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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.

Eric Church's yearbook photo is adorkably delicious

99.9 Kiss Country in Asheville, North Carolina was lucky enough to be sent Eric Church's Freshman yearbook photo. Talk about a cutie. 

This isn't the first time we've seen Eric Church looking nothing like Eric Church. A while back I had this fun video of Eric doing some musical theater. 

Boy's come a long way. 

(Photos courtesy of Monica Dillingham/99.9 Kiss Country)

Eric Church's first live album, CAUGHT IN THE ACT: LIVE, now available (from the mailbag)

Purchase "Caught In The Act: Live" now from Amazon

Multi Award-winning superstar Eric Church is not only celebrating winning the coveted Album of The Year award (CHIEF) and Vocal Event Of The Year award ("The Only Way I Know," J. Aldean, L. Bryan, E. Church) during Sunday night's 48th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards show, but also the release of his first live album to stores nationwide and digital retailers today. Caught In The Act: Live, a 17-track live concert recorded over the course of two nights at Chattanooga's Tivoli Theatre in October 2012 features songs from Sinners Like Me, Carolina and his award-winning 2011 release, CHIEF. A double gatefold vinyl version of the record will be made available on National Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20. The package will include four additional tracks and a special whiskey-infused 7-inch.

Chart Roundup – Week of March 16th, 2013

This week Hot Country Songs has remained pretty static at the top, with Blake Shelton’s ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’ holding onto the top spot, both there and on Country Digital Songs. It rises two places to #5 on Country Airplay. The same is true for Hunter Hayes with ‘Wanted’, which stays at #2 on Hot Country Songs for its 54^th week on the chart. However, it is down to #5 on Country Digital Songs, with Hunter’s latest single ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’ sticking to #19 on the same chart. This song is at #6 on Country Airplay however, and #12 on Hot Country Songs, the self-titled album dropping to #7.

The Band Perry are also continuing to do well, with ‘Better Dig Two’ still at #3 on Hot Country Songs, #4 on Country Airplay and #6 on Country Digital Songs. ‘Done’, their new single, has not yet entered the chart. Tim McGraw is also riding high, #4 on Hot Country Songs with ‘One Of Those Nights’, #1 again on Country Airplay but down to #10 on Country Digital Songs. ‘Two Lanes Of Freedom’, the accompanying album, is at #3. Miranda Lambert is finally leaping up the charts after the release of the music video for ‘Mama’s Broken Heart. The single has climbed up to #7 on Hot Country Songs and #2 on Country Digital Songs, while still trailing at #14 on Country Airplay. The album, ‘Four The Record’ drops to #14 for its 70^th week on the chart.

It’s a mixed bag for Carrie Underwood, whose ‘Two Black Cadillacs’ remains at #5 on Hot Country Songs, falling to #8 on Country Digital Songs yet leaping three places to find #3 on Country Airplay. ‘Blown Away’, her previous single, is still proving moderately popular despite being out for months, at #22 on Hot Country Songs and #21 on Country Digital Songs, although it takes a massive fall from last week where it was #12. The album of the same name is at #10 on Top Country Albums. Another act climbing up are Lady Antebellum. ‘Downtown’ is now at #6 on Hot Country Songs, #4 on Country Digital Songs, and #9 on Country Airplay.

There are several new entries on the chart this week, including albums from Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell (‘Old Yellow Moon’ - #4) and The Mavericks (‘In Time’ - #8). As for singles, Connie Britton (playing Rayna James in ABC’s ‘Nashville’) just enters Country Digital Songs at #25 with ‘Stronger Than Me’. In addition, Blake Shelton’s ‘Ten Times Crazier’ comes in on the same chart at #20.

Other big charters include Little Big Town with ‘Tornado’ (#2 on Country Airplay), Florida Georgia Line with ‘Get Your Shine On’ (a recent music video has seen it shoot up to #3 on Country Digital Songs), Lee Brice with ‘I Drive Your Truck’ (#7 on Country Airplay) and Taylor Swift, more specifically with the album ‘Red’ (#1 on Top Country Albums). Honorable mentions go to Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Kenny Chesney, Thompson Sqaure and George Strait. Eric Church’s huge stayer ‘Chief’ falls slightly to #12 for its 84^th week, while his current single ‘Like Jesus Does’ remains at #24 on Country Digital Songs and #26 on Hot Country Songs, hopping five places to #17 on Country Airplay.

Tune in next week for another edition 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.

Chart Roundup – Week of March 9th, 2013

Blake Shelton’s ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’, has become his 8^th consecutive #1 song as of this week on Hot Country Songs, and his 13^th overall, also hitting #1 on Country Digital Songs. On Country Airplay it trails at #7, but is up 3 places from last week, with only 4 weeks until his upcoming album ‘Based On A True Story’ will enter the chart. Hunter Hayes is down from Blake’s surge, to #2 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, with ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’, his current single, slowing making its way up Country Airplay to #8 this week and #10 on Hot Country Songs. Overall his self-titled album drops to #4.

The Band Perry are still riding high, with ‘Better Dig Two’ remaining at #3 on Hot Country Songs, rising to #3 on Country Digital Songs, but being knocked off the top spot on Country Airplay by Tim McGraw’s ‘One Of Those Nights’ being spurned on by the success of his new album, ‘Two Lanes Of Freedom’. The Band Perry’s new single ‘Done’ was only released to radio last week, and thus has yet to impact the charts, but the impending release of their sophomore album ‘Pioneer’ on April 2 will certainly produce momentum for the group. When it comes to Tim McGraw, who topped TBP at radio, for a seasoned artist in his mid-40s he’s certainly not letting it stand in his way. As well as his 33^rd Country Airplay #1, He’s back up to #4 on Hot Country Songs, at #6 on Country Digital Songs, and holding on to the #2 spot on Top Country Albums.

Lady Antebellum’s ‘Downtown’ is creeping up the radar during their 3^rd week on the chart with a #4 spot on Country Digital Songs, up to #9 on Hot Country Songs, and #12 on Country Airplay. Their new album ‘Golden’ will be released May 7, so still time for ‘Downtown’ to dominate the charts before the new record drops. Carrie Underwood hasn’t been so lucky, as the rise on the charts she experienced last week possibly due to the new inclusion of YouTube streams has tailed off a little, meaning ‘Two Black Cadillacs’ is down to #5 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, although it’s up two places to #6 on Country Airplay. The album, ‘Blown Away’ is down to #7, the title track dropping 11 places on Hot Country Songs to #21, and 7 places to #12 on Country Digital Songs.

It’s been a mixed bag for Taylor Swift too. With ‘Begin Again’ up at #3 on Country Airplay this week after accusations flying of the label using payola to push a single many argue is past its peak, it falls to #16 on Hot Country Songs and leaves the Country Digital Songs chart altogether. Meanwhile the previous single ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ is persevering at #11 on Country Digital Songs and #12 on Hot Country Songs. Other tracks holding mid-top 10 places across the charts are Little Big Town’s ‘Tornado’ (#6 on Hot Country Songs), Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Cruise’ (#7 on Hot Country Songs) and Gary Allan’s ‘Every Storm’ (#8 on Hot Country Songs). Florida Georgia Line’s new single ‘Get Your Shine On’ is also doing well after a video was released (#9 on Country Digital Songs), with their album at #3, while Miranda Lambert’s ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ and Lee Brice’s ‘I Drive Your Truck’ appear to be on the cusp of hitting it big.

Honorable mentions go to Kenny Chesney, Kacey Musgraves, Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean, and Eric Church is back in the top 10 again with his long-staying award-winning album ‘Chief’, in its 83^rd week. The just-released 5^th single from the album ‘Like Jesus Does’ leapfrogs 9 places to #24 on Country Digital Songs this week.

Tune in next week for a new 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.

Eric Church ‘Like Jesus Does’ Single & Video Review

The fifth (and I’m guessing final) single from Eric Church’s award-winning (and chart staying – still #10 this week) 2011 release ‘Chief’ is ‘Like Jesus Does’. I was surprised to hear this as it’s not the most commercial song in the world, being a quiet ballad that doesn’t try to intrude upon your life if you don’t want it too. It’s easily ignored.

But that’s almost the beauty of it. Previously, the other singles from ‘Chief’ have been fairly upbeat and rock-infused, for example ‘Drink In My Hand’, ‘Creepin’’ and ‘Homeboy’. ‘Springsteen’ is perhaps an exception at times but the chorus sells it on a mass scale. ‘Like Jesus Does’ however, waits for you to come to it – it doesn’t shout you down and demand attention. In this way it intrigues me more, because its understated nature is perfect for the deep and thoughtful lyrics. It is a song of thanks, essentially; of how the narrator’s wife/partner loves him so unconditionally it is almost akin to the love Jesus has for him. That’s a powerful metaphor for love if ever I saw it. It doesn’t get bigger than that.

As I watched the new video for it on YouTube, I read the usually juvenile comments that actually raised an interesting point. People were pointing out their religious beliefs in reference to the song, for example atheists saying that they still loved the song despite not believing in Jesus. And I think that’s a valid point. From the title one would assume that it is a spiritual song, but it rather is a commentary on true love, and even if someone does not believe in Jesus, they can appreciate the sentiment with just a casual knowledge of the basics of Christianity. It is universal songs like this that are often the most successful.

Eric Church and Kacey Musgraves want to toke with John Prine

Eric Church is excited that Kacey Musgraves has joined the party. As is the Country Music Association, who had a curve ball thrown at them last year when Kelly Clarkson was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. Not that Kelly isn't an exceptional talent, but the nod showed an obvious lack of great (not to be confused with good) female acts in the format.

“The main thing I like about Kacey is it's very musical. There’s so many other things that go on in entertainment from television to stuff – whether it be what you look like or how you act, all these things. I love stuff that’s musical, regardless of anything else. And I feel like she’s somebody – she’s played a lot of bars, a lot of clubs, she’s done some stuff in Texas, she’s played those dives. I like what she listens to. I like her taste in music. I heard a song of hers – ‘My Idea of Heaven is to Burn One With John Prine,’ and I was sold when I heard that. I’m a huge Prine fan, so she had me then. I’m really good friends with her co-producer, Luke Laird. We’ve wrote songs together. ‘Drink in My Hand’ was our first number-one. It was written with Luke. And Luke’s the guy who said, ‘You would dig what we’re doing. You’d dig where this girl comes from. You’d dig her as a writer.’ A lot of it is just her personal taste and the kind of stuff I’m hearing. It just sounds different. It sounds fresh for country radio. It sounds like she’s in her spot already, and I think that’s the key as a new artist – you’ve got to find your lane, you’ve got to find your spot and don’t get out of it, and I think she’s off to at least a great start at being able to do that.”

Here's the song Eric mentions:

I hear the track will be on Kacey's debut album, which is due out March 19.

Eric Church to release first-ever live record on April 9, 2013 (from the mailbag)

EMI Records' Eric Church will release a 17-track live album, Caught In The Act: Live, on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 featuring songs from Sinners Like Me, Carolina, and his CMA Award-winning 2011 release, CHIEF. Act will be available for purchase on iTunes and in stores nationwide. The album was recorded at Chattanooga's Tivoli Theatre in October 2012 and is Church's first live recording. A double gatefold vinyl version of the record will also be made available on National Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20. The package will include four additional tracks and a special whiskey-infused 7-inch.

Caught In The Act: Live features raw, electric performances of songs like "Pledge Allegiance To The Hag," "Smoke A Little Smoke," "How 'Bout You," "Creepin'" and more. American Songwriter noted of the live taping, "[The] rendition of the soulful hit 'Springsteen' is one of his best, slipping into the first verse of Springsteen's 'Born to Run' towards to end." The writer adds, "[Church] sang and played just differently enough to create variety from his studio versions and his performance confirmed that his voice is easily just as good as how it sounds on a produced record."

Chart Roundup: Week of February 16th, 2013

The Band Perry knock Gary Allan off the #1 spot this week with ‘Better Dig Two’, although they stay at their respective places at #2 and #3 on Country Digital Songs and Country Airplay.  With them sticking to the top 5 of the charts so much lately, we can only imagine what the release of their sophomore album in April is going to do for this sibling trio. Gary Allan, who was #1 across the board last week, has dropped down to #2 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay with his hit track ‘Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)’, down to #3 on Country Digital Songs but manages to hold on to the top spot on Top Country Albums for another week. Meanwhile Country Airplay has a new #1, in Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church’s ‘The Only Way I Know’ from Jason’s album ‘Night Train’, although it’s still at #5 on Hot Country Songs and has only managed to climb back up to #8 on Country Digital Songs. ‘Night Train’ is down #6 this week.

In its 4^th week on the chart, Blake Shelton’s ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’ has jumped from #3 to #1, and Blake’s recent controversial comments don’t seem to have affected his selling power, as he appears to be going from strength to strength. The song has also gained 3 places on Hot Country Songs, now at #4, although it remains down at #12 on Country Airplay. Hunter Hayes, meanwhile, is also having a not-too-shabby time, with his multiple Grammy nominations on Grammy weekend and holding on tightly to the #3 spot on Hot Country Songs, the #4 spot on Country Digital Songs and the #11 spot on Country Airplay. In addition, his self-titled debut is up one place to #7, celebrating its 69^th week on the chart.