Country Update

Transcription

Country Update
Country Update
BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS
INSIDE
CMAs Impact
Chris Stapleton’s
Chart Standing
>page 4
ASCAP, BMI Awards
Mix Biz, Creativity
>page 8
Blake Shelton Makes
2016 Awards Plans
>page 9
Uber Drives Warner
Music Meetings
>page 9
Makin’ Tracks: Ryan
Kinder’s ‘Tonight’
>page 14
Stark Report:
John Marks On His
Move To Spotify
>page 15
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 1 OF 20
Tom.Roland@billboard.com
What Now? CMAs ‘Crush’ On
Stapleton, Little Big Town
When Chris Stapleton posed for photos in the press room after LBT took its fourth straight vocal group honor, Mac McAnally
his surprising three-trophy night at the Country Music Asso- earned musician an eighth time, Florida Georgia Line nabbed
ciation Awards on Nov. 4, he looked decidedly uneasy. He fol- vocal duo a third year, and Miranda Lambert claimed her sixth
lowed the instructions from the photographers — “Look left, consecutive female vocalist trophy.
please,” “Chris, this way” — but it was obvious he had never
But the questions in the press room, as well as some of the
done it before.
responses, suggested Nashville’s creative community is looking
Stapleton was followed in the backstage procession by Luke to bust loose from the surfacy gloss of the genre’s recent past.
Bryan, an artist who claimed his second straight CMA enter“I think it speaks volumes — ‘Girl Crush,’ Chris Stapleton,
tainer of the year and has some history as a multi-year host of the Kacey Musgraves [performing] up there,” LBT’s Karen FairAcademy of Country Music
child told reporters. “We’re
Awards. Bryan instinctively
not a lways hea r i ng t hat
f l a s h e d h i s t r a de m a r k ,
music on the radio. I think
toothy smile for the cameras
the tide’s turning. I think
and provided a multitude of
everybody wants to hear it,
poses, even kissing the hardso it’s time.”
ware for extra effect.
Some caution, however,
The difference between
might be in order. Exactly
t he t wo was inst r uct ive.
20 years ago, Music Row was
Stapleton and the Little Big
feeling the same sort of frusTown hit “Girl Crush,” which
tration with predictability.
swiped both single and song
The five finalists for enterof the year, represented the
tainer were exactly the same
unvarnished, the challengslate for a third year in a row
i ng a nd t he a r tsy. To be
(Alan Jackson, Brooks &
certain, those victories were Little Big Town accepted its fourth straight vocal group
Dunn, Garth Brooks, Vince
not a CMA dismissal of the of the year award from the Country Music Association.
Gill and Reba McEntire),
fa m i l i a r. I n add it ion to From left: LBT’s Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen
and some executives were
Bryan’s entertainer repeat, Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook.
la ment i ng t he busi ness’
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
inability to break new artists. An artist barely familiar to mainstream country
listeners, bluegrass vocalist Alison Krauss, posted four CMA victories that
year, causing some observers to lick their chops over the change the business
was about to experience. Krauss, of course, solidified her well-regarded place
in the creative realm, but she never really became a centrist country star based
on that CMA ceremony. And the night didn’t make much difference in the
trajectory of country radio, which had an even greater hold on the format in
1995 than it does in 2015.
Stapleton, like Krauss, made his first significant impact in bluegrass, where
he fronted The Steeldrivers. But it can be argued that he has already had a
much greater influence on the mainstream than Krauss did prior to her wins.
He wrote Bryan’s “Drink a Beer,” Thomas Rhett’s “Crash and Burn” and
George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright,” and whether listeners knew
it or not, they were hearing his voice rather prominently in the background
on those singles.
The audience clearly reacted positively as Stapleton matched Justin
Timberlake note for note on some wicked harmonic runs during an eightminute awards-show performance. Stapleton subsequently sold 153,000
copies of his winning album, Traveller, according to Nielsen Music, rocketing to the top of Country Albums and the all-genre Billboard 200. And before
the CMA telecast was over, all the tickets for his next West Coast concert run
were gobbled up.
Like Krauss, he created a storyline and burnished an image that will likely
cement some level of a fan base for years to come. And as much as Music Row
might hope his victory sparks a sea change, even Stapleton, in the midst of
the confusing press room excitement at the awards, was cool enough to play
down expectations.
“I have no idea what’s next,” he told reporters. “I’ve been in the music business a while, but I’ve never done anything like this. It’s a little overwhelming, but I’ll do my best to handle it with some degree of grace. I’m just gonna
keep making music that hopefully is good. And whatever comes out of that
will be fine with me.”
Stapleton’s attitude is remarkably refreshing. The requirements of the business part of the music industry make it easy to place measurable rewards —
wealth and/or fame — ahead of art. Stapleton seems to have some clarity about
the issue, as well as some discernment about his influence in that sphere.
“Everything’s gonna happen if it’s gonna happen, and it’s not if it’s not,” he
told Billboard in the aftermath of the CMAs. “It’s always gonna be what it’s gonna
be, and if you just let it be that and go with it and walk through the doors that
are open, that’s all you can do. Those are the things that you have control over.”
The audience and the gatekeepers have their own level of control, and it will
be weeks and months before it’s clear just how they weigh in. Two decades from
now, when some currently unknown country act pulls a Stapleton/Krauss sort
of upset, enough time will have passed to know if the “Girl Crush”/Stapleton
CMA showcase of 2015 was a template for a revolution in the genre or a really
big moment for a guy whose talent finally got recognized in the mainstream.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 2 OF 20
Big & Rich headlined the second annual Nash Bash for WIWF
Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 29, with free tickets provided to first
responders who aided the city during its recent flood. From left: Big
Kenny, WIWF personality Tori Lynn, Cowboy Troy, WIWF talent Jay
Shadix, WIWF PD Bill West and John Rich.
Cingle recording artist Rainey Qualley discussed her current single,
“Me and Johnny Cash,” with WBUL Lexington, Ky., at the Music Row
Live radio remotes in Nashville. From left: WBUL personality DeAnn
Stephens, Qualley and WBUL air talent Officer Don Evans.
Sam Hunt dropped by Cumulus’ Nash campus on Oct. 27 for a guest
appearance on America’s Morning Show. From left: AMS co-hosts
Ashley Till and Chuck Wicks, Hunt and AMS host Blair Garner.
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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 4 OF 20
ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER jim.asker@billboard.com
Chris Stapleton Travels To The Summit
Of Billboard’s Country Charts
Unless you have been away for the past week (say, maybe, on Pluto), you now
know that Chris Stapleton was the big winner at the 49th annual Country
Music Association (CMA) Awards on Nov. 4.
According to Nielsen, 13.6 million viewers watched him win all three
categories in which he was nominated and perform a medley with Justin Timberlake. Stapleton won CMA trophies for male vocalist of the year, new artist of
the year and album of the year, for Traveller (Mercury/
Universal Music Group Nashville). Stapleton and Timberlake sang Traveller track “Tennessee Whiskey” and
Timberlake’s “Drink You Away” (from the latter’s The
20/20 Experience, 2 of 2).
After debuting on the Top Country Albums chart
dated May 23 at No. 2 with 27,000 sold, according to
Nielsen Music, Stapleton’s first set remained in the
list’s top 40 for 25 more weeks. On the Nov. 21 chart,
buoyed by his CMAs spotlight, Traveller flies 25-1, up
6,412 percent from 2,000 sold to 153,000 in the week
ending Nov. 5. On the Billboard 200, the LP is the first
title ever to re-enter at No. 1 (after it originally peaked
at No. 14 upon its debut), bounding back with 177,000
equivalent album units.
Similarly, Stapleton scores his first Hot Country
Songs No. 1 as “Whiskey” re-enters at the top (also
marking the first No. 1 re-entry on the tally). On Country
Digital Songs, “Whiskey” returns at No. 1 (after a week
at No. 44 in May), up from less than 1,000 downloads
sold to 131,000. The Traveller title track also debuts at
No. 10 on Country Digital Songs (25,000) and No. 23
on Hot Country Songs.
Despite his best new artist award, Stapleton, 37, has been a Nashville presence for more than 15 years, earning status as a marquee songwriter by penning
hits for other artists, such as Luke Bryan’s “Drink a Beer,” Kenny Chesney’s
“Never Wanted Nothing More” and Thomas Rhett’s “Crash and Burn.”
As for Stapleton as an artist, country radio has been a minimal factor, at least
Country
UPDATE
so far. His debut 2013 single, “What Are You Listening To,” which was supported
by a nationwide radio tour, peaked at No. 46 on Country Airplay. Second radio
single “Traveller” has not dented the chart. “Many PDs supported him, but
we didn’t reach a critical-mass moment on the charts,” Mercury Nashville vp
promotion Damon Moberly tells Billboard. “He was still very much in that
new-artist lane.”
Now, with a fresh radio single, Traveller’s “Nobody
STAPLETON
to Blame” — new at No. 46 on Country Airplay (with
2.2 million in audience) — will Stapleton’s CMA wins
translate to significant airplay? “I have no doubt that
Chris will be on the radio,” says UMG Nashville president Cindy Mabe. “Will it be with this single? That
will be determined. But whether it’s this one or the
next one or the one after, he will be a factor at country
radio. Chris’ CMA performance undoubtedly moved
people who will be calling their radio stations now.”
Scott Mahalick, Alpha Broadcasting executive
vp programming, believes that Stapleton’s CMA wins
and performance were game-changing. “He’s doing
a show in Portland [Ore., home of the chain’s KUPL]
next weekend. It was selling OK. After the CMAs, it
sold out. That’s listener behavior; how can you not pay
attention to that?”
Mahalick acknowledges that Stapleton’s traditional
sound is quite different than the bulk of what’s currently popular. “He wasn’t polished in the Nashville
machine. He’s different, but that’s good. We’ll lose our
uniqueness if everything sounds the same. Artists like
Kacey Musgraves and Stapleton, who aren’t part of a
formula, can help with balance.”
“America found out about Stapleton at the CMAs,” iHeartMedia regional
senior vp programming and WUSY Chattanooga, Tenn., PD Gator Harrison
says. “He’s going to get support from a lot of programmers who already believe,
and others who woke up Wednesday night.”
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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
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NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 5 OF 20
Country Airplay
AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS)
PLAYS
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
THIS WEEK
+/–
THIS WEEK
41
BREAK UP WITH HIM R CA Nashville 49.420
+0.444
8267
-11
2
31
LET ME SEE YA GIRL W
arner Bros./WMN
Cole Swindell
47.799
+0.528
8012
-15
2
5
24
I’M COMIN’ OVER R CA Nashville
Chris Young
46.600
+5.208
7644
753
4
4
12
SMOKE BREAK 1 9/Arista Nashville
Carrie Underwood
44.717
+1.477
7662
188
3
6
38
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
arner Bros./WAR
7
16
GONNA W
arner Bros./WMN
3
22
ANYTHING GOES R epublic Nashville
HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH Old Dominion
HH Most Increased Audience HH
+/–
RANK
1
Dan + Shay
43.786
+2.931
7368
493
5
Blake Shelton
40.978
+3.827
6890
727
6
Florida Georgia Line
36.062
-10.535
5813
-2234
8
9
15
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow
Jason Aldean
34.968
+2.239
5871
382
7
12
14
TOP OF THE WORLD M
cGraw/Big Machine
Tim McGraw
31.492
+2.280
5052
124
10
11
20
BURNING HOUSE A
rista NashvilleCam
30.032
+0.661
5308
225
9
13
32
STAY A LITTLE LONGER E MI Nashville
18
7
14
Brothers Osborne
28.488
+1.751
4686
123
11
Thomas Rhett
25.486
+4.590
4293
659
14
40
ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE S toney CreekParmalee
24.147
+0.756
4445
78
12
15
37
I LOVE THIS LIFE R eviverLoCash
23.855
+1.957
4429
306
13
17
37
I GOT THE BOY E lektra Nashville/WAR
Jana Kramer
22.755
+1.486
4195
281
15
16
43
RUN AWAY WITH YOU B $R/New Revolution
Big & Rich
22.557
+0.779
4177
70
16
19
19
DIBS B lack River
Kelsea Ballerini
21.936
+1.372
3931
151
17
20
23
WE WENT S toney Creek
Randy Houser
18.422
+0.884
3719
109
18
22
10
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN M
CA Nashville
Sam Hunt
18.227
+2.578
3292
388
20
23
18
BACKROAD SONG W
heelhouse
Granger Smith
17.765
+2.498
3135
479
21
19
DIE A HAPPY MAN V alory
HH Airpower HH
21
10
COUNTRY NATION A
rista Nashville
24
25
21 A
tlantic/WMN
25
19
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL R epublic Nashville
29
9
26
30
LITTLE BIT OF YOU R ed Bow
27
20
RISER C apitol Nashville
27
28
22
THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU C urb
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8
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT B ig Machine
33
3
BREAK ON ME. H
it Red/Capitol Nashville
31
23
28
AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
BEAUTIFUL DRUG J ohn Varvatos/Republic/BMLG/Southern Ground
HH Breaker/Most Added HH
DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A FOOTBALL PROBLEM M
ercury
Brad Paisley
17.566
+0.137
3324
77
Hunter Hayes
13.563
+0.413
2580
98
22
A Thousand Horses
10.848
+0.023
2334
30
23
Zac Brown Band
10.552
+1.429
2113
343
26
Chase Bryant
10.494
+0.725
2278
165
24
Dierks Bentley
9.402
+0.165
2081
160
27
Lee Brice
9.135
-0.081
2186
-14
25
Rascal Flatts
8.796
+1.098
1963
243
28
Keith Urban
8.502
+3.576
1577
708
29
Billy Currington
6.349
+0.860
1299
120
30
BILLBOARD COUNTRY AIRPLAY PANEL — 150 STATIONS
Albany, N.Y.
WGNA
Albuquerque, N.M.
KBQI
KRST
Allentown, Pa.
WCTO
Atlanta
WKHX
WUBL
Augusta, Ga.
WKXC
Austin, Texas
KASE
Bakersfield, Calif.
KUZZ
Baltimore
WPOC
Baton Rouge, La.
WYNK
Birmingham, Ala.
WDXB
WZZK
Boise, Idaho
KAWO
KQFC
BostonWKLB
Buffalo, N.Y.
WYRK
Charleston, S.C.
WCKN
WEZL
Charlotte, N.C.
WKKT
WSOC
Chattanooga, Tenn.
WUSY
ChicagoWEBG
WUSN
CincinnatiWUBE
ClevelandWGAR
Colorado Springs, Colo.
KATC
Columbia, S.C.
WCOS
Columbus, Ohio
WCOL
Corpus Christi, Texas
KRYS
DallasKPLX
KSCS
DenverKWOF
KYGO
Des Moines, Iowa
KHKI
KJJY
DetroitWYCD
El Paso, Texas
KHEY
Ft. Myers, Fla.
WCKT
WWGR
Ft. Wayne, Ind.
WQHK
Fresno, Calif.
KSKS
Gainesville, Fla.
WOGK
Grand Rapids, Mich.
WBCT
Greensboro, N.C.
WPAW
WTQR
Greenville, S.C.
WESC
WSSL
Harrisburg, Pa.
WRBT
Hartford, Conn.
WWYZ
HoustonKILT
KKBQ
Huntsville, Ala.
WDRM
IndianapolisWFMS
WLHK
Jacksonville, Fla.
WGNE
WQIK
Johnson City, Tenn.
WXBQ
Kansas City
KBEQ
WDAF
KFKF
Knoxville, Tenn.
WCYQ
WIVK
Lafayette, La.
KMDL
Lakeland, Fla.
WPCV
Las Vegas
KCYE
KWNR
Lexington, Ky.
WBUL
Little Rock, Ark.
KSSN
Los Angeles
KKGO
Louisville, Ky.
WAMZ
WQNU
Madison, Wis.
WWQM
McAllen, Texas
KTEX
MemphisWGKX
MiamiWKIS
MilwaukeeWMIL
MinneapolisKEEY
KMNB
Mobile, Ala.
WKSJ
Monmouth/Ocean, N.J.
WKMK
Monterey, Calif..
KTOM
Nashville
WKDF
WSIX
WSM-FM
Nassau, N.Y.
WJVC
New Bern, N.C.
WRNS
New Orleans
WNOE
New York
WNSH
Norfolk, Va.
WGH
WUSH
Oklahoma City, Okla.
KJKE
KTST
Omaha, Neb.
KXKT
Orlando, Fla.
WWKA
PhiladelphiaWXTU
Phoenix
KMLE
KNIX
PittsburghWDSY
WOGI
WPGB
Portland, Maine
WPOR
WTHT
Portland, Ore.
KUPL
KWJJ
Providence, R.I.
WCTK
Raleigh, N.C.
WNCB
WQDR
Richmond, Va.
WKHK
Riverside, Calif.
KFRG
Roanoke, Va.
WSLC
Rochester, N.Y.
WBEE
Sacramento, Calif.
KBEB
KNCI
KNTY
St. Louis
KSD
WIL
Salt Lake City
KEGA
KSOP
KUBL
San Antonio, Texas
KAJA
KCYY
San Diego
KSON
San Jose, Calif.
KRTY
KSJO
Santa Rosa, Calif.
KFGY
Sarasota, Fla.
WCTQ
SeattleKKWF
KMPS
Shreveport, La.
KXKS
Spokane, Wash.
KXLY
Springfield, Mass.
WRNX
Springfield, Mo.
KTTS
Stockton, Calif.
KATM
Syracuse, N.Y.
WBBS
Tampa, Fla.
WFUS
WQYK
Tucson, Ariz.
KIIM
Tulsa, Okla.
KTGX
KVOO
KWEN
Visalia, Calif.
KJUG
Washington, D.C.
WMZQ
West Palm Beach, Fla.
WIRK
Wichita, Kan.
KFDI
KZSN
Wilkes Barre, Pa.
WGGY
Wilmington, Del.
WXCY
York, Pa.
WGTY
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
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NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 6 OF 20
Country Airplay
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS)
PLAYS
THIS WEEK
+/–
THIS WEEK
+/–
Michael Ray
5.027
+0.402
1191
60
31
STONE COLD SOBER V alory
Brantley Gilbert
4.799
+1.046
1089
182
33
BLUE BANDANA S ea Gayle/Arista Nashville
Jerrod Niemann
4.733
-0.242
1178
-154
32
George Strait
3.728
-0.519
716
-59
38
Tyler Farr
3.595
+0.411
979
83
34
53
REAL MEN LOVE JESUS A
tlantic/WEA
33
32
16
34
35
7
COLD BEER CONVERSATION M
CA Nashville
35
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BETTER IN BOOTS C olumbia Nashville
NEW
1
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD E MI Nashville
37
6
MIND READER B roken Bow
55
2
HOME ALONE TONIGHT C apitol Nashville
RANK
Eric Church
3.500
+3.500
422
422
Dustin Lynch
3.471
+0.115
785
11
37
Luke Bryan Featuring Karen Fairchild
3.438
+1.858
388
208
56
Easton Corbin
3.386
+0.045
839
0
36
Jon Pardi
3.171
+0.671
918
107
35
Canaan Smith
3.165
+0.262
703
39
39
HH Hot Shot Debut HH
38
16
43
6
40
12
HOLE IN A BOTTLE M
ercury
42
42
15
NIGHT’S ON FIRE M
CA Nashville
David Nail
2.555
-0.109
673
-20
40
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I MET A GIRL W
arner Bros./WMN
William Michael Morgan
2.365
+0.471
487
27
46
45
3
RUNNING FOR YOU M
CA Nashville
Kip Moore
2.294
+0.109
445
-20
50
43
YUP M
ercury
HEAD OVER BOOTS C apitol Nashville
47
4
HIGH CLASS E MI Nashville
NEW
1
NOBODY TO BLAME M
ercury
NEW
1
CONFESSION R epublic Nashville
48
11
PAIN KILLER C apitol Nashville
50
8
SOUTHERN BELLE 1 9/Interscope/Mercury
51
9
BOY & A GIRL THING C urb
Eric Paslay
2.280
+0.236
556
12
43
Chris Stapleton
2.249
+2.049
324
283
60
Florida Georgia Line
2.227
+1.777
283
238
-
Little Big Town
2.125
+0.163
654
8
41
Scotty McCreery
1.844
+0.009
483
-7
47
Mo Pitney
1.816
-0.002
554
-60
44
Chris Janson
1.671
+0.029
445
1
49
Joe Nichols
1.670
+0.121
558
52
42
Ronnie Dunn
1.585
-0.707
321
-162
-
54
2
POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKIN’ W
arner Bros./WAR
56
4
FREAKS LIKE ME R ed Bow
53
44
16
54
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NEW
1
DRUNK ON YOUR LOVE A
tlantic/WMN
Brett Eldredge
1.580
+0.828
311
168
-
55
53
5
NEXT BOYFRIEND 1 9/Interscope/Mercury
Lauren Alaina
1.478
-0.268
434
-66
51
56
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58
14
Lucy Angel
1.360
+0.077
432
7
52
AIN’T NO TRUCKS IN TEXAS N
ash Icon/Valory
CRAZY TOO G
-Force/New Revolution
57
46
17
MOVE ON M
CA Nashville
58
57
10
I AM INVINCIBLE R epublic Nashville
Clare Dunn
1.355
-0.768
472
-133
48
Cassadee Pope
1.297
-0.047
418
16
59
52
8
54
ROLLER COASTER RIDE E MI Nashville
Eric Church
1.212
-0.544
202
-63
60
l
NEW
1
-
CRAZY OVER ME C urb
Dylan Scott
1.209
+0.564
502
180
45
GOING FOR ADDS
11/16
FRANKIE BALLARD
It All Started With A Beer
Warner Bros./WAR
JUSTIN MOORE
You Look Like I Need A Drink
Valory
SCOTT BRANTLEY
Good Thing Going
Studio Gold Nashville
10
CAM
Burning
House
11/23
The singer-songwriter scores
her first Country Airplay top 10, as the
ballad bumps 11-10 (30 million audience, up
two percent). Cam’s major-label debut
full-length, Untamed, is due Dec. 11.
No Going for Adds for this Week
11/30
LESLIE COURS MATHER
Santa Baby (You’ll Be Mine)
LionEyes
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 7 OF 20
Country Airplay
MOST ADDED®
NEW AND ACTIVE
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist ADDS
37
24
18
18
13
12
12
10
9
9
BREAK ON ME. H
it Red/Capitol Nashville
Keith Urban
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD E MI Nashville
Eric Church
BEAUTIFUL DRUG V
arvatos/Southern Ground/BMLG/Republic Zac Brown Band
CRAZY OVER ME C
urb
Dylan Scott
HEAD OVER BOOTS C
apitol Nashville
Jon Pardi
BACKROAD SONG W
heelhouse
Granger Smith
NOBODY TO BLAME M
ercury
Chris Stapleton
HOME ALONE TONIGHT Capitol Nashville L
uke Bryan Feat. Karen Fairchild
STONE COLD SOBER V
alory
Brantley Gilbert
TONIGHT W
arner Bros./WEA
R
yan Kinder
I’M COMIN’ OVER R
CA Nashville
GONNA W
arner Bros./WMN
BREAK ON ME. H
it Red/Capitol Nashville
DIE A HAPPY MAN V
alory
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
arner Bros./WAR
BACKROAD SONG W
heelhouse
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD E MI Nashville
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN M
CA Nashville
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B
roken Bow
BEAUTIFUL DRUG J ohn Varvatos/Republic/BMLG/Southern Ground
Chris Young
B
lake Shelton
Keith Urban
Thomas Rhett
Dan + Shay
Granger Smith
Eric Church
Sam Hunt
Jason Aldean
Zac Brown Band
1.179
20
8
Love And Theft
1.092
28
1
James Otto
1.086
28
1
C
raig Morgan
0.991
39
3
ARE YOU READY FOR THE COUNTRY? B ig Machine/Nash Icon Hank Williams Jr. Feat. Eric Church
0.655
2
2
HEARTBEAT 1 9/Arista Nashville
0.642
2
1
SOMEWHERE TONIGHT B
laster/Otto Pilot
WHEN I’M GONE B
lack River
Carrie Underwood
RECURRENTS
+5.208
+4.590
+3.827
+3.576
+3.499
+2.931
+2.578
+2.498
+2.280
+2.239
THIS
WEEK TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
TOTAL AUD.
(IN MILLIONS)
1
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY B
lue Chair/Columbia NashvilleKenny Chesney
27.904
2
STRIP IT DOWN C
apitol NashvilleLuke Bryan
25.643
3
LOSE MY MIND A
tlantic/WMN
Brett Eldredge
23.483
4
JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16 H it Red/Capitol NashvilleKeith Urban
17.970
5
GONNA WANNA TONIGHT Dack Janiels/Columbia NashvilleChase Rice
16.595
6
BUY ME A BOAT W
arner Bros./WARChris Janson
15.219
7
HOUSE PARTY M
CA NashvilleSam Hunt
14.900
8
CRASH AND BURN Valory
Thomas Rhett
14.530
9
HOMEGROWN J ohn Varvatos/Republic/BMLG/Southern GroundZac Brown Band
13.547
10
HELL OF A NIGHT B
roken BowDustin Lynch
12.252
BILLBOARD COUNTRY BOXSCORE
MOST INCREASED PLAYS
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
ADDS
Maddie & Tae
WHISKEY ON MY BREATH T hirty Tigers
GAIN
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist (IN MIILIONS)
Chris Young
Thomas Rhett
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Eric Church
Dan + Shay
S
am Hunt
Granger Smith
Tim McGraw
Jason Aldean
TOTAL
TOTAL
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist AUDIENCE STATIONS
SHUT UP AND FISH D
ot
MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE
I’M COMIN’ OVER R
CA Nashville
DIE A HAPPY MAN V
alory
GONNA W
arner Bros./WMN
BREAK ON ME. H
it Red/Capitol Nashville
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD E MI Nashville
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
arner Bros./WAR
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN M
CA Nashville
BACKROAD SONG W
heelhouse
TOP OF THE WORLD M
cGraw/Big Machine
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B
roken Bow
AIRPLAY
MONITORED BY
GAIN
Gross
Artist
Attendance
$1,007,240
$136, $46
$908,433
$135.31, $44.60
$896,865
$70.75, $30.75
$832,988
$136, $46
$818,292
$136, $46
SHANIA TWAIN
Denny Sanford Premier Ctr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Sept. 23
SHANIA TWAIN
MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba/Sept. 20
LUKE BRYAN
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa/Sept. 18
SHANIA TWAIN
Target Center, Minneapolis/Sept. 26
SHANIA TWAIN
Kohl Center, Madison, Wis./Sept. 27
9,925
sellout
10,786
11,313
19,290
sellout
10,441
11,701
8,774
9,845
Ticket Price(s)
+753
+727
+708
+659
+493
+479
+422
+388
+382
+343
Venue/Date(s)
Capacity
Promoter(s)
AEG LIVE
AEG LIVE
LIVE NATION
AEG LIVE
AEG LIVE
Reported worldwide boxscore figures for Country artists. Boxscore figures should be submitted to Bob
Allen by phone (615-891-1976), fax (615-891-2054) or email (bob.allen@billboard.com).
TEXAS REGIONAL RADIO REPORT
WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 8, 2015
THIS
WEEK
LAST WKS ON
WEEK CHART TITLE (Label)ARTIST
TW
SPINS
SPINS
+/–
THIS
WEEK
LAST WKS ON
WEEK CHART TITLE (Label)ARTIST
1
l
2
l
3
l
3
16
LOSER ( Almost Country) HH 1 week at 1 HH Casey Donahew Band 1895
193
11
5
24
LIFE COMES AT YOU FAST ( Independent)
4
17
PHONE CALLS (BGM)
TJ Broscoff 1731
90
13
16
SHE IS (BE)
2
25
SMILE THAT SMILE ( Independent)
Curtis Grimes 1727
4
15
6
WHISKEY & WHITLEY ( Independent)
4
1
16
LADY BUG (Independent)
12
l
13
l
14
l
5
l
6
l
7
l
8
l
9
l
10
l
6
20
GIRLS I DATE ( Independent)
7
20
YOU DREAM I’LL DRIVE (Independent)
8
14
DON’T IT FEEL GOOD (Tone Tree)
10
20
MY BOOTS (Independent)
9
20
I DON’T (Winding Road)
11
15
BEER TIME (Independent)
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen 1613 -199
14
13
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ( Independent)
Mike Ryan 1550
40
15
12
21
UNDONE ( Independent)
Josh Grider 1545
48
11
RED FIRE NIGHT ( Residence)
4
16
l
17
l
18
l
22
Jon Wolfe 1414
18
10
RINGLING ROAD (Independent)
21
16
TONIGHT WE RIDE ( Smith)
TW
SPINS
SPINS
+/–
Bart Crow Band 1244 -269
Zane Williams 1220
49
Josh Ward 1211
144
Roger Creager & Cody Johnson 1186
17
Statesboro Revue 1169
-62
Green River Ordinance 1072
137
William Clark Green 1071
38
Micky & The Motorcars 1034
76
Bri Bagwell 1395
122
Saints Eleven 1344
26
19
20
20
ROSES ON THE RADIO (Independent)
Mario Flores 1261
6
20
16
26
DON’T OWN THE RIGHT (Boo Clap/Thirty Tigers)
Luke Robinson
964
-6
Uncle Lucius
941
-102
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
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 8 OF 20
NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND
ED RODE
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Trisha Yearwood received the ASCAP Voice of Music Award during
the performing rights organization’s songwriter event on Nov. 2 at
the Omni Nashville Hotel. From left: Garth Brooks, ASCAP president/
chairman Paul Williams and Yearwood.
SONGWRITERS WINNERS DESPITE CLIMATE
Sam Hunt and Brett Eldredge received big boosts for their current work,
Mac Davis and Trisha Yearwood were lauded for entire careers, and full-time
songwriters Rodney Clawson (“American Kids,” “Dirt”) and Ashley Gorley
(“Play It Again,” “Just Gettin’ Started”) were hailed for multiple recent hits.
Performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI held this year’s country
songwriter awards Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, honoring the most-played material at
a time when the value of those plays is being debated. Hunt took ASCAP’s
songwriter-artist of the year trophy and shared song of the year for “Leave the
Night On” with Josh Osborne (Shane McAnally was also a writer, but is not
an ASCAP writer). Eldredge and co-writers Ross Copperman and Heather
Morgan took song of the year for “Beat of the Music” at BMI.
Numerous facets of the craft of songwriting were on display between the
two evenings. Mac McAnally’s performance of “Texas in My Rear View Mirror” during the BMI Icon tribute to Davis focused on a detailed lyric with a
full-circle discovery. Reba McEntire’s stylized take on “The Song Remembers
When” during ASCAP’s Voice of Music tribute to Yearwood demonstrated
the adaptability of a smart copyright. “Beat of the Music” is three minutes
of deceptively hooky melody, and “Leave the Night On” is a modern take on
classic country wordplay.
“I misread the title of a song that was called ‘Leave the Light On,’ ” said
Hunt on the red carpet. “When I saw it, I thought it said ‘Leave the Night On.’
I looked it up, and I didn’t find any other version of a song called ‘Leave the
Night On,’ and I wrote it just as fast as I could before somebody else could.”
Gorley received ASCAP’s country songwriter honor for the second year in
a row (and third time in his career), while Clawson’s similar BMI victory was
his second time in the winner’s circle.
“He’s just a cool dude,” said Cole Swindell, who has co-written with Clawson in the past. “He says things that stick with people.”
Warner/Chappell nabbed ASCAP’s country publisher of the year award
with ownership of 16 of the PRO’s 46 honored songs (including “Bartender”
and “Something in the Water”), while Sony/ATV claimed the BMI equivalent
with a stake in 26 of that agency’s 50 winning titles (including “Automatic”
and “Give Me Back My Hometown”).
While the focus was mostly on rewarding creative efforts, the business was
never far from people’s minds. Songwriter Lee Thomas Miller (“Crushin’ It,”
“Southern Girl”) was surprised with the BMI Champion Award for representing composers in a series of Congressional hearings as they seek to establish
fair-market pay scales for songs that become part of the culture.
“These songs are being sung at weddings and proposals and funerals and
graduations, and I truly believe that that is worth more than a micropenny,”
he said.
That compensation is at least as important as the awards.
“My focus,” said ASCAP president/chairman Paul Williams, “has been
on getting Sam Hunt properly paid for his music.”
West Virginia Radio Corporation hired Bob Visotcky as market manager for
its seven-station Charleston, W.Va., cluster, which includes country WKWS.
He was most recently BCA Radio/San Diego general sales manager … Atlantabased Gray Television will receive a total of $16 million as it divests radio
stations it picked up in three markets from Schurz Communications. MidWest Family Broadcasting is buying the South Bend, Ind., cluster, including
country WHFB; Neuhoff Communications picks up Lafayette, Ind., signals,
including country WKOA; and HomeSlice nabs Rapid City, S.D., stations,
including country KOUT … Mid-West Family transferred WWQM Madison
personality Mark Van Allen to its Rockford, Ill., cluster, RadioInfo.com reported. He’ll serve as operations manager for the group, which includes country
WRTB … Earl Jones was named iHeartMedia/Louisville (Ky.) market president, according to RadioInfo.com. Since September 2014, he has operated
as the chain’s Chicago-based senior vp urban operations. The eight-station
Louisville cluster includes country WAMZ … Beasley/Las Vegas hired Mike
Martin as digital sales director, InsideRadio.com reported. The market’s five
stations include country KCYE. Martin was previously Hagadone Digital director of digital services.
’ROUND THE ROW
Republic Nashville hired Lauren Longbine as director of Southwest promotion, replacing Kristen White, who plans to leave the company in December.
Longbine was previously an account executive for Steel City Media/Kansas
City, including country stations KBEQ and KFKF. Reach Longbine here … Webster Public Relations hired Scott Adkins as vp publicity and Jaime Spinner
as publicity manager. Adkins was previously Kaleidoscope Media director
of publicity. Spinner comes from ThinkSwell, where she was digital marketing manager. Reach Adkins here and Spinner here … Sony Music Nashville
director of media Jennifer Vessio left her post after three years on Nov. 6 in
a departmental restructuring. She is looking for her next opportunity. Reach
her here … Emerging country singer Sammy Arriaga signed a publishing
deal with Sony/ATV … BBR Music Group signed ASCAP songwriter Taylor Davis to the Magic Mustang Music roster … Bluegrass label Pinecastle
signed Edgar Loudermilk to a recording deal … The Country Music Association honored the late Johnny Cash with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, presented Nancy Jones the Joe Talbot Award, and gave The
Tennessean’s music reporter CindyWattsthe Media Achievement Award … Tommy
Overstreet died Nov. 2 at his home in Oregon. He fashioned 11 top 10 country
singles from 1971-1977, including “Gwen (Congratulations),” “Heaven Is My
Woman’s Love” and “I’m a Believer” … Charlie Dick, the widower of Patsy
Cline, died Nov. 8 in Nashville. A former Starday record promoter, he continued to champion Cline’s legacy long after her death in a 1963 plane crash.
Rodney Clawson celebrated his second BMI country songwriter of the
year victory with his wife, “Automatic” songwriter Nicolle Galyon.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 9 OF 20
NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND
MUSIC NOTES
RIMES: NATASHA MOUSTACHE
Chris Stapleton might have snapped Blake Shelton’s five-year run as the
Country Music Association’s male vocalist of the year, but Shelton already
has awards activity on the horizon in 2016. He has been tapped to host
Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards in March, and he’s on the ballot for CBS’
Jan. 6 telecast of the People’s Choice Awards. Shelton’s among the five finalists
for favorite male country artist,
while The Voice is up for favorite
RIMES
TV show and favorite competition TV show. Luke Bryan is the
only favorite male country nominee who’s also in the running
for the all-genre favorite male.
As if the Country Music Associat ion didn’t have a big
enough task with the 49th annual awards on Nov. 4, the organization also shot the annual
CMA Country Christmas special
at the Grand Ole Opry House on
Nov. 7. Jennifer Nettles hosted
with guest appearances by Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker,
Charles Kelley, Martina McBride and LeAnn Rimes, among
others. The special airs on ABC
on Dec. 3.
War ner Music Nashv ille is
driven to find new talent — or,
at least, hoping worthy talent will be driven to visit the label. The company has
partnered with Uber for up-and-coming artists to nab meetings with one of
six executives during a three-hour window beginning at 11 a.m. on Nov. 10.
The execs include four WMN staff members: CEO John Esposito, executive vp A&R Scott Hendricks, vp A&R Cris Lacy and vp national promotion
Kristen Williams. Also participating are Country Music Association senior
vp marketing and partnerships Damon Whiteside and RareCountry.com
senior correspondent Hunter Kelly. Go here for details.
Jake Owen and Jennifer Nettles are set to appear in the annual Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 26 in New York. They’ll ride in a procession
of floats that also features Mariah Carey, Train, Pat Benatar, Andy Grammer, Questlove, Daughtry and Panic at the Disco.
ON THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC
Nov. 9
•1990 — The Internal Revenue Service seizes the property of Willie
Nelson in six states, including his Austin recording studio, to satisfy
a $6.5 million debt.
•1925 — George D. Hay begins working at WSM Radio in Nashville,
where 16 days later, he debuts a radio program that becomes the
Grand Ole Opry.
Nov. 10
•2014 — MCA releases Sam Hunt’s “Take Your Time” to radio.
•2010 — Miranda Lambert wins three trophies — female vocalist;
album, for Revolution; and music video, for “The House That Built
Me” — during the 44th annual Country Music Association Awards
at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Nov. 11
•1965 — Loretta Lynn records “You Ain’t Woman
Enough.”
Nov. 12
•1995 — Shania Twain performs in Washington,
D.C., with Bill Clinton in attendance as ABC
shoots A Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre.
LYNN
Nov. 13
•2012 — Jason Aldean makes a guest appearance on NBC’s The Voice,
performing “The Only Way I Know” with contestants Dez Duron and
Bryan Keith. Celebrity mentor Blake Shelton and three members
of his team sing “Life Is a Highway.”
Nov. 14
•2013 — Gloriana performs the national anthem at Nashville’s LP
Field, where the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans,
30-27.
•2007 — Trace Adkins rings the opening bell at the NASDAQ Stock
Exchange in New York.
Nov. 15
•2005 — Arista releases Carrie Underwood’s debut album, Some
Hearts.
•1975 — Waylon Jennings picks up a No. 1 country single in Billboard
with “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.”
Source: RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database
GOOD WORKS
Nashville-based blues artist Keb’ Mo’ and the Frontmen of Country — Restless Heart lead vocalist Larry Stewart and former Little Texas member
Tim Rushlow — are observing Veterans Day with a Nov. 10 benefit at the
Rosewall in Music City.
Healing Hands Helping Heroes raises money for the Middle Tennessee
chapter of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and for Reboot
Combat Recovery. The agencies represent wounded warriors and the medical
specialists who assist them through the surgical process.
Go here for ticket info.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
The clothes make the man — and also make a PR opportunity, as Brothers
Osborne (@brothersosborne) discovered on the Country Music Association
Awards red carpet:
“The best part about making @TasteOfCountry’s worst dressed list is making @GQMagazine’s best dressed list.”
To follow BCU, go to Twitter.com/bbcountryupdate.
Kacey Musgraves was hailed at a Nov. 2 launch party honoring her
Lucchese line of boots. From left are actress Brandi Cyrus, Musgraves
and Nashville actress Clare Bowen.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 10 OF 20
CMA Awards In Pictures
The 49th annual Country Music Association Awards became the first TV property to beat Fox on a night when Empire was broadcast. The awards drew 13.6
million viewers, according to Nielsen, as a handful of collaborations — including Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban and John Mellencamp, and Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn — helped ABC win on the first Wednesday of the November sweep. Following are just a few of the images
from the night:
Star Trek actor William Shatner stepped onstage as a Star Wars
stormtrooper when hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
delivered the opening monologue.
Hunter Hayes photobombed several Warner Music Nashville
labelmates during the company’s afterparty. From left: Brett Eldredge,
Blake Shelton, WMN president/CEO John Esposito, Hayes, Chris
Janson and Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney.
The Mavericks were the house band for the Big Machine Label Group
party at Nashville’s Rosewall. From left: Mavericks members Eddie
Perez, Jerry Dale McFadden, Raul Malo and Paul Deakin.
Thomas Rhett attended the
William Morris Budweiser Bash,
Jason Aldean walked red carpet
which also welcomed Jerrod
Niemann, Scotty McCreery, Chris prior to his on-camera performance
Young and Florida Georgia Line. of “Gonna Know We Were Here.”
Miranda Lambert celebrated
her sixth straight female
vocalist win with Sony Music
Nashville chairman/CEO Randy
Goodman.
RHETT: TERRY WYATT/GETTY IMAGES; LAMBERT: ALAN POIZNER
Luke Bryan celebrated his second entertainer of the year win during
the Universal Music Group Nashville afterparty at the Musicians Hall
of Fame. From left: Red Light Management executive Ed Green, UMGN
chairman/CEO Mike Dungan, Red Light founder Coran Capshaw, KP
Entertainment founder Kerri Edwards, Bryan and UMGN president
Cindy Mabe.
LoCash members Chris Lucas (left)
and Preston Brust hit the red carpet
while enjoying a top 15 single for
the first time as artists with “I Love
This Life.”
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 11 OF 20
Hot Country Songs
THIS
WEEK
1
l
2
l
3
l
4
TWO
WEEKS WKS ON TITLE
AGO
CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER)
TENNESSEE WHISKEY
RE-ENTRY
2
LAST
WEEK
D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (D.DILLON,LINDA HARGROVE)
1
2
7
8
2
5
l
6
1
4
5
3
7
l
8
3
6
7
5
9
l
10
l
11
l
12
l
13
l
14
l
15
l
16
l
17
18
l
19
l
20
l
21
l
22
l
23
l
24
l
25
l
4
9
9
10
11
12
10
12
14
7
30
16
26
35
12
22
30
32
15
31
D.HUFF,J.FRASURE (THOMAS RHETT,S.DOUGLAS,J.SPARGUR)
Z.CROWELL,S.MCANALLY (S.HUNT,Z.CROWELL,S.MCANALLY)
I’M COMIN’ OVER
C.CROWDER,C.YOUNG (C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER,J.HOGE)
S.MCANALLY (M.RAMSEY,T. ROSEN,B.TURSI,G.SPRUNG,W.SELLERS)
SMOKE BREAK
J.JOYCE (C.UNDERWOOD,C. DESTEFANO,H.LINDSEY)
BURNING HOUSE
J.BHASKER,T.JOHNSON (C.OCHS,T.JOHNSON,J.BHASKER)
LET ME SEE YA GIRL
M.CARTER (C.SWINDELL,M.CARTER,J.STEVENS)
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU
C. DESTEFANO (D.SMYERS,S.MOONEY,A.GORLEY,C. DESTEFANO)
GONNA
S.HENDRICKS (L.LAIRD,C.WISEMAN)
STAY A LITTLE LONGER
J.JOYCE (J. OSBORNE,T.J. OSBORNE,S.MCANALLY)
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY
11
20
38
17
16
15
M.KNOX (B.BEAVERS,BRETT JAMES)
18
17
14
B.GALLIMORE,T.MCGRAW (J.ROBBINS,J.M.NITE,J.OSBORNE)
16
13
23
D.HUFF,K.URBAN (S.MCANALLY,R.COPPERMAN,J.OSBORNE)
19
30
21
22
18
30
20
23
NEW
23
25
21
24
25
13
8
31
23
1
13
10
I GOT THE BOY
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE
TOP OF THE WORLD
DIBS
F.G.WHITEHEAD,J.MASSEY (K.BALLERINI,J.KERR,R.GRIFFIN,J.DUKE)
KELSEA
BALLERINI
Dibs
HH Digital Gainer HH
ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE
1
WE WENT
D.GEORGE (J.WILSON,M.ROGERS,J.KING)
HH Hot Shot Debut HH
RUN AWAY WITH YOU
J.RICH,B.KENNY (J.D.RICH,MICHAEL RAY)
COUNTRY NATION
L.WOOTEN,B.PAISLEY (B.PAISLEY,C.DUBOIS,K.LOVELACE)
0
4
0
3
5
0
4
9
10
11
12
4
12
16
2
LoCash
R
EVIVER
Kelsea Ballerini
B
LACK RIVER
18
Zac Brown Band
20
Parmalee
20
J OHN VARVATOS/REPUBLIC/BMLG/SOUTHERN GROUND
S
TONEY CREEK
Randy Houser
S
TONEY CREEK
NV (M.THOMAS,S.THOMAS,B.KNOX,P.O’DONNELL,W.KIRBY)
3
Jason Aldean
B
ROKEN BOW
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban
L.RIMES,P.BRUST,C.LUCAS (D.MYRICK,C.JANSON,C.LUCAS,P.BRUST)
19
0
14
H
IT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE
I LOVE THIS LIFE
D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (C.STAPLETON)
1
Jana Kramer
M
CGRAW/BIG MACHINE
JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16
TRAVELLER
Chris Young
R
CA NASHVILLE
Old Dominion
R
CA NASHVILLE
Carrie Underwood
19/ARISTA NASHVILLE
Cam
A
RISTA NASHVILLE
Cole Swindell
W
ARNER BROS./WMN
Dan + Shay
W
ARNER BROS./WAR
Blake Shelton
W
ARNER BROS./WMN
Brothers Osborne
E MI NASHVILLE
Kenny Chesney
E LEKTRA NASHVILLE/WAR
S.HENDRICKS (T.NICHOLS,C.HARRINGTON,J.L.SPEARS)
Z.BROWN (Z.BROWN,N.MOON)
M
CA NASHVILLE
B
LUE CHAIR/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE
B.CANNON,K.CHESNEY (A.DORFF,M.RAMSEY,B.TURSI)
BEAUTIFUL DRUG
Sam Hunt
PEAK
POSITION
1
C
APITOL NASHVILLE
HH Airplay Gainer HH
BREAK UP WITH HIM
15
CERTIFIED
Chris Stapleton
M
ERCURY
Thomas Rhett
V
ALORY
Luke Bryan
J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (L.BRYAN,J.M.NITE,R.COPPERMAN)
14
19
HH Streaming Gainer HH
STRIP IT DOWN
13
20
Artist
IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL
HH No. 1 (1 week) HH
DIE A HAPPY MAN
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN
SALES, AIRPLAY &
STREAMING DATA
COMPILED BY
Chris Stapleton
M
ERCURY
Big & Rich
B
$R/NEW REVOLUTION
Brad Paisley
A
RISTA NASHVILLE
18
22
23
21
24
26
Kelsea Ballerini sang her debut Country
Airplay No. 1, “Love Me Like You Mean It,”
on the Nov. 4 CMA Awards, sparking its 243
percent blast to 8,000 sold. Current single
“Dibs,” at No. 19 on Hot Country Songs,
jumps by 17 percent to 9,000.
DIERKS
BENTLEY
Riser
After violinist Lindsey Stirling joined
Dierks Bentley for a performance of “Riser”
at the CMA Awards, the track lifts 29-26 on
Hot Country Songs, propelled by its 37-24
vault on Country Digital Songs (15,000
downloads sold, up 144 percent).
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 12 OF 20
Hot Country Songs
THIS
WEEK
LAST
WEEK
26
l
27
l
28
l
29
l
30
l
31
l
32
l
29
33
34
l
35
36
37
l
38
l
39
l
40
l
41
l
42
l
43
l
44
l
45
l
46
l
47
TWO
WEEKS WKS ON TITLE
AGO
CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER)
27
19 RISER
M.CARTER (C.SWINDELL,B.KINNEY,M.CARTER)
W
ARNER BROS./WMN
BACKROAD SONG
25
N.CHAPMAN,K.URBAN (J.M.NITE,R.COPPERMAN)
Granger Smith
W
HEELHOUSE
Lee Brice
C
URB
Hunter Hayes
A
TLANTIC/WMN
Kane Brown
Z ONE 4
Eric Church
E MI NASHVILLE
Kane Brown
Z ONE 4
Justin Moore
V
ALORY
Keith Urban
H
IT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE
11
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL
31
11
LITTLE BIT OF YOU
A Thousand Horses
R
EPUBLIC NASHVILLE
Chase Bryant
R
ED BOW
Rascal Flatts
B
IG MACHINE
Florida Georgia Line
R
EPUBLIC NASHVILLE
Chris Stapleton
M
ERCURY
Billy Currington
M
ERCURY
Sam Hunt
O
UT IN IT/MCA NASHVILLE
George Strait
M
CA NASHVILLE
Jerrod Niemann
Jon Pardi
39
1
28
7
25
19
28
26
25
SHOULD’VE RAN AFTER YOU
F.ROGERS,G.SMITH (G.SMITH,F.ROGERS)
THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU
J.STONE,L.BRICE (L.BRICE,R.AKINS,A.GORLEY)
21
D.HUFF,H.HAYES (D.DAVIDSON,K.LOVELACE,A.GORLEY,H.HAYES)
LAST MINUTE LATE NIGHT
NEW
1
NOT LISTED (NOT LISTED)
NEW
1
J.JOYCE (E.CHURCH,C.BEATHARD)
NEW
24
31
35
34
—
31
32
33
NEW
NEW
43
41
NEW
40
42
44
36
37
39
NEW
36
29
3
1
2
7
1
1
9
1
6
11
4
1
12
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD
USED TO LOVE YOU SOBER
M.MCVANEY (K.BROWN,M.MCVANEY,J.HOGE)
YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK
J.S.STOVER,J.RAYMOND,S.BORCHETTA (R.CLAWSON,M.DRAGSTREM,N.HEMBY)
BREAK ON ME.
D.COBB (M.HOBBY,C.CROWDER,N.MASON,C.DODDS)
D.GEORGE,C.BRYANT (C.BRYANT,D.GEORGE,A.GORLEY)
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT
J.DEMARCUS,RASCAL FLATTS (M.TRAINOR,J.FRASURE,S.MOONEY)
CONFESSION
J.MOI (R.CLAWSON,R.COPPERMAN,M.JENKINS)
WHISKEY AND YOU
D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (C.STAPLETON,L.T.MILLER)
DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A FOOTBALL PROBLEM
D.HUFF (A.HENNINGSEN,B.HENNINGSEN,C.HENNINGSEN,E.MCDAVID ELKINS,V.A.OLIVAREZ)
COME OVER
Z.CROWELL (S.HUNT,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE)
COLD BEER CONVERSATION
C.AINLAY,G.STRAIT (A.ANDERSON,B.HAYSLIP,J.YEARY)
BLUE BANDANA
HEAD OVER BOOTS
FIRE AWAY
D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (C.STAPLETON,D.GREEN)
LIVE FOREVER
REDONE,D.HUFF (N.KHAYAT,C.J.HARRIS, JR.,K.PERRY,R.PERRY,N.PERRY,J.ANDREWS,K.O.KJELLHOLM)
HEARTBEAT
35
4
49
l
50
l
46
46
8
C.AINLAY,F.LIDDELL,G.WORF (J.SINGLETON,D.RUTTAN)
1
D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (C.STAPLETON,B.BALES,R.BOWMAN)
25
26
31
32
15
34
24
32
33
39
40
41
42
36
37
C
APITOL NASHVILLE
Chris Stapleton
M
ERCURY
The Band Perry
R
EPUBLIC NASHVILLE
Carrie Underwood
19/ARISTA NASHVILLE
David Nail
M
CA NASHVILLE
Chris Stapleton
M
ERCURY
B.BUTLER,J.PARDI (J.PARDI,L.LAIRD)
33
27
S
EA GAYLE/ARISTA NASHVILLE
J.L.SLOAS,J.L.NIEMANN (B.GOLDSMITH,C.J. SOLAR,A.S.WILLS)
48
NEW
PEAK
POSITION
26
26
22
CERTIFIED
Dierks Bentley
C
APITOL NASHVILLE
Cole Swindell
27
15
Artist
IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL
R. COPPERMAN (S.MOAKLER,T.MEADOWS)
NEW
SALES, AIRPLAY &
STREAMING DATA
COMPILED BY
Z.CROWELL (C.UNDERWOOD,Z.CROWELL,A.GORLEY)
NIGHT’S ON FIRE
NOBODY TO BLAME
46
29
26
43
50
The week’s most popular country songs, ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen Music, sales data as compiled by Nielsen Music and streaming activity data from online music sources tracked by
Nielsen Music. Descending titles below No. 25 are moved to recurrent after 20 weeks.
COUNTRY MARKET WATCH
A Weekly National Music Sales Report
YEAR-TO-DATE
Year-Over-Year Album Sales
’14
’15
’15
’13
25.3 million
22.9 million
DIGITAL TRACKS SALES
’14
Weekly Unit’14
Sales
115.5
million
000.0
million
96.9 million
For week ending November 5, 2015. Figures are rounded. Compiled from
a national sample of retail store and rack sales reports collected and
provided by Nielsen Music.
Overall Unit Sales
ALBUMS
DIGITAL
ALBUMS*
DIGITAL
TRACKS
This Week
780,000
446,000
2,165,000
Last Week
605,000
229,000
1,613,000
28.9%
94.8%
34.2%
666,000
244,000
1,853,000
17.1%
82.8%
16.8%
Change
This Week Last Year
Change
Albums
Digital Tracks
2014
2015
CHANGE
25,334,000
22,883,000
-9.7%
115,452,000
96,901,000
-16.1%
Sales by Album Format
Physical
Digital
2014
2015
16,829,000
14,447,000
9.0%
8,505,000
8,436,000
-0.8%
*Digital album sales are also counted within album sales.
For inquiries about any Nielsen Music data, please contact Josh Bennett at 615-807-1338 or josh.bennett@nielsen.com
CHANGE
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 13 OF 20
SALES, AIRPLAY &
STREAMING DATA
COMPILED BY
2
3
l
4
l
25 29 27
1
—
NEW
NEW
5
2
—
6
3
1
CHRIS STAPLETON
MERCURY 019405*/UMGN
2
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
1
ERIC CHURCH
1
CHRIS JANSON
2
BLAKE SHELTON
19/ARISTA NASHVILLE 510539*/SMN
EMI NASHVILLE 024200*/UMGN
WARNER BROS. 552159/WMN
WARNER BROS. 551788/WMN
BRYAN
13 LUKE
CAPITOL NASHVILLE 022813/UMGN
1
Pain Killer
3
6
GEORGE STRAIT
12
l
13
l
14
l
15
l
17 15 55
9
VALORY RT0200A/BMLG
0
OUT IN IT/MCA NASHVILLE DIGITAL EX/UMGN
PAST MASTERS HOLDINGS 023512*/CAPITOL
MCA NASHVILLE 022818 WMEX/UMGN
LITTLE BIG TOWN
CAPITOL NASHVILLE 021360*/UMGN
ERIC CHURCH
1
1
1
BROWN BAND
JEKYLL + HYDE
10 28 ZAC
JOHN VARVATOS/SOUTHERN GROUND/BMLG 022962/REPUBLIC
0
1
91
EMI NASHVILLE 019402*/UMGN
CHESNEY
32 47 59 KENNY
BLUE CHAIR/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 306274/SMN
16 13 23 22
17
l
18
l
19
l
20
l
21
l
22
l
23
l
24
l
MCA NASHVILLE 021502/UMGN
The Outsiders
9
16
1
1
6
DON HENLEY
3
Kill The Lights
Cold Beer Conversation
2
SAM HUNT
8
2
7
THOMAS RHETT
11
Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits
Cass County
6
4
4
2
54
2
5
3
Buy Me A Boat
Between The Pines: Acoustic Mixtape
5
4
10
1
Mr. Misunderstood
Tangled Up
6
—
1
Storyteller
Montevallo
8
7
Traveller
SAM HUNT
7
l
9
VARIOUS ARTISTS
MUSGRAVES
28 26 20 KACEY
MERCURY 022816*/UMGN
GEORGIA LINE
22 17 56 FLORIDA
REPUBLIC NASHVILLE /BMLG
Anything Goes
1
0
1
30 41 88
Riser
1
23 19 77
BRANTLEY GILBERT
25 12
8
4
ELEKTRA NASHVILLE 549779/WMN
The First Time
1
DIERKS BENTLEY
JANA KRAMER
Old Boots, New Dirt
Just As I Am
4
1
0
Thirty One
1
1
3
NEW
3
ARTIST (IMPRINT/LABEL)
TENNESSEE WHISKEY
HRIS STAPLETON ( Mercury/UMGN)
C
DIE A HAPPY MAN
THOMAS RHETT ( Valory/BMLG)
GIRL CRUSH
LITTLE BIG TOWN (Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
STRIP IT DOWN
LUKE BRYAN ( Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN
SAM HUNT ( MCA Nashville/UMGN)
BURNING HOUSE
CAM (Arista Nashville/SMN)
SHOULD’VE RAN AFTER YOU
COLE SWINDELL ( Warner Bros./WMN)
SMOKE BREAK
CARRIE UNDERWOOD ( 19/Arista Nashville/SMN)
LAST MINUTE LATE NIGHT
KANE BROWN ( Zone 4)
TRAVELLER
CHRIS STAPLETON ( Mercury/UMGN)
TAKE YOUR TIME
SAM HUNT ( MCA Nashville/UMGN)
BEAUTIFUL DRUG
ZAC BROWN BAND (John Varvatos/Southern Ground/BMLG/Republic)
I’M COMIN’ OVER
CHRIS YOUNG ( RCA Nashville/SMN)
YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK
JUSTIN MOORE ( Valory/BMLG)
BREAK UP WITH HIM
OLD DOMINION ( RCA Nashville/SMN)
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD
ERIC CHURCH ( EMI Nashville/UMGN)
USED TO LOVE YOU SOBER
KANE BROWN ( Zone 4)
HOUSE PARTY
SAM HUNT ( MCA Nashville/UMGN)
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
CHRIS STAPLETON ( Mercury/UMGN)
GONNA
BLAKE SHELTON ( Warner Bros./WMN)
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY
KENNY CHESNEY ( Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville/SMN)
CRASH AND BURN
THOMAS RHETT ( Valory/BMLG)
STAY A LITTLE LONGER
BROTHERS OSBORNE ( EMI Nashville/UMGN)
RISER
DIERKS BENTLEY ( Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE, JOHN 3:16
KEITH URBAN ( Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
WKS ON
CHART
TITLE
LAST
WEEK
WKS ON
CHART
18 10 32
l
19 NEW
l
20 16 11
l
21 33 17
l
22 23 31
l
23 9 21
l
24 37 6
l
25 15 22
l
0
Pageant Material
18
VALORY BG0200A/BMLG
LAST
WEEK
1
Platinum
Illinois
CAPITOL NASHVILLE 019404/UMGN
15 8 26
17 2
BRETT ELDREDGE
ATLANTIC 549782/WMN
NEW
1
19 13 57
8
14
l
16
l
JASON ALDEAN
11
13 6 26
NOW That’s What I Call Country, Volume 8
15 28 25
BROKEN BOW 7105/BBMG
RE-ENTRY
1
KELSEA BALLERINI
BLACK RIVER 2015
l
2 1 7
l
3 31 46
l
4 5 16
l
5 3 42
l
6 4 20
l
7 46 2
l
8 18 11
l
9 NEW
l
10 NEW
l
11 28 54
l
12 36 3
l
1
The Big Revival
SONY MUSIC/UNIVERSAL 023341/UME
LAMBERT
33 38 75 MIRANDA
RCA NASHVILLE 379278/SMN
THIS
WEEK
Title
PEAK
POSITION
IMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL
CERT.
WEEKS
ON CHT
2 WEEKS
AGO
LAST
WEEK
THIS
WEEK
1
l
ARTIST
THIS
WEEK
COUNTRY
DIGITAL SONGS
TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS
TITLE
ARTIST (IMPRINT/LABEL)
I GOT THE BOY
26 12 38 J ANA KRAMER ( Elektra Nashville/WMN)
ANYTHING GOES
27 13 25 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE (Republic Nashville/BMLG)
LIKE A WRECKING BALL
28 29 39 ERIC CHURCH ( EMI Nashville/UMGN)
l
l
l
BUY ME A BOAT
29 11 29 C HRIS JANSON ( Warner Bros./WMN)
KICK THE DUST UP
30 19 25 LUKE BRYAN ( Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
CONFESSION
31 NEW FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE (Republic Nashville/BMLG)
I LOVE THIS LIFE
32 17 11 LOCASH (Reviver)
WE WENT
33 20 15 RANDY HOUSER ( Stoney Creek/BBMG)
COME OVER
34 47 2 SAM HUNT ( Out In It/MCA Nashville/UMGN)
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU
35 21 16 DAN + SHAY (Warner Bros./WMN)
DIBS
36 30 15 KELSEA BALLERINI ( Black River)
COUNTRY NATION
37 RE-ENTRY BRAD PAISLEY ( Arista Nashville/SMN)
WHISKEY AND YOU
38 NEW CHRIS STAPLETON ( Mercury/UMGN)
LOVE ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT
39 RE-ENTRY KELSEA BALLERINI ( Black River)
LOSE MY MIND
40 24 28 BRETT ELDREDGE ( Atlantic/WMN)
TOP OF THE WORLD
41 39 11 TIM MCGRAW ( McGraw/Big Machine/BMLG)
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE
42 40 10 JASON ALDEAN ( Broken Bow/BBMG)
LET ME SEE YA GIRL
43 32 25 COLE SWINDELL ( Warner Bros./WMN)
THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU
44 34 8 LEE BRICE ( Curb)
I KNOW A GUY
45 NEW CHRIS YOUNG ( RCA Nashville/SMN)
BREAK ON ME.
46 7 2 KEITH URBAN ( Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/UMGN)
OUTLAW STATE OF MIND
47 NEW CHRIS STAPLETON ( Mercury/UMGN)
SANGRIA
48 35 32 BLAKE SHELTON ( Warner Bros./WMN)
AMERICAN KIDS
49 RE-ENTRY KENNY CHESNEY ( Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville/SMN)
50 38 25 FLY
MADDIE & TAE (Dot/Republic/BMLG)
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Top-selling paid download country songs compiled from sales reports collected and provided by Nielsen
Music. Charts update weekly on Thurdays at www.Billboard.Biz/charts. Copyright 2015, Prometheus
Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
The week’s most popular country albums, ranked by sales data as compiled by Nielsen Music. Albums are
defined as current if they are less than 18 months old or older than 18 months but still residing in the Billboard
200’s top 100. Charts update weekly on Thurdays at www.Billboard.Biz/charts. Copyright 2015, Prometheus
Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
ERIC CHURCH
Mr. Misunderstood
Reflecting its marketing ingenuity, the album
(along with a Church-penned letter) arrived
in the mailboxes of thousands of top-level
fan club members on Nov. 3. Following its
Nov. 4 retail launch (the day of the CMA
Awards), it enters Top Country Albums at
No. 3 with 71,000 sold in less than two days.
1
l
2
l
1
6
2
14
3
3
13
4
4
24
5
5
21
6
l
8
45
7
7
13
6
12
8
9
l
10
18 37
9
DIE A HAPPY MAN
T HOMAS RHETT
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN
SAM HUNT
STRIP IT DOWN
LUKE BRYAN
HOUSE PARTY
SAM HUNT
I’M COMIN’ OVER
CHRIS YOUNG
TAKE YOUR TIME
SAM HUNT
BURNING HOUSE
CAM
BREAK UP WITH HIM
OLD DOMINION
GIRL CRUSH
LITTLE BIG TOWN
26 CRASH AND BURN
T HOMAS RHETT
l
11 15
WKS ON
CHART
ARTIST
LAST
WEEK
TITLE
THIS
WEEK
WKS ON
CHART
LAST
WEEK
THIS
WEEK
COUNTRY
STREAMING SONGS
3
SALES, AIRPLAY &
STREAMING DATA
COMPILED BY
7
12 12 19
13 13 12
14
l
–
15 10
1
4
16 16 85
17 14 24
18 11 16
19
l
20
l
19 98
20
9
STREAMING DATA
COMPILED BY
TITLE
ARTIST
I GOT THE BOY
J ANA KRAMER
BUY ME A BOAT
CHRIS JANSON
ANYTHING GOES
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE
TENNESSEE WHISKEY
CHRIS STAPLETON
SMOKE BREAK
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
PLAY IT AGAIN
LUKE BRYAN
KICK THE DUST UP
LUKE BRYAN
LOSE MY MIND
BRETT ELDREDGE
BOTTOMS UP
BRANTLEY GILBERT
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU
AN + SHAY
D
Country Streaming Songs -The week’s top Country streamed radio songs, on-demand songs and videos
on leading online music services. Charts update weekly on Thurdays at www.Billboard.Biz/charts. Copyright
2015, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 14 OF 20
MAKIN’ TR ACKS TOM ROLAND tom.roland@billboard.com
Newcomer Ryan Kinder Gets
Another Go-Round With ‘Tonight’
When the Bigger Picture label lost its financing and folded in May 2014, the
obvious focus was on Craig Campbell, whose “Keep Them Kisses Comin’ ”
was at No. 11 on Country Airplay. The single managed to reach No. 9 before it flickered out.
Lost in the shuff le was Ryan Kinder, a singer-songwriter with an intense, urgent vocal style, who had just released the brooding “Kiss Me When
I’m Down” the prior month and was atop the New and Active chart as the
label imploded. The single squeezed onto
Country Airplay for one week in June 2014,
KINDER
just before the CMA Music Festival, where
Warner Music Nashville president John Esposito and executive vp/GM Peter Strickland watched Kinder win over a bundle of
female fans who were largely unfamiliar
with him.
Seventeen months later, Kinder’s first
WMN single, “Tonight,” gives him a second shot at the commercial mainstream. It’s
not only his second label deal, but also his
second recording of “Tonight,” which was
originally created during his tenure with,
as he says sarcastically, “the label that shall
not be mentioned.”
Kinder, in fact, started working on the
song with co-writer Luke Sheets at the
Bigger Picture office in Nashville’s Berry
Hill neighborhood in anticipation of a recording session with producer Keith Stegall (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson),
the label’s chief creative off icer. Stegall
was scheduled as the third writer at the
appointment, and Sheets was admittedly
nervous, so he showed up early to go over a
few ideas with Kinder first. Kinder brought
along a few snippets he thought might be
worth exploring.
“I came in with three separate melodies, thinking it was three separate
songs,” says Kinder. “They’re now the chorus for ‘Tonight.’ Luke said, ‘Let’s
mash them together.’ Genius.”
The results sounded “angsty,” notes Kinder, and he had a personal scenario that fit. He had seen on Facebook that a high-school girlfriend was
engaged, and though he no longer carried a torch for her, he was reminded
of a period of time when neither was able to completely let go.
“There was a time in college where I was trying to keep that relationship
together, and we would keep calling each other late at night and kind of poking
at the wound,” recalls Kinder. “We both were at fault for each other’s pain.”
Stegall was held up at a dental appointment and had to cancel, so Kinder
and Sheets decided to save their work for another time and adjourned for
beers at El Mariachi on Thompson Lane.
Days later, Sheets was inspired with lyrics for the chorus and emailed
them to Kinder, who dashed over. They finished the entire song in about an
hour, beginning with a 3 a.m. phone call — much like the guy in Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” — with the man conveying a bit of desperation.
“One of the things that we felt really good about was the music,” says
Sheets. “The lyrics say he’s hurting, but the music is saying he’s gonna get
through it, and I think the combination of those elements is what’s making
it work. Whereas if you were to just read the lyrics, you’re like, ‘This guy’s
gotta pull it together.’ ”
The melody in those verses intentionally begins in a lower part of Kinder’s
register, allowing him to heighten the energy at the chorus.
“He always wants every chorus to go as high as his voice can humanly go,”
says Sheets, “and I’m always like, ‘Dude, you’re gonna have to sing this at
6 a.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.”
The verses left a big chunk of empty space between phrases, and they
filled it with a revolving guitar riff on the work tape. But when they headed
into the studio with Stegall a few days later,
the producer suggested they make that part
a little more prominent, and it turned into
a “whoa-oh” section sung in harmony that
ultimately became a key part of the song.
Stegall also speeded it up a touch to make it
more radio-friendly.
The cut was strong enough that when
Kinder signed with WMN, the prevailing
wisdom was that it was a worthy single.
Kinder continued to develop at Fusion Management, the same company that works with
Lady A, and when Charles Kelley cut his
solo material, Fusion founder Daniel Miller
suggested Kinder consider using the same
producer, Paul Worley (Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride). Kinder was up for it; Worley
had conditions.
“There were two voices that presented
themselves to me in his earlier stuff,” says
Worley. “[One] was kind of soft, and I wasn’t
interested in it, but all of a sudden, there
would be this growling kind of raspy voice
that I would compare more to Dave Matthews. My idea was if he was interested in
really playing to that voice, that was real interesting to me.”
The original version of “Tonight” employed both aspects of Kinder’s voice, reaching its tension when he held out the title in the chorus. Worley encouraged
Kinder to apply that intensity throughout the song, and they both pushed the
label to let them rerecord it at Worley’s studio, Shabby Road, using many of
the same musicians that played on “Need You Now.” They dropped the key
a full step, from C to B, which allowed Kinder to hit the growl even harder on
the chorus. “But until we finished, I don’t think anybody was totally committed to changing versions,” Worley says.
Much of the new version, including the bulk of Kinder’s vocal, was cut on
one of the first takes. Pianist Michael Rojas plays a key, three-note figure
that Sheets had applied to “Tonight” from the beginning — “My piano parts
are [simple] because that’s the only way I can play,” says Sheets — and drummer Chad Cromwell muscled up the sound with angular, precise fills. Bass
player Jimmie Lee Sloas gave it a more spacious foundation that took the
track, according to Kinder, in more of a Tom Petty direction.
“It’s like old-school stuff,” recalls Kinder. “It feels live, and we’re all in
the same room looking at each other while we’re playing.”
Worley eventually overdubbed a slide guitar solo, and Kinder did his own
background vocals with Sheets supplementing on some of the lower notes.
WMN secured initial play on SiriusXM’s Highway channel, then released
“Tonight” to terrestrial radio via Play MPE on Oct. 13. It’s the first song to
become a single from about 200 titles that Sheets and Kinder co-wrote. And
one that gives Kinder a second chance.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 15 OF 20
THE STARK REPORT PHYLLIS STARK phyllis.stark@billboard.com
When he joined SiriusXM five years ago after a 30-plus-year career in terres“Obviously with the Aldeans and Taylor Swifts of the world, everybody has
trial radio, John Marks quickly had to learn the distinct differences between varying opinions about royalties in general,” he says. “That is not my world.
the music that works over the air and the music satellite subscribers want to All I can do is what I would do every day in my previous [job, which] would be
hear. In his job as senior director of country programming, he soon became
to tell anyone — from the largest of the large artists to the most developing of
known for having some of the best ears in the business, helping establish sev- the new artists — to be reachable, searchable, clickable, viewable, curatable
eral artists on SiriusXM that went on to explode in popularity at FM. Those wherever you can possibly be, because it’s an on-demand market … To not be
talents include Parmalee, Cole Swindell, Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia
available in other places probably puts someone at a disadvantage with their
Line and Chase Rice.
audience and their market. That advice and that thought [pre-date] me being
Now, he’s doing it again. In the midst of what he describes as a “fairly steep at Spotify, and I still think that.
learning curve” in his new role as head of global programming for country
“Everybody has their perspective on what the right result for them is, and I
music at streaming service Spotify, Marks is curating playlists while discov- respect that,” he adds. “But I nonetheless would suggest to anyone to be as visering not only what streaming audiences respond to best, but also what fans ible as you can be to your market. That just generates more sales, more interof country music outside the United States like to hear.
est, more dollars. To be closed to a certain element of that is not a good idea.”
But it’s precisely those things that
His September departure from
drew him to the job, along with what
SiriusXM shocked the Nashville
he says is Spotify’s “commitment to
music community, and an announcecountry music and to Nashville.” His
ment citing “personal reasons” for
new position was announced Nov. 2,
his departure caused ripples of conabout six weeks after his departure
cern. Marks is “humbly apologetic”
from SiriusXM. Like the label’s other
for that, and the fact that when the
Nashville staffer, Copeland Isaacannouncement was made he was
son, Marks is working from home.
out of pocket due to covering a conAnother attractive element of the
cert for SiriusXM in Chicago and
gig was the opportunity to expose
unable to immediately quell the
new and developing artists, a part of
speculation.
the job he loved at SiriusXM, even if
“I got on Facebook when I got
it meant he was so sought-after that
home and let as many people know as
his voicemail and email boxes were
quickly as I could that [my] health is
perpetually maxed out. While that
fine, everything was good,” he says.
experience taught him much about
“I’m sorry that that created some
how to juggle priorities, Marks says he
consternation, because that wasn’t
also learned that he “couldn’t do evthe intent.” In truth, he says, “my
erything with everyone [who asked].
time was completed with SiriusXM
All I could do was what I could do, and
and I had just decided that it was time
Brian Kelley (L) and Tyler Hubbard (R) of Florida Georgia Line are
I just had to be OK with that.”
to move on, and that was that. There
While he often had to say no to peo- pictured with John Marks before performing a private concert for
are a lot of good, talented, passionate
ple, Marks says his priority was (and SiriusXM listeners at The Troubadour on November 25, 2013 in Los
people that work there, but for me,
still is) to simply be “as honest and Angeles.
it was time to take a little pause and
straightforward as I can. Even though
contemplate new objectives.”
I never succeeded fully, I just tried to stay in as close touch with people as I could,
Just a few weeks into the new job, Marks has already spent a week at Spotify’s
tried to be as responsive as possible, and do what I could to listen to the … submis- headquarters in Sweden, which he describes as “a loose — and I say ‘loose’ in
sions [and] just treat people with respect [and] understand that this is their life. a complimentary way — culture of people … It’s just a very relaxed yet intense
This is a dream and a life pursuit. [I tried not to] forget that when you’re work- atmosphere.” As he got to know his fellow programmers Marks also picked up
ing with whoever it may be, from the largest to the most beginning of artists,
on “a really solid esprit de corps among these disparate groups of individuals
they all have that one thing in common, no matter where they are on the ladder. from all over the world.”
“I like to do what I can to engage with them, to help them move that dream
As impressed as he is with the staff, he’s equally excited by the company’s
forward,” he continues, “[but] that could be a 24-hour job just sifting through data resources, which allow employees to “watch how songs and music permusic and looking for talent, juggling between that and your day-to-day re- form … in real time.” Another selling point for Marks was the opportunity to
sponsibilities for the people who are paying your paycheck.”
open country music up “to audiences in other markets across the world that
Still, he says, the successes he has had are “the stuff that keeps me going. haven’t had a lot of exposure” to it, as well as potentially exposing internaJust to watch these artists come into their own, gain some national notoriety, tional country acts to U.S. audiences.
get signed to a label — it makes me happy and proud like a parent … I’ll have
“The consumer is driving all of this,” he says of Spotify’s growth. “The confriends for life as a result of it, and that means more to me than I can say.”
sumer wants streaming services. The consumer wants on-demand music, and
His new gig comes with other challenges too. While Spotify has plenty of it’s the smart businesses who provide that. That’s what brought me to Spotify.
support, some artists, including Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean, have pulled We’re in an on-demand world, and I want to be a part of helping to set that up
their music from the service because they are unhappy with the company’s
on behalf of country music.” Plus, he adds, “Once I get my arms around how
royalty payment model. While Spotify has a dedicated label relations team,
all of this works, I look forward to bringing some new and undiscovered artlabel and artist relations are also part of Marks’ job description.
ists to national prominence again.”
CHARLEY GALLAY/GETTY IMAGES FOR SIRIUSXM
Whether At SiriusXM Or Spotify,
Marks’ Mission Remains The Same:
Supporting Country Music Acts
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 16 OF 20
Country Indicator
THIS
WEEK
LAST
WEEK
WKS
ON
CHART
1
l
1
12
SMOKE BREAK 1 9/Arista Nashville
2
2
3
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
AUDIENCE
(IN MILLIONS)
PLAYS
THIS WEEK
+/–
THIS WEEK
HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH
Carrie Underwood
4523
+70
5.565
26
BREAK UP WITH HIM R CA Nashville Old Dominion
4294
-54
5.371
l
5
25
I’M COMIN’ OVER R CA Nashville Chris Young
4271
+123
5.341
4
3
30
LET ME SEE YA GIRL W
arner Bros./WMN Cole Swindell
4148
-77
5.337
l
6
l
7
l
8
l
9
l
10
l
11
l
12
l
13
l
14
l
15
l
16
l
17
l
18
l
19
l
20
l
21
l
22
l
23
l
2
l4
25
l
26
l
27
l
2
l8
29
l
6
15
GONNA W
arner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton
4131
+342
5.129
7
33
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
arner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay
3766
+223
4.813
8
14
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B roken Bow Jason Aldean
3537
+181
4.239
10
19
BURNING HOUSE A
rista Nashville Cam
3318
+102
3.831
11
14
TOP OF THE WORLD M
cGraw/Big Machine Tim McGraw
3310
+122
3.740
9
33
STAY A LITTLE LONGER E MI Nashville Brothers Osborne
3289
+68
3.532
13
17
DIBS B lack River Kelsea Ballerini
2889
+75
2.878
17
34
I LOVE THIS LIFE R eviver LoCash
2640
+286
3.286
18
7
DIE A HAPPY MAN V alory Thomas Rhett
2639
+290
2.909
15
39
ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE S toney Creek Parmalee
2635
+127
3.209
14
35
I GOT THE BOY E lektra Nashville/WAR Jana Kramer
2605
+68
3.177
16
10
COUNTRY NATION A
rista Nashville Brad Paisley
2568
+86
3.012
19
24
WE WENT Stoney Creek Randy Houser
2424
+154
2.823
20
8
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN M
CA Nashville Sam Hunt
2073
+146
2.061
21
20
RISER C apitol Nashville Dierks Bentley
1922
+72
2.032
22
20
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL R epublic Nashville A Thousand Horses
1878
+114
1.832
23
5
BACKROAD SONG W
heelhouse Granger Smith
1835
+307
1.921
24
25
THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU C urb Lee Brice
1426
+78
1.596
29
3
HH Most Increased Plays HH
Keith Urban
1425
+403
1.496
25
24
21 A
tlantic/WMN Hunter Hayes
1327
+34
1.567
26
8
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT B ig Machine Rascal Flatts
1304
+96
1.445
27
8
BEAUTIFUL DRUG V arvatos/Southern Ground/BMLG/Republic Zac Brown Band
1252
+165
1.386
28
7
COLD BEER CONVERSATION M
CA Nashville George Strait
1142
+57
0.987
32
19
LITTLE BIT OF YOU R ed Bow Chase Bryant
1104
+160
1.108
30
22
DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A FOOTBALL PROBLEM M
ercury Nashville Billy Currington
1059
+61
0.848
31
15
BLUE BANDANA S ea Gayle/Arista Nashville Jerrod Niemann
829
-151
0.814
5
30
BREAK ON ME. H
it Red/Capitol Nashville
BILLBOARD COUNTRY INDICATOR PANEL — 106 STATIONS
Abilene, Texas
KEAN
Alexandria, La.
KRRV
Amarillo, Texas
KGNC
Asheville, N.C.
WKSF
Atlantic City, N.J.
WPUR
Beaumont, Texas
KYKR
Beckley, W. Va.
WJLS
Biloxi, Miss.
WZKX
Bloomington, Ill.
WIBL
Bluefield, W. Va.
WHKX
Burlington, Vt.
WOKO
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
KEZS
Charleston, W. Va
WKWS
WQBE
College Station, Texas
KAGG
Columbia, Mo.
KCLR
Columbus, Ga.
WKCN
WSTH
Cookeville, Tenn.
WGSQ
Dothan, Ala.
WTVY
Duluth, Minn.
KKCB
Eau Claire, Wis.
WAXX
Elizabeth City, N.C.
WRSF
Erie, Pa.
WTWF
Eugene, Ore.
KKNU
Evansville, Ind.
WKDQ
Fargo, N.D.
KBVB
WSTH
Fayetteville, N.C.
WKML
Flagstaff, Ariz.
KAFF
Flint, Mich.
WFBE
Florence, Ala.
WXFL
Florence, S.C.
WEGX
Ft. Collins, Colo.
KUAD
Ft. Smith, Ark.
KTCS
Frederick, Md.
WFRE
Fredericksburg, Va.
WFLS
Green Bay, Wis.
WNCY
Hagerstown, Md.
WAYZ
Hot Springs, Ark.
KQUS
Huntington, Ky.
WDGG
Huntington, W. Va.
WTCR
Idaho Falls, Idaho
KTHK
Jackson, Miss.
WMSI
WUSJ
Janesville, Wis.
WJVL
Jonesboro, Ark.
KDXY
Joplin, Mo.
KIXQ
Kalamazoo, Mich.
WNWN
Kalispell, Mont.
KDBR
Kingmah, Ariz.
KFLG
Lafayette, Ind.
WKOA
Laredo, Texas
KRRG
Lansing, Mich.
WITL
Laurel, Miss.
WBBN
Lebanon, N.H.
Lincoln, Neb
Longview, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lufkin, Texas
Mason City, Iowa
Medford, Ore.
Meridian, Miss.
Montgomery, Ala.
Morgantown, W. Va.
Muskegon, Mich.
New London, Conn.
Odessa, Texas
Palm Springs, Calif.
Pensacola, Fla.
Peoria, Ill.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Rapid City, S.D.
Rockford, Ill.
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Saginaw, Mich.
St. Cloud, Minn.
Salina, Kan.
Salisbury, Md.
San Angelo, Texas
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
WXXK
KFGE
KYKX
KLLL
KYKS
KIAI
KRWQ
WOKK
WLWI
WKKW
WMUS
WCTY
KHKX
KPLM
WXBM
WXCL
WRWD
KOUT
WXXQ
WDWG
WCEN
KZPK
KYEZ
WKTT
KGKL
KKJG
Santa Barbara, Calif.
KRAZ
Santa Maria, Calif.
KSNI
Sheboygan, Wis.
WBFM
Savannah, Ga.
WJCL
WUBB
Shreveport, La.
KXKS
Sioux Cty, Iowa
KSUX
South Bend, Ind.
WBYT
Springfield, Ill.
WFMB
Springfield, Mo.
KTTS
Terre Haute, Ind.
WTHI
Topeka, Kan.
WIBW
Traverse City, Mich.
WTCM
Tupelo, Miss.
WWZD
Utica, N.Y.
WFRG
Victor Valley, CA.KATJ
Waco, Texas
WACO
Wausau, Wis.
WDEZ
Wheeling, W. Va.
WOVK
Williamsport, Pa.
WILQ
Yakima, Wash.
KXDD
Youngstown, Ohio
WQXK
WWGY
Westwood One
HOT COUNTRY
MAINSTREAM COUNTRY
Music Choice
TODAY’S COUNTRY
Sirius XM
THE HIGHWAY
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 17 OF 20
Country Indicator
AUDIENCE
(IN MILLIONS)
THIS
WEEK
LAST
WEEK
WKS
ON
CHART
THIS WEEK
+/–
THIS WEEK
l
32
l
TITLE Imprint/LabelArtist
34
15
YUP M
ercury Easton Corbin
828
+23
0.507
36
7
REAL MEN LOVE JESUS A
tlantic/WEA Michael Ray
807
+65
0.746
33
33
11
PAIN KILLER C apitol Little Big Town
807
-28
0.537
34
l
35
l
36
l
37
l
38
l
3
l9
40
l
41
l
42
l
4
l3
44
l
35
8
HEAD OVER BOOTS C apitol Nashville Jon Pardi
806
+45
0.594
39
9
STONE COLD SOBER V alory Brantley Gilbert
753
+129
0.655
37
19
SHINE A LITTLE LOVE B lue Light Brian Collins
717
+59
0.321
38
16
NIGHT’S ON FIRE M
CA Nashville David Nail
631
+1
0.395
41
11
BETTER IN BOOTS C olumbia Nashville Tyler Farr
545
+64
0.362
42
11
HOLE IN A BOTTLE M
ercury Nashville Canaan Smith
451
+42
0.278
43
4
HIGH CLASS E MI Nashville Eric Paslay
410
+42
0.205
44
9
SOUTHERN BELLE 1 9/Interscope/Mercury Scotty McCreery
390
+26
0.183
49
5
MIND READER B roken Bow Dustin Lynch
375
+81
0.424
45
6
GETAWAY TRUCK BIG Label/Thirty Tigers Aaron Watson
374
+24
0.146
48
4
THE DRIVER C apitol Nashville Charles Kelley Feat. Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay
362
+57
0.237
45
40
19
MOVE ON M
CA Nashville Clare Dunn
348
-170
0.220
46
l
47
l
50
3
RUNNING FOR YOU M
CA Nashville Kip Moore
322
+32
0.202
52
10
CRAZY ENOUGH W
illing Nashville Bobby Wills
303
+25
0.034
48
47
6
BOY & A GIRL THING C urb Mo Pitney
299
-13
0.191
49
l
50
l
51
l
52
l
53
l
54
l
51
7
I AM INVINCIBLE R epublic Nashville Cassadee Pope
292
+13
0.239
54
2
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER S how Dog Nashville Toby Keith
285
+68
0.059
HH Hot Shot Debut HH
Maddie & Tae
280
+121
0.229
+66
0.204
55
31
56
l
57
l
5
l8
59
l
60
l
SHUT UP AND FISH D
ot
NEW
PLAYS
57
3
POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKIN’ W
arner Bros./WAR Chris Janson
53
4
WHEN I’M GONE B lack River Craig Morgan
256
+17
0.117
55
4
FREAKS LIKE ME R ed Bow Joe Nichols
243
+27
0.139
46
14
-90
0.148
0.223
275
AIN’T NO TRUCKS IN TEXAS N
ash Icon/Valory Ronnie Dunn
236
NEW
DRUNK ON YOUR LOVE A
tlantic/WMN Brett Eldredge
220
+59
NEW
NOBODY TO BLAME M
ercury
HH Most Added HH
Chris Stapleton
219
+217
0.165
58
3
NEXT BOYFRIEND 1 9/Interscope/Mercury Lauren Alaina
215
+7
0.073
56
10
ME AND JOHNNY CASH C ingle/Star Farm Nashville Rainey Qualley
215
+4
0.084
YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK V alory Justin Moore
210
+154
0.104
NEW
CHARTS LEGEND
RANKINGS
Country Airplay is ranked by
total audience impressions
for the week ending Sunday
based on monitored airplay of
150 stations by Nielsen BDS.
Audience totals on the chart are
derived, in part, using certain
Arbitron Inc. copyrighted
Persons 12+ audience
estimates (under license ©
2015, Arbitron Inc.) Country
Indicator is tabulated using
reported playlists and Nielsen
BDS-monitored airplay at 106
stations, ranked by total plays.
station downtime for the format.
Titles that decline in audience
but increase in detections will
also receive a bullet if the total
audience erosion for the week
does not exceed 3%. Bullets are
awarded on Country Indicator to
titles gaining plays or remaining
flat from the previous week.
BULLETS
TIES
On Country Airplay, if two songs
are tied in total audience, the song
with the larger increase in audience
is placed first. On Country Indicator,
if two songs are tied in total plays,
the song with the larger increase in
plays is placed first.
remaining flat from the previous
week. A song will also receive
a bullet if its percentage loss
in audience does not exceed
the percentage of monitored
RECURRENTS
On Country Airplay, descending
titles below No. 10 in either
audience or detections are moved
to recurrent after 20 weeks,
provided that they are not still
l Awarded on Country Airplay
to titles gaining audience or
gaining enough audience points
to bullet or if they rank below No.
10 and post a third consecutive
week of (non-bulleted) audience
decline, regardless of total chart
weeks. On Country Indicator,
descending, non-bulleted titles
below No. 10 are moved to
recurrent after 20 weeks or if they
post a third consecutive week of
decline in plays after 10 weeks.
HOT SHOT DEBUT
Awarded to the highest-ranking
new entry on Country Airplay and
Country Indicator, respectively.
MOST ADDED
The total number of new adds
officially reported to Billboard by
each reporting station, or by an
automatic-add threshold (seven plays
for the first time in a chart tracking
week, according to Nielsen BDS) for
stations that do not report adds.
MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE/
PLAYS
Most Increased Audience on
Country Airplay and Most
Increased Plays on Country
Indicator list the songs with the
greatest week-to-week increases
in total audience or plays,
respectively.
AIRPOWER
Awarded on Country Airplay to
titles ranking inside top 20 in
plays and audience rankings for
the first time, with increases in
both plays and audience.
BREAKER
Awarded on Country Airplay
to titles achieving airplay (at
least one detection) at 60% of
reporting stations for the first
time.
© 2015 Prometheus Global Media, LLC
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
TITLE P ublishing-Licensing Org.
(Songwriter) C hart Position
21 E MI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Two Chord Georgia Music,
BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Didn’t Have To Be Music
Publishing, ASCAP/External Combustion Music, ASCAP/
Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC,
ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Atlas Music Publishing,
ASCAP/Ogden Avenue Publishing, BMI/Songs Of Universal,
Inc., BMI (D.Davidson, K.Lovelace, A.Gorley, H.Hayes) 22
A AIN’T NO TRUCKS IN TEXAS W
arner-
Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Fonde Moutian Music, BMI/
Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Casa Jaco Music, BMI/Songs
Of Peer Ltd., ASCAP/Team Thrash, ASCAP (W.Mobley, T.Martin,
N.Thrasher) 5 3
ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE 2 7861 Music,
BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Gallo And Landers Music LLC, BMI/
Sixteen Stars Music, BMI/HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc.,
BMI/Rooster Pecked Music, BMI/Steel Wheels Music, BMI/Big
Loud Bucks, BMI/Kirbtone Music, BMI (M.Thomas, S.Thomas,
B.Knox, P.O’Donnell, W.Kirby) 1 3
ANYTHING GOES R usty Muffler Songs, ASCAP/
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., ASCAP/Big Loud
Songs, ASCAP/Play Animal, ASCAP/Big Loud Shirt Industries,
ASCAP/Round Hill Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP (F.
McTeigue, C.G.Tompkins, C.Wiseman) 7
B BACKROAD SONG C limbing Windmills, BMI/House
Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP (G.Smith, F.Rogers) 20
BEAUTIFUL DRUG D ay For The Dead Publishing,
SESAC/Southern Ground, SESAC/Reach Music Tunes, SESAC
(Z.Brown, N.Moon) 2 4
BETTER IN BOOTS Legends Of Magic Mustang
Music, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/This Is Magic
Mustang Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Music Of
Platinum Pen, SESAC/Hatchoo Music, SESAC/Thunder Cookie,
SESAC (J.Wilson, D.Pittenger, N.Cooke) 3 5
BLUE BANDANA G o For The Goldsmith, ASCAP/
House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/Living Wills, BMI/Sony/
ATV Countryside, BMI (B.Goldsmith, C.J. Solar, A.S.Wills) 3 3
BOY & A GIRL THING M
ike Curb Music, BMI/She’s
My Darlin Music, ASCAP/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP
(M.Pitney, D.Sampson) 5 0
BREAK ON ME. E MI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Jon Mark
Nite Music, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Songs By
Red Room, BMI (J.M.Nite, R.Copperman) 2 9
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN U niversal
Music Corporation, ASCAP/Three Mules Music, ASCAP/
External Combustion Music, ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy
My Publishing, ASCAP/Songs Of Southside Independent
Music Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/Smack Ink, ASCAP/Sam Hunt
Publishing, ASCAP (S.Hunt, Z.Crowell, S.McAnally) 1 9
BREAK UP WITH HIM S onic Geo Music, ASCAP/
Calhoun Enterprises, ASCAP/Music Of RPM, ASCAP/HoriPro
Entertainment Group, Inc., ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/
Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Wrensong Publishing Corp.,
ASCAP/Songs Of Big Deal, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/
Sharkules Music, ASCAP/Tiny Handstand, ASCAP/Wooden
Ships, ASCAP (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, B.Tursi, G.Sprung, W.Sellers) 1
BURNING HOUSE M
arvelous Oaks Records, ASCAP/
One Year Yesterday Publishing, BMI/Jeff Bhasker Publishing
Designee, BMI/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Way Above Music,
BMI (C.Ochs, T.Johnson, J.Bhasker) 1 0
C COLD BEER CONVERSATION International
Dog Music, BMI/Bucked Up Music, BMI/WB Music Corp.,
ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music
Inc., BMI/Great Day At This Music, BMI/Beatyville Music, BMI
(A.Anderson, B.Hayslip, J.Yeary) 3 4
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 18 OF 20
Country Airplay Index
CONFESSION B ig Red Toe, BMI/Farm Town Songs,
BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Songs By Red Room,
BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My
Publishing, ASCAP/External Combustion Music, ASCAP (R.
Clawson, R.Copperman, M.Jenkins) 4 7
COUNTRY NATION H ouse Of Sea Gayle Music,
ASCAP/Making The Turn Music, ASCAP (B.Paisley, C.DuBois,
K.Lovelace) 21
I GOT THE BOY W
arner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.,
BMI/Nichols Boys Music, BMI/Made For This Music, BMI/All
For This Music, BMI/Sweet Jamie Music, Inc., BMI (T.Nichols,
C.Harrington, J.L.Spears) 1 5
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT Year Of The Dog
Music, ASCAP/Rio Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp., BMI/Shay Mooney Music, ASCAP (M.Trainor,
J.Frasure, S.Mooney) 2 8
CRAZY OVER ME C urb Songs, ASCAP/Curb
I LOVE THIS LIFE S ony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/
Congregation Songs, SESAC (D.Scott, M.Alderman) 6 0
Red Vinyl Music, Inc., BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI (D.Myrick,
C.Janson, C.Lucas, P.Brust) 1 4
CRAZY TOO International Dog Music, BMI/Clarity Tree
Music, BMI/Universal Music Corporation, ASCAP/Smack Ink,
ASCAP/Songs of Parallel, ASCAP/Vista Loma Music, ASCAP
(K.Rochelle, S.McAnally, L.Clark) 5 6
D DIBS S ongs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB Music, ASCAP/DHM
Administration, ASCAP/Nyssa Music, ASCAP/Jason Duke
Music, ASCAP (K.Ballerini, J.Kerr, R.Griffin, J.Duke) 1 7
DIE A HAPPY MAN E MI Blackwood Music Inc.,
BMI/Cricket On The Line Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp., BMI/Eastman Pond Publishing, BMI/Music
Of Big Deal, BMI/Nice Life, BMI/Frederic And Reid Music,
BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI (Thomas Rhett, S.Douglas,
J.Spargur) 1 2
DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A FOOTBALL
PROBLEM E MI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Line In The
Sand, BMI/Taste Of Crow Music, BMI/Your Ears Will Never Go
Hungry, BMI/Archenland Music, BMI/Gypsy Girl Music, BMI
(A.Henningsen, B.Henningsen, C.Henningsen, E.McDavid Elkins,
V.A.Olivarez) 3 0
DRUNK ON YOUR LOVE S ony/ATV Countryside,
BMI/Paris Not France Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc.,
BMI/Ross Copperman Songs, BMI (B.Eldredge, R.Copperman)
54
F FREAKS LIKE ME N ew House Of Sea Gayle Music,
ASCAP/Vestal Boy Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing,
BMI/Dixey Bar Music, BMI/Big Machine Music, BMI (L.Hutton,
M.Criswell, J.Thompson) 5 2
G GONNA S ongs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Creative Nation
Music, BMI/Twangin And Slangin Songs, BMI/Big Loud Shirt
Industries, ASCAP (L.Laird, C.Wiseman) 6
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE B MG
Platinum Songs, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI/Stalefish Music,
BMI/BMG Chrysalis Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/
Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/External Combustion Music, ASCAP
(B.Beavers, Brett James) 8
H HEAD OVER BOOTS G olden Vault Music, BMI/The
Song Factory, LLC, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Creative
Nation Music, BMI (J.Pardi, L.Laird) 4 0
HIGH CLASS W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/Five Foot Sixteen
Publishing, ASCAP/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/Rio
Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Telemitry Productions, BMI (E.Paslay,
C.Crowder, J.Frasure) 4 5
HOLE IN A BOTTLE B MG Gold Songs, ASCAP/
Skinny Fat Nashville Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/
Music Of Big Deal, BMI/Stalefish Music, BMI/Songs From The
Couch, BMI (C.Smith, B.Beavers, D.Couch) 4 1
I’M COMIN’ OVER E MI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/
Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Songs
From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/Write 2
Be Free Music, SESAC (C.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 3
I MET A GIRL R eHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/Smacktown
Music, ASCAP/Universal Music Corporation, ASCAP/Three
Mules Music, ASCAP/Smack Ink, ASCAP (T. Rosen, S.Hunt,
S.McAnally) 4 3
L LET ME SEE YA GIRL S ony/ATV Tree Publishing,
BMI/243 Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing,
ASCAP (C.Swindell, M.Carter, J.Stevens) 2
LITTLE BIT OF YOU O rbison Music, LLC, BMI/BMG
Platinum Songs, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Funky Friar
Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Combustion
Engine Music, ASCAP (C.Bryant, D.George, A.Gorley) 2 5
M MIND READER E MI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/
Rhettro Music, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This
Music, ASCAP (R.Akins, B.Hayslip) 3 7
MOVE ON B MG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Leer Jet 87
Publishing, ASCAP/BMG Rights Management (US) LLC,
ASCAP/Rio Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Telemitry Productions, BMI
(C.Dunn, J.Frasure) 5 7
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD S ony/ATV Tree
Publishing, BMI/Longer And Louder Music, BMI/Sony/ATV
Acuff Rose Music, BMI/Six Ring Circus Songs, BMI (E.Church,
C.Beathard) 3 6
N NEXT BOYFRIEND W
arner-Tamerlane Publishing
Corp., BMI/Lylas Music, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful
For This Music, ASCAP/Matt McVaney Publishing Designee,
ASCAP (L.Alaina, E.Weisband, M.McVaney) 5 5
NIGHT’S ON FIRE S uper Big Music, ASCAP/Jett
Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Doc And Maggie
Music, SOCAN/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP (J.Singleton,
D.Ruttan) 4 2
NOBODY TO BLAME W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/
House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/Quackhead Music,
BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI (C.Stapleton, B.Bales,
R.Bowman) 4 6
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/Beats
And Banjos, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.,
BMI/Shay Mooney Music, ASCAP/Highly Combustible Music,
ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/EMI April Music,
Inc., ASCAP/Sugar Glider Music, ASCAP (D.Smyers, S.Mooney,
A.Gorley, C. DeStefano) 5
P PAIN KILLER W
arner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.,
Publishing, BMI/Universal Music Corporation, ASCAP/Red
Vinyl Music, Inc., BMI/Words & Music, BMI/Sixteen Stars
Music, BMI/HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc., BMI (J.Stevens,
C.Taylor, J.Dreyer, T.Cecil) 3 8
BMI/Little Big Town, BMI/Southside Independent Music
Publishing, LLC, BMI/Internal Combustion Music, BMI/
Kickin’ Grids Music, BMI/HillarodyRathbone Music, ASCAP/
BMG Chrysalis Music, ASCAP (K.Fairchild, J.Westbrook, B.Daly,
H.Lindsey) 4 8
I POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKIN’ R ed Vinyl
HOME ALONE TONIGHT S ony/ATV Tree
I AM INVINCIBLE B rett Boyett Music, BMI/Harmony
- HLO Music, BMI/Nashty Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music
Inc., BMI (B.Boyett, N.Overstreet) 5 8
Music, Inc., BMI/Buckkilla Music, BMI/House Of Sea Gayle
Music, ASCAP/Green Vinyl Music, ASCAP (C.Janson, Mark Irwin,
C.DuBois) 5 1
R REAL MEN LOVE JESUS E MI Blackwood Music
Inc., BMI/Sagequinnjude Music, BMI/Famlove Songs, BMI (B.
Warren, B.Warren, L.Miller, A.Sanders) 3 1
RISER S ongs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.,
BMI/Nan Jam Music Publishing, BMI/She And I, LLC, BMI/It’s
Killer Music, BMI (S.Moakler, T.Meadows) 2 6
ROLLER COASTER RIDE S ony/ATV Tree
Publishing, BMI/Longer And Louder Music, BMI/BMG
Bumblebee, BMI/Mammaw’s Cornbread Music, BMI/Little
Louder Songs, BMi/ole, BMI/Purple Cape Music, BMI (E.
Church, J.Hyde, R.Tyndell) 5 9
RUN AWAY WITH YOU J Money Music, ASCAP/
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., ASCAP/WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (J.D.Rich, Michael Ray) 1 6
RUNNING FOR YOU M
usic Of Stage Three, BMI/
Songs Of Cornman, BMI/Roll Through Music, BMI/BMG
Platinum Songs, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Songs
From The Engine Room, BMI/Southside Independent Music
Publishing, LLC, BMI/Internal Combustion Music, BMI/Kickin’
Grids Music, BMI (K.Moore, T.Verges, B.Daly) 4 4
S SMOKE BREAK C arrie-Okie Music, BMI/EMI April
Music, Inc., ASCAP/HillarodyRathbone Music, ASCAP/BMG
Gold Songs, ASCAP (C.Underwood, C. DeStefano, H.Lindsey) 4
SOUTHERN BELLE B MG Platinum Songs, BMI/
Gravity Gone Songs, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing
Corp., BMI/Little Beluga Music, BMI (J.Saenz, S.McConnell) 4 9
STAY A LITTLE LONGER W
B Music Corp.,
ASCAP/All The Kings Pens, ASCAP/Universal Music
Corporation, ASCAP/Smack Ink, ASCAP (J. Osborne, T.J.
Osborne, S.McAnally) 1 1
STONE COLD SOBER W
arner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp., BMI/Indiana Angel Music, BMI/External
Combustion Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/Atlas
Music Publishing, ASCAP/Yawyer Three Music, ASCAP (B.
Gilbert, Brett James, D.Layus) 3 2
T THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU M
ike
Curb Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Brooks
County Boy Music, BMI/External Combustion Music, ASCAP/
Out Of The Taperoom Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Southside
Independent Music Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/WB Music Corp.,
ASCAP (L.Brice, R.Akins, A.Gorley) 2 7
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL W
arner-
Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Carolina June Publishing,
BMI/Greatshakin Music, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/
Crowder Taylor Publishing, BMI/Nettwerk One Music, BMI/
Revelry Music, BMI/Nevada House Music, BMI/Nettwerk
One Music Limited Canada, SOCAN/Cale Dodds Publishing,
ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (M.Hobby, C.Crowder, N.Mason,
C.Dodds) 2 3
TOP OF THE WORLD E xtraordinary Alien
Publishing, ASCAP/Universal Music Corporation, ASCAP/EMI
April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Jon Mark Nite Music, ASCAP/Songs
Of Black River, ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP
(J.Robbins, J.M.Nite, J.Osborne) 9
W WE WENT Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/
W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/ole Canalco Publishing, ASCAP/
Ole Ole, ASCAP/Songs Of Razor And Tie Music, ASCAP/Songs
Of Black River, ASCAP (J.Wilson, M.Rogers, J.King) 1 8
Y YUP S ony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Code Six Charles Music,
BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI/Rooster Pecked Music, BMI/
HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc., BMI/Round Hill Works,
BMI/Kirbtone Music, BMI (S.Minor, P.O’Donnell, W.Kirby) 3 9
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 19 OF 20
Hot Country Songs Index
TITLE P ublishing-Licensing Org.
(Songwriter) C hart Position
21 E MI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Two Chord
Georgia Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/
Didn’t Have To Be Music Publishing, ASCAP/
External Combustion Music, ASCAP/Songs Of
Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC,
ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Atlas Music
Publishing, ASCAP/Ogden Avenue Publishing, BMI/
Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI (D.Davidson, K.Lovelace,
A.Gorley, H.Hayes) 3 0
A ALREADY CALLIN’ YOU MINE 2 7861
Music, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Gallo And Landers
Music LLC, BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI/HoriPro
Entertainment Group, Inc., BMI/Rooster Pecked
Music, BMI/Steel Wheels Music, BMI/Big Loud
Bucks, BMI/Kirbtone Music, BMI ( M.Thomas, S.Thomas,
B.Knox, P.O’Donnell, W.Kirby) 2 1
B BACKROAD SONG C limbing Windmills,
BMI/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP ( G.Smith,
F.Rogers) 2 8
BEAUTIFUL DRUG D ay For The Dead
Publishing, SESAC/Southern Ground, SESAC/Reach
Music Tunes, SESAC (Z.Brown, N.Moon) 2 0
BLUE BANDANA G o For The Goldsmith,
ASCAP/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/Living
Wills, BMI/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI ( B.Goldsmith,
C.J. Solar, A.S.Wills) 4 4
BREAK ON ME. E MI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/
Jon Mark Nite Music, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood
Music Inc., BMI/Songs By Red Room, BMI (J.M.Nite,
R.Copperman) 3 5
BREAK UP IN A SMALL TOWN
U niversal Music Corporation, ASCAP/Three Mules
Music, ASCAP/External Combustion Music, ASCAP/
Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/Songs
Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC,
ASCAP/Smack Ink, ASCAP/Sam Hunt Publishing,
ASCAP (S.Hunt, Z.Crowell, S.McAnally) 3
BREAK UP WITH HIM S onic Geo Music,
ASCAP/Calhoun Enterprises, ASCAP/Music Of RPM,
ASCAP/HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc., ASCAP/
ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/Smacktown Music,
ASCAP/Wrensong Publishing Corp., ASCAP/Songs Of
Big Deal, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Sharkules
Music, ASCAP/Tiny Handstand, ASCAP/Wooden
Ships, ASCAP ( M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, B.Tursi, G.Sprung,
W.Sellers) 6
BURNING HOUSE M
arvelous Oaks Records,
ASCAP/One Year Yesterday Publishing, BMI/Jeff
Bhasker Publishing Designee, BMI/Sony/ATV Songs
LLC, BMI/Way Above Music, BMI (C.Ochs, T.Johnson,
J.Bhasker) 8
C COLD BEER CONVERSATION
I nternational Dog Music, BMI/Bucked Up Music,
BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This
Music, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Great
Day At This Music, BMI/Beatyville Music, BMI (A.
Anderson, B.Hayslip, J.Yeary) 4 3
COME OVER U niversal Music Corporation,
ASCAP/Three Mules Music, ASCAP/Crazy Water
Music, ASCAP/Little Blue Egg, ASCAP/Kobalt Music
Publishing America, Inc., ASCAP/Songs Of Black
River, ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP
(S.Hunt, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 4 2
CONFESSION B ig Red Toe, BMI/Farm Town
Songs, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Songs
By Red Room, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Who
Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/External
Combustion Music, ASCAP (R.Clawson, R.Copperman,
M.Jenkins) 3 9
COUNTRY NATION H ouse Of Sea Gayle
J JOHN COUGAR, JOHN DEERE,
JOHN 3:16 S mack Hits, GMR/Kobalt Music
Group Ltd., GMR/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/
Songs By Red Room, BMI/Songs Of Black River,
ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP ( S.
McAnally, R.Copperman, J.Osborne) 1 7
Music, ASCAP/Making The Turn Music, ASCAP ( B.
Paisley, C.DuBois, K.Lovelace) 2 5
D DIBS S ongs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB Music,
ASCAP/DHM Administration, ASCAP/Nyssa Music,
ASCAP/Jason Duke Music, ASCAP ( K.Ballerini, J.Kerr,
R.Griffin, J.Duke) 1 9
DIE A HAPPY MAN E MI Blackwood Music
Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line Music, BMI/WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Eastman Pond
Publishing, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI/Nice Life,
BMI/Frederic And Reid Music, BMI/BMG Platinum
Songs, BMI ( Thomas Rhett, S.Douglas, J.Spargur) 2
DRINKIN’ TOWN WITH A
FOOTBALL PROBLEM E MI Blackwood
Music Inc., BMI/Line In The Sand, BMI/Taste Of Crow
Music, BMI/Your Ears Will Never Go Hungry, BMI/
Archenland Music, BMI/Gypsy Girl Music, BMI ( A.
Henningsen, B.Henningsen, C.Henningsen, E.McDavid Elkins,
V.A.Olivarez) 4 1
F FIRE AWAY W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/New Sea
Gayle Music, ASCAP/Ole Ole, ASCAP/Black In The
Saddle Songs, ASCAP (C.Stapleton, D.Green) 4 6
G GONNA S ongs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Creative
Nation Music, BMI/Twangin And Slangin Songs,
BMI/Big Loud Shirt Industries, ASCAP (L.Laird,
C.Wiseman) 1 1
GONNA KNOW WE WERE HERE
B MG Platinum Songs, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI/
Stalefish Music, BMI/BMG Chrysalis Music, ASCAP/
WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/
External Combustion Music, ASCAP ( B.Beavers, Brett
James) 1 5
H HEAD OVER BOOTS G olden Vault Music,
BMI/The Song Factory, LLC, BMI/Songs Of Universal,
Inc., BMI/Creative Nation Music, BMI (J.Pardi, L.Laird)
4 5
HEARTBEAT E xternal Combustion Music,
ASCAP/Songs Of Southside Independent Music
Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My
Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/
Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite
Songs, ASCAP ( C.Underwood, Z.Crowell, A.Gorley) 4 8
I I GOT THE BOY W
arner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp., BMI/Nichols Boys Music, BMI/
Made For This Music, BMI/All For This Music, BMI/
Sweet Jamie Music, Inc., BMI (T.Nichols, C.Harrington,
J.L.Spears) 1 4
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT Y ear Of
The Dog Music, ASCAP/Rio Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Shay
Mooney Music, ASCAP (M.Trainor, J.Frasure, S.Mooney) 3 8
I LOVE THIS LIFE S ony/ATV Tree Publishing,
BMI/Red Vinyl Music, Inc., BMI/Round Hill Works,
BMI (D.Myrick, C.Janson, C.Lucas, P.Brust) 1 8
I’M COMIN’ OVER E MI Blackwood Music Inc.,
BMI/Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/WB Music Corp.,
ASCAP/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/EMI
Foray Music, SESAC/Write 2 Be Free Music, SESAC ( C.
Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 5
L LAST MINUTE LATE NIGHT N ot Listed
(Not Listed) 3 1
LET ME SEE YA GIRL S ony/ATV Tree
Publishing, BMI/243 Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV
Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP ( C.Swindell, M.Carter,
J.Stevens) 9
LITTLE BIT OF YOU O rbison Music, LLC,
BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/WB Music Corp.,
ASCAP/Funky Friar Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite
Songs, ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP (C.
Bryant, D.George, A.Gorley) 3 7
LIVE FOREVER S ony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/
Songs Of RedOne, BMI/Songs By Team Red,
SESAC/Lionheart Music Group, SESAC/Sony/ATV
Countryside, BMI/Pearlfeather Publishing, BMI/
When I Go To The Moon Music, BMI/Famdamily
Music, BMI/SONGS Music Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/
Songs Of SMP, ASCAP ( N.Khayat, C.J.Harris, Jr., K.Perry,
R.Perry, N.Perry, J.Andrews, K.O.Kjellholm) 4 7
M MR. MISUNDERSTOOD S ony/ATV Tree
Publishing, BMI/Longer And Louder Music, BMI/
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music, BMI/Six Ring Circus
Songs, BMI ( E.Church, C.Beathard) 3 2
N NIGHT’S ON FIRE S uper Big Music, ASCAP/
Jett Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Doc And
Maggie Music, SOCAN/Thankful For This Music,
ASCAP (J.Singleton, D.Ruttan) 4 9
NOBODY TO BLAME W
B Music Corp.,
ASCAP/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/
Quackhead Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing,
BMI (C.Stapleton, B.Bales, R.Bowman) 5 0
NOTHIN’ LIKE YOU W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/
Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp., BMI/Shay Mooney Music, ASCAP/
Highly Combustible Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite
Songs, ASCAP/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Sugar
Glider Music, ASCAP (D.Smyers, S.Mooney, A.Gorley, C.
DeStefano) 1 0
R RISER S ongs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America,
Inc., BMI/Nan Jam Music Publishing, BMI/She
And I, LLC, BMI/It’s Killer Music, BMI (S.Moakler,
T.Meadows) 2 6
RUN AWAY WITH YOU J Money Music,
ASCAP/Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.,
ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI
(J.D.Rich, Michael Ray) 2 4
S SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY S ongs Of
Universal, Inc., BMI/Endorffin Music, BMI/Sonic
Geo Music, ASCAP/Calhoun Enterprises, ASCAP/
Music Of RPM, ASCAP/HoriPro Entertainment Group,
Inc., ASCAP/Songs Of Big Deal, ASCAP/BMG Rights
Management (US) LLC, ASCAP ( A.Dorff, M.Ramsey,
B.Tursi) 1 3
SHOULD’VE RAN AFTER YOU S ony/
ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Songs Of Red Bandana,
BMI/Tom Tom Leis Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Cross Keys
Publishing, ASCAP/243 Music, ASCAP ( C.Swindell,
B.Kinney, M.Carter) 2 7
SMOKE BREAK C arrie-Okie Music, BMI/EMI
April Music, Inc., ASCAP/HillarodyRathbone Music,
ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP ( C.Underwood, C.
DeStefano, H.Lindsey) 7
STAY A LITTLE LONGER W
B Music Corp.,
ASCAP/All The Kings Pens, ASCAP/Universal Music
Corporation, ASCAP/Smack Ink, ASCAP ( J. Osborne,
T.J. Osborne, S.McAnally) 1 2
STRIP IT DOWN S ony/ATV Tree Publishing,
BMI/Peanut Mill Songs, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc.,
ASCAP/Jon Mark Nite Music, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood
Music Inc., BMI/Songs By Red Room, BMI (L.Bryan,
J.M.Nite, R.Copperman) 4
T TENNESSEE WHISKEY U niversal-Songs
Of PolyGram International, BMI/EMI Algee, BMI ( D.
Dillon, Linda Hargrove) 1
THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE YOU M
ike
Curb Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/
Brooks County Boy Music, BMI/External Combustion
Music, ASCAP/Out Of The Taperoom Music, ASCAP/
Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing,
LLC, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (L.Brice, R.Akins,
A.Gorley) 2 9
(THIS AIN’T NO) DRUNK DIAL
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Carolina
June Publishing, BMI/Greatshakin Music, BMI/Songs
Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Crowder Taylor Publishing,
BMI/Nettwerk One Music, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/
Nevada House Music, BMI/Nettwerk One Music
Limited Canada, SOCAN/Cale Dodds Publishing,
ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP ( M.Hobby, C.Crowder,
N.Mason, C.Dodds) 3 6
TOP OF THE WORLD E xtraordinary Alien
Publishing, ASCAP/Universal Music Corporation,
ASCAP/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Jon Mark Nite
Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/One
Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP (J.Robbins, J.M.Nite,
J.Osborne) 1 6
TRAVELLER W
B Music Corp., ASCAP/Ken Tucky
Music, ASCAP ( C.Stapleton) 2 3
U USED TO LOVE YOU SOBER K ane
Brown Music, BMI/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/Write
2 Be Free Music, SESAC/A Frank Entertainment,
ASCAP/Song House Publishing, ASCAP/Kobalt Music
Publishing America, Inc., ASCAP ( K.Brown, M.McVaney,
J.Hoge) 3 3
W WE WENT L egends Of Magic Mustang Music,
SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/ole Canalco
Publishing, ASCAP/Ole Ole, ASCAP/Songs Of Razor
And Tie Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Black River, ASCAP
(J.Wilson, M.Rogers, J.King) 2 2
WHISKEY AND YOU W
B Music Corp.,
ASCAP/New Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/New Songs Of Sea
Gayle, BMI ( C.Stapleton, L.T.Miller) 4 0
Y YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK
R ound Hill Works, BMI/Farm Town Songs, BMI/Big
Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/Round Hill Songs, ASCAP/
Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/HappyGoWrucke,
BMI/Creative Pulse Music, BMI/These Are Pulse
Songs, BMI ( R.Clawson, M.Dragstrem, N.Hemby) 3 4
BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
CODA
20 Years Ago
George Strait
‘Check’-ed In
At No. 1
The King of Country scored
a CMA Award-winning,
landmark No. 1
R EW I N D I N G
THE
C O U N T RY
C H A RT S
NOVEMBER 9, 2015 | PAGE 20 OF 20
More than a decade-and-a-half into
his iconic career, George Strait
checked off a major milestone with
“Check Yes or No.” On the Nov. 11,
1995 Hot Country Songs chart, the
then-42-year-old spent his first of
four weeks at No. 1 with his sweet
stor y-song about a third-grade
crush turned into a requited lifelong love. Written by Danny Wells
and Dana Hunt, it became Strait’s
28th No. 1 — of a record 44 to date
— on the survey.
“Check Yes or No” made a great
impact beyond a No. 1 chart rank:
A year later, it earned Strait his first
Country Music Association single
of the year award; he’d win again
in 2008 for “I Saw God Today.”
(Meanwhile, rising newcomer Kane
Brown’s cover of “Check” has drawn
more than 10 million Facebook
views since its Sept. 30 posting.)
N o w 63, S t r a i t l a n d e d h i s
record-extending 26th No. 1 on Top
Country Albums on Oct. 24 with
new LP Cold Beer Conversation. Up
next, he has announced a string of
2016 concert dates at the new Las
Vegas Arena. —JIM ASKER
Strait at the San Jose
(Calif.) Arena on
April 24, 1994.