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Category Archives: Billboard
Tim McGraw’s Highway Don’t Care is #1!
Congratulations to Tim McGraw and the team at Big Machine! His brand new single “Highway Don’t Care” is a number one for the country superstar. The single, which features guest vocals from Taylor Swift and guitar from Keith Urban, has taken over the top spot on both Billboard and Mediabase’s country singles charts. It’s also sold more than one million downloads since its release – giving Tim his first platinum-certified single with Big Machine. Tim’s other two singles from “Two Lanes of Freedom” were both gold-certified singles with the RIAA for selling more than 500,000 copies (“Truck Yeah,” “One Of Those Nights”).
Tim knew the song was special when he heard the demo that was sent to him. He explains:
“I thought this song had the potential to be really special the very first time I heard the demo. And then standing on the stage with Taylor and Keith performing it live for the first time on the ACMs, I knew that it was really the kind of magical collaboration that only comes along every few years. The energy that night was undeniable…I know the three of us could feel it. Radio continues to be supportive and excited about the music we’re giving them, and I’m so thankful for my friends there and for all the fans who have really taken this thing to the next level. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger in our show every night.”
Tim’s number one news comes on the heels of another sold-out weekend of his TWO LANES OF FREEDOM 2013 Tour, powered by Pennzoil, with capacity shows in Indianapolis, IN; Cleveland, OH and Washington, D.C.
Check out the official music video below for Tim’s new number one and let us know if you’re loving it:
Katie Armiger joins Pastry as Brand Ambassador
Country singer Katie Armiger has been chosen as the newest brand ambassador for Pastry, the lifestyle brand focused on producing ‘Sweet, Chic and Unique’ apparel, accessories and footwear for junior girls worldwide. Katie is the first country singer chosen to be a face of Pastry and she joins current standout celeb brand ambassadors Cody Simpson, Alli Simpson, Madison Pettis, Jessica Jarrell, MZ Bratt, Colette Carr, Vanessa Simmons and Angela Simmons.
About becoming part of the Pastry family, Katie said:
“I am so honored and excited to join the Pastry family. Not only do I love the shoes, I love the message Pastry sends to young girls encouraging them to express themselves in a unique and fun way. I’m excited for the future of this new relationship and can’t wait to start promoting this terrific line.”
Cold River Recording artist Katie Armiger has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Since 2009, every video she has released has been voted by fans onto GAC’s “Top 20 Countdown” including “Leaving Home,” which lodged itself in the countdown for an astonishing four-and-a-half months. Fan votes also netted her the No. 1 spot in Country Weekly’s Hottest Bachelorette issue two years in a row, as well as the No. 3 slot in the magazine’s most beautiful women in country music list. In 2012, she appeared during a pivotal date on ABC’s hit show “Bachelor Pad.” 2013 kicked off with the release of her current album, Fall Into Me, which became her highest charting album debuting at #7 on Billboard and iTunes Country Album chart on day of release. The album includes her current single, “Playin With Fire” which is at Country radio now and the recently released music video which debuted at #2 on GAC Top 20 Fan Voted Countdown.
Tate Stevens’ album hits number 4 on Billboard
The self-titled debut album from FOX’s The X Factor Season 2 winner and Syco Music/RCA Nashville recording artist Tate Stevens has debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart this week. The album, produced by Blake Chancey, features his current single, “Power Of A Love Song.” Stevens co-wrote three songs on the album, which also features such acclaimed songwriters as Carson Chamberlain, Dallas Davidson, Drew Davis, Joe Diffie, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Wade Kirby, Shane Minor, David Lee Murphy, and Rivers Rutherford, among others.
About the success of the album, Tate said:
“I am so proud of this album and so excited that music fans have chosen to spend their hard-earned money to buy it. It has been my life-long goal to record an album that people would enjoy, and to see it debut at No. 4 is truly a dream come true. I am a blessed man and so thankful for all my fans.”
Stevens is sure to celebrate his album’s debut tonight (May 1) when he performs at Renegades in West Palm Beach, Fla., and tomorrow (May 2) when he performs at Joyland in Bradenton, Fla. For additional tour dates, visit tatestevensofficial.com.
Jason Aldean reacts to Billboard Award nominations
Yesterday was a big day for Jason Aldean, who found himself nominated for some pretty big Billboard Music Awards. The Academy of Country Music’s male vocalist of the year is up for the all-genre Top Male Artist against Flo Rida, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Bruno Mars. He also earned a nomination for Top Country Album with “Night Train” and Top Country Artist. He’s up against Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, and Hunter Hayes for Top Country Artist. The other Top Country Album nominees include Lionel Richie with “Tuskegee,” Carrie Underwood “Blown Away,” Taylor Swift “Red,” and Luke Bryan “Tailgates & Tanlines.”
About his nominations, Jason said:
“I’m really proud to be the guy that gets to represent our genre in that ‘Top Male’ category and wave that flag for country music. Our genre is bigger and more diverse than ever, and it’s just cool to be part of this movement that’s happening right now. I’ve been so focused on getting the tour going this year and just making certain our first run of stadiums is everything the fans expect it to be, that this totally caught me be surprise. Thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket or downloaded an album…I’ll do my best to represent and make y’all proud! “
Nominations are based on album and single sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social media interactions with data tracked by Billboard, Nielsen and Next Big Sound. The 2013 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 19 at 7pm CT on ABC.
Jason is currently on the road for his 2013 NIGHT TRAIN TOUR which has sold out every show so far including his Madison Square Garden debut and the first ever show at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium where he played to 66,000 fans. More stadium dates on the books this year include two nights at Boston’s Fenway Park (July 12 and 13) and Chicago’s Wrigley Field (July 20).
Check out the full list of nominees on Billboard’s site, and try and count how many Taylor Swift is up for.
Lady Antebellum races up the charts
It might be hard to believe, but country super-trio Lady Antebellum has the fastest charting song of their career with “Downtown.” The GRAMMY-winning group’s single has taken over the top spots on Billboard and Mediabase country charts, while also selling more than 500,000 copes digitally since its release – giving them a RIAA-certified gold single. “Downtown” has already spent the last two weeks at number one here in Canada.
The lead single from their upcoming album “Golden” has been huge out of the gate. The fun, groovy-tune reminds them of their previous single “American Honey,” explains Charles Kelley:
“Most of what the world has seen from Hillary from a radio single standpoint is this very sweet kind of style like ‘American Honey. But, she’s got a lot of sass and a lot of grit to her voice, too, so it’s been really fun to bring that out of her and have this kind of support from our fans and radio.”
Make sure to tune in this week to The Voice on NBC to catch Hillary Scott acting as a mentor to team Adam for the Battle Rounds. Have you been watching The Voice this season? Which team do you think has the best chance to win this year?
Lee Brice Gets Third #1 in a Row
Congratulations to Curb Records artist Lee Brice! The singer-songwriter’s moving single “I Drive Your Truck” is his third consecutive number one single on both the Billboard and Mediabase country charts. The hit song is Lee’s third consecutive single off his sophomore release HARD 2 LOVE and has resonated with fans since first hitting the airwaves.
Lee isn’t surprised by how well country fans have been able to connect to the tune. He admits that he himself found a special connection, too:
“I was immediately drawn to this song, so I’m not surprised that fans have connected to it like they have. Since we put it out as a single, fans from across the country have shared their own ‘truck’ stories through just about any way they can – calling into the radio, on tour at meet and greet, Twitter, Facebook, emails and texts. I’m just glad I got to be a part of this special song and want to thank Country Radio for helping me share it.”
He recently announced that he will be joining Brad Paisley this summer on his Beat This Summer Tour. The first leg of the tour kicks off on May 9 in St. Louis, MO and will hit over 29 cities in the US and Canada through the summer months. For a full list of tour dates, visit leebrice.com.
Are you loving Lee’s latest single? What’s the most moving country song you know?
The Band Perry Covers Billboard Magazine
It’s been a whirlwind for years for The Band Perry, and with their forthcoming sophomore album Pioneer hitting stores on April 2, the trio shows no signs of slowing down. They’ve already had a #1 single with the album’s first track “Better Dig Two,” worked with super-producer Rick Rubin, and this week, the band covers Billboard magazine.
Read on for some excerpts from the story and be sure to pick up the issue on newsstands.
On working on the new album: ”Even more than pressure, we felt responsibility to even have the opportunity to record a second album,” Kimberly says, “because the fans making the first record such a success was in itself such a gift. The three of us felt the responsibility to dig as deep as we could, and we definitely dug deep.”
To begin the recording process, we took a road trip out to Malibu, Calif.,” Reid says, “and during that time we wrote a lot of the music along the way, including at the Grand Canyon. We wrote the song ‘Pioneer’ in Santa Fe, N.M.” They eventually made it to Malibu and met with Rubin. “Rick helped us refine the songs,” Reid says.
About working with Rick Rubin: ”Rick also opened up our minds to the spirit behind music,” Kimberly says. “He was a teacher in that area. There were times where we walked into the control room that he had tears in his eyes because the music so moved him.”
See a behind-the-scenes look at the cover shoot and making of the album on Billboard.com, here.
Luke Bryan Tops The Charts
Academy of Country Music Awards co-host Luke Bryan has hit the top of the charts! Not only has he risen to the top of the Billboard Country sales chart, but he has also earned his first number one album on Billboard’s Top 200 chart with Spring Break…Here to Party.
The album sold almost 150 000 units in its first week. With this being the artist’s first full-length physical album from his five-year “Spring Break” series, this is nothing short of a huge accomplishment.
“I always have so much fun putting out new Spring Break music year after year,” says Bryan. “The whole idea behind the Spring Break music was that it was a way for me to give fans some new songs in between albums, party songs that would never make the mainstream albums. Here we are, five years later, and it’s crazy how that little idea has grown. It feels great to know that people are still having as much fun with it as I am!”
To celebrate the album’s release, Luke took a quick stop from his tour, “Dirt Road Diaries Tour,” to perform to perform two shows at Spinnaker’s Beach Club in Panama City, FL on Tuesday night (03/12) and Wednesday night (03/13). The tour will resume in Orange Beach, Alabama tonight (03/14).
Catch the ACM Entertainer Of The Year nominee on his upcoming CMT special, Luke Bryan: Spring Break…Here To Party on Sunday, March 17 at 2PM EST, as well as GAC’s Top 20 Countdown on March 22 at 8PM EST.
Get Blown Away By Carrie’s 2012!
When we caught wind of just how incredible Carrie Underwood‘s 2012 was, we were simply blown away. Not only were we amazed by the laundry list of successful moments Carrie experienced, but we were exhausted just thinking about everything Carrie accomplished in only 366 days (Leap Year, y’all … are we observant, or what?)! The following is what Carrie’s year consisted of:
Taylor Swift Breaks Record with New Single
Congratulations to Big Machine Records’ superstar Taylor Swift! Her huge hit single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” has just shattered a Billboard record by keeping the number one spot for the seventh straight week this week on the Hot Country Songs list. It’s now her longest running number one single on the Billboard charts of her career so far. Taylor’s 2006 single “Our Song” is now her second-longest number one single, holding the top spot for six weeks.
Taylor’s brand new album “RED” is serving its third week on-top of the Billboard album sales charts. It’s already sold more than 1.8 million copies in the United States alone since it hit stores. It sold an additional million copies worldwide, and topped the charts in 42 different countries.
Have you gotten your copy yet of Taylor’s new album? Do you think it’s more country or more pop?
