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Chart Roundup – Week of June 1st, 2013

It’s been another good week for Florida Georgia Line as their mega-hit ‘Cruise’ (helped by the recent remix featuring Nelly), is at #1 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs for yet another week. However, ‘Get Your Shine On’, last week’s #1 on Country Airplay, has dropped to #4, following Darius Rucker’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ reaching the top. ‘Wagon Wheel’ is doing well across the charts, at #3 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs. Also receiving a boost (possibly from turning 60), George Strait’s ‘Give It All We Got Tonight’ is up to #2 on Country Airplay, while his latest album ‘Love Is Everything’ has debuted at #1 on Top Country Albums. The song is also #7 on Hot Country Songs, and #8 on Country Digital Songs, showing George’s star power even as he enters ‘old age’. It just goes to show that no matter how old you are, great country music is universally loved.

Blake Shelton is continuing on his successful run of singles, with ‘Boys Round Here’ (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) now at #2 on Hot Country Songs. It’s also now up to #5 on Country Airplay and still rising, and remains at #2 on Country Digital Songs, while his latest album ‘Based On A True Story…’ stays at #4. Also hot this week is Tim McGraw’s ‘Highway Don’t Care’ featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. It sticks at #4 on Hot Country Songs, climbs to #3 on Country Airplay, and is at #4 on Country Digital Songs. Tim’s most recent album ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ is up to #10 this week. Miranda Lambert is also holding onto her place with ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, at #6 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay but down to #9 on Country Digital Songs.

Luke Bryan wants us to crash his party this summer and it looks like we are, as the lead single from his upcoming album ‘Crash My Party’ is at #8 on Hot Country Songs, #12 on Country Airplay and #5 on Country Digital Songs. Close behind is Hunter Hayes, who proclaims ‘I Want Crazy’, and has reached #6 on Country Digital Songs, #10 on Hot Country Songs and #16 on Country Airplay, both slowly rising across all charts. I have a feeling in a month or so when Summer really hits, these two tunes will dominate the charts for some time.

As for new releases, Trace Adkins’ new album ‘Love Will…’ comes in at #6, while Keith Urban’s new single ‘Little Bit of Everything’ debuts at #12 on Country Digital Songs, #30 on Country Airplay and #24 on Hot Country Songs. The Swon Brothers are at #16 on the same chart with ‘Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes’, and Thomas Rhett is just below them with new single ‘It Goes Like This’ at #18. American Idol runner-up Kree Harrison’s single ‘All Cried Out’ is at #22, and Danielle Bradbery’s ‘Wasted’ comes in at #23. At #25 on Top Country Albums is Jason Boland And The Stragglers singing ‘Dark & Dirty Mile’.

Honorary mentions this week go to Lady Antebellum (whose new album ‘Golden’ is still at #2), Pistol Annies, Kenny Chesney, The Band Perry, Brad Paisley, Eric Church and Jake Owen.

Come back next Thursday for your weekly chart roundup!

Posted by Vickye.
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.

Big Machine & Outnumber Hunger Reach for Rewards..You CAN Help

I may be behind in my things to do; but the work to support and erase hunger never stops.  Since the inception in 2012 of the Outnumber Hunger program 6,825,375 meals have been secured, not too far from the goal of up to ten million that has been set. Can they meet and exceed such a large undertaking?  I believe they can.

In April of this year the first ever Outnumber Hunger LIve concert event took place in Las Vegas on Friday night, during the 2013 Academy of Country Music weekend.  The event brought awareness for the Outnumber Hunger Program in their quest to secure meals for its network of local food banks. This marks the second year that Big Machine Record Label is working alongside Feeding America, and General Mills to reach their goals.  There is also no shortage of support from the label's roster of artists which include The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Cassadee Pope and Greg Bates who put on a wonderful night of music to kick off the 2013 campaign.  There will also be other support from artists such as Rascal Flatts, Reba, the Eli Young Band, Thomas Rhett, Raelynn, The Mavericks and Ella Mae Bowen throughout the campaign.

But after all the glitz and glamour the work still continues.  As part of the 42nd Annual CMA Fest taking place in Nashville June 6-9 country artist Thomas Rhett has invited fans to volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank for the 2nd consecutive year.  Volunteers will be participating in helping sort and pack food alongside Thomas to help hungry Middle Tennesseans . This event filled up very quickly and it will give those involved a chance to learn more about hunger issues throughout Middle and West Tennessee followed by sorting food for Second Harvest's Emergency Food Box Program.

There is a misconception that hunger only relates to the very poor. This has led people to think it could not possibly be someone they know like a neighbor or a family in their church or childrens school.  Yet it is true; it could be anyone you least expect. Please take the time to read these startling facts and dig deep into the ways you can help this program.  It is so easy and totally affordable. You purchase certain products with the Outnumber Hunger banner on the front; find the code in the back of the packaging; go to the website; enter your code; follow the instructions and you are done.  You will feel so good knowing you helped.  http://www.outnumberhunger.com/hunger-in-america

There are many programs to help fight hunger which are very easy to work into your life. You don't have to be a big star to help; the bottom line is: JUST HELP DO WHAT YOU CAN...The rewards outweigh the awards.

 

(Pictures by Deb Sixta)

 

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.

Florida Georgia Line to appear on Nelly's new album

As of April 23rd, the "Cruise" remix (featuring Nelly) had sold over 300,000 downloads on iTunes.

If you can have that kind of success, and reach that large of an audience, why not do it again? Nelly recently appeared on St. Louis radio station 93.7 The Bull and confirmed another collaboration between the rapper and country duo.

"Well, it's kinda funny because I also got the guys on my album, as well. On a joint that I did...we kinda swapped out a little bit after we did some things. I was like, 'Well you know what, let's try something and see if we can come up with something for my album.' We think we came out with something that works."

With all the genres being blended and definitive format lines being blurred, Nelly also spoke about the future of music.

"I think music is going there with all genres of music. You've got kids growing up and there just not one dimensional anymore. With the internet and social media, it's kinda connecting everything at once. So somewhere, there's so kid that's flippin' back-and-forth, either between YouTube videos or iTunes, and he's playing country one minute, and he's playing hip-hop the next minute, he's playing pop the next minute. I think in another 20-30 years, there's no telling, I it's just gonna be music, it's just gonna be great energy, and I think fans are just gonna love a great feeling."

Does Florida Georgia Line allow ladies to sleep over on the bus?

Fresh off their ACM New Artist win, my partner and I caught up with Brian from Florida Georgia Line. The boys are both single, and God knows if I (or any living thing with a baloney pony) were in their shoes I'd be dropping the hammer on the daily.

"Ya know what? You never know where the night's gonna go. We've had some good nights on the bus so far, and it's a good place to lay your head for sure."

Tyler told CMA Close Up that his favorite artist is LIL' WAYNE. I asked Brian about that, and he rattled off the eclectic list of artists that have influenced the music of FGL.

"Lil' Wayne is definitely an influence of both of ours. That's probably one of Tyler's all-time favorite artists. I'd say the style is different in what we do, but there's definitely some influence that's rubbed off from Lil' Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Garth Brooks, Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd. All sorts of stuff in our music."

He also shared his thoughts about the possibility of the Boston Marathon terror attack affecting concert attendance.

Hear the full interview HERE.

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.

Best and worst of the ACM Awards according to fans

According to a recent poll (done by me), the highlight of the night belongs to two different incidents.

First, 36% of those polled agreed that both Blake and Luke's joshing about each others 'junk' and Garth and George performing together were the best moments of the night. As for lowlights, the winner of the losers poll with 32% of the vote were the shortened performances from Jana Kramer, Brantley Gilbert, and Florida Georgia Line.

Care to chime in? Let us know in the comments what your highlights and lowlights of the ACM Awards were. 

Posted by Broadway (Guest Writer) Listen to my radio show weekday mornings, 6-10a eastern oniHeartRadio and follow me on twitter @broadwayonair.

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.