Country Update

18 Pages·2015·8.24 MB·English

Country Update
BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 1 OF 18
INSIDE
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE [email protected]
Maddie & Tae Get Off ‘Strip’ Club: Luke, Blake, Jason, Eric
To A Fast Start
>page 4
Lead Country’s Sexual Revolution
Roy Clark Makes
Impact At
ACM Honors When Luke Bryan’s “Strip It Down” found its way onto the couple lying “naked in my bed.”
>page 8 radio, co-writer Ross Copperman (“Lose My Mind,” “Smoke”) Even the writers who penned “Burnin’ It Down” never
got a text from reigning ASCAP country songwriter of the year expected “naked” would ever get played on the radio.
Ashley Gorley (“Crash My Party,” “Young & Crazy”). “Every chorus through, we sang a different line [on the
“ ‘I can’t even let my daughter listen to the new Luke Bryan demo],” says Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, one of
Thomas Rhett, single,’ ” Gorley wrote, according to Copperman. “ ‘I’ve got to the four co-writers of “Burnin’.” “It was ‘dreamin’ ’ the second
Brandy Clark sit her down now and have the birds-and-the-bees talk three time, and maybe ‘lovin’ ’ the third time. But he just chose to take
Land At DFW years early. Thanks a lot ‘naked’ and run with it
>page 9 for that.’ ” [in two] choruses, which
Gorley was joking, I thought was awesome.
but he also summed up Out of all the options, I
the line that country is didn’t think that was one
Miranda Lambert walking as it pushes into of them. I like that Jason
Finds Harmony new frontiers of sexual went out on a limb with
>page 9 candor. The birds and that one.”

the bees are not a new “Strip It Down” and
topic for the genre — BRYAN SHELTON CHURCH “Burnin’ It Down” use
Makin’ Tracks: Jason Kris Kristofferson the most specifically
Aldean’s ‘Gonna wrote with a then- daring sexy words, though there
Know We Were Here’ frankness when he crafted Ray Price’s “For the Good Times” are plenty of other current and recent releases that leave little
>page 13 and Sammi Smith’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” to the imagination, including Eric Church’s “Like a Wreck-
more than 40 years ago. But some of the language in the c urrent ing Ball,” Waterloo Revival’s “Bad for You,” Chris Young’s
landscape is pushing the envelope in ways country hasn’t “I’m Comin’ Over” and Blake Shelton’s “Sangria,” which
previously experienced. finds two tipsy adults staggering down a hotel hallway toward
Stark Report: Mary
Bryan’s “Strip” has the singer shedding his T-shirt in the the bedroom.
Hilliard Harrington
hallway and includes a Dirty Dancing reference and a fairly “It walks a fine line, especially with the video,” says Shelton.
Sells GreenRoom
explicit picture: “Feel my belt turn loose from these old blue “It’s almost inappropriate, but it still works.”
>page 14 jeans.” Jason Aldean’s 2014 single “Burnin’ It Down” has a Part of the reason it works is context. Country radio
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 2 OF 18
programmers are acutely aware that “soccer moms,” long considered a c entral
target of the genre’s audience, are monitoring the music that’s played as they
chauffeur their kids. And even as nudity and strip scenes infiltrate the airwaves,
it’s still mild in country compared with some other formats.
“If you think what we play is edgy and sexy,” says WBWL Boston PD Lance
Houston, “you should turn on [hip-hop sister WJMN] from time to time. Some
of the things I hear when I’m walking down the hall just blow my mind. I’m
like, ‘Can they say — I guess they can say that.’ Maybe society is just evolving
on some of this stuff in general, because I still think country’s one of the safest
places you can come to on the radio.”
Country has had its own evolution. In the wake of the Kristofferson songs Danielle Bradbery was on hand Sept. 1 as Big Machine Label Group
in the early ’70s, Freddie Hart’s “Easy Loving” in 1972 was the first country marked its 10th anniversary with a four-hour special on Sirius
hit to use the word “sexy,” and Charlie Rich’s million-selling “Behind Closed XM channel The Highway. From left: BMLG president/CEO Scott
Doors” hinted at marital copulation, though it essentially faded to black and Borchetta, Bradbery and Sirius XM senior director of country
allowed listeners to use their imaginations about the activities that made him programming John Marks.
“glad that I’m a man.”
But more often that not, sex was alluded to in innuendo or double enten-
dres. Billy “Crash” Craddock’s suntan lotion celebration “Rub It In,” the
Bellamy Brothers’ cheeky “If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You
Hold It Against Me” and Joe Stampley’s “Put Your Clothes Back On” mostly
alluded to a roll in the hay.
The trend certainly had its detractors. When Ronnie Milsap released “Why
Don’t You Spend the Night” in January 1980, one radio station banned the
single, offended that Milsap would condone sex outside of marriage. The song
still rose to No. 1. Two months later, ABC Radio personality Paul Harvey
took the industry to task during the Country Radio Seminar for program-
ming “porno-country.”
Meanwhile, Conway Twitty made a career out of sex. “You’ve Never Been
This Far Before,” “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” and “Don’t Call Him a Cowboy” made
titillating references, while “I’d Love to Lay You Down” put it all on the line. A Darius Rucker pop-up concert in Charleston, S.C., premiered Sept. 5
“That one song is like the nastiest song I’ve ever heard!” exclaims Houston. as a CMT Instant Jam special. From left at the taping: CMT executive vp
Alabama hit the sack enough that it became a romantic icon. The group’s development Jayson Dinsmore, Switched On Entertainment executive
effectiveness as an aphrodisiac is noted in Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down” and producer John Hamlin, Rucker, CMT vp music and event production
Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama,” which compares the band to love maestro Margaret Comeaux and senior vp music and talent Leslie Fram.
Barry White. The group’s “Face to Face,” a 1988 release featuring K.T. Oslin,
is a thinly veiled celebration of the missionary position.
In more recent years, country’s lyrics have been even more revealing. Alan
Jackson’s “I’ll Go On Loving You,” Faith Hill’s “Breathe,” Garth Brooks’
“Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)” and Dierks Bentley’s “Come a
Little Closer” have all had a near-voyeuris-
tic quality for the listener. And while that
might spur some birds-and-the-bees dis-
cussions in the general population, Church,
for one, finds it encouraging.
“A lot of times we get too cute,” he
says. “The thing I love about people like
Al Green, even Conway in country; they
didn’t mess around. They just came out
and said it.” Big Kenny and his wife, Christiev Carothers, stopped by Cumulus’
Still, the lines of acceptability have be- Nash campus on Sept. 3 to promote the TLC show Big Kenny & Family.
come blurred. Songwriter Jon Nite was From left: America’s Morning Show co-hosts Ashley Figueroa and
uneasy about the “belt” reference in “Strip Chuck Wicks, Big Kenny, Carothers and America’s Morning Show co-
It Down,” while Copperman loved the re- host Blair Garner.
HILL ES
alness of it. AG
M
“It excites me,” insists Copperman. “I Y I
like pushing those limits because I feel like people like to hear that stuff. It’s ETT
G
true, real stuff. Not enough people go there, and I feel like when you do, it D/
N
taps into a huge piece of real estate that nobody else taps into. Everyone else MO
A
dances around it.” DI
K
For his part, Bryan never questioned looping the belt into the lyrics. RIC
“If you write a song like that and you don’t get really, really steamy, then I R:
E
K
think you’re kind of dodging what it needs to be,” he says. “But if you go over C
U
R
the top with it, then it’s kind of icky and weird and not natural either.” N;
A
“Strip It Down,” he adds, is “just the right amount of sexiness, in my M
D
opinion.” OO
G
Listeners seem to agree. It’s already at No. 8 in its fifth week on Country E
C
N
Airplay, and early research leads Houston to believe it’s a song that will en- A
dure in the format for years. Dustin Lynch performed “Hell of a Night” on Sept. 2 during his first RY: L
E
“When the listeners have had enough or when they feel like it’s gotten too appearance on NBC’s Today. From left: Today personalities Tamron DB
A
far one way or another,” he says, “they’ll do a great job of letting us know.” Hall, Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and Al Roker with Lynch. BR

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 4 OF 18
ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected]
Maddie & Tae Take Flight;
Dustin Lynch Has ‘Hell Of A’ Week
Maddie & Tae’s debut album, Start Here (Dot/Republic/Big Machine Label single, led the Country Airplay chart dated Dec. 20, 2014 and reached No. 3
Group), opens at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart (dated Sept. 19) on Hot Country Songs. It has sold 667,000 downloads to date. Current single
with 24,000 sold in the week ending Sept. 3, accord- “Fly” wings 16-12 on Hot Country Songs as the top
ing to Nielsen Music. The pair is blocked from No. 1 Streaming and Digital Gainer. It also zooms 16-7 on
by Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights (Capitol Nashville/ Country Streaming Songs (1.8 million U.S. streams,
Universal Music Group Nashville), which rules for up 28 percent) and 25-16 on Country Digital Songs
a fourth week (38,000, down 30 percent). (16,000, up 68 percent). On Country Airplay, “Fly”
Start Here marks the strongest unit debut by retreats 9-10 but keeps its bullet (26.5 million audi-
a female duo on Top Country Albums since The ence impressions, down less than 1 percent). The
Wreckers (Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp) song has sold 229,000 since its release.
bowed at No. 4 with 44,000 units in 2006 with Stand “I’m glad the way things have worked out, be-
Still, Look Pretty. The last female duo to place a title cause Big Machine let us put out a second single
higher than Maddie & Tae on Top Country Albums? [“Fly”] that meant so much to us,” says Dye. “But
The Judds, nearly 27 years ago, when their Greatest they believed in our writing and what we want to
Hits topped the Oct. 29, 1988 tally. say to the fans for the long haul.”
Start Here is the first full-length from Maddie &
Tae (lead singer Maddie Marlow and guitarist- ‘NIGHT’ MOVES: Dustin Lynch leaps 2-1 on Coun-
vocalist Taylor Elizabeth Dye). The duo’s introduc- try Airplay with “Hell of a Night” (Broken Bow)
tory four-song Maddie & Tae EP peaked at No. 28 (48.2 million, up 2 percent). The song reigns in its
on the Nov. 22, 2014 Top Country Albums chart. 44th week, becoming one of just five songs to take
The new album was produced by Aaron Scherz and that much time to reach the top. (Chris Young’s
Dann Huff. Maddie & Tae co-wrote all 11 songs on “Voices” led with a 51-week ascent in 2010-11.)
the set, and five of them with Scherz. “What an incredible journey and year it’s been,”
“Since it’s our first [album], I don’t think we knew says Lynch. “It wasn’t such an easy climb, but my
what to expect, and we tried not to [expect anything], [Broken Bow] soldiers believed in this song and,
because that’s a lot of pressure,” Marlow tells Bill- with as much importance, believed in my ca-
board. “This year has been so intense and so crazy reer.” Lynch adds that “Night” has been a “game-
that it’s a project just keeping up with ourselves, to changer” in concert: “I’d just like to thank the folks
be honest, and that’s plenty. But the fact we’re right at country radio for believing in me.”
behind Luke Bryan, that’s a pretty good start. He’s “Hell” is Lynch’s second Country Airplay No. 1.
as big a deal as there is right now, and if we can be “Where It’s At (Yep Yep)” topped the list for two
behind him on our first week, then that’s pretty cool.” weeks beginning Sept. 27, 2014 (in its 26th week).
The LP’s “Girl in a Country Song,” the pair’s Both singles are from his second studio album,
MADIE & TAE
tongue-in-cheek, bro-country-skewering debut Where It’s At.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 5 OF 18
Country Airplay AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
WKS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS
WTHEIESK WLAESETK CHOANR T TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK
l
1 2 44 HELL OF A NIGHT B roken Bow HH No. 1 (1 week) HH Dustin Lynch 48.236 +0.996 8239 390 1
l
2 3 22 CRASH AND BURN V alory Thomas Rhett 46.400 +1.290 7634 243 2
l
3 5 13 JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16 H it Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 43.098 +2.461 7224 263 4
l
4 4 19 BUY ME A BOAT W arner Bros./WAR Chris Janson 42.328 +0.728 7370 200 3
5 1 31 HOUSE PARTY M CA Nashville Sam Hunt 41.248 -6.070 6963 -1112 5
l
6 8 12 SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY B lue Chair/Columbia Nashville HH Most Increased Audience HH Kenny Chesney 40.011 +4.223 6623 640 7
l
7 7 20 LOSE MY MIND A tlantic/WMN Brett Eldredge 38.322 +1.776 6697 134 6
l
8 13 5 STRIP IT DOWN C apitol Nashville Luke Bryan 27.656 +2.821 4545 594 9
l
9 10 13 ANYTHING GOES R epublic Nashville Florida Georgia Line 26.522 +0.469 4445 110 11
l
10 9 33 FLY D ot Maddie & Tae 26.520 -0.112 4445 80 12
l
11 11 29 LIKE A WRECKING BALL E MI Nashville Eric Church 26.061 +0.584 4770 276 8
l
12 12 44 GONNA WANNA TONIGHT D ack Janiels/Columbia Nashville Chase Rice 25.769 +0.480 4475 86 10
l
13 14 22 LET ME SEE YA GIRL W arner Bros./WMN Cole Swindell 24.381 -0.029 4284 91 13
l
14 16 32 BREAK UP WITH HIM R CA Nashville Old Dominion 24.259 +1.612 3773 213 15
l
15 17 29 NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W arner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay 22.150 +0.947 3929 130 14
l
16 18 7 GONNA W arner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton 21.370 +1.945 3472 137 19
l
17 22 3 SMOKE BREAK 1 9/Arista Nashville H H Airpower HH Carrie Underwood 21.066 +3.646 3489 705 18
l
18 19 15 REAL LIFE R CA Nashville Jake Owen 19.525 +0.425 3680 26 16
l
19 20 25 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE C apitol Nashville Lady Antebellum 19.389 +0.501 3379 53 21
l
20 24 15 I’M COMIN’ OVER R CA Nashville Chris Young 17.841 +1.990 2957 206 23
l
21 21 33 I’M TO BLAME M CA Nashville Kip Moore 17.742 -0.417 3536 3 17
l
22 23 11 BURNING HOUSE A rista Nashville Cam 16.976 +0.969 3416 139 20
l
23 27 5 TOP OF THE WORLD M cGraw/Big Machine Tim McGraw 15.092 +1.956 2886 392 24
l
24 25 34 RUN AWAY WITH YOU B $R/New Revolution Big & Rich 13.852 +0.321 3077 16 22
l
25 26 23 STAY A LITTLE LONGER E MI Nashville Brothers Osborne 13.338 +0.152 2373 -52 26
l
26 28 31 ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE S toney Creek Parmalee 13.221 +0.225 2813 47 25
l
27 29 6 GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow Jason Aldean 13.197 +2.325 2367 426 27
l
28 30 10 DIBS B lack River Kelsea Ballerini 9.943 +0.823 2094 203 28
l
29 31 28 I LOVE THIS LIFE R eviver LoCash 9.117 +0.373 1624 17 31
l
30 32 28 I GOT THE BOY E lektra Nashville/WAR Jana Kramer 8.800 +0.260 1937 110 29
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 6 OF 18
Country Airplay AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
WKS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS
WTHEIESK WLAESETK CHOANR T TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK
31 33 16 21 A tlantic/WMN Hunter Hayes 8.052 -0.234 1702 -12 30
32 34 21 LITTLE BIT OF YOU R ed Bow Chase Bryant 5.307 -0.462 1300 -72 32
l
33 36 12 SMOKIN’ AND DRINKIN’ R CA Nashville Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town 5.058 +0.201 1110 50 36
34 35 15 SOUTHERN STYLE C apitol Nashville Darius Rucker 5.031 -0.479 1123 -18 34
l
35 39 4 LIVE FOREVER R epublic Nashville HH Breaker/Most Added HH The Band Perry 4.808 +0.722 887 198 40
l
36 38 14 WE WENT S toney Creek Randy Houser 4.515 +0.371 1257 108 33
l
37 37 10 (THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL R epublic Nashville A Thousand Horses 4.364 +0.163 987 -5 38
l
38 42 7 BLUE BANDANA S ea Gayle/Arista Nashville Jerrod Niemann 3.950 +0.439 1011 89 37
l
39 41 11 RISER C apitol Nashville Dierks Bentley 3.798 +0.270 883 43 41
40 40 14 DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A FOOTBALL PROBLEM M ercury Billy Currington 3.298 -0.325 739 12 43
l
41 43 13 THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU C urb Lee Brice 3.196 +0.275 1115 89 35
l
42 47 11 WHITE LIGHTNING B ig Machine The Cadillac Three 2.669 +0.219 837 2 42
l
43 45 13 TOMORROW TONIGHT R ed Bow Craig Campbell 2.595 +0.073 913 2 39
l
44 46 12 LOVE IS YOUR NAME D ot Steven Tyler 2.441 -0.029 695 14 44
45 44 7 YUP M ercury Easton Corbin 2.432 -0.263 517 3 46
l
46 48 7 AIN’T NO TRUCKS IN TEXAS N ash Icon/Valory Ronnie Dunn 2.274 +0.097 535 17 45
l
47 50 7 HONEY, I’M GOOD. S -Curve/Valory Andy Grammer Duet With Eli Young Band 2.239 +0.361 276 11 56
48 49 3 UNTIL THEY DON’T LOVE YOU S tarstruck/Nash Icon/Valory Reba 1.652 -0.416 292 -28 54
l
49 51 6 NIGHT’S ON FIRE M CA Nashville David Nail 1.539 +0.023 443 -3 47
l
50 54 8 MOVE ON M CA Nashville Clare Dunn 1.415 +0.323 430 45 48
l
51 55 9 BACKROAD SONG W heelhouse Granger Smith 1.307 +0.322 114 48 -
l
52 53 9 CRAZY TOO G -Force/New Revolution Lucy Angel 1.118 +0.007 394 -5 50
l
53 NEW COUNTRY NATION A rista Nashville HH Hot Shot Debut HH Brad Paisley 1.101 +1.066 206 182 58
54 52 5 BAD FOR YOU B ig Machine Waterloo Revival 1.080 -0.195 428 -56 49
l
55 56 3 HOLE IN A BOTTLE M ercury Canaan Smith 1.000 +0.026 341 12 51
l
56 58 2 PAIN KILLER C apitol Nashville Little Big Town 0.968 +0.097 323 41 53
l
57 59 2 SOMEWHERE TONIGHT O ttoPilot/Blaster James Otto 0.945 +0.149 270 25 57
l
58 NEW STONE COLD SOBER V alory Brantley Gilbert 0.888 +0.429 191 113 59
l
59 NEW REAL MEN LOVE JESUS A tlantic/WEA Michael Ray 0.871 +0.375 151 61 -
l
60 NEW BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN M CA Nashville Sam Hunt 0.869 +0.688 152 123 -
GOING FOR ADDS
9/14 BLACKJACK BILLY
Night Light
BRAD PAISLEY Reviver
Country Nation
Arista Nashville CRAIG MORGAN
When I’m Gone
DALLAS SMITH Black River
Kids With Cars
Blaster JOE NICHOLS
Freaks Like Me
JON PARDI Red Bow
Head Over Boots
Capitol Nashville MATT GARY
It’s On You
MICHAEL RAY in2une
Real Men Love Jesus
Atlantic/WEA SAM HUNT
20 Break Up In A Small Town
RACHELE LYNAE MCA Nashville
Quicksand
Momentum/in2une
9/28
RASCAL FLATTS
I Like The Sound Of That AARON WATSON
The track steps 24-20 on Country Airplay Big Machine Getaway Truck
(17.8 million impressions, up 13 percent) BIG Label/Thirty Tigers
CHRIS and 15-13 on Country Digital Songs (18,000 9/21 ABI ANN
YOUNG Truck Candy
NIELDS I’mO Cvoemrin’ domwonvloeas:d Yso suonldg, puepr 9fo prmerecden tht)e. A siodningg o tnh e WBAMLGaAsnB’At MThAr ough Lovin’ You Yet iDn2UunSeTIN LYNCH
RYL Sept. 2 on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. MBroiknend B oRweader
E
H
S
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 7 OF 18
Country Airplay AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
MOST ADDED® NEW AND ACTIVE
TITLE Imprint/Label Artist ADDS TOTAL TOTAL
TITLE Imprint/Label Artist AUDIENCE STATIONS ADDS
LIVE FOREVER R epublic Nashville T he Band Perry 21
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow J ason Aldean 11 BOY & A GIRL THING C urb M o Pitney 0.814 8 4
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL R epublic Nashville A Thousand Horses 10 SOUTHERN BELLE 1 9/Interscope/Mercury S cotty McCreery 0.747 11 6
COUNTRY NATION A rista Nashville B rad Paisley 9
I AM INVINCIBLE R epublic Nashville C assadee Pope 0.712 7 1
DIBS B lack River K elsea Ballerini 7
HEY Y’ALL W arner Bros./WMN C ole Swindell 0.672 1 0
I LOVE THIS LIFE R eviver L oCash 7
STONE COLD SOBER V alory B rantley Gilbert 7 I MET A GIRL W arner Bros./WMN W illiam Michael Morgan 0.480 14 3
BLUE BANDANA S ea Gayle/Arista Nashville J errod Niemann 6 WHISKEY ON MY BREATH T hirty Tigers L ove And Theft 0.393 14 2
PAIN KILLER C apitol L ittle Big Town 6
SOUTHERN BELLE 1 9/Interscope/Mercury S cotty McCreery 6
RECURRENTS
MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE THIS TOTAL AUD.
WEEK TITLE Imprint/Label Artist (IN MILLIONS)
GAIN
1 YOUNG & CRAZY W arner Bros./WAR Frankie Ballard 25.632
TITLE Imprint/Label Artist (IN MIILIONS)
2 KISS YOU IN THE MORNING A tlantic/WEA M ichael Ray 21.657
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY B lue Chair/Columbia Nashville K enny Chesney +4.223
SMOKE BREAK 1 9/Arista Nashville C arrie Underwood +3.647 3 LOVING YOU EASY J ohn Varvatos/Republic/BMLG/Southern Ground Z ac Brown Band 19.461
STRIP IT DOWN C apitol Nashville L uke Bryan +2.821 4 TONIGHT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU B roken Bow J ason Aldean 19.238
JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16 H it Red/Capitol Nashville K eith Urban +2.461 5 SANGRIA W arner Bros./WMN B lake Shelton 16.877
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow J ason Aldean +2.325 6 KICK THE DUST UP C apitol Nashville Luke Bryan 16.390
I’M COMIN’ OVER R CA Nashville C hris Young +1.990 7 HOMEGROWN J ohn Varvatos/Republic/BMLG/Southern Ground Z ac Brown Band 15.641
TOP OF THE WORLD M cGraw/Big Machine T im McGraw +1.956
8 ONE HELL OF AN AMEN V alory B rantley Gilbert 15.306
GONNA W arner Bros./WMN B lake Shelton +1.945
9 LOVE YOU LIKE THAT Mercury C anaan Smith 14.372
LOSE MY MIND A tlantic/WMN B rett Eldredge +1.776
BREAK UP WITH HIM R CA Nashville O ld Dominion +1.612 10 DON’T IT M ercury B illy Currington 13.175
MOST INCREASED PLAYS BILLBOARD COUNTRY BOXSCORE
TITLE Imprint/Label Artist GAIN Gross Artist Attendance
Ticket Price(s) Venue/Date(s) Capacity Promoter(s)
SMOKE BREAK 1 9/Arista Nashville C arrie Underwood +705
$1,127,536 SHANIA TWAIN 12,066
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY B lue Chair/Columbia Nashville K enny Chesney +640 $136, $46 American Airlines Center, Dallas/Aug. 10, 2015 sellout AEG LIVE
STRIP IT DOWN C apitol Nashville L uke Bryan +594 $1,039,436 SHANIA TWAIN 10,823
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow J ason Aldean +426 $136, $46 Pepsi Center, Denver/Aug. 14, 2015 sellout AEG LIVE
TOP OF THE WORLD M cGraw/Big Machine T im McGraw +392 $990,618 SHANIA TWAIN 10,083
HELL OF A NIGHT B roken Bow D ustin Lynch +390 $136, $46 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas/Aug. 9, 2015 11,571 AEG LIVE
LIKE A WRECKING BALL E MI Nashville E ric Church +276 $961,602 SHANIA TWAIN 10,767
$136, $46 Scottrade Center, St. Louis/Aug. 4, 2015 11,203 AEG LIVE
JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16 H it Red/Capitol Nashville K eith Urban +263
$914,788 SHANIA TWAIN 9,410
CRASH AND BURN V alory T homas Rhett +243 $136, $46 Save Mart Center, Fresno, Calif./Aug. 23, 2015 9,983 AEG LIVE
BREAK UP WITH HIM R CA Nashville O ld Dominion +213
Reported worldwide boxscore figures for Country artists. Boxscore figures should be submitted to Bob
Allen by phone [phone]), fax [phone]) or email ([email protected]).
TEXAS REGIONAL RADIO REPORT
WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
THIS LAST WKS ON TW SPINS THIS LAST WKS ON TW SPINS
WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST SPINS +/– WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST SPINS +/–
1 1 17 WHILE I WAS AWAY (Independent) HH 3 weeks at 1 HH Pat Green 1947 -5 11 10 15 LIFE COMES AT YOU FAST ( Independent) Bart Crow Band 1251 -22
l2 3 19 EASY ( Independent) Cody Canada & The Departed 1750 11 l12 12 14 WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ( Independent) Kyle Park 1245 25
l3 4 22 LIVIN’ THE GOOD LIFE (RROC) Matt Kimbrow 1651 84 l13 14 14 TEASIN’ ME (Hammer Down) Miles Williams 1182 118
4 2 16 SUN SHINES ON A DREAMER ( Sea Gayle) Wade Bowen 1455 -297 l14 16 7 DAMN THIS OL’ HONKY TONK DREAM (KF) Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd 1130 87
l5 6 19 OLD WITH YOU ( Independent) Cory Morrow 1444 66 l15 19 17 DON’T OWN THE RIGHT (Boo Clap/Thirty Tigers) Uncle Lucius 966 65
l6 8 12 REAL COOL HAND ( No Big Deal) Reckless Kelly 1414 78 l16 18 11 GIRLS I DATE ( Independent) Mike Ryan 957 43
7 5 24 SHELTER FROM THE RAIN (Independent) Whiskey Myers 1399 -4 l17 23 8 PHONE CALLS (BGM) TJ Broscoff 949 65
l8 9 10 DOWN HERE (Independent) Turnpike Troubadours 1387 59 l18 22 11 YOU DREAM I’LL DRIVE (Independent) Josh Grider 926 38
l9 11 16 SMILE THAT SMILE ( Independent) Curtis Grimes 1320 95 l19 25 7 LADY BUG (Independent) Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen 917 59
10 7 23 BACKROAD SONG (Independent) Granger Smith 1293 -59 l20 24 11 I DON’T (Winding Road) Saints Eleven 894 13
Texas Regional Radio Report Top 100 is compiled from weekly online playlist reports from 86 radio stations located in Texas and surrounding states, including
reports from specialty shows, internet and satellite radio outlets. Songs are ranked by total plays. For tracking, complete chart methodology and more information,
visit www.texasregionalradio.com, or contact Dave Smith at 817-283-7984. Copyright 2015, Texas Regional Radio Report
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 8 OF 18
NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND
’ROUND THE ROW
The GreenRoom is shifting ownership, with Mary Hilliard Harrington selling
a majority stake in the company to veteran staffers Tyne Parrish and Kristie
Sloan. The firm represents Jason Aldean, Lady An-
tebellum and Rascal Flatts, among others. Har- Y
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Jake Owen hosted the ninth annual ACM Honors on Sept. 1 at gramming. Reach him here … Thirty Tigers acquired
Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, where Loretta Lynn claimed the Crystal the Unrest Music Group and installed principal Gino
Milestone Award. Genaro as Thirty Tigers vp country music manage-
ment. Unrest represents Aaron Watson and Ca-
ROY CLARK’S ACM TRIUMPH
meran Nelson. Reach Genaro here … Big Machine
Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan and host Label Group added three staff members. Senior di-
Jake Owen were among a bundle of current hitmakers and award win- rector of employee relations Jenny House was most
ners who performed during the ninth annual ACM Honors on Sept. 1. recently Universal Music Group Nashville senior di-
But the artist who seemed to make the biggest impact on the audience at rector of administrative services. Shannon Emley GENARO
Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was the indomitable Roy Clark. On hand joined BMLG as accounting manager after relocat-
to recognize Mae Boren Axton Award winner Barry Adelman — a writer- ing in Nashville from Washington, D.C., where he was lead accountant for the
producer who has worked on The Academy of Country Music Awards, Prime nonprofit Heritage Foundation. Accountant Lauren Perry arrives from Sony/
Time Country and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, among other productions — Clark ATV, where she was global royalty coordinator … Toronto-based ole signed
was revealed to the audience in a chair, and he soon showed his voice to be songwriting deals with Canadian country artist Meghan Patrick and song-
only a shadow of its former character. writer-producer Phil O’Donnell (“Doin’ What She Likes,” “Already Callin’ You
Clark sang “Yesterday, When I Was Young,” a 1969 ballad that looks back Mine”) … Sandbox Management has agreed to represent the Hank Williams es-
on years misspent in arrogance and self-involvement. His voice reduced to a tate, represented by offspring Jett Williams and Hank Williams Jr. Sandbox,
rasp, Clark, 82, was unable to capture the song’s melodic arc. And the man which already handles such acts as Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town,
named the ACM’s entertainer of the year in ’73 and ’74 was never able to move assigned the account to Josh Matas … Indie act Mike Aiken signed with Lowe-
until the end, when he ambled offstage with a walking stick. Rider Entertainment for concert booking … Exile has joined the client roster
By gutting it out despite his limitations, Clark brought a touching dimension of at Webster Public Relations … The Country Music Association is signing a 10-
authenticity to the piece, which left many in the crowd with conflicted feelings. year lease that will move it to 35 Music Square East in Nashville, an under-con-
“Honestly, it made me kind of sad,” confessed songwriter Luke Laird struction property recognized as the SESAC building. Meanwhile, balloting for
(“American Kids,” “Talladega”), who accepted the songwriter of the year the CMA’s SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards began Sept. 8. Finalists for the
trophy the same night. “But it made me happy as well. My favorite part about CMA Awards will be announced Sept. 9 … Songwriter Jeffrey Steele (“Raise
that whole performance was when he walked offstage, and he had that cane ’Em Up,” “What Hurts the Most”) will hold an eight-week Songwriting Boot-
and he held it up and said, ‘This is just temporary.’ ” camp 2.0 beginning in October. Registration is being accepted here … Singer-
Clark had clearly not lost his spirit. In fact, his willingness to give a glimpse songwriter-guitarist Boomer Castleman died Sept. 1, The Tennessean re-
into his life and the cold facts of aging is an exemplary use of the creative pur- ported. He worked with Michael Martin Murphey in a duo known as Lewis &
suit. The best art helps the recipient understand his or her own humanity. Clark Clarke Expedition during the early part of his career. Castleman also invented
was, in his own way, assisting the audience in the delicate process of accepting the palm pedal, a device that guitar players use to emulate pedal-steel bends,
the passage of time, as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Bill and played on numerous Nashville sessions, including work with George Jones
Monroe and Merle Haggard have done, or are doing, by relentlessly working and Johnny Lee’s “Country Party” (No. 15, 1977) … A celebration of life will
even when their bodies are rebelling. be held 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 for AristoMedia Group president Jeff
“Those eyes still twinkle,” said Adelman after Clark had left the stage. Walker, who died Aug. 24. The event takes place at Nashville’s City Winery.
“That’s a superstar.”
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Tom Baldrica has joined Midwest Communications as country brand strat-
egist. The company’s country portfolio includes such stations as WLFW
Evansville, Ind.; KTCO Duluth, Minn.; and WGEE Green Bay-Appleton, Wis.
Baldrica’s history includes stints in both radio and records, most recently as
Show Dog Universal vp promotion and marketing. Reach him here … America’s
Morning Show, syndicated by Westwood One, counts 41 affiliates following its
Sept. 8 debut on six new stations: WZRR Birmingham, Ala.; WOMG Colum-
bia, S.C.; WWFF Huntsville, Ala.; WOGT Chattanooga, Tenn.; WKOS Johnson
City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.; and WUUF Rochester, N.Y. … Cox Media Group
promoted Michelle Harper to vp sales for the company’s multiple platforms.
She was previously WSOC-TV Charlotte general sales manager. Among the
chain’s country outlets are KKBQ Houston; KWEN Tulsa, Okla.; and KCYY
San Antonio … Saga/Ithaca, N.Y., promoted Chase Daniels to assistant op- Warner Music Nashville artist William Michael Morgan made a pit
erations manager for the cluster and assistant brand manager for country stop at KWJJ Portland, Ore., while on his first radio-promotion tour.
WQNY, RadioInfo.com reported. Daniels had been WQNY afternoon-drive From left: Entercom/Portland vp operations Mike Moore, KWJJ music
host/imaging director. director Savannah Jones and Morgan.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 9 OF 18
NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND
MUSIC NOTES ON THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC
One of country’s most important markets, Dallas-Fort Worth, hosts a couple Sept. 8
of major events this month. Moonshine: The Hee Haw Musical started previews • 2 012 — A corn maze formed in Alan Jackson’s likeness opens at
Sept. 2 at the Dallas Theater Center with opening night slated for Sept. 18. Gull Meadow Farms in Richland, Mich., weirdly allowing fans to
Brandy Clark and songwriter Shane McAnally (“House Party,” “Real Life”) walk through the singer’s mustache.
wrote the music and lyrics for the production, which includes former Amer- • 1990 — Alabama’s “Jukebox in My Mind”
ican Idol contestant Justin Guarini in begins a three-week run at No. 1 on the
E
the cast. Meanwhile, on Sept. 23, AT&T Billboard country singles list. D
O
Stadium in Arlington will host an attempt D R
E
at setting a world record with the largest Sept. 9 A:
game of Twister. The event is a not-so- • 1 975 — After a recording session, Emmy- BAM
ALABAMA A
veiled play on the title of Thomas Rhett’s lou Harris gets together with Dolly Par- AL
album Tangled Up, which will be the cen- ton and Linda Ronstadt for the very first time in a Beverly Hills
terpiece of a live broadcast from the sta- hotel room.
CIA dium that night on Cumulus’ Shawn
R
GA Parr-hosted Nash Nights. The album is Sept. 10
GIO due Sept. 25. • 2 000 — Trisha Yearwood sings the national anthem as the Tennes-
R
SE see Titans play their first home game of the new NFL season against
NE: Miranda Lambert will receive the the Kansas City Chiefs. The Titans win, 17-14, in overtime.
NSHI 2015 Harmony Award from the Nash- • 1970 — Lynn Anderson records “Rose Garden” in the evening hours
N
O ville Symphony during the annual Sym- at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville.
O
MO phony Ball on Dec. 12 at the Schermer-
horn Symphony Center. Previous Moonshine: The Musical Sept. 11
recipients include Keith Urban, Vince songwriters Shane McAnally • 2 010 — Miranda Lambert delivers her first overseas concert in
Gill, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and and Brandy Clark, book writer Gstaad, Switzerland.
Dolly Parton. Robert Horn and director • 2 001 — A terrorist attack levels both towers at the World Trade
Gary Griffin (clockwise from Center in New York. In Manhattan during the chaos, though they
Release dates have been set for a handful top left). are u nhurt: Garth Brooks, Billy Gilman, Rosanne Cash and Mary
of new albums. They include Mac McA- Chapin Carpenter.
nally’s A.K.A. Nobody, due Sept. 18 on Jimmy Buffett’s Mailboat label; an
as-yet-untitled album for Tim McGraw scheduled for Nov. 6 via Big Machine; Sept. 12
and Chris Young’s I’m Comin’ Over, coming out on RCA on Nov. 13. • 2 011 — Scotty McCreery begins his senior year at Garner High
School in North Carolina.
With the Country Music Hall of Fame currently devoting an exhibit to Sun • 1 995 — MCA releases George Strait’s Strait Out of the Box.
Records founder Sam Phillips, a biography by Peter Guralnick is also on
the way. Little, Brown and Company will publish Sam Phillips: The Man Who Sept. 13
Invented Rock ‘N’ Roll on Nov. 10. The project is accompanied by Yep Roc’s • 2009 — Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” wins best female video
Oct. 30 release of a Guralnick-curated, two-CD compilation of the same name, during the MTV Video Music Awards. Rapper Kanye West interrupts
featuring music by such Phillips-associated acts as Elvis Presley, Johnny her acceptance speech at New York’s Radio City Music Hall to insist
Cash, Carl Perkins, Howlin’ Wolf and Jerry Lee Lewis. Another book of that Beyoncé should have won.
note is Country Faith Christmas, penned by Billboard contributor Deborah • 2005 — Bill Monroe’s Gibson F-5 mandolin is donated to the C ountry
Evans Price. Due Oct. 19, it includes holiday tales by the likes of Alan Jack- Music Hall of Fame in Nashville by Murfreesboro philanthropist
son, Reba McEntire and Florida Georgia Line, with a foreword by Little Bob McClean.
Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.
Source: RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database
GOOD WORKS
Country music had a bit of a check list going last week — oversized checks were
handed over to worthwhile causes on successive nights in downtown Nashville.
Arista artist Cam took part in one of those presentations, as jewelry designer
Kendra Scott made a $10,000 donation to ACM Lifting Lives on the red carpet
prior to the ninth annual ACM Honors on Sept. 1 at the Ryman Auditorium.
Scott’s gesture comes on the heels of opening a new retail outlet in Nashville.
The next morning, Big Machine Label Group used its 10th anniversary as an
occasion to deliver $100,000 to Music Makes Us, a music-education program
in the Nashville public school system. The Band Perry, The Cadillac Three
and Danielle Bradbery joined BMLG president/CEO Scott Borchetta for
the presentation, attended by students from Music City’s Hume-Fogg.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
His Twitter handle should be proof enough that the fake Kenny Chesney
(@notkennychesney) isn’t really the singer. His diet provides yet another clue:
“I just read a headline that says Miley Cyrus identifies as a ‘pansexual’.
Haven’t googled what that is yet but if it involves bacon, I’m in.” Martina McBride joined Don Henley (left) for a Sirius XM appearance
moderated by Bob Seger on Sept. 2, promoting the Henley/McBride
To follow BCU, go to Twitter.com/bbcountryupdate. duet “That Old Flame.”
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | PAGE 10 OF 18
SALES, AIRPLAY &
HHoott CCoouunnttrryy SSoonnggss SCTORMEPAIMLEIDN GB YDATA
TWO
THIS LAST WEEKS WKS ON TITLE Artist PEAK
WEEK WEEK AGO CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL CERTIFIED POSITION
1 1 1 37 HOUSE PARTY HH No. 1 (5 weeks) HH Sam Hunt 1
Z.CROWELL,S.MCANALLY (S.HUNT,Z.CROWELL,J.FLOWERS) M CA NASHVILLE
l2 4 5 14 JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16 Keith Urban 2
D.HUFF,K.URBAN (S.MCANALLY,R.COPPERMAN,J.OSBORNE) H IT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE
l3 3 4 20 BUY ME A BOAT Chris Janson 0 3
C.JANSON,C.DUBOIS,B.ANDERSON (C.JANSON,C.DUBOIS) W ARNER BROS./WAR
4 2 2 22 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 0 2
D.HUFF,J.FRASURE (J.FRASURE,C.STAPLETON) V ALORY
l5 7 11 7 STRIP IT DOWN Luke Bryan 5
J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (L.BRYAN,J.M.NITE,R.COPPERMAN) C APITOL NASHVILLE
6 8 9 20 LOSE MY MIND Brett Eldredge 6
R. COPPERMAN,B.ELDREDGE (B.ELDREDGE,H.MORGAN,R.COPPERMAN,B.BURTON,T.D.CALLAWAY,G.F.REVERBERI,G.P.REVERBERI) A TLANTIC/WMN
l7 9 10 35 HELL OF A NIGHT Dustin Lynch 7
M.J.CONES (Z.CROWELL,A.SANDERS,J.BOYER) B ROKEN BOW
8 10 6 29 LIKE A WRECKING BALL Eric Church 6
J.JOYCE (E.CHURCH,C.BEATHARD) E MI NASHVILLE
l9 11 12 11 SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY HH Airplay Gainer HH Kenny Chesney 9
B.CANNON,K.CHESNEY (A.DORFF,M.RAMSEY,B.TURSI) B LUE CHAIR/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE
10 6 3 17 KICK THE DUST UP Luke Bryan 1
J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (D.DAVIDSON,C. DESTEFANO,A.GORLEY) C APITOL NASHVILLE
l11 12 13 13 BURNING HOUSE Cam 11
J.BHASKER,T.JOHNSON (C.OCHS,T.JOHNSON,J.BHASKER) A RISTA NASHVILLE
l12 16 14 29 FLY HH Digital & Streaming Gainer HH Maddie & Tae 12
D.HUFF (M.MARLOW,T.DYE,T.VARTANYAN) D OT
l13 14 16 19 ANYTHING GOES Florida Georgia Line 13
J.MOI (F.MCTEIGUE,C.G.TOMPKINS,C.WISEMAN) R EPUBLIC NASHVILLE
l14 15 17 26 BREAK UP WITH HIM Old Dominion 14
S.MCANALLY (M.RAMSEY,T. ROSEN,B.TURSI,G.SPRUNG,W.SELLERS) R CA NASHVILLE
15 5 36 3 SMOKE BREAK Carrie Underwood 5
J.JOYCE (C.UNDERWOOD,C. DESTEFANO,H.LINDSEY) 19/ARISTA NASHVILLE
l16 17 19 17 I’M COMIN’ OVER Chris Young 8
C.CROWDER,C.YOUNG (C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER,J.HOGE) R CA NASHVILLE
17 13 7 20 LOVING YOU EASY Zac Brown Band 4
Z.BROWN (Z.BROWN,N.MOON,A.ANDERSON) J OHN VARVATOS/REPUBLIC/BMLG/SOUTHERN GROUND
l18 19 21 21 LET ME SEE YA GIRL Cole Swindell 18
M.CARTER (C.SWINDELL,M.CARTER,J.STEVENS) W ARNER BROS./WMN
19 18 18 25 SANGRIA Blake Shelton 0 3
S.HENDRICKS (J.T.HARDING,J.OSBORNE,T. ROSEN) W ARNER BROS./WMN
l20 22 23 23 NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU Dan + Shay 20
C. DESTEFANO (D.SMYERS,S.MOONEY,A.GORLEY,C. DESTEFANO) W ARNER BROS./WAR
l21 23 24 35 GONNA WANNA TONIGHT Chase Rice 21
C. DESTEFANO (S.MCANALLY,J.M.NITE,J.ROBBINS) D ACK JANIELS/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE
22 21 20 15 REAL LIFE Jake Owen 17
S.MCANALLY,R. COPPERMAN (R.COPPERMAN,A.GORLEY,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE) R CA NASHVILLE
23 20 15 26 KISS YOU IN THE MORNING Michael Ray 10
S.HENDRICKS (J.WILSON,M.WHITE) A TLANTIC/WEA
l24 27 30 6 GONNA Blake Shelton 24
S.HENDRICKS (L.LAIRD,C.WISEMAN) W ARNER BROS./WMN
l25 25 25 22 STAY A LITTLE LONGER Brothers Osborne 25
J.JOYCE (J. OSBORNE,T.J. OSBORNE,S.MCANALLY) E MI NASHVILLE
29 30
The song lifts 33-30 on Hot Country Songs,
TIM PARMALEE
Tim McGraw’s latest strides 32-29 on boosted heavily by its No. 36 debut on
McGRAW Already
Hot Country Songs. It climbs 27-23 on Country Digital Songs (6,000 downloads
Top Of The Callin’ You
Country Airplay, up by 15 percent to sold, up 102 percent), thanks to its inclusion
World Mine
15.1 million audience impressions. in iTunes’ September WeMix campaign.