The seven-time GRAMMY winning trio Lady Antebellum scores their third consecutive debut this week atop Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 Chart with their fourth studio album GOLDEN,which sold more than 167,000 copies in its first week.
“It’s been so fun to get feedback from our fans,” said Hillary Scott. “There are so many ways for us to hear from them and I love finding out how people are relating to different songs. We’re really proud of this album and thankful for all the fans and to Country Radio for supporting both ‘Downtown’ and now ‘Goodbye Town’ this week!”
L to R: Mark Robinson, VP Business Affairs, WMN, Justin Luffman, VP Brand Management, WMN, Ashley Monroe, John Grady, Manager, Crush Management, Tree Paine, SVP Publicity, WMN
Ashley Monroe celebrated her solo record, Like A Rose, debuting Top-10 today on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart while performing at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX. Monroe performed to an excited crowd at the MTV/VH1/CMT Edge Stage two days ago, where the Los Angeles Times raved that the “gifted country singer from Tennessee…brought an audience…to a respectful hush with her song ‘Used.’” People Magazinealso recently gave Like A Rose 3 ½ of 4 stars, naming Monroe their Buzz Artist of the Week and noting that her “thorn-sharp wit – and country traditionalism – also bloom on…Rose,” while the Wall Street Journal compares Monroe to country greats saying, “Monroe’s songs prove as matter-of-factly direct and daring in today’s as Loretta Lynn’s were in the 1960s.” SPIN Magazine also proclaims Ashley Monroe’s Like A Rose as one of its essential new albums, giving it 9 of 10 stars and Paste Magazine truthfully states that “Like A Rose is no fairy tale.”
“I am completely surprised and overwhelmed by the response to my album,” said Ashley when asked of her achievements. “Thank you guys for always sticking by me and never giving up. We did it!!”
Taylor Marks Her 23rd Birthday With MTV World Premier of Her 23rd Music Video
This week, 6-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift spends her 9th consecutive week at #1 on theBillboard Country Songs chart with her global #1 smash “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” the lead single from her Triple-Platinum album RED. This sets Billboard’s all-time record for most weeks at #1 on the country chart by a female artist. Previously, Country Music Hall of Famer Connie Smith spent eight weeks at the top with “Once A Day” in 1964. “Never Ever” was also a monumental pop hit, topping Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, iTunes charts around the globe, and selling more than 2.6 million downloads in the U.S.
In the six weeks since its first week debut with U.S. sales in excess of 1.2 million albums (music’s highest weekly sales number in more than a decade), RED (released on Big Machine Records) has dominated the album sales charts, spending every week at #1 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, and remaining at #1 or #2 on the all-genre Top 200 Albums chart. In addition to its U.S. Triple-Platinum certification, RED has reached #1 at iTunes in 42 countries, and total sales of RED outside of the U.S. have now topped 1.1 million albums.
Singles from RED are impacting radio charts in several formats, with new single “I Knew You Were Trouble.”(currently at #2 all-genres on iTunes), making big jumps on the CHR/Top 40 (#23-#17) and Hot AC (#29-#21) charts, with Most Increased airplay at both. “Begin Again” is at #14 and climbing the Country airplay chart. This week’s international chart highlights from RED include 3 songs in the Top 30 in the U.K., #1 at A/C in Canada, a Top 10 in Australia, and the #1 international album in Japan.
Although winter storms and airport closures kept the group from traveling to New York City to accept in person last night, GRAMMY winning country trio Lady Antebellum received Billboard’s “Breakthrough Award” at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards for their headlining Own The Night 2012 World Tour. The trophy goes to the highest grossing touring artist who cracks Billboard’s Boxscore recap for the first time in their career based on tickets sales and other touring data. The all-genre category also included Miranda Lambert and The Black Keys, and the group joins previous winners including Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Jason Aldean.
Little Big Town, the country group comprised of Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook, just released their newest album this past week entitled Tornado. The fun lead off single “Pontoon” has been a huge summer hit and marks the group’s first number one single. Surprising that this is the first number one hit for this very talented group that has been established for a few years. According to a recent article inBillboard, Little Big Town“have endured quite a roller-coaster ride since joining forces more than a decade ago. Says Schlapman: ‘We certainly had our frustrating moments. For whatever reason, some things worked out and some things did not, but they surely formed who we are today and got us to this point, so we have to be grateful.’” Continue Reading →
NASHVILLE, TN –(August 8, 2012) – Country music trio Gloriana’s second studio album A Thousand Miles Left Behind debuts at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200. The album has received critical praise for the growth the band displays on the 11 tracks, especially on their current single “(Kissed You) Good Night,” which is at #2 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart. The trio is currently out on the road performing headlining shows across the country in support of the new album.
“It’s so exciting for us to finally have this new album out and to watch the great response it has gotten is just incredible,” said Gloriana. “We are so grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from our fans and everyone in the country community.”
Tom, Mike, and Rachel have funneled everything they’ve learned into A Thousand Miles Left Behind intent on revealing more of themselves as artists. Gloriana worked with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters and had a hand in writing every track on the album. The trio worked with GRAMMY Award winning producer and Emblem Music Group label owner Matt Serletic (Willie Nelson, Matchbox 20, and Aerosmith). Fans can get up to date information on Gloriana’s tour and more information on the rising country trio by going to www.Gloriana.com.
The Live-Streamed Event Showcases New Music And Rising Stars
Gloriana performing (Kissed You) Goodnight Photo Credit: Sara Kauss/Getty Images North America
Last night, Billboard and Pepsi’s Summer Beats Concert Series rolled into Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom with a performance from Gloriana streamed live over the interwebs. The night also featured performances from Jana Kramer, Randy Houser, Jerrod Niemann and Easton Corbin.
Although throughout the night we were under the impression that everyone would be streamed live, Gloriana still put on a great show as only the harmonizing trio can. The performance came on the eve of their sophomore album release, A Thousand Miles Left Behind, available NOW!
The highlight of the show was how the band utilized their social media presence to obtain some on-stage assistance: After asking if any fans were attending the show who were on a first date, one lucky new couple got to accompany the guys on stage during – you guessed it - (Kissed You) Goodnight. Naturally, the first-daters were asked to kiss at the climax of the song… and they did… a lot (left).
Watch it below!
The band was excited to perform some new material, although they had been awake since 3 a.m. EST to do Good Morning America! We had an on-air interview with the band. Watch that here!
We also caught up with Jana, Jerrod and Easton off-camera to discuss the Summer Beats Series and all the artists’ respective new music.
Long-time friend of FOCUS Jana Kramer is currently on tour with superstar Brad Paisley. When asked about the tour she stated:
“It’s going amazing! [Brad] is the most genuine, authentic, real, charismatic entertainer ever. He is an amazing person to learn from, and he’s just super gracious.”
Her single is approaching the top 10 with a bullet, and should get there next week! I asked what her next single is going to be, and although she is apparently sworn to secrecy, she did state that “One Tree Hill fans will be very happy.” (I’m going to SPECULATE it’s What I Love About Your Love… again, that’s unconfirmed, but if it proves true, just say you heard it here first.)
Jerrod Niemann and Randy Houser arrive at Summer Beats
Jerrod Niemann’s highly anticipated sophomore album is dropping October 2nd, on the heels of his well-received new single Shinin’ On Me. Get excited about this album, because Jerrod is reinventing himself while staying true to his country music’s roots:
“We’ve departed from the straight-up digital recording. This is an analog/digital hybrid with a new technology called “clasp” that allows you to actually dump your analog recording into digital real time… the thing you get is that fat analog sound… I wanted to use instruments that cater to that… and I wanted to honor all areas of country music going back to the 20′s, but do our own interpretation.”
Easton Corbin – who was sporting an awesome Pabst Blue Ribbon belt buckle – has a new single out with Lovin’ You Is Fun, and a new album coming out September 18th, and he promises with this record, “the best is yet to come.”
“I think [this new album] shows a little growth as a new artist,” said Easton. “But that being said, it’s still right there doing that country thing…. I’m just really excited about it.”
Every artist expressed the same sentiment with regards to playing the Cannery Ballroom: it’s great to play in the 615!
“It’s just fun to be playing in Nashville!” said Jana. And Easton concurred, stating: “We actually never get to play in Nashville… I’m glad to be home!”
Did you miss the live stream last night? Don’t worry! Gloriana’s entire performance is available at pepsi.com!
