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Chart Roundup – Week of May 25th, 2013

Not a lot has changed at the top since last week, as Florida Georgia Line seem to have a pretty stable monopoly at #1 across Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay and Country Digital Songs, with their hit singles ‘Cruise’ (plus the remix featuring Nelly) and ‘Get Your Shine On’. They’re also occupying #5 on Hot Country Songs, #7 on Country Digital Songs and #6 on Top Country Albums, making them virtually impossible to avoid in country music these days. Also remaining static on the charts is Darius Rucker with ‘Wagon Wheel’, close behind at #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay and #3 on Country Digital Songs. To add to this little rivalry at the top, Blake Shelton (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) is at #3 on Hot Country Songs with ‘Boys Round Here’, and #2 on Country Digital Songs, while he has yet to climb past #7 on Country Airplay. Blake’s 2013 album ‘Based On A True Story…’ drops to #4.

Tim McGraw is also enjoying the rising popularity of his collaboration single with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don’t Care’. It’s at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #5 on Country Airplay, and #4 on Country Digital Songs. As you can probably tell, each chart reflects a fairly similar story this week. Good news for Lady Antebellum fans, as their fourth album ‘Golden’ has debuted in at #1 this week, with their lead single ‘Downtown’ still performing well across the charts, #8 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay and #10 on Country Digital Songs. Kenny Chesney is also enjoying success with ‘Pirate Flag’, reaching #3 on Country Airplay, #11 on Country Digital Songs and #7 on Hot Country Songs. His brand new album, ‘Life On A Rock’, drops to #3 this week.

In addition, Miranda Lambert is retaining her presence with ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, at #4 on Country Airplay and #6 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, although there are signs things are starting to drop off. This is not the case for Luke Bryan, whose lead single from his upcoming fourth record ‘Crash My Party’ is gaining momentum, reaching #5 on Country Digital Songs, #9 on Hot Country Songs and #14 on Country Airplay.

As for new releases, well there are plenty. The Pistol Annies’ ‘Annie Up’ came in at #2 on Top Country Albums, and its release date partner ABC’s ‘Nashville Soundtrack Volume 2’ came in at #5. This aided the gaining of 5 places for Volume 1. Another compilation makes it at #10, ‘Now That’s What I Call A Country Party’, and Craig Campbell’s ‘Never Forget’ debuted at #27, while Lenny Cooper is at #34 with ‘Mud Dynasty’. Dailey & Vincent just make the chart with ‘Brothers of The Highway’ at #40. But it’s not just about albums. Other new releases include Danielle Bradbery’s ‘Maybe It Was Memphis’ (#9 on Country Digital Songs and #25 on Hot Country Songs) and Lauren Alaina’s ‘Barefoot And Buckwild’ (#25 on Country Digital Songs).

Honorable mentions this week go to George Strait, Eric Church, Brad Paisley, Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean and Jake Owen.

Check back next Thursday for another chart roundup!

Chart Roundup – Week of May 18th, 2013

Hey guys, my chart roundup is back after a month out! I hope you missed me.

Hot Country Songs remains oddly static at the top, with Florida Georgia Line continuing their successful run at #1 with ‘Cruise’, which also holds onto #1 on Country Digital Songs. What’s more, their most recent single ‘Get Your Shine On’, has the top spot on Country Airplay, #7 on Country Digital Songs and #5 on Hot Country Songs. Is there any chart this duo can’t dominate? Turns out that chart is Top Country Albums, as Kenny Chesney’s ‘Life On A Rock’ debuts at #1, while ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ trails at #5. The lead single from Kenny’s new record, ‘Pirate Flag’, is at #8 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Airplay, nearing the top ten with #12 on Country Digital Songs.

Darius Rucker is also doing well, his hit ‘Wagon Wheel’ remaining at #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, and #3 on Country Airplay. The same goes for Blake Shelton, hot on his heels with ‘Boys Round Here’ (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) at #3 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs. He moves up to #9 on Country Airplay at a steady rise, while his album ‘Based On A True Story…’ drops to #2 this week. His wife, Miranda Lambert, sees ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ retain its position at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #5 on Country Digital Songs, and move up to the anticipation-filled #2 spot on Country Airplay. Will she top the chart next week?

Tim McGraw is also a key player on the charts, as his collaboration with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don’t Care’, holds onto #6 on Hot Country Songs, while it sits at #4 on Country Digital Songs and #6 on Country Airplay. ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’, Tim’s latest album, is at #14. Luke Bryan is also rising up the charts with ‘Crash My Party’, at #6 on Country Digital Songs, moving up to #9 on Hot Country Songs, and #17 on Country Airplay. In addition, Hunter Hayes’ ‘I Want Crazy’ is right behind him, reaching #10 on Hot Country Songs, #8 on Country Digital Songs and #21 on Country Airplay. Also of note, Lady Antebellum’s ‘Downtown’ is hanging on in there in the top ten, at #7 on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs, and dropping down to #10 on Country Digital Songs. Their fourth album, ‘Golden’, has just been released this week and will impact the chart from next week. Also to impact next week include the Pistol Annies with ‘Annie Up’, and ABC’s ‘Nashville’ soundtrack, volume 2.

New releases include ‘Hey Girl’ from Billy Currington, at #9 on Country Digital Songs, as well as ‘Trouble’ the new album from Randy Rogers Band at #3, and ‘Rose Queen’ by William Clark Green, #34 on Top Country Albums. After George Jones’ passing, his album ‘The Great LOST Hits’ jumps 16 places to #35. There is a re-entry from Carrie Underwood’s new single ‘See You Again’, which being so new is struggling to match the chart power of her previous singles.

Honorable mentions go to Thompson Square, George Strait, Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift.

Come by next Thursday for another instalment of my Billboard chart roundup.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Songs I'm digging right now: Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel"

 

I love this song. Love, love, love it. It's actually the first Darius Rucker song that I've really been crazy about. After watching the video this morning on CMT I realized I never posted it on here so figured now is as good a time as any so here you go. 

Chart Roundup – Week of April 20th, 2013 (ACMs Special)

Post-ACMs a number of artists have had a bit of a sales boost this week. Florida Georgia Line are back at #1 with ‘Cruise’ long after its peak as a single on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, after they performed it in Vegas last Sunday. Their latest single ‘Get Your Shine On’ drops down to #6 on Hot Country Songs, climbs to #8 on Country Airplay, but drops to #9 on Country Digital Songs, and their album ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ leaps three places to #3. Also enjoying some success after their appearance on the ACMs are Tim McGraw’s, Taylor Swift’s and Keith Urban’s track ‘Highway Don’t Care’, which goes up four places on Hot Country Songs to #7, as well as #4 on Country Digital Songs and #14 on Country Airplay. The song is taken from Tim’s album ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’, which unfortunately drops five places to #17 this week.

Chart Roundup – Week of April 13th, 2013

It’s been a great week for Darius Rucker, who has topped both the Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs charts with his hit ‘Wagon Wheel’. The recent release of an accompanying music video may well have aided this rise. Blake Shelton is also riding high, his new album ‘Based On A True Story’ coming in at #1. The lead single, ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’ is at #2 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, but falls to #4 this week on Country Airplay. Lady Antebellum’s ‘Downtown’ remains near the top too, at #5 on Country Digital Songs, #3 on Country Airplay, and #3 on Hot Country Songs.

Then there’s Miranda Lambert’s ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, which holds onto #4 on Hot Country Songs and #3 on Country Digital Songs, but rises to #7 on Country Airplay. Her album ‘Four The Record’ drops to #16. Hunter Hayes is still going fairly strong, hitting #1 on Country Airplay with ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’, but falling to #10 on Hot Country Songs, a resurgence seeing it climb two places to #19 on Country Digital Songs. His smash hit of 2012, ‘Wanted’, enjoys a place at #13 on this chart, while his self-titled debut album stays at #9. Florida Georgia Line and Lee Brice remain comfortably inside the top 10 across the charts (#5, #9 and #4 for ‘Get Your Shine On’, #8 for ‘Cruise’, and #6, #2, and #12 for ‘I Drive Your Truck’).

There are plenty of new releases on the chart this week. Alan Jackson’s ‘Precious Memories: Volume II’ comes in at #2 on Top Country Albums, while ‘Just Feels Good’ by Thompson Square is just below it at #4. The ‘ACMs Official 2013 Zinepak’ debuts at #11 in light of the upcoming awards show, while Blake Shelton’s new single ‘Boys Round Here’ (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) enters at #7 on Country Digital Songs and #19 on Country Airplay. It also leaps from #44 to #15 on Hot Country Songs. Maggie Rose’s debut, ‘Cut To Impress’ is at #36 on Top Country Albums in its first week.

Another track making waves is Thompson Square’s ‘If I Didn’t Have You’. It’s taken many weeks, but the husband-and-wife duo are finally seeing their song hit #5 on Country Airplay, #7 on Hot Country Songs, and #10 on Country Digital Songs. Kenny Chesney finds himself around this area on the charts with ‘Pirate Flag’, at #9 on Country Digital Songs, #8 on Country Airplay, and #9 on Hot Country Songs.

Honorable mentions go to Chris Young, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, Eric Church and The Band Perry.

Check out my chart roundup next week to see where The Band Perry’s sophomore album ‘Pioneer’ debuts and how this will affect their singles ‘Better Dig Two’ and ‘DONE.’.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Chart Roundup – Week of April 6th, 2013

Blake Shelton continues his successful run at the top of the charts this week with ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’, remaining at #1 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. He has been knocked down to #2 on Country Digital Songs by Darius Rucker’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ however, which no doubt was helped by the release of the music video this past week. It is also sitting at #2 on Hot Country Songs, just behind Mr Shelton, but trails behind at #13 on Country Airplay, although this is the song’s radio peak thus far and it’s still climbing. Also near the top this week is Lady Antebellum and ‘Downtown’, at #4 on Country Airplay, #3 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Digital Songs, as well as Hunter Hayes with ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’, at #2 on Country Airplay, #7 on Hot Country Songs, but down to #21 on Country Digital Songs.

Miranda Lambert is around this spot too with ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, #4 on Hot Country Songs, #3 on Country Digital Songs, and #8 on Country Airplay. Her album, ‘Four The Record’ is at #13. Lee Brice’s ‘I Drive Your Truck’ remains around the top 10 across the charts, with #3 on Country Airplay, #6 on Hot Country Songs and #11 on Country Digital Songs, with the album ‘Hard 2 Love’ at #14. It’s been a good week for George Strait, as ‘Give It All We Got Tonight’ is now at #14 on Hot Country Songs, #11 on Country Airplay and #9 on Country Digital Songs, and Florida Georgia Line own the Country Digital Songs chart, with ‘Cruise’ at #7 and their latest single ‘Get Your Shine On’ at #5. The latter also jumps up to #5 on Hot Country Songs and #10 on Country Airplay. ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ is at #3 on Top Country Albums.

Good news for all those Kacey Musgraves fans out there, as her critically lauded new album ‘Same Trailer Different Park’ debuts at #1 on the chart, while the lead single ‘Merry Go Round’ enjoys an 8-place leap to #10 on Country Digital Songs. She knocks Luke Bryan’s ‘Spring Break… Here To Party’ off the top spot, while the promo single from it, ‘Buzzkill’ drops 9 places to #25 on Country Digital Songs. Another new release this week, Justin Moore’s ‘Point At You’ comes in at #18 on Country Digital Songs.

Others in respectable positions on the charts this week include Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Thompson Square, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, Jason Aldean, Eric Church and The Band Perry.

Check out my chart roundup next week to see where Blake Shelton’s ‘Based On A True Story’ charts, and whether it can knock golden girl Kacey Musgraves off the top spot.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Chart Roundup – Week of March 30th, 2013

Country pop is sneaking up on the charts this week as Blake Shelton reigns with ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’, at #1 on Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay and Country Digital Songs. Alongside him are Lady Antebellum with ‘Downtown’ at #2 on Hot Country Songs, #4 on Country Digital Songs, and up at #6 on Country Airplay. Miranda Lambert is also clinging on to her place near the top of the charts with ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, at #3 on Country Digital Songs and Hot Country Songs, although she’s still trailing at #11 on Country Airplay. Miranda’s 2011 album ‘Four The Record’ is up two places this week to #12 for its 72^nd week on the chart.

Darius Rucker’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ is still rising, at #2 on Country Digital Songs, while at #5 on Hot Country Songs and #16 on Country Airplay. Meanwhile Carrie Underwood’s ‘Two Black Cadillacs’ is holding onto its peak at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #2 on Country Airplay but is down to #12 on Country Digital Songs. The album ‘Blown Away’ is at #9. A new entry on the chart is ‘DONE.’ by The Band Perry, which debuts at #11 on Country Digital Songs, while their ‘Better Dig Two’ is at #10. ‘DONE.’ is at #26 in its third week on Country Airplay, with ‘Better Dig Two’ residing at #12 on Hot Country Songs.

Slowly climbing are Brad Paisley’s ‘Beat This Summer’ (#21 on Country Airplay) and Jason Aldean’s ‘1994’ (#23 on Country Digital Songs). Lee Brice (#6 on Hot Country Songs with ‘I Drive Your Truck’), Florida Georgia Line (#7 with ‘Get Your Shine On’ and ‘Cruise’ at #11), and Hunter Hayes (#8 with ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’ and #9 with ‘Wanted’) are all hanging around the top 10 across the charts. They have a challenger from Kenny Chesney in ‘Pirate Flag’, at #10 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, and #7 on Country Digital Songs.

Shooter Jennings impacts Top Country Albums with ‘The Other Life’ at #19, while Ashley Monroe’s new one ‘Like A Rose’ drops 8 places to #18. The true king of this chart however is Luke Bryan, whose recent compilation release ‘Spring Break… Here To Party’ is at #1 for its second consecutive week. His previous full-length album from 2011, ‘Tailgates and Tanlines’ jumps up to #7. However his latest not-really-a-single-it’s-just-sort-of-promotional-and-we-needed-a-song-out ‘Buzzkill’ drops 11 places this week to #16 on Country Digital Songs.

Others tearing up the charts and honourable mentions this week are Little Big Town for ‘Tornado’ (both single and album); Tim McGraw for ‘One of Those Nights’, his new single ‘Highway Don’t Care’, and the album ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’; Taylor Swift for the album ‘Red’; Eric Church for ‘Like Jesus Does’ and his album ‘Chief’ (86^th week and counting); Thompson Square for ‘If I Didn’t Have You’; Chris Young for ‘I Can Take It From There’; and Kacey Musgraves for ‘Merry Go Round’. Stayer of the week has to be Brantley Gilbert’s album ‘Halfway To Heaven’, which celebrates its 150^th week on the chart this week, rising back up to #17!

Check out my chart roundup next week to see where Kacey Musgraves’ hugely anticipated new album will sit, plus other chart gossip.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Duck Dynasty stars join Darius Rucker for Wagon Wheel video shoot

Photo courtesy Darius Rucker's Twitter

Sitting here watching "Duck Dynasty" I just happened to come across a story that went right along with my choice in T.V. shows. 

The stars of A&E's "Duck Dynasty," the show about the wacky and wooly family that makes popular duck calls, joined Darius Rucker in Watertown, Tennessee on Tuesday to take part in the video shoot for Darius' current single Wagon Wheel. 

Watertown residents were both surprised and elated Tuesday to get a visit from several stars from the world of hunting, reality television and country music.

Willie Robertson, Jace Robertson and Si Robertson showed up as did Willie's wife, Korie Robertson, and daughter, Sadie Robertson.

Darius tweeted about the meeting saying:

Truly awesome when u meet folks and they r cooler and nicer than u thought they would be. Thank u @DuckDynastyAEpic.twitter.com/T9gbttXuAs

Can't wait to see the finished product. 

Brad Paisley surprises Darius Rucker with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry

This Tweet from the Grand Ole Opry says it all: BREAKING NEWS! @BradPaisley just invited @dariusrucker to become a member of the Opry!! #OpryMoment 

It's true! Darius is to become the newest member of the iconic Opry family.

On Tuesday evening while he was performing at the Opry, Darius was interrupted by Brad Paisley who was on hand to surprise him with what is probably the biggest moment in his country music career.  

According to The Tennnessean, Brad was hiding out in the audience while Darius was performing a set-up-just-for-this-occasion Q&A session with audience members. That's when Brad stood up and presented Darius with an invitation to join the Opry. 

From The Boot: 

"My question is in two parts," Brad told the "True Believers" singer. "Are you still the worst poker player in the world? ... Other question is would you like to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?"

"You're kidding me? Tonight? Really? No," was Darius' first reaction, before Brad reminded him, "You haven't answered," prompting Darius to graciously respond, "Yes, I would."

"Welcome him home everybody, this is his new home!" Brad told the crowd, and promptly hugged his friend, as shown in this photo tweeted by the Opry.

This will make Darius the first African-American artist since Charley Pride to be inducted into the Opry.  His induction ceremony will take place October 16th and will air live on Great American Country’s "Noteworthy at the Opry" show. 

Jennette McCurdy & Darius Rucker cover Jamey Johnson's "In Color"

Well this is fun.

ICarly's Jennette McCurdy and Darius Rucker at some point got together and decided to sing Jamey Johnson's In Color. 

Not everyday that happens. 

I really wish they would finally get around to releasing Jennette's country album. I'm thinking at this point it's never going to be released, especially since I never hear anything about her singing career anymore, but I really wish they would change their minds and just do it already.