NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

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.

Lee Brice attempts April Fool's Day prank and fails

April Fool's Day: Either you love it or you hate it, usually depending on whether you're the giver or the receiver of the pranks.

Apparently, Lee Brice is a giver, although it sounds like not a very good one. 

During a recent interview, Lee told me about an April Fool's joke that fell flat. 

"I texted my manager and my other manager and my booking agent. I told them that I ran into Brad Paisley and he got smart with me out of nowhere, so I told him off. And I told him that I didn't want to go out on tour with him anyway and all this stuff. I just thought they would freak out going, 'What are you doing?!' Of course they were like, 'Whatever dude, you're April Foolin' us!" 

We also talked about pranking Brad on the upcoming tour, wedding planning and music, the Bacon Brothers, Garth Brooks comeback, and his son's name.

Click Here to hear the full interview.

Posted by Broadway (Guest Writer) Listen to my radio show weekday mornings, 6-10a eastern on iHeartRadio 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.

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 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.

So What Of The New Music Of 2013?

So, as everyone’s adjusting to the idea of it being 2013, and the coming events of the new year, I thought I’d take you through some of the new artists and new releases of 2013, and what I’m most looking forward to etc (as if I’m a tastemaker, ha). Read away for the lowdown.

Albums I’m Looking Forward To:

• Ashley Monroe – Like A Rose

I began listening to Ashley back in about 2007 on MySpace, then my life moved on and I forgot about her, only to rediscover her every so often as the credited songwriter on an album sleeve, and finally when the Pistol Annies were formed. Their 2011 album, ‘Hell On Heels’ was amazing and I really hoped that Ashley would also consider making her own music again. The announcement came a few months ago when Ashley posted a new song, the title track, on her Twitter, stating that her album would be released 18^th December. I loved the new song and was excited to hear the record BUT then Ashley and Vince Gill (who happens to be her producer) wrote a new song and the release date was pushed back until 5^th March. I was gutted, but I am now counting down the days until I can finally hear this long-overdue life-affirming release from such a prolific songwriter of country music.

• Kacey Musgraves – TBA

I’ve never watched Nashville Star (occupational hazard of living in the UK) so I had never heard of Kacey Musgraves before this year, and although I had vaguely heard the name, it wasn’t until the beginning of December that I finally listened to ‘Merry Go Round’. That’s it, I was hooked, I researched her, wrote articles, bought the track and if my iPhone was counting the number of times I have played it, it without exaggeration would be in excess of 70 or 80, at least. My favorite country release of the year. Very little album information has been released so far but it does at least seem it will be this year it comes out, although that is little consolation for someone like me who absolutely cannot wait. Watch this space.

Lee Brice debuts new video for "I Drive Your Truck"

Lee Brice reveals the real reason men write songs about trucks (from the mailbag)

Wanna know why so many men write songs about trucks in country music?  

They're hoping to get a free truck.

Duh. 

Congrats to Lee Brice who accomplished just that recently. 

From an email I received....

When country star Lee Brice sings, “I Drive Your Truck,” from his chart-topping album, ”Hard 2 Love,” he’ll be talking about his new fully loaded 2012 Chevy Silverado truck from Nashville’s Carl Black Chevrolet! Brice joins a select group of country artists endorsed by Carl Black Chevrolet to drive off the lot with a new ride.

Commenting on the new partnership, Brice said, “This is my dream truck, and I’m excited to represent Carl Black Chevrolet.”

“We are so glad to have Lee join the Carl Black family,” said PD Sumner, Vice President, Carl Black Automotive Group. “We feel that his music is a perfect fit with what we are all about.” Brice’s music will be used in Carl Black’s radio advertising in their market areas of Nashville, Atlanta and Orlando. In addition, fans can expect to see Brice perform at Carl Black’s “Live on the Lot” concerts and acoustic performances in the upcoming months.

Lee Brice surprises Hoda Kotb on the Today show (video)

Lee Brice was supposed to appear on the Today show yesterday to show off his suprise for Hoda Kotb, who happens to be a huge Lee Brice fan, but for some reason the video was pushed back a day and aired today. 

It's definitely cute.  You can definitely see what a big fan Hoda is.  

If the video above doesn't work, you can watch it on the Today show's website here.