classic bluegrass storytelling in songs like “Maxwell”, a tale of a man whose finances are abundant but is still left feeling alone in the world following a tumultuous childhood. Throughout, they establish themselves once more as the masterful musicians and poignant songwriters that we’ve come to know them as, weaving melancholic melodies of a world passing by on “Ol’ Building” and getting meta in their reflection on hard knocks providing ammo for solid songwriting on the aptly titled “A Hard Life Makes a Good Song”... there’s no denying that this is damn good bluegrass music produced by a damn good bluegrass band.

Allmusic (Rating: 3 STARS).... All the ingredients in Laws of Gravity are top-shelf, but the Infamous Stringdusters have a bit of a problem with the proportions, and it's not hard to imagine this would be a much more enjoyable album with a bit of editing in the right places

Natalie Hemby best known for penning hits for other acts, including Little Big Town’s 2012 Hot Country Songs No. 1 “Pontoon” opened at No.31 on Top Country Albums and No.10 on Americana/Folk Albums with PUXICO (GetWrucke), selling 1,000 in its first week.

As a writer, Hemby has scored six Hot Country Songs top 10s. In addition to “Pontoon,” she has co-authored Lady Antebellum’s “Downtown” (No. 2, 2013); Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” (No. 2, 2010), “Baggage Claim” (No. 3, 2011) and “Automatic” (No. 4, 2014); and Little Big Town’s “Tornado” (No. 6, 2013). Other credits include: LeeAnn Womack (2006; "The Bees"),  Carrie Underwood (2009; "Play On"),  : Kellie Pickler (2011; "Little House on the Highway"),  Kelly Clarkson (2012; "Don't Rush"),

Sheryl Crow (2013; "Stay at Home Mother"), Toby Keith (2013; "Drinks After Work"), Little Big Town (2014; "Quit Breaking Up With Me" / "Good People"), Kacey Musgraves (2015; "Good Ol' Boys Club") and Kree Harrison (2016; "Wanted It That Way").

Hemby co-wrote all nine of Puxico‘s tracks, flexing the writing muscles that have already yielded  blockbuster hits.

 “I spent my 20s trying to land a record deal, and most of my 30s writing for other people,” she saids. “It’s time to put out my own record. Maybe I’m a late bloomer, or maybe it’s just finally the right time to bloom.”

Critical reception for Natalie Hemby’s “Puxico”:

(13 Jan 2017) 9 Tracks/ Time: 33:07 Indie & Alternative Rock/ Singer-Songwriters

Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Saving Country Music (Rating: 1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10).. Time Honored Tradition” sets the record off with a folky, stripped-down country vibe that immediately lets you know this isn’t going to be a repository for Hemby’s commercial material that didn’t sell, but the record she’s always wanted to make. Puxico IS Natalie Hemby—her places, her people, her stories and perspective set to rhythm and melody like a breathing, beating memory...Don’t be surprised to hear a little steel guitar drifting in and out on Puxico, even though it’s probably fair to label this album a bit more folk than country. The album’s failing though, and it has one, is that the production relied a little bit too much on a chorus/reverb concoction on the vocal track and final mix to where it’s just a little too wet to really engage the ear like you want it to....The good news is the underlying songs are great themselves... but as is often the case with a personal work, the result was something that resonates personally for others as well.

Rollingstone (Rating: 3.1/2 STARS) ... It's a nostalgic LP, musically and thematically, about the value of roots – surprising, maybe, from a woman behind songs like Lambert's "Pink Sunglasses" and "Getaway Driver," which broaden country's palette. But Hemby's a master craftswoman, and in an era of rule-by-Twitter, songs like "Grand Restoration" and "Time Honored Tradition" make a case for traditionalism being its own kind of progressivism.

Sounds Like Nashville (Rating: Positive) ..An album that celebrates family, Puxico is a retrospective of the past. While Hemby’s life is at the heart of the album, it’s not just her story, but the listeners’ as well. Each of the nine songs embody relatable characters found in all of our lives. All the while, she creates a new path for herself within the country genre and one that is distinctly her own.

Year-To-Date Albums

960,000 (Physical sales 634,000 (down -11.7%) + Digital sales 326,000 (down -30.6%)) which is 19.2% down at the same point in 2016 (1,188,000 sales) 

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks

4,138,000 down 24.6% at the same point in 2016 (5,487,000)

Multiple updates to Billboard charts, including Top Country Albums — evolve into a consumption-based methodology

Billboard's genre album charts are evolving to a consumption methodology, following the successful conversion of the iconic all-genre Billboard 200 chart to a multi-metric ranking, including traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

The transformed genre charts will match the Billboard 200 formula, equating 10 digital track sales from an album to one equivalent album sale (TEA), as well as 1,500 on-demand song streams from an album to one equivalent album sale (SEA). Sales and streaming data is compiled by Nielsen Music.

“We’ve been thrilled with the reception to the Billboard 200 album consumption methodology and how it reflects album popularity in today’s world, where music is accessible on so many platforms,” says Silvio Pietroluongo, VP of charts and data development at Billboard. “The conversion of genre album charts (including Top Country Albums) to consumption reinforces how this approach has become the accepted measure of album success.”

The first newly formulated genre album consumption charts will premiere on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Jan. 31 (with charts dated Feb. 11), and will reflect album sales, track sales and audio on-demand streaming data, tracked by Nielsen Music, for the week ending Thursday, Jan. 26.

On-demand audio subscription services contributing to the Billboard 200, and the above charts under their new methodology, are Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, Slacker, Napster, Google Play, Groove Music and Medianet.

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

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:

‘AIN’T’ AIN’T DONE Keith Urban with “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville) topped the Hot Country Songs chart for a 12th week. Since the survey launched as a multi-metric tally in 1958, only 10 songs have spent more time at No. 1. “Blue” matched two other 12-week rulers: Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night” (2013) and Cowboy Copas’ “Alabam” (1960). The record for the longest-running No.1 belongs to Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”: 24 weeks in 2012-13.

Supporting Urban’s continued command, “Blue” ruled Country Streaming Songs for a sixth week, increasing by 2% to 4.9 million U.S. streams.

Eric Church banks his 13th Hot Country Songs top 10, as “Kill a Word,” featuring Rhiannon Giddens (EMI Nashville), rose 13-10. On Country Airplay, it bumps 12-11 (24.4 million in audience, up 3%).

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (12 weeks) ** “Blue Ain't Your Color” Keith Urban

** Airplay Gainer ** No.2 “Better Man” Little Big Town

** Digital Gainer ** No.17 “Black” Dierks Bentley

** Streaming Gainer ** No.27 “In Case You Didn't Know” Brett Young

** Hot Shot Debut ** No. 41 “You Look Good” Lady Antebellum

Debut No. 47 “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

Blake Shelton with “A Guy With a Girl” (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) led Country Airplay for a second week, up by 4% to 47.4 million audience impressions. “I’m so proud of this album [If I’m Honest] and every song on it,” Shelton told Billboard. “ ‘A Guy With a Girl’ is part of the story of my life, especially this past year-and-a-half, and I’m damn happy to celebrate it being No. 1.”

Country Airplay welcomed two new top 10s, led by Brad Paisley with “Today” (Arista Nashville), which hopped 11-9 (26 million, up 9%) in his 16th frame. Paisley adds his 34th top 10, tying Garth Brooks for ninth place among acts with the most top 10s in the chart’s 27-year history. George Strait leads with 61.

Michael Ray with “Think a Little Less” (Atlantic/Warner Elektra Atlantic) jumped 14-10 in its 40th week on Country Airplay (24.9 million, up 12%). Ray notcheed a second top 10, following his debut No.1, “Kiss You in the Morning” (Aug. 22, 2015).

Lady Antebellum posted its first entry on Country Airplay since the No.16-peaking “Long Stretch of Love” (Oct. 3, 2015), as new single “You Look Good” (Capitol Nashville) launched at No.27 with 8.4 million in audience. The debut marks the trio’s second-highest Country Airplay arrival among 26 appearances, second only to “Downtown,” which entered at No.25 on Feb. 9, 2013, before hitting No. 1 for two weeks.

The new Lady A single, penned by Hillary Lindsey, Ryan Hurd and busbee, was released Jan. 19 as the lead single from the group’s sixth studio LP, HEART BREAK, due June 9.

Country Airplay

*** No. 1 (2 weeks) *** "A Guy With A Girl” Blake Shelton 47.432 million audience (+1.926 million) / 8,611 radio plays (+465)

** Most Increased Audience/ Most Added/ Hot Shot Debut ** No.27 “You Look Good” Lady Antebellum 8.45 million audience impressions gain thanks to 60 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)

Debut No.59 “Rebound” Drew Baldridge featuring Emily Weisband

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart 

(Chart issue week of February 4, 2017)

UMG Nashville owned 4 of the Top 5 slots this chart frame. Little Big Town with lead single “Better Man” from forthcoming album THE BREAKER moved 4-1 (#27-20 Digital Songs; 14 week total 362,000) in their 14th chart frame selling 27,000 downloads to top the Billboard Country Song Sales Chart.

Keith Urban with “Blue Ain’t Your Color” slipped 1-2 (#27-20 Digital Songs; 27 week total 746,000) selling 27,000 copies but fewer actual units than LBT.

Jon Pardi with “Dirt On My Boots” rose 5-3 (#35-37 Digital Songs; 18,000 sales; 17-week total 250,000)

Chris Stapleton with “Tennessee Whiskey” fell 2-4 (#24-49 Digital Songs; 13,000 sales; 58 week total 1,023,000)

Michael Ray with “Think A Little Less” rose 9-5 (#50 Digital Songs; 13,000 sales; 5-week total 136,000)

Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw with “May We All” held at #6 (13,000 sales; 27-week total 495,000)

Dierks Bentley with “Black” leapt 21-7 (12,000 sales; 4-week total 92,000)

Thomas Rhett with “Star Of The Show” lifted 10-8 (12,000 sales; 16-week total 182,000)

Blake Shelton with “A Guy With A Girl” rose 11-9 (11,000 sales; 14-week total 145,000)

Carrie Underwood with “Dirty Laundry” climbed 13-10 (11,000 sales; 20-week total 238,000)

Outside the Top 10

Dustin Lynch with “Seein' Red” climbed 20-11 (10,000 sales; 16-week total 165,000)

Totals Selective:

#37: Lee Greenwood "God Bless The USA" (1.134 Million sales to date)

#45: Lady Antebellum "You Look Good (4K debut)

#47: Carly Pearce "Every Little Thing" (40k)

#51: Toby Keith "American Soldier" (1.002 million)

#52: RaeLynn "Love Triangle" (110k)

#57: Carrie Underwood "Church Bells" (456k)

#58: Miranda Lambert "Vice" (494k)

#63: Florida Georgia Line/Back Street Boys "God, Your Mama, And Me (68K)

#100: Toby Keith/Willie Nelson "Beer For My Horses" (1.178 Million)

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

23 January 2017

Congrats to Blake Shelton, Kristen Williams, Chris Palmer, Katie Bright and the WMN team on landing this week’s No.

1 with “A Guy With A Girl.” The song is the second chart-topper from IF I’M HONEST. This marks Shelton's 23rd career #1 single.

The song logged 9,211 radio spins and 64.611 million audience impressions with 28307 Total Points from 158 tracking stations for the tracking week January 15 to January 21, 2017 and published chart January 23rd 2017.

Kudos to Bobby Young and the Capitol gang on securing 81 adds for Lady Antebellum’s “You Look Good”. The song topped the week’s "Most Added" board.

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 534 - Jan 23, 2017 [PDF File]

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: #48

Event Venue City/State: Vince Gill Durham Performing Arts Center Durham, N.C.

Dates: Nov. 9, 2016 Gross Sales: $138,522 Attend: 2,474/ 2,712

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 | 238 unsold tickets Prices: $78, $45

Promoters: PFM/Nederlander/AEG        

Rank Artist: #50

Event Venue City/State: Lady Antebellum, Levon The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, Nev.

Dates: Dec. 7, 2016 Gross Sales: $136,271 Attend: 1,884/ 3,369

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 | 1,485 unsold tickets Prices: $129, $24.50 Promoters: C3 Presents

                                   

Rank Artist: #67

Event Venue City/State: Cole Swindell, Gabby Barrett Stage AE Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dates: Nov. 10, 2016 Gross Sales: $73,600 Attend: 2,300 / 2,300

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $34, $32

Promoters: PromoWest Productions

                                                           

Rank Artist: #92

Event Venue City/State: Travis Tritt, Little Texas Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, Texas

Dates: Jan. 8, 2017 Gross Sales: $41,414 Attend: 688/ 1,787

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 | 1,099 unsold tickets Prices: $63, $43

Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart