BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 1 OF 17

INSIDE

Barrett, Andress Set Precedent

>page 4

New Heartland Adds Management

>page 9

Postponements: The New Normal

>page 10

Nashville Clubs Shut Down

>page 10

Makin’ Tracks: Newcomer

Payton Smith >page 14

Country Coda: Amazing Gracin’s

No. 1 >page 17

The coronavirus has officially hit Nashville’s music community.CMT closed its offices March 10 to thoroughly sanitize the

premises after an artist manager who had attended the net-work’s tornado relief telethon, held in conjunction with WSMV-TV Nashville on March 5, tested positive for COVID-19. CMT ex-ecutives who were present at that event were asked to work from home for the following two weeks as a preventive measure.

Black River took similar steps, closing March 10 for a deep clean and requiring five staff members who had a 15-minute meeting with the infected manager to work re-motely through March 20.

Plenty on Music Row were skep-tical for a time about COVID-19, a new strain of coronavirus. But as the number of infections soars in the U.S. and across the globe, the impact on the community of the artist manager’s diagnosis is a confirmation that the bug is real, and it’s not just somebody else’s problem.

“I do joke that I’ve shut down CMT, Black River and maybe a few other Music Row offices — and the entire Williamson County school system,” says

the manager. “I’ve never felt more influential in this town.”The manager agreed to speak with the Billboard Country

Update, believing it was important for the community to take the COVID-19 threat seriously. Even though a large portion of Nashville’s music community has already identified him, he spoke on the condition of anonymity to pro-tect his children’s identities.

“We’ve had these outbreaks be-fore, but this one seems a little dif-ferent, a little more aggressive,” he says. “There’s maybe a little more panic in the air.”

That panic mushroomed from a little to a lot over the past week as the number of U.S. coronavirus cases exploded, just weeks after the White House minimized the virus’ impact. With no cohesive plan in place to combat COVID-19 — and with the president openly at-tempting to manipulate infection data for the best possible market-ing position — the stock market nose-dived, businesses pulled back, and individual states placed limits on public gatherings, in

some instances banning events of more than 100 people.That hit the country music business hard. Dan + Shay, Blake

Nashville, Take Heed: Country’s First COVID-19 Survivor Speaks Out

billboard.com / iPad

A D I G I TA L V E RS I O N O F E V E RY I SS U E , F E AT U R I N G :COVER STORIES . SPECIAL REPORTS . CHARTS . REVIEWS

INTERVIEWS . EVENT COVERAGE & MORE

AVAILABLE F R E E TO CURRENT BILLBOARD SUBSCRIBERS

ACCESS THE BEST IN MUSIC.

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE Tom.Roland@billboard.com

Country Update

MA

SK

: P

HO

TO

ALT

O/M

AT

TH

IEU

SP

OH

NW

Shelton, Reba McEntire, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sturgill Simpson, Dwight Yoakam and the Zac Brown Band were among the artists who post-poned tours or individual dates. Loretta Lynn, who at age 87 has weathered a stroke and broken a hip in recent years, was quarantined by her doctors to avoid coming in contact with infected visitors.

The Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, Calif., was delayed from April to the fall; RodeoHouston, the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and Europe’s C2C music festival were canceled; the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum closed for a thorough cleaning through March 31; and the Grand Ole Opry announced it would turn away audiences through April 4. The lat-termost’s WSM-AM Nashville show will air as an in-studio live broadcast on Saturdays during the interim, but the Opry will not be held on other nights during the week.

Meanwhile, numerous companies have instructed or encouraged their em-ployees to work from home, including Beasley Media and Billboard.

“Nobody wants to lose money, nobody wants to be sitting at home when they could be out singing, but no one wants the country shut down either,” says the manager with COVID-19. “At some level, maybe that’s the choice we’re faced with. I don’t fault anyone [for] taking steps that may turn out later to be unnecessary. But it may turn out later that, thank goodness, we did it right, because we had no idea how bad this thing was going to get.”

Conflicting messages and a lack of data created much of the nation’s cur-rent panic. President Donald Trump suggested in his first address to the na-tion on Feb. 26 that the number of U.S. coronavirus cases might be capped at 15. Nine days later, he declared a national emergency, with more than 1,000 infections and 41 deaths reported across 48 of the 50 states.

Most people who are infected are likely to recover. The manager, who prob-ably contracted COVID-19 during a trip to Colorado on March 1-3, sweated out the bulk of his symptoms in a 48-hour window after he began to feel sick on March 6. He suffered body aches, chills, a runny nose, a dry cough, a sore throat and intestinal issues, while his temperature peaked at 101.5 degrees. But elderly citizens and people with compromised immune systems are par-ticularly vulnerable to the virus, and that’s part of the reason that the manager insisted on getting diagnosed.

“I didn’t come in here for my own health,” he told nurses at the hospital. “I came in here for everybody else’s.”

In fact, he was repeatedly rebuffed in his attempts to get tested. Health care workers told him short supplies required them to ration the tests and he did not fit the criteria to receive one. He pushed four separate times through differ-ent doctors and his local emergency room to get tested. He finally received a test on his last visit, which took seven hours as he was given several other tests first to eliminate other possible illnesses. The COVID-19 test, administered with a throat swab, took less than a minute to complete, and once the results came back positive, he was placed on quarantine for two weeks. He had visited a local school and was initially asked not to reveal his diagnosis to the school system, but he decided that was irresponsible and notified authorities, who shut down facilities and conducted a cleaning.

The coronavirus can cause death and appears to reduce long-term lung ca-pacity in some of its survivors, though most people eventually recover.

“At its worst, I would call it a mild f lu,” says the manager, describing his personal experience. “It doesn’t have to be a dire sentence.”

But he was also amused by tales of behavior at an industry party before Scotty McCreery’s March 11 concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Some attendees were in sync with fist bumps and elbow bumps as a replacement for the traditional handshake, while others seemed insulted when people re-fused to shake their hand. Still others hugged old friends without asking first if it was OK.

“I can empathize with people that think we’re overreacting,” says the man-ager. “On the other hand, I’ll think about my peers and, you know, I don’t want people inadvertently infected.”

It is, he believes, important for the Nashville music industry to know that COVID-19 is in the community. Though no additional infections have been reported publicly since he appeared at the tornado telethon, it is easy to con-ceive of his fellow telethon attendees Kid Rock, Cassadee Pope, and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood contracting the virus that night and in turn spreading it to their families as well as cowriters, musicians, radio programmers and fans across the country. An ounce of prevention, the manager believes, is worth a ton of cure.

“Whether we’re reacting appropriately or overreacting, we won’t know for some time,” he says. “People, I think, are just trying to do the best they can.”

Chris Janson was unable to perform at the WIRK West Palm Beach, Fla., Rib Round Up on Feb. 7 when a local concert crew member’s heart-related death ended the show. From left prior to the event: WIRK assistant PD/music director Nick Rivers, Janson, Hubbard/West Palm Beach operations manager Bruce Logan and Warner Music Nashville regional manager WAR radio and streaming Tom Starr.

Walker Hayes received a plaque from YouTube after accruing 100,000 subscribers on the streaming platform’s channel. From left: YouTube Nashville artist relations executive Copeland Isaacson, Hayes, Monument director of digital marketing and sales Sarah D’Hilly and YouTube manager of artist and label relations Margaret Hart.

Josh Abbott (center) checked in with the staff at KVOO Tulsa, Okla., including PD Dena Fletcher and Griffin/Tulsa director of radio operations and programming Steve Hunter.

HA

YE

S: R

OB

ER

T C

HA

VE

RS

.

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 2 OF 17

Indie artist Allie Colleen (center) visited WVLT-TV Knoxville, Tenn., in support of her current single, “Along the Way.” She’s shown with WVLT hosts Brittany Tarwater and Harry Sullivan.

Billboard’s sixth annual Country Power Players issue will profile the people who have driven another solid year for the country music industry, generating billions in sales, streaming and touring.

This special feature will also include a photo portfolio featuring the top artists, songwriters, musicians and executives, as well as coverage of the most talked-about topics in country music.

Advertise in Billboard’s Country Power Players issue to congratulate this year’s honorees while reaching key decision-makers who are driving the music business.

BO N U S D I STR I B UTI O N CMA Music Week 6/4-6/7

CO NTACT Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | laphotoglo@gmail.com Cynthia Mellow 615.352.0265 | cmellow.billboard@gmail.comJoe Maimone 212.493.4427 | joe.maimone@billboard.comDebra Fink 323.525.2249 | debra.fink@thr.com

Editorial content subject to change

COVE R DATE 5 / 3 0 | ISSUE CLOSE 5 / 2 0 | MATE RIALS DUE 5 / 2 1

COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS2 0 2 0

O N S A L E

M AY 30 , 2 0 2 0

PROMOTION

bb_country_Power_players_ad_2020.indd 1 2/5/20 9:57 AMBBHouse_Country Power_06_031420.indd 1 3/9/20 2:39 PM

Gabby Barrett’s debut single, “I Hope” (Warner Music Nashville/WAR), rises 11-9 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart dated March 21. The song gained by 15% to 24.1 million audience impressions in the week ending March 15, ac-cording to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, becoming the first top 10 for the singer-songwriter, who finished third on ABC’s American Idol in 2018.

Meanwhile, Barrett’s Warner Music Nashville labelmate Ingrid Andress ranks at No. 10 with her maiden hit, “More Hearts Than Mine” (Atlantic/WMN/WEA) (23.2 million, up 4%), a week after it reached its No. 9 high.

Thanks to both songs, the latest Country Air-play chart is the first to boast two women in the top 10 with solo debut hits in lead roles, dating to the list’s January 1990 launch.

“Wow, I feel so blessed to have a top 10 sin-gle,” Barrett tells Billboard. “[“I Hope”] felt special from the beginning, and to see the re-action has been overwhelming in the best way. I can’t thank country radio, my fans and my team enough for believing in me. And, I’m so happy for Ingrid. It’s an exciting time.”

Says Andress, “Sharing ‘More Hearts Than Mine’ has been a dream come true. Thank you to everyone who has helped this song continue climbing into the top 10 and beyond. We’re all part of changing history together, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next.”

Both Barrett and Andress record for Warner Music Nashville, although different promotion teams work each artist to radio. The combined effort is overseen by WMN senior vp promotion and stream-ing Kristen Williams. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of many artist achievements in my career, but this may be among the most impactful,” says Williams. “I’m incredibly proud of Gabby and Ingrid for delivering two bona fide hits, I’m proud of our team for fighting to make sure they continue to be heard, and I’m proud of country radio for embracing these artists as they de-serve to be embraced. Let’s make this habit instead of history.”

While this week marks the first time that lead solo female debut hits have ranked in the Country Airplay top 10 simultaneously, the feat has been achieved through featured roles. Such a double-up last occurred on the chart dated Aug. 11, 2018, by Julia Michaels and Tori Kelly: Keith Urban’s “Coming Home” (fea-turing Michaels) placed at its No. 3 peak, and Chris Lane’s “Take Back Home Girl” (featuring Kelly) ranked at No. 9, before reaching No. 8 the following week.

MORRIS, TOO Maren Morris’ “The Bones” (Columbia Nashville), which led Country Air-play for two weeks beginning Feb. 15, marking her fourth leader, descends 4-7 (25.7 million in audience, down 8%).

With Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress and Morris all in the top 10, the chart is the first since the survey dated Oct. 20, 2012, to house three songs by solo women in the top tier simulta-neously. That week, Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” ranked at No. 2, before reign-ing for two frames starting the following week; Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” held the No. 4 spot, after peaking at No. 3 the prior week; and Miranda Lambert’s “Fastest Girl in Town” was steady at No. 9, before rising to No. 3 the next month.

Notably, Barrett, Andress and Morris each co-wrote their respective current top 10s.

‘DANCE’ HIT Jordan Davis earns his third straight career-opening top 10 on the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart as “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” (MCA Nashville) waltzes 11-10. The song lifts 7-6 on Country Airplay, up by 6% to 26.6 million impressions. It also drew 5.3 million U.S. streams and sold 2,000 in the tracking week.

Davis peaked at No. 4 on Hot Country Songs with his first two entries: “Singles You Up,” in April 2018, and “Take It From Me,” in March 2019. The former led Country Airplay for a week, and the latter reached No. 2.

Gabby Barrett Hits Country Airplay Top 10, Joining Ingrid Andress, Marking First Two

Female Debuts In Tier Together

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER jim.asker@billboard.com

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 4 OF 17

JO

HN

SH

EA

RE

R/W

IRE

IMA

GE

(2)

BARRETT ANDRESS

The State Of Radio Who says radio’s dead? Although broadcast ad revenue is creeping downward,

audiences are aging and streaming has surpassed the medium as a vehicle for music discovery. In its inaugural Deep Dive report, Billboard assesses the radio industry

today and provides a glimpse of its future by comparing streaming and radio users, automobile audio usage, the growth rates of programming formats — and by looking

at why labels and artists still need airtime even in a streaming world.

Dive into this series and more with Billboard Pro!

PROMOTION

• 250 weekly Billboard charts

• Billboard Insights: must-read insight reports tapping into industry intel and research

• Billboard Bulletin: the pulse of the industry, delivered daily — the best in analysis and industry coverage of Billboard’s charts and more.

• Analysis of our charts, by Billboard’s top executives

• Digital Edition mobile magazine experience

• Priority access to our elite events including Power List Party, Latin Music Week, Live Music Summit

• 50-year archive of Billboard Charts

Claim Your Billboard Pro Access!If you are a Billboard Digital or

All Access subscriber you’re already a Pro. Simply claim your access at :

www.billboard.com/claim-account

*Applicable to new “Pro” and “Pro with Print” Billboard memberships purchased prior to 4/30/20. Promotional discount applies to memberships with annual billing chosen at the time of purchase. All promotional pricing and billing is applied to the first 12

months of a newly purchased membership. Pricing/payments revert to the then-standard pricing after the first 12 months.

Purchase Billboard Pro today and receive 25% off by going to www.billboard.com/offer and using promo code: 2020PRO

Hit Songs Are Staying On The Radio Airplay

Charts Longer Despite Peaking Faster On

Streaming Platforms

These Three Singles Broke On Radio Instead Of Streaming: Here’s How It Happened

Double-Digit Growth Projected For Digital

Radio Ad Revenue Through 2023, But

It’s No Panacea

Country Airplay AIRPLAY MONITORED BY

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 6 OF 17

RANKINGSCountry Airplay is ranked by total audience impressions for the week ending Sunday based on monitored airplay of 148 stations by Nielsen Music. Audience totals on the chart are derived, in part, using certain Nielsen Audio- copyrighted Persons 12+ audience estimates (under license © 2020, Nielsen Audio). The list of all Country Airplay chart reporters can be viewed on Nielsen Music’s platforms.

BULLETSl Awarded on Country Airplay to titles gaining audience or 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 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%.

TIESOn Country Airplay, if two songs are tied in total audience, the song with the larger increase in audience is placed first.

RECURRENTSOn 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 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.

HOT SHOT DEBUTAwarded to the highest-ranking new entry on Country Airplay.

MOST ADDEDThe 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 Music) for stations that do not report adds.

MOST INCREASED AUDIENCEMost Increased Audience on Country Airplay lists the songs with the greatest week-to-week increases in total audience.

AIRPOWERAwarded 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.

BREAKERAwarded on Country Airplay to titles achieving airplay (at least one detection) at 60% of reporting stations for the first time.

© 2020 Prometheus Global Media, LLC

COUNTRY AIRPLAY CHART LEGEND

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

WKS ON

CHART TITLE Imprint/Label ArtistAUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS

THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK

l1 1 32 HOMESICK Zone 4/RCA Nashville HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH Kane Brown 37.610 +1.238 7863 1 1

l2 2 41 HOMEMADE Big Loud Jake Owen 33.662 +1.742 7382 426 2

3 3 23 KINFOLKS MCA Nashville Sam Hunt 30.444 -1.287 6164 -280 3

l4 5 21 WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan 28.281 +0.422 6144 144 4

l5 6 42 CATCH BMLG Brett Young 26.764 +1.425 5759 196 7

l6 7 47 SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT MCA Nashville Jordan Davis 26.612 +1.534 6049 290 5

7 4 30 THE BONES Columbia Nashville Maren Morris 25.743 -2.271 5015 -390 10

l8 8 27 WE BACK Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean 24.750 +0.296 5778 150 6

l9 11 29 I HOPE Warner Music Nashville/WAR Gabby Barrett 24.126 +3.175 5273 517 9

l10 9 38 MORE HEARTS THAN MINE Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville/WEA Ingrid Andress 23.222 +0.950 5368 93 8

l11 12 12 BEER CAN’T FIX Valory Thomas Rhett Featuring Jon Pardi 20.614 +0.698 4466 149 12

l12 17 11 NOBODY BUT YOU Warner Music Nashville/WMN Blake Shelton Duet With Gwen Stefani 19.855 +2.194 4333 424 14

l13 14 33 CHASIN’ YOU Big Loud Morgan Wallen 19.598 +1.631 4335 234 13

l14 15 8 DOES TO ME River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs Featuring Eric Church 18.302 +0.361 3970 157 17

l15 16 23 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW Curb/Big Machine Carly Pearce & Lee Brice 18.031 +0.269 4256 58 15

16 13 32 I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED BMLG Riley Green 17.981 -0.601 4681 -62 11

l17 18 53 AFTER A FEW Mercury Travis Denning 16.278 +0.392 3984 61 16

l18 19 28 HOMECOMING QUEEN? Black River Kelsea Ballerini 13.661 -0.114 3648 62 18

l19 20 4 HERE AND NOW Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville/WEA HH Airpower HH Kenny Chesney 12.825 +2.079 2847 481 19

l20 21 49 IN BETWEEN Triple Tigers HH Airpower HH Scotty McCreery 9.910 +0.503 2834 82 20

l21 22 28 MONSTERS EMI Nashville Eric Church 8.161 +0.229 2503 76 21

l22 23 44 ONE BIG COUNTRY SONG Wheelhouse LOCASH 7.076 +0.102 2160 131 22

l23 24 19 DRINKING ALONE Capitol Nashville Carrie Underwood 6.692 +0.126 2107 13 23

l24 26 39 HER WORLD OR MINE Warner Music Nashville/WEA Michael Ray 6.364 +0.280 1918 6 24

l25 27 24 WHY WE DRINK Valory Justin Moore 5.562 +0.033 1858 69 25

l26 30 32 DIE FROM A BROKEN HEART Mercury Maddie & Tae 5.069 +0.628 1569 190 28

l27 28 37 LONELY IF YOU ARE Dack Janiels/Broken Bow Chase Rice 5.011 +0.161 1772 51 26

l28 31 25 DROWNING RCA Nashville Chris Young 4.979 +0.713 1315 129 29

l29 29 13 BLUEBIRD Vanner/RCA Nashville Miranda Lambert 4.956 +0.466 1627 171 27

l30 33 3 GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 4.852 +1.064 1285 327 30

Country Airplay AIRPLAY MONITORED BY

GOING FOR ADDS

The song rises 60-54 on Country Airplay, up 24% to 1.1 million audience impressions. Co-written by Dickerson , it was inspired

by his wife, Kailey , and previews his forthcoming sophomore album.

54RUSSELL

DICKERSONLove You Like

I Used To

DE

LA

NE

Y R

OY

ER

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 7 OF 17

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

WKS ON

CHART TITLE Imprint/Label ArtistAUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS

THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK

l31 34 16 DONE Warner Music Nashville/WAR Chris Janson 4.226 +0.569 1242 106 31

l32 35 18 ONE NIGHT STANDARDS Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville/WAR Ashley McBryde 3.702 +0.178 1104 94 33

l33 52 3 HARD TO FORGET MCA Nashville HH Most Added HH Sam Hunt 3.479 +2.104 868 533 37

34 32 32 DETAILS Mercury Billy Currington 3.452 -0.429 983 -22 35

l35 38 27 SHE’S MINE MCA Nashville Kip Moore 2.693 +0.275 1166 81 32

l36 37 28 FRONT SEAT Legend Entertainment Rayne Johnson 2.633 +0.187 722 -31 41

l37 41 23 NOW YOU KNOW 32 Bridge/EMI Nashville Jon Langston 2.443 +0.326 1070 57 34

l38 39 17 SOME GIRLS Combustion/River House/Columbia Nashville Jameson Rodgers 2.138 -0.043 920 63 36

l39 40 8 CHEATIN’ SONGS Big Machine Midland 2.119 -0.045 658 36 43

40 42 24 BREAK IT IN Valory Eli Young Band 1.924 -0.009 642 -8 45

l41 51 10 PRETTY HEART MCA Nashville Parker McCollum 1.918 +0.463 224 31 -

l42 44 24 I DO FOR YOU Riser House Dillon Carmichael 1.883 +0.146 757 92 40

l43 45 6 ONE BEER Tree Vibez/Big Loud HARDY Featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson 1.826 +0.167 569 43 48

l44 46 14 EVERYWHERE BUT ON RECORDS/Arista Nashville Matt Stell 1.821 +0.083 782 17 39

45 43 17 HEAD OVER HEELS Wheelhouse Runaway June 1.807 -0.018 657 -37 44

l46 49 3 SOME PEOPLE DO RCA Nashville Old Dominion 1.780 +0.273 487 101 53

l47 53 4 WHAT I‚ÄÔM LEAVING FOR BMLG Lady Antebellum 1.666 +0.292 520 92 52

l48 50 16 BIG, BIG PLANS Big Loud Chris Lane 1.663 +0.180 571 42 47

l49 47 22 GETTING GOOD 19/Mercury Lauren Alaina 1.511 -0.045 852 57 38

50 48 13 FIRE’T UP Valory Brantley Gilbert 1.428 -0.087 557 -24 49

51 36 2 GASLIGHTER Columbia/In2une Dixie Chicks 1.368 -1.654 413 -129 56

l52 54 14 OVER DRINKING Capitol Nashville Little Big Town 1.254 +0.048 534 1 51

l53 55 14 WHAT I SEE Arista Nashville HH Breaker HH LANCO 1.193 +0.072 665 91 42

l54 60 2 LOVE YOU LIKE I USED TO Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson 1.131 +0.215 340 40 58

l55 56 9 DIAMONDS Warner Music Nashville/WEA Morgan Evans 1.109 +0.042 398 -2 57

l56 58 4 MOMMA’S HOUSE Broken Bow Dustin Lynch 1.093 +0.097 461 42 54

l57 57 13 I DON’T LOVE YOU Stoney Creek Lindsay Ell 1.074 +0.022 572 45 46

l58 59 14 THAT’S WHY I LOVE DIRT ROADS Wheelhouse Granger Smith 1.023 +0.030 441 19 55

59 RE-ENTRY SOMEBODY LIKE THAT 19th & Grand/Reviver Tenille Arts 0.845 -0.056 535 10 50

l60 RE-ENTRY FOR MY MONEY EMI Nashville Brandon Lay 0.830 +0.013 324 43 59

3/23

AVENUE BEAT Ruin That For Me Tape Room/Valory

JIMMIE ALLEN & NOAH CYRUS This Is Us RECORDS/Columbia/Stoney Creek

3/30

MAREN MORRIS To Hell & Back Columbia Nashville

TIFFANY WOYS Loved By You Tiffany Woys

AVENUE BEAT

JO

SH

BR

AS

TE

D/G

ET

TY

IM

AG

ES

FO

R R

US

SE

LL

DIC

KE

RS

ON

AIRPLAY MONITORED BYCountry Airplay

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 8 OF 17

MOST ADDED®TITLE Imprint/Label Artist ADDSHARD TO FORGET MCA Nashville Sam Hunt 35GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 19SOME PEOPLE DO RCA Nashville Old Dominion 11GASLIGHTER Columbia/in2une Dixie Chicks 9LOVE YOU LIKE I USED TO Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson 8BLUEBIRD Vanner/RCA Nashville Miranda Lambert 7WHAT I’M LEAVING FOR BMLG Lady Antebellum 7HERE AND NOW Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville/WEA Kenny Chesney 6DROWNING RCA Nashville Chris Young 6ONLY TRUCK IN TOWN Night Train/Broken Bow Tyler Farr 6

MOST INCREASED PLAYSTITLE Imprint/Label Artist GAINHARD TO FORGET MCA Nashville Sam Hunt +533I HOPE Warner Music Nashville/WAR Gabby Barrett +517HERE AND NOW Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville/WEA Kenny Chesney +481HOMEMADE Big Loud Jake Owen +426NOBODY BUT YOU Warner Music Nashville/WMN Blake Shelton Duet With Gwen Stefani +424GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban +327SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT MCA Nashville Jordan Davis +290CHASIN’ YOU Big Loud Morgan Wallen +234CATCH BMLG Brett Young +190DIE FROM A BROKEN HEART Mercury Maddie & Tae +190

MOST INCREASED AUDIENCETITLE Imprint/Label Artist

GAIN(IN MIILIONS)

I HOPE Warner Music Nashville/WAR Gabby Barrett +3.175NOBODY BUT YOU Warner Music Nashville/WMN Blake Shelton Duet With Gwen Stefani +2.194HARD TO FORGET MCA Nashville Sam Hunt +2.104HERE AND NOW Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville/WEA Kenny Chesney +2.079HOMEMADE Big Loud Jake Owen +1.742CHASIN’ YOU Big Loud Morgan Wallen +1.631SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT MCA Nashville Jordan Davis +1.534CATCH BMLG Brett Young +1.411HOMESICK Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown +1.238GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban +1.064

BILLBOARD COUNTRY BOXSCOREGross Artist AttendanceTicket Price(s) Venue/Date(s) Capacity Promoter(s)

$853,783 MIRANDA LAMBERT 11,516LIVE NATION$105, $35.75 American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas/Feb. 8 11,516

$691,358 ZAC BROWN BAND 9,788LIVE NATION$96.50, $26.50 Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Neb./Feb. 29 10,675

$629,393 ZAC BROWN BAND 8,705LIVE NATION$96.50, $36.50 TaxSlayer Center, Moline, Ill./Feb. 28 9,698

$612,706 MIRANDA LAMBERT 9,440LIVE NATION$90.75, $35.75 BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla./Feb. 7 9,440

$312,618 BRANTLEY GILBERT 6,383NS2/FPC LIVE$70.25, $30.25 Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio/Feb. 27 7,414

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 REPORTWEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2020

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

WKS ON CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST

TW SPINS

SPINS +/–

l1 2 22 I CAN GIVE YOU ONE (Independent) HH 1 Week at 1 HH David Adam Byrnes 2032 87

l2 3 19 SHE LOVES HORSES (Independent) William Clark Green 1841 76

l3 4 20 MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE (One Chord Song) Stoney LaRue 1733 34

l4 5 27 EVERY DAY KIND OF LOVE (Independent) Kyle Park 1702 47

l5 6 12 ONE MORE SHOT OF WHISKEY (Independent) Josh Ward 1659 140

l6 7 22 DEAR COUNTRY MUSIC, (Independent) Mike Ryan 1575 81

7 1 18 ONE NIGHT IN TULSA (Independent) Kylie Frey 1564 -515

l8 8 19 COME BACK DOWN (Independent) Flatland Cavalry 1478 15

l9 9 22 I FOUND YOU (Independent) Robert Ray 1382 97

l10 14 9 SHE GONE (Independent) Randall King 1285 109

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

WKS ON CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST

TW SPINS

SPINS +/–

l11 11 21 DANCING IN THE RAIN (Independent) Darrin Morris Band 1276 74

l12 13 8 RIVER ROAD DREAM (Independent) Curtis Grimes 1248 56

l13 16 10 DROVE ME TO THE WHISKEY (Almost Country) Casey Donahew 1207 85

l14 21 10 BREAKING THINGS (Independent) Mark Powell 1091 107

15 15 23 BARROOM BUDDIES (Independent) Dos Borrachos 1074 -79

l16 19 17 UNRUNG (Independent) Turnpike Troubadours 1023 29

17 17 24 ROAD TO YOU (Independent) Micky & The Motorcars 1017 -43

18 18 23 REAL SMALL TOWN (Independent) Adam Hood 1006 -29

l19 23 9 GOTTA GO BACK TO WORK (Independent) Jody Booth 988 55

l20 25 6 FOUR MINUTES (King Hall Music) Chad Cooke Band 977 88

RECURRENTSTHIS

WEEK TITLE Imprint/Label ArtistTOTAL AUD.

(IN MILLIONS)1 EVEN THOUGH I’M LEAVING River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs 22.548

2 10,000 HOURS Warner Music Nashville/WAR Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber 20.738

3 ONE MAN BAND RCA Nashville Old Dominion 18.994

4 RIDIN’ ROADS Broken Bow Dustin Lynch 17.866

5 MAKE ME WANT TO Stoney Creek Jimmie Allen 15.072

6 WHISKEY GLASSES Big Loud Morgan Wallen 14.535

7 HEARTACHE MEDICATION Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi 14.415

8 PRAYED FOR YOU Wide Open/RECORDS/Good Company/Arista Nashville Matt Stell 14.254

9 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU BMLG Lady Antebellum 13.636

10 GOOD VIBES Warner Music Nashville/WAR Chris Janson 11.631

NEW AND ACTIVETITLE Imprint/Label Artist

TOTAL AUDIENCE

TOTAL STATIONS ADDS

JUST THE WAY Stoney Creek Parmalee x Blanco Brown 0.783 8 0

AIN’T ALWAYS THE COWBOY Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi 0.763 10 5

WHATCHA DRINKIN ‘BOUT Rebel Engine Stephanie Quayle 0.707 24 1

FAMOUS Arista Nashville Adam Doleac 0.606 22 6

GOOD TIME RCA Nashville Niko Moon 0.333 7 4

HEARTLESS Mad Decent/Columbia Diplo & Julia Michaels Feat. Morgan Wallen 0.233 5 1

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 972-252-8777. Copyright 2020, Texas Regional Radio Report

NEW HEARTLAND ADDS MANAGEMENT One of the Nashville music community’s first branding firms is expanding into management.

The New Heartland Group is launching One Bullet Entertainment, a digital-f irst division that handles both management and branding partnerships. The first One Bullet branding deal matched Luke Bryan and Lipton, a sponsor of his Proud to Be Right Here Tour. Danielle Bradbery, who previewed new music during the Big Machine Label Group showcase at Country Radio Seminar, is One Bullet’s first management client, Billboard Country Update has learned exclusively.

“Her voice is just jaw-dropping,” says New Heartland founder/CEO Paul Jankowski. “We’re excited about what she has in the works and what she can potentially do.”

New Heartland was formed to assist artists and companies in reaching a blue-collar segment of the U.S. population that is often overlooked. While the market is not strictly bound by geographical lines, its core stretches roughly across 26 states from North Dakota to Virginia on the northern edge and from Texas to Florida at its southern tip.

The company has worked with brands that include FedEx, Pizza Hut, Children’s Miracle Hospital Networks, Mountain Dew and the George Jones Museum, connecting them with such acts as Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Lady Antebellum. One Bullet is primed to apply some of the same data and strategy from those campaigns to grow artists and their unique brands through plans that encompass both new platforms and established avenues.

“We now have this massive platform, this digital platform called social media, and it’s incumbent upon us to be very proactive in how we support that radio journey by providing this ancillary support,” says Jankowski. “That’s what we’re really about is making sure that we integrate everything we can.”

Jankowski has authored two books on heartland marketing and expects to publish another focused on research about Generation Z.

“Finding the right manager is as important as finding the right song,” said Bradbery in a statement. “There was no doubt that Paul and his team were the right fit for me, especially at this important phase of my career. I love how they think strategically while really understanding me as an artist. I’m excited to be One Bullet’s first artist.”

RADIO & RECORDS®BMG launched the label Renew Records, which will focus on Americana and roots music. BMG executive vp David Hirshland will head the Los Angeles-based imprint. The first wave of projects includes a previously unreleased 1968 concert by Johnny Cash … Curb signed singer-songwriter Hannah Ellis to a recording deal … Trace Adkins signed a recording deal with the new Verge label, co-founded by producer Mickey Jack Cones (Dustin Lynch, Joe Nich-ols) … Travis Tritt reached an agreement on a recording contract with Big Noise Music Group. An album is expected later this year following work with producer Dave Cobb (The Highwomen, Chris Stapleton) … Big Machine added singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard to its roster. He is working on an album that will include appearances by Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh … Adams Radio/Tal-

lahassee, Fla., hired Casey Daniels as operations manager for the four-station cluster and PD for country WWOF. She was previously a WSBT-TV South Bend, Ind., personality … Suzanne Berg joined iHeartMedia as a Nashville region account executive. A former New York radio promotion vp, she most recently operated marketing/management firm Berg Entertainment … Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee assumed ownership of Ozark Mountain Media in Bran-son, Mo., The Ozarks Independent reported. The deal includes country KRZK. In tandem with that move, former KRZK personality Steve Willoughby was installed as the cluster’s GM. He has been operating a consultancy, Willoughby Communications … Doug Holzmeier joined Stephens Media/Monroe, La., as operations manager, according to Talkers.com. He oversees four stations, in-cluding country KMYY. His prior position was an on-air shift at adult contem-porary KUEZ Reno, Nev. … CMT personality Cody Alan is being honored with the Human Rights Campaign’s visibility award. The recognition was to be given March 14 during the annual HRC Nashville Dinner. That event was postponed in conjunction with COVID-19 prevention efforts … Country Radio Broadcast-ers will present a CRS360 webinar that follows up on a Country Radio Seminar research project at 1 p.m. CT on March 17. Go here to register.

’ROUND THE ROWJanine Appleton Ebach announced the formation of a new management com-pany, Ebach Entertainment. Roster announcements are forthcoming. She was most recently Curb|Word vp publishing … Jamie Cologna resigned her post as SMACK executive assistant to facilitate the launch of the Nashville division of digital company WMA. Beginning March 23, Amber Anderson will take over the executive assistant role, following a run as client relations manager for 5by5: A Change Agency. Reach Cologna here and Anderson here … Round Hill Music Nashville promoted four employees. Steve Nalbert rose to head of creative licensing from senior director of sync and licensing, Kevin Thomp-son was upped to senior director of sync licensing from director, Emily Cor-ter was promoted to manager of royalty services from senior coordinator, and Robbie English climbed to manager of sync licensing from senior coordina-tor … Songwriter-producer-guitarist Brandon Hood (Rodney Atkins, Jim-mie Allen) and producer Dann Huff (Kane Brown, Keith Urban) launched an artist development company with Warner Chappell Nashville. Hood also signed a songwriting deal with Warner Chappell … Sony/ATV signed musician-producer Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves, Dierks Bentley) to a publishing deal and renewed its agreements with Cole Swindell and Adam Doleac … Alt-country band Flying Buffaloes signed a management contract with Conway Entertainment … Producer-author-filmmaker Tamara Saviano received the Margaret Moser Women in Music Award during the Austin Music Awards on March 11 … WNET’s All Arts platform renewed Songwriters Under the Covers With Victoria Shaw for a second season … The Country Music Association’s CMA Foundation and the Academy of Country Music’s ACM Lifting Lives each committed $100,000 to Nashville tornado relief. Victims seeking an immedi-ate grant from the ACM may email here … Drummer Clair ”Biff” Adam died March 7 of congestive heart failure. During four decades as a member of Merle Haggard’s band, The Strangers, Adam contributed to “Ramblin’ Fever,” “If We Make It Through December” and “Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver).” The family is accepting messages here.

NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND

Scotty McCreery received a gold album from the RIAA prior to his March 11 concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. From left: RIAA Nashville vp artist and industry relations Jackie Jones, Triple 8 Management day-to-day manager Scott Stem, Triple Tigers GM/partner Norbert Nix, McCreery and Triple 8 Management/Triple Tigers partner George Couri.

Trace Adkins (center) signed March 9 with the new Verge label, distributed by ONErpm. He is flanked by ONErpm Nashville GM Ken Madsen (left) and Verge president/COO Mickey Jack Cones.

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 9 OF 17

TH

OM

AS

CR

AB

TR

EE

JO

HN

SH

EA

RE

R

MUSIC NOTESThe COVID-19 pandemic did a real number on tour schedules, and it could cre-ate a huge concert traffic jam this fall, assuming the virus has run its course by then. Among the festivals and events that have been pushed back are the Acad-emy of Country Music Awards, now happening in September; Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Festival, set for Oct. 2-4; and the iHeart Country Festival, which has been pushed to an undetermined date. Reba McEntire, Dan + Shay, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Hot Country Knights and Kane Brown are among the acts who have had to delay shows.

Shania Twain, Toby Keith and John Brannen launched in 1993 with a se-ries of dates billed as the Triple Play Tour. Monument is similarly introduc-ing a new Triple Play Tour featuring Walker Hayes, Brandon Ratcliff and Teddy Robb beginning April 9, assuming COVID-19 does not upend those plans. The label would, of course, love to have two of its three acts hit Twain/Keith success levels.

Online video footage of packed houses on Lower Broadway in Nashville drew outrage over the weekend, with some Twitter followers predicting youth who think themselves bulletproof may pass a potentially lethal virus on to their fragile grandparents. Nashville Mayor John Cooper asked bars to shut down, and some — including John Rich’s Redneck Riviera and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row — were willing to put patrons’ health ahead of their wallets. Bar owner Steve Smith, whose holdings include Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock’n’Roll Steakhouse, refused to comply for roughly 24 hours before giving in. In one of the most printable Twitter responses, @RobertP46757113 said the owner “just wants to spread the virus around.”

Two multi-artist benefit albums are taking advantage of the times, with one offering tornado relief and the other recognizing the impending Memorial Day holiday. The former project, Nashville Strong, is a digital-only creation by Warner Music Nashville, mixing such familiar tracks as Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” and Ashley McBryde’s “One Night Standards” with material by newcomers like Troy Cartwright, Tegan Marie and Ryan Griffin. The other, Love Lives On, goes on sale May 22 with proceeds marked for a military sup-port organization. Participants include Lonestar, Vince Gill, Pam Tillis and Billy Ray Cyrus, among others.

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS

Tenille Arts visited WUSY Chattanooga, Tenn., as she promotes her Reviver single “Somebody Like That.” From left: WUSY music director Melissa Turner and daughter Avery, Arts, Entercom/Chattanooga senior vp programming Justin Cole and WUSY personality Greg “Styckman” Owens.

ON THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC

March 17 • 2005 — Keith Urban begins a three-

n ig ht st a nd at Nashv i l le’s Ry ma n Auditorium. The encore includes a surprise appearance by Kenny Chesney, who joins him in a laughter-filled cover of Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”

• 1990 — Randy Travis begins a four-week stay at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart.”

March 18 • 2019 — Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens and retired producer/label

executive Jerry Bradley are announced as the 2019 inductees in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• 1980 — Epic releases George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

March 19 • 2013 — Mercury releases the Kacey Musgraves album Same Trailer

Different Park.

March 20 • 2018 — Chris Janson joins the Grand Ole Opry. Garth Brooks does

the induction honors.

March 21 • 2017 — Little Big Town performs in Australia for the first time,

appearing at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney with opening act Kip Moore.

March 22 • 2009 — Basketball star Dennis Rodman physically threatens Clint

Black on NBC’s Donald Trump-hosted The Celebrity Apprentice and refers to Black as “the dictator from hell.” Rodman abandons the men’s team, which still wins behind project manager Brian McKnight.

• 1955 — Johnny Cash records his first single, “Hey, Porter,” at the Sun Studio in Memphis.

March 23 • 2016 — Twelve days before the 51st annual Academy of Country

Music Awards, Chris Stapleton is named new male vocalist of the year, Kelsea Ballerini claims new female, and Old Dominion takes new vocal duo or group.

• 2012 — The Oak Ridge Boys sing the national anthem before an NBA game at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Phoenix Suns edge the Indiana Pacers, 113-111.

Source: RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database

CHESNEY

NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND

Click on headlines below for more details

Academy of Country Music Awards Postponed To September 2020

Nashville Declares Public Health Emergency, Shuts Down Lower Broadway To Combat Coronavirus

Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group Chairman/CEO, Hospitalized With Coronavirus

California Closes Bars, Clubs In Tough New Measures To Stop Coronavirus

IHeartMedia CEO On Coronavirus: ‘In Times Of Need,’ People ‘Are Hanging Out With Us More’

Top Headlines from .com

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 10 OF 17

AL

LIS

TE

R A

NN

Hot Country SongsSALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA COMPILED BYHot Country Songs

JO

HN

SH

EA

RE

R F

OR

BIL

LB

OA

RD

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 11 OF 17

CROWELL

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

TWO WEEKS

AGOWKS ON CHART

TITLE Artist PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL

COUNTRY AIRPLAY

RANKPEAK

POSITION

1 1 2 54 THE BONES HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH Maren Morris G.KURSTIN (M.MORRIS,J.ROBBINS,L.J.VELTZ) COLUMBIA NASHVILLE

7 1

2 2 1 24 10,000 HOURS Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber D.SMYERS (D.SMYERS,S.MOONEY,J.J.DILLON,J.REYNOLDS,J.D.BIEBER,J.BOYD) WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WAR RC 1

l3 3 4 51 HOMESICK Kane Brown D.HUFF (K.BROWN,B.BERRYHILL,M.J.MCGINN,T.PHILLIPS) ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 1 3

l4 6 6 46 I HOPE HH Airplay Gainer HH Gabby Barrett R.COPPERMAN (Z.KALE,J.M.NITE,G.BARRETT) WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WAR

9 4

5 4 3 23 KINFOLKS Sam Hunt Z.CROWELL (S.L.HUNT,Z.CROWELL,J.FLOWERS,J.OSBORNE) MCA NASHVILLE 3 3

l6 8 14 26 HOMEMADE Jake Owen J.MOI,D.COHEN (B.GOLDSMITH,J.MULLINS,D.PARKER,B.PINSON) BIG LOUD 2 6

7 5 5 50 ONE MAN BAND Old Dominion S.MCANALLY (M.RAMSEY,T. ROSEN,B.F.TURSI,J.OSBORNE) RCA NASHVILLE RC 2

l8 7 10 13 NOBODY BUT YOU Blake Shelton Duet With Gwen Stefani S.HENDRICKS (T.L.JAMES,R.COPPERMAN,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE) WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WMN 12 6

l9 9 11 30 CHASIN’ YOU Morgan Wallen J.MOI (J.MOORE,M.WALLEN,C.WISEMAN) BIG LOUD 13 9

l10 11 15 34 SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT Jordan Davis P.DIGIOVANNI (J.DAVIS,L.L.FOWLER) MCA NASHVILLE 6 10

11 10 9 21 WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT Luke Bryan J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (L.BRYAN,R.COPPERMAN,H.LINDSEY,J.M.NITE) CAPITOL NASHVILLE 4 9

l12 13 8 27 WE BACK Jason Aldean M.KNOX (B.D.WARREN,B.WARREN,T.HUBBARD,J.M.SCHMIDT) MACON/BROKEN BOW 8 8

l13 14 12 32 I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED Riley Green D.HUFF (R.GREEN,L.BONDS,B.GREEN) BMLG 16 12

14 12 13 36 MORE HEARTS THAN MINE Ingrid Andress S.ELLIS,I.ANDRESS (I.ANDRESS,S.ELLIS,D.SOUTHERLAND) ATLANTIC/WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WEA 10 12

l15 15 18 37 CATCH Brett Young D.HUFF (B.YOUNG,R.COPPERMAN,A.GORLEY) BMLG 5 15

l16 16 16 22 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW Carly Pearce & Lee Brice BUSBEE (C.PEARCE,L.COMBS,R.MONTANA,J.SINGLETON) CURB/BIG MACHINE 15 12

l17 17 20 9 DOES TO ME Luke Combs Featuring Eric Church S.MOFFATT (L.COMBS,R.M.L.FULCHER,T.M.REEVE) RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 14 17

18 18 19 27 HOMECOMING QUEEN? Kelsea Ballerini J.ROBBINS (K.BALLERINI,J.ROBBINS,N.GALYON) BLACK RIVER 18 14

l19 19 21 11 BEER CAN’T FIX Thomas Rhett Featuring Jon Pardi D.HUFF,J.BUNETTA,THOMAS RHETT (THOMAS RHETT,J.BUNETTA,Z.SKELTON,R.B.TEDDER) VALORY 11 19

l20 31 — 2 GASLIGHTER HH Digital & Streaming Gainer HH Dixie Chicks J.M.ANTONOFF,DIXIE CHICKS (M.MAGUIRE,E.STRAYER,N.MAINES,J.M.ANTONOFF) COLUMBIA/IN2UNE

51 20

l21 20 23 22 AFTER A FEW Travis Denning J.S.STOVER (T.DENNING,K.ARCHER,J.WEAVER) MERCURY 17 20

l22 24 22 3 HERE AND NOW Kenny Chesney B.CANNON,K.CHESNEY (C.WISEMAN,D.L.MURPHY,D.A.GARCIA) BLUE CHAIR/WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WEA 19 22

l23 25 26 28 LONELY IF YOU ARE Chase Rice C. DESTEFANO,C.RICE (C.RICE,L.RIMES,H.PHELPS) DACK JANIELS/BROKEN BOW 27 23

l24 27 29 34 DIE FROM A BROKEN HEART Maddie & Tae J.ROBBINS,D.WELLS (M.MARLOW,T.DYE,J.SINGLETON,D.RUTTAN) MERCURY 26 24

25 21 — 2 GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME Keith Urban K.URBAN,D.MCCARROLL (C.AUGUST,M.CARTER,SHY CARTER,J.T.SLATER) HIT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE 30 21

1 #1 3 WKS JIMMY ROBBINS

2 JOSH OSBORNE

3 ROSS COPPERMAN

4 JON NITE

TIE 5 LAURA VELTZ

TIE 5 MAREN MORRIS

7 LUKE COMBS

8 CRAIG WISEMAN

TIE 9 JORDAN DAVIS

TIE 9 LONNIE FOWLER

1 #1 32 WKS DANN HUFF

2 JOEY MOI

3 GREG KURSTIN

4 DAN SMYERS

5 ZACH CROWELL

6 SCOTT HENDRICKS

7 ROSS COPPERMAN

8 SCOTT MOFFATT

9 SHANE MCANALLY

10 JAY JOYCE

COUNTRY PRODUCERSTMCOUNTRY SONGWRITERSTM

The weekly Country Songwriters and Country Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot Country Songs chart. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).

Hot Country Songs SALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA COMPILED BY

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 12 OF 17

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.

THIS WEEK

LAST WEEK

TWO WEEKS

AGOWKS ON CHART

TITLE Artist PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL

COUNTRY AIRPLAY

RANKPEAK

POSITION

26 22 25 18 BETTER TOGETHER Luke Combs S.MOFFATT (L.COMBS,D.ISBELL,R.MONTANA) RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE - 14

l27 29 30 19 IN BETWEEN Scotty McCreery F.ROGERS (S.MCCREERY,F.ROGERS,J.L.ALEXANDER,J.SINGLETON) TRIPLE TIGERS 20 27

28 26 27 15 BLUEBIRD Miranda Lambert J.JOYCE (M.LAMBERT,L.DICK,N.HEMBY) VANNER/RCA NASHVILLE 29 26

29 28 28 17 MONSTERS Eric Church J.JOYCE (E.CHURCH,J.HYDE) EMI NASHVILLE 21 28

30 23 24 18 BLESSINGS Florida Georgia Line J.MOI,FLORIDA GEORIGA LINE (T.HUBBARD,B.KELLEY,T.DOUGLAS,J.FRASURE,J.M.SCHMIDT,E.K.SMITH) BMLG RC 23

l31 30 31 25 DROWNING Chris Young C.CROWDER,C.YOUNG (C.A.YOUNG,C.CROWDER,J.HOGE) RCA NASHVILLE 28 18

l32 33 34 18 DRINKING ALONE Carrie Underwood D.GARCIA,C.UNDERWOOD (C.UNDERWOOD,D.A.GARCIA,BRETT JAMES) CAPITOL NASHVILLE 23 32

l33 42 39 5 GETTING GOOD Lauren Alaina D.GARCIA (E.L.WEISBAND) 19/MERCURY 49 33

l34 35 36 5 MY TRUCK Breland KAL V,T.TAYLOR (D.BRELAND,T.TAYLOR,K.AUSTIN,D.BARTON,T.ZEIGLER) BAD REALM/ATLANTIC - 34

35 32 32 20 HER WORLD OR MINE Michael Ray S.HENDRICKS (J.PAULIN,T.DENNING,B.BEAVERS) WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WEA 24 31

36 34 33 11 ONE BEER HARDY Featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson J.MOI,D.WELLS (M.W.HARDY,H.LINDSEY,J.MITCHELL) TREE VIBEZ/BIG LOUD 43 33

l37 36 35 11 ONE NIGHT STANDARDS Ashley McBryde J.JOYCE (A.MCBRYDE,S.MCANALLY,N.HAYFORD) ATLANTIC/WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WAR 32 35

l38 37 38 13 ONE BIG COUNTRY SONG LOCASH 770 PRODUCTIONS (J.FRASURE,A.GORLEY,M.W.HARDY) WHEELHOUSE 22 36

l39 45 46 5 HARD TO FORGET Sam Hunt Z.CROWELL,L.LAIRD (S.L.HUNT,A.GORLEY,L.LAIRD,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE,A.GRISHAM,M.J.SHURTZ,R.HULL) MCA NASHVILLE 33 39

40 38 40 15 WHAT COULD’VE BEEN Gone West J.KENNEY (C.CAILLAT,J.K.YOUNG,J.REEVES,D.J.REEVES,J.KENNEY) TRIPLE TIGERS RC 38

l41 40 43 6 WHY WE DRINK Justin Moore J.S.STOVER,S.BORCHETTA (J.MOORE,C.BEATHARD,D.L.MURPHY,J.S.STOVER) VALORY 25 40

l42 44 45 4 JUST THE WAY Parmalee x Blanco Brown D.FANNING (M.THOMAS,K.BARD,N.W.SIPE) STONEY CREEK - 42

43 39 37 22 BIG, BIG PLANS Chris Lane J.MOI (J.DURRETT,C.LANE,E.K.SMITH) BIG LOUD 48 33

44 41 41 19 COVER ME UP Morgan Wallen J.MOI,D.COHEN (M.J.ISBELL) BIG LOUD - 35

45 43 42 6 FAMOUS Adam Doleac A.SKIB (A.DOLEAC,B.HAMRICK,A.SKIB) ARISTA NASHVILLE - 42

l46 48 50 3 DONE Chris Janson C.JANSON,T.CECIL (C.JANSON,M.OGLESBY,J.PAULIN,M.ROY) WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WAR 31 46

47 46 44 10 THIS BAR Morgan Wallen J.MOI (M.W.HARDY,J.MORGAN,J.SCOTT,E.K.SMITH,R.VOJTESAK,M.WALLEN) BIG LOUD - 29

48 47 49 3 DETAILS Billy Currington M.TRUSSELL (M.TRUSSELL,N.GALYON,S.L.OLSEN) MERCURY 34 47

l49 NEW 1 SOME GIRLS HH Hot Shot Debut HH Jameson Rodgers C.FARREN,M.J.CONES (M.W.HARDY,J.MITCHELL,C.J. SOLAR) COMBUSTION/RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE

38 49

50 49 — 2 SHE’S MINE Kip Moore K.MOORE (K.MOORE,D.COUCH,S.STEPAKOFF) MCA NASHVILLE 35 49

For inquiries about any Nielsen Music data, please contact Josh Bennett at 615-807-1338 or josh.bennett@nielsen.com

COUNTRY MARKET WATCHA Weekly National Music Sales Report

ALBUM CONSUMPTION

AUDIO ON-DEMAND

VIDEO ON-DEMAND

This Week 1,094,000 1,169,909,000 277,059,000

Last Week 1,110,000 1,458,588,000 284,313,000

Change -1.4% -19.8% -2.6%

This Week Last Year 1,079,000 978,892,000 254,535,000

Change 1.4% 19.5% 8.8%

WEEKLY UNIT COUNT

All data measures U.S. activity as of the week ending March 12, 2020. All units counts are rounded to the nearest thousand. Album consumption units — also known as albums plus TEA plus SEA — consists of album sales; track-equivalent album (TEA) sales whereby 10 tracks equal one consumption unit; and stream equivalent albums (SEA) whereby 1,250 paid and/or 3,750 ad-supported audio on-demand streams (OAD) equal one consumption unit.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR

2019 2020 CHANGE

Album Consumption 9,394,000 10,419,000 10.9%

Album Sales 1,911,000 1,651,000 -13.6%

Audio On-Demand 9,087,384,000 10,984,591,000 20.9%

Video On-Demand 2,422,450,000 2,736,385,000 13.0%

YEAR-TO-DATE

ALBUM CONSUMPTION’19

’20

TOTAL ON-DEMAND STREAMS’19

’20

11.51 billion

9.39 million

13.72 billion

10.42 million

TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS COUNTRY DIGITAL SONG SALES

SALES, DATA COMPILED BY

COUNTRY STREAMING SONGS

STREAMING & SALES DATA COMPILED BY

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 13 OF 17

The week’s top-streamed and top-selling paid download country songs, respectively, from sales reports collected and provided by Nielsen Music. Charts update weekly on Tuesdays at www.Billboard.Biz/charts. Copyright 2020, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.

Top Country Albums ranks the most popular country albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums). Copyright 2020, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.

Americana/Folk Albums ranks the most popular Americana/folk albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums). Copyright 2020, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.

AMERICANA/ FOLK ALBUMS

THIS

W

EEK

LAST

W

EEK

2 W

EEKS

A

GO

WEE

KS

ON

CH

T

ARTIST TITLEIMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL

CERT

.

PEA

K

POS.

1 1 1 18 LUKE COMBS WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GETRIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 595687*/SMN 1

2 2 2 145 LUKE COMBS THIS ONE’S FOR YOURIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 538883*/SMN 3 1

l3 3 3 93 MORGAN WALLEN IF I KNOW MEBIG LOUD DIGITAL EX 0 3

l4 4 4 13 BLAKE SHELTON FULLY LOADED: GOD’S COUNTRYWARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE 607343/WMN 1

5 5 5 70 KANE BROWN EXPERIMENTZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE /SMN 0 1

l6 6 6 53 MAREN MORRIS GIRLCOLUMBIA NASHVILLE 590186*/SMN 1

l7 7 7 254 CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLERMERCURY 019405*/UMGN 4 1

l8 8 8 90 DAN + SHAY DAN + SHAYWARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE 570796/WMN 1 1

9 9 9 20 OLD DOMINION OLD DOMINIONRCA NASHVILLE 589183*/SMN 1

10 11 11 171 KANE BROWN KANE BROWNZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 530947*/SMN 1 1

11 10 10 16 JASON ALDEAN 9MACON/BROKEN BOW/BMG 32944*/BBMG 1

12 12 12 41 THOMAS RHETT CENTER POINT ROADVALORY TR0400A*/BMLG 1

l13 RE-ENTRY 62 TIM MCGRAW 35 BIGGEST HITSCURB 79413 8

l14 14 14 240 ZAC BROWN BAND GREATEST HITS SO FAR...ROAR/SOUTHERN GROUND/ATLANTIC 546369/AG 3

15 13 13 52 ELVIS PRESLEY THE ESSENTIAL ELVIS PRESLEYRCA/SONY STRATEGIC MARKETING GROUP 89048*/LEGACY (25.98) 1 12

l16 24 22 24 RILEY GREEN DIFFERENT ‘ROUND HEREBMLG BMXRG0100C VS EX 11

l17 26 29 35 TYLER CHILDERS PURGATORYHICKMAN HOLLER 001*/THIRTY TIGERS 17

18 15 17 100 JASON ALDEAN REARVIEW TOWNMACON/BROKEN BOW/BMG 538375642*/BBMG (538375730) 0 1

l19 18 20 229 BLAKE SHELTON RELOADED: 20 #1 HITSWARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE 551788/WMN 2

l20 19 24 88 JORDAN DAVIS HOME STATEMCA NASHVILLE 028014/UMGN 6

21 16 15 97 KACEY MUSGRAVES GOLDEN HOURMCA NASHVILLE 027921*/UMGN 0 1

l22 22 21 195 JON PARDI CALIFORNIA SUNRISECAPITOL NASHVILLE 024744*/UMGN 1 1

l23 21 23 202 GEORGE STRAIT 50 NUMBER ONESMCA NASHVILLE 000459/UMGN (25.98) 7 1

24 17 16 56 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE CAN’T SAY I AIN’T COUNTRYBMLG FGL0400* 0 1

25 25 27 161 BRETT YOUNG BRETT YOUNGBMLG BY0100A* 1 2

THIS

W

EEK

LAST

W

EEK

WKS

ON

CH

ART

TITLEARTIST

l1 2 2 GASLIGHTER DIXIE CHICKS

2 1 13 NOBODY BUT YOU BLAKE SHELTON DUET WITH GWEN STEFANI

l3 3 28 I HOPE GABBY BARRETT

4 4 30 THE BONES MAREN MORRIS

5 6 23 10,000 HOURS DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER

6 9 6 DOES TO ME LUKE COMBS FEAT. ERIC CHURCH

l7 11 15 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE

8 8 32 I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED RILEY GREEN

l9 12 19 HOMESICK KANE BROWN

10 10 39 ONE MAN BAND OLD DOMINION

11 13 25 MORE HEARTS THAN MINE INGRID ANDRESS

12 16 6 CHASIN’ YOU MORGAN WALLEN

13 5 2 GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME KEITH URBAN

14 19 215 TENNESSEE WHISKEY CHRIS STAPLETON

15 18 50 GOD’S COUNTRY BLAKE SHELTON

16 20 5 BEER CAN’T FIX THOMAS RHETT FEAT. JON PARDI

17 15 35 EVEN THOUGH I’M LEAVING LUKE COMBS

18 25 13 HEARTLESS DIPLO PRESENTS THOMAS WESLEY FEAT. MORGAN WALLEN

19 23 8 BETTER TOGETHER LUKE COMBS

20 22 42 BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART LUKE COMBS

21 21 20 KINFOLKS SAM HUNT

22 1 MY TRUCK BRELAND

23 RE-ENTRY BLUEBIRD MIRANDA LAMBERT

l24 RE-ENTRY TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS JOHN DENVER

25 RE-ENTRY WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT LUKE BRYAN

SALES DATA COMPILED BY

THIS

W

EEK

LAST

W

EEK

WKS

ON

CH

ART

TITLEARTIST

1 1 23 10,000 HOURS DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER

l2 2 36 THE BONES MAREN MORRIS

l3 4 30 HEARTLESS DIPLO PRESENTS THOMAS WESLEY FEAT. MORGAN WALLEN

l4 5 20 I HOPE GABBY BARRETT

5 3 29 ONE MAN BAND OLD DOMINION

l6 7 21 KINFOLKS SAM HUNT

l7 6 56 WHISKEY GLASSES MORGAN WALLEN

l8 8 11 HOMESICK KANE BROWN

l9 11 10 CHASIN’ YOU MORGAN WALLEN

l10 9 153 TENNESSEE WHISKEY CHRIS STAPLETON

l11 10 97 BEAUTIFUL CRAZY LUKE COMBS

l12 13 44 BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART LUKE COMBS

l13 14 7 NOBODY BUT YOU BLAKE SHELTON DUET WITH GWEN STEFANI

l14 12 120 MEANT TO BE BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

l15 24 9 I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED RILEY GREEN

l16 16 36 ONE THING RIGHT MARSHMELLO & KANE BROWN

l17 17 5 MAKE ME WANT TO JIMMIE ALLEN

18 15 86 SPEECHLESS DAN + SHAY

l19 18 17 HOMECOMING QUEEN? KELSEA BALLERINI

l20 NEW HOMEMADE JAKE OWEN

l21 25 5 WE BACK JASON ALDEAN

l22 20 5 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE

l23 22 103 TEQUILA DAN + SHAY

l24 21 2 SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT JORDAN DAVIS

l25 RE-ENTRY HEAVEN KANE BROWN

THIS

W

EEK

LAST

W

EEK

2 W

EEKS

A

GO

WEE

KS

ON

CH

T

ARTIST TITLEIMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL

CERT

.

PEA

K

POS.

1 1 — 2 JAMES TAYLOR AMERICAN STANDARDFANTASY 00619*/CONCORD 1

l2 2 1 200 CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLERMERCURY NASHVILLE 019405*/UMGN 4 1

l3 5 4 52 TYLER CHILDERS PURGATORYHICKMAN HOLLER 001*/THIRTY TIGERS 3

4 4 2 102 KACEY MUSGRAVES GOLDEN HOURMCA NASHVILLE 027921*/UMGN 0 1

5 6 3 246 HOZIER HOZIERRUBYWORKS 309996*/COLUMBIA 2 1

6 7 6 163 SIMON & GARFUNKEL SIMON AND GARFUNKEL’S GREATEST HITSCOLUMBIA 31350/LEGACY 3

7 8 5 205 THE LUMINEERS CLEOPATRADUALTONE 1738* 1 1

l8 RE-ENTRY 24 JAMES TAYLOR THE ESSENTIAL JAMES TAYLORCOLUMBIA 77769/LEGACY 8

9 3 12 26 THE LUMINEERS IIIDUALTONE 5127* 1

l10 NEW 1 BRANDY CLARK YOUR LIFE IS A RECORDWARNER 625104 10

Bluegrass Albums ranks the most popular bluegrass albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on album sales. Copyright 2020, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved.

BLUEGRASS ALBUMS

SALES DATA COMPILED BY

THIS

W

EEK

LAST

W

EEK

2 W

EEKS

A

GO

WEE

KS

ON

CH

T

ARTIST TITLEIMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL

CERT

.

PEA

K

POS.

l1 NEW 1 THE PANHANDLERS THE PANHANDLERSMOTEL TIME 004*/THE NEXT WALTZ 1

l2 3 1 24 BILLY STRINGS HOMEROUNDER 610063*/CONCORD 1

l3 NEW 1 DANNY BARNES MAN ON FIREATO 3

4 1 — 2 SIERRA HULL 25 TRIPSROUNDER 6100579*/CONCORD 1

l5 4 2 5 THE STEELDRIVERS BAD FOR YOUROUNDER 610080*/CONCORD 1

6 6 4 22 THE DEAD SOUTH SUGAR & JOYSIX SHOOTER 129* 1

7 9 5 58 MANDOLIN ORANGE TIDES OF A TEARDROPYEP ROC 2638* 1

8 8 7 23 OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW LIVE AT THE RYMANCOLUMBIA NASHVILLE 98*/OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW 1

9 7 8 47 STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN DEEPER ROOTS: WHERE THE BLUEGRASS GROWSSCSEE 0930* 1

l10 RE-ENTRY 14 MICHAEL CLEVELAND TALL FIDDLERCOMPASS 4737 2

When Big Machine picked “Like I Knew You Would” as a lead single for 20-year-old newcomer Payton Smith, the label set him up for an ideal introduction.

It showcases his impressive guitar skills, his energetic performance ap-proach and his homegrown love of percussion. Hailing from the Gulf Coast town of Houma, La., he grew up a short drive from New Orleans, and the Big Easy made a mark on him as a musician.

“There was so much music,” he recalls, “and the thing that it all had in com-mon, no matter what genre it was, was rhythm. It was all about rhythm. And syncopation. And that has a huge effect on the way that I write music because it has to have some kind of groove.”

“Like I Knew You Would” definitely meets that standard. He created it on Dec. 6, 2018, in his f irst writing session with bluegrass musician-songwriter Ronnie Bowman (“No-body to Blame,” “Never Wanted Nothing More”) and guitarist-keyboardist-producer Dan Fernandez at Fernandez’s Nashville home. The location set the tone for the day’s work.

“My studio is kind of like a playground, like nothing’s in the right place,” says Fernandez. “It’s kind of chaotic, and there’s a bunch of shit everywhere, you know? So it’s almost like the lightning in the idea is already in the room.”

Appropriately, there’s a degree of chaos in the percussion on “Like I Knew You Would,” which was the song’s starting point.

“We all talked about how much we love syn-copation and love rhythms, and we just kind of spent the hour drinking coffee, talking about songs that we love and then dove into it,” recalls Smith.

The work was focused on sonics first, applying a series of claps to a simple chord progression, then looping it to build an attitude in the room. The title and the storyline were unknown at the outset, though Bowman freestyled a few lines — “Down to the river ’cross the railroad tracks/I was playing it cool, you were kickin’ it back/Like I knew you would” — that set the lyrical elements in motion.

“That’s a great cadence,” observes Bowman. “And you’ve already pretty much made your map.”

The river resonated with Smith’s swampy bayou history, and “Like I Knew You Would” became a theme. They repeated it at least twice in each verse and likewise used it to bookend the opening and closing lines of the chorus, pro-viding a verbal focus for the work.

“The Beatles repeat so much the title of their song, you know, inside of the song, and that was always appealing to me,” says Smith. “I think that some of that, not even thinking about it, made its way into ‘Like I Knew You Would’ — the idea of just repeating the hook as much as you could.”

That first verse percolated as they worked through it, and when they ar-rived at the chorus, Smith changed it up, hitting power chords on his guitar and singing the title again with a melody that changes the dynamic. “Knew you would” jumps a fifth, then drops a fourth, creating a jagged set of inter-vals that’s unusual in a country song.

“The chords are pretty much the same all the way down,” notes Fernandez. “So we really worked hard on making the phrasing of the verses, the melody of the verses, be something you can grasp on to and kind of inject your own story into it, but also having the chorus be something different.”

The lyrics were developed with an intentional vagueness, as the singer con-fesses his infatuation. The listener knows the woman has blue eyes, that he

calls her an “angel” and that she’s stolen his heart. But the rest of the riverside activities remain a bit foggy. “Drivin’ me crazy with a melody,” for example, fits the phrasing in verse one nicely, though it’s not clear if that melody is metaphoric or if she’s literally singing a song over and over.

“I don’t really want to tell you what it means to me,” says Bowman, “because it may mean something [different] to you.”

Smith injected one more change of pace to the proceedings, building a skittering guitar interlude that functions like a bridge at the close of the second chorus. It’s al-most stately at the start, segueing into arena-rock bravado, much like a mid-2000s Keith Urban production.

“Keith was a huge influence on me, and that solo — especially that walk-up [that ends] the solo — was definitely something that I grew up hearing from Keith,” says Smith.

Fernandez produced a smooth demo at the end of the writing session with prominent banjo and steel, and all three writers felt they’d created something special. Smith hesitated to share it with the label, though, fearful that it might knock out one of the five songs he was already set to re-cord with producer James Stroud (Chris Young, John Anderson). When he finally did reveal it, Big Machine Label Group president/CEO Scott Borchetta proclaimed it a “smash” in an email and decided they should record all six songs.

St roud a nd Sm it h were deter m i ned to heighten the song’s percussive quotient on the

master. Stroud — who started out playing the kit on such cuts as Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Drivin’ My Life Away” — hired drum-mer Wes Little to bang out a steady, complicated stream of 16th notes during a session at Starstruck Studios. Little brought a variety of drums with him, and Stroud settled on a piccolo snare to provide a crisp high end for the percussion.

“We tuned it to where it was a little out of tune, to where it didn’t ring,” says Stroud. “It sounded like a cross between James Brown’s snare drum and a Louisiana/Neville Brothers snare drum.”

Smith handled most of the guitar work, though guitarist Kenny Greenberg brought extra fire power to a band that included bassist Mike Brignardello, acoustic guitarist Biff Watson and keyboardist Steve Nathan. Smith asked them specifically to play as if they were on a concert stage.

Smith knocked out his vocals later at LOUD Studio with the same Neumann U47 microphone that Stroud had used with Toby Keith and Tim McGraw. And Smith sang with the same passion and rawness that he brings to a concert stage.

“I remember wanting to hold a guitar because that helps so much with that live energy,” says Smith. “I think I closed my eyes the whole song while I was singing it. You’re envisioning a crowd the whole time, and I felt like that really helped how I delivered that vocal.”

Stroud insisted that Smith do his own background vocals, which only added to the intensity.

“When he’s singing with himself it sounds like a dadgum train,” says Stroud.Smith played “Like I Knew You Would” during a lunch showcase on Feb. 21

at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, and Big Machine released it to terrestrial radio via Play MPE immediately after that performance. The song received a March 9 add date, bringing a 20-year-old exuberance and an old-school hybrid sound to the genre.

“It is really my favorite song to play live,” says Smith. “It’s just got so much energy.”

Newcomer Payton Smith Snares A Percussive Debut With “Like I Knew You Would”

MAKIN’ TRACKS TOM ROLAND tom.roland@billboard.com

SMITH

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 14 OF 17

DA

VID

MC

CL

IST

ER

Country Airplay IndexTITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. (Songwriter) Chart Position

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 15 OF 17

A

AFTER A FEW I’m About To Go RED On Ya Music, BMI/Travis Denning Music, BMI/ole, BMI/Crack The Glass Songs, BMI/Stars And Stripes And Maple Leaf Music, BMI/Downtown DMP Songs, BMI/Sound Wagon Songs, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Music Of The Corn, ASCAP (T.Denning, K.Archer, J.Weaver) 17

B

BEER CAN’T FIX EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line, BMI/Music Of Big Family, BMI/Dragon Bunny Music, BMI/Patriot Games Publishing, ASCAP/Write Me A Song Publishing, GMR/Downtown Global Two, GMR (Thomas Rhett, J.Bunetta, Z.Skelton, R.B.Tedder) 11

BIG, BIG PLANS Magic Mustang Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Tree Vibez Music, LLC, BMI/Ern Dog Music, BMI (J.Durrett, C.Lane, E.K.Smith) 48

BLUEBIRD Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Pink Dog Publishing, BMI/Emileon Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Wrucke For You Publishing, BMI (M.Lambert, L.Dick, N.Hemby) 29

THE BONES International Dog Music, BMI/Downtown DMP Songs, BMI/Jammy Rabbins Music, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs Jimmy Robbins, ASCAP/Extraordinary Alien Publishing, ASCAP/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Heroes And Halos Music, BMI (M.Morris, J.Robbins, L.J.Veltz) 7

BREAK IT IN Plaid Flag Music, BMI/McCarty And Blake, LLC, BMI/South By Sea Music Publishing, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/Florida Songs Vibez, BMI/I Finally Got Some Publishing, BMI/Riser House Tunes, SESAC (B.Davis, B.Day, D.Ross, M.Whitworth) 40

C

CATCH Super Big Music, ASCAP/Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (B.Young, R.Copperman, A.Gorley) 5

CHASIN’ YOU BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Team Destiny, ASCAP/JMZL Music, ASCAP/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP (J.Moore, M.Wallen, C.Wiseman) 13

CHEATIN’ SONGS WC Music Corp., ASCAP/TipTop Music, ASCAP/Tropical Cowboy Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Kitt Cass Publishing Corporation, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (J.Carson, C.Duddy, M.Wystrach, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 39

D

DETAILS WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Future Heartbeat Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Boy Named Ford, BMI/Slo Circus Music, ASCAP/Roc Nation Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Rhythm House Red, ASCAP (M.Trussell, N.Galyon, S.L.Olsen) 34

DIAMONDS Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/SongsbyME, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS Words And Music, ASCAP/That Was EZ, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (M.Evans, C. DeStefano, E.K.Bogart) 55

DIE FROM A BROKEN HEART Super Big Music, ASCAP/Seven Red Brids Publishing, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/Jehovah Nissi Music, BMI/Jett Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Doc And Maggie Music, SOCAN/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (M.Marlow, T.Dye, J.Singleton, D.Ruttan) 26

DOES TO ME Big Music Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Works Of RHA, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Larkin Hill Publishing, BMI/Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music, BMI (L.Combs, R.M.L.Fulcher, T.M.Reeve) 14

DONE ole Red Vinyl Music, BMI/Buckkilla Music, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Songsfortatum Publishing, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Rounding Third Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Mitchell Marlow Music, ASCAP/KJM Music Publishing, ASCAP (C.Janson, M.Oglesby, J.Paulin, M.Roy) 31

DRINKING ALONE Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/Universal Music - Brentwood-Benson Songs, BMI/D Soul Music, ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (C.Underwood, D.A.Garcia, Brett James) 23

DROWNING Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/They’ve Gone To Plaid Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Big Crowd Publishing, ASCAP/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/Universal Tunes, SESAC/Songs For Owen Music, SESAC (C.A.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 28

E

EVERYWHERE BUT ON Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Pedal Down Music, ASCAP/W.C.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Presley Jake Music, SESAC (M.Stell, P.Sikes, L.Miller) 44

F

FIRE’T UP Indiana Angel Music, BMI/Songs Of Rhythm House, BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Peer, BMI/Sound Wagon Songs, ASCAP (B.Gilbert, B.Day, J.Weaver) 50

FOR MY MONEY WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Mid South Mood Maker Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Lanercost Publishing, ASCAP (B.Lay, A.DeRoberts) 60

FRONT SEAT Totally Awesome Music, BMI (J.Jordan) 36

G

GASLIGHTER Woolly Puddin’ Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Scrapin’ Toast, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Ducky Donath Music, BMI (M.Maguire, E.Strayer, N.Maines, J.M.Antonoff) 51

GETTING GOOD Weistribe Publishing, ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (E.L.Weisband) 49

GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Gold Leaf Pages, ASCAP/Micah Carter Publishing Designee, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/You Want How Much Of What Publishing, BMI/Worldwide EMG Music B, BMI/Bro 2 Bro Publishing, BMI (C.August, M.Carter, Shy Carter, J.T.Slater) 30

H

HARD TO FORGET Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Between the Pines, LLC, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/Suzanne James Songs, GMR/Unichappell Music, Inc., BMI/Smackstreet Music, GMR/Warner Geo Met Ric Music, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP/Jamie Music Publishing Co., BMI (S.L.Hunt, A.Gorley, L.Laird, S.McAnally, J.Osborne, A.Grisham, M.J.Shurtz, R.Hull) 33

HEAD OVER HEELS Magic Mustang Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Songwriters of Platinum Pen Publishing, BMI/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/BMG Silver Songs, SESAC/Music Of Platinum Pen, SESAC/Hatchoo Music, SESAC/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Songs Of XO, BMI/We In Good Company, BMI/Big Deal Beats, BMI (H.Mulholland, J.Wayne, N.Cooke, T.Cecil, J.Mullins) 45

HERE AND NOW Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/4TheKidz Music, ASCAP (C.Wiseman, D.L.Murphy, D.A.Garcia) 19

HER WORLD OR MINE Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/I’m About To Go RED On Ya Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI/Stalefish Music, BMI (J.Paulin, T.Denning, B.Beavers) 24

HOMECOMING QUEEN? Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/JRM3, ASCAP/Muse Magic, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Boy Named Ford, BMI (K.Ballerini, J.Robbins, N.Galyon) 18

HOMEMADE BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Songs Of Big Deal, ASCAP/Go For The Goldsmith, ASCAP/Mullins It Over Music, BMI/Tree Vibez Music, LLC, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Works Of RHA, BMI/Oak Tree Swing Publishing, BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/Not A Track Guy Music, BMI (B.Goldsmith, J.Mullins, D.Parker, B.Pinson) 2

HOMESICK Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Kane Brown Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Don’t Be A Gypsy, BMI/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/TDP Publishing, BMI (K.Brown, B.Berryhill, M.J.McGinn, T.Phillips) 1

I

I DO FOR YOU Riser House Tunes, SESAC/Golden Walls Music, SESAC/The Song Factory LLC, SESAC/Double Gobble Music, BMI/Me Gusta Music, BMI (M.D.Carmichael, J.Melton) 42

I DON’T LOVE YOU Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Anthem Entertainment, ASCAP/Red Like The Sunset Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Yamomma, ASCAP/Alrighty Den Music, BMI/Songs Of Mojo Two, ASCAP/Songs Of A Carl Music, ASCAP (A.Hambrick, M.Fuller, N.A.Medley) 57

I HOPE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Revinyl House, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI (Z.Kale, J.M.Nite, G.Barrett) 9

I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/For The Kids Gold, ASCAP/Redfeather Publishing, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Super Big Music, ASCAP/Jett Music, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Sullivan S Guns Music, BMI (C.Pearce, L.Combs, R.Montana, J.Singleton) 15

IN BETWEEN Dagum Music, BMI/Austintatious Tunes, BMI/Spirit Cataloge Holdings, S.A.R.L./Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/Party Of Five Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Super Big Music, ASCAP/Jett Music, ASCAP (S.McCreery, F.Rogers, J.L.Alexander, J.Singleton) 20

I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Riley Green Publishing Designee, BMI (R.Green, L.Bonds, B.Green) 16

K

KINFOLKS Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Bentween The Pines, LLC, ASCAP/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Miller Crow Music, ASCAP/Kyler’s Kinda Night, ASCAP/Twelve6 Dogwood, ASCAP/JFlow Records & Tapes, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP (S.L.Hunt, Z.Crowell, J.Flowers, J.Osborne) 3

L

LONELY IF YOU ARE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack Janiels Publishing, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Koala T Tunes, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP (C.Rice, L.Rimes, H.Phelps) 27

LOVE YOU LIKE I USED TO BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Kailey’s Dream, BMI/Blue Corolla Oklahoma, SESAC/Feel Your Creative Pulse Music, SESAC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Home Team Music, BMI/Tunes Of TrailerParker, BMI (R.Dickerson, C.Brown, P.Welling) 54

M

MOMMA’S HOUSE Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP/Two Black Dogs, ASCAP/ole Music Of Parallel, BMI/Lucky Mic Publishing, BMI/Round Hill Compositions, BMI/Ford Drives A Chevy, BMI/Shirt At Work, BMI/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/BMG Cicada, SESAC (D.Schneider, M.Lotten, R.Clawson, J.T.Wilson) 56

MONSTERS Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Longer And Louder Music, BMI/Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music, BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (E.Church, J.Hyde) 21

MORE HEARTS THAN MINE What Is An Ingrid, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Straight From The Art Music, BMI/Songs For A Stone Heart, BMI/Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Happy Rock Publishing, ASCAP (I.Andress, S.Ellis, D.Southerland) 10

N

NOBODY BUT YOU EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP/Still Working For The Man Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (T.L.James, R.Copperman, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 12

NOW YOU KNOW Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Mandy’s Favorite Songs, BMI/Murphy The Wolf Music, BMI/Five Miles West Songs, BMI/Don’t Be A Gypsy, BMI (J.Langston, B.Clawson, B.Berryhill) 37

O

ONE BEER Relative Music Group, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/West Pass Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP (M.W.Hardy, H.Lindsey, J.Mitchell) 43

ONE BIG COUNTRY SONG Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/Relative Music Group, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (J.Frasure, A.Gorley, M.W.Hardy) 22

ONE NIGHT STANDARDS Canned Biscuit Songs, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/I Love RHA, SESAC/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC (A.McBryde, S.McAnally, N.Hayford) 32

OVER DRINKING W.C.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Songs Of Rhythm House Black, SESAC/Bennett’s Dad’s Songs, SESAC/Roc Nation US Music, SESAC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/Vistaville Music, ASCAP/Steph Jones Who Music, ASCAP/Big Deal Hits, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP (C.R.Barlowe, J.Frasure, A.Gorley, S.Jones, H.Lindsey) 52

P

PRETTY HEART Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Parkermac Publishing, BMI/Sullivan S Guns Music, BMI (P.McCollum, R.Montana) 41

S

SHE’S MINE Music Of Stage Three, BMI/Songs Of Cornman, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Songs From The Couch, BMI/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (K.Moore, D.Couch, S.Stepakoff) 35

SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Jordan Davis Music, ASCAP/Amylase Songs ‘N Such, ASCAP/Matching Cowlicks Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (J.Davis, L.L.Fowler) 6

SOMEBODY LIKE THAT Oven Music Inc., BMI/Ziggys Z Music, SESAC/Tunes Of Big Deal Music, SESAC/Songs Of Porterfied Music, SESAC (T.Arts, A.Kline, A.M.Cruz) 59

SOME GIRLS Harding Road Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Watsky Music, LLC, BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/West Pass Music, BMI/New House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP (M.W.Hardy, J.Mitchell, C.J. Solar) 38

SOME PEOPLE DO WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line, BMI (M.Ramsey, J.Frasure, S.McAnally, Thomas Rhett) 46

T

THAT’S WHY I LOVE DIRT ROADS Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Climbing Windmills Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS Words And Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR/Spruce Road Publishing, GMR/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP (C. DeStefano, J.M.Nite, B.Rempel, G.Smith) 58

W

WE BACK Songs Of TriScore, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Loyal Feather Music, BMI/Chifforobe Songs, BMI/Free Dive Music, BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, ASCAP (B.D.Warren, B.Warren, T.Hubbard, J.M.Schmidt) 8

WHAT I’M LEAVING FOR Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Happy Rock Publishing, ASCAP/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Mason Jar Moonshine Music Publishing, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/Never Veltz So Good Publishing, BMI (S.Ellis, M.R.Premnath, L.J.Veltz) 47

WHAT I SEE Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/Concession 114 Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Songs Of Freetown, BMI/Me Gusta Music, BMI (T.Howell, B.Lancaster, C.B.Baldwin, J.N.Spillman) 53

WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Peanut Mill Songs, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP (L.Bryan, R.Copperman, H.Lindsey, J.M.Nite) 4

WHY WE DRINK Big Music Machine, BMI/Double Barrel Ace Music, BMI/Seven Ring Circus Songs, BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent And Associates, LLC., ASCAP/Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Real Big Red Tunes, ASCAP (J.Moore, C.Beathard, D.L.Murphy, J.S.Stover) 25

Hot Country Songs IndexTITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. (Songwriter) Chart Position

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 16 OF 17

10,000 HOURS Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/Shay Mooney Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/Buckeye26, ASCAP/Jreynmusic, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Bieber Time Publishing, ASCAP/Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Poo BZ Publishing Inc., ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP (D.Smyers, S.Mooney, J.J.Dillon, J.Reynolds, J.D.Bieber, J.Boyd) 2

A

AFTER A FEW I’m About To Go RED On Ya Music, BMI/Travis Denning Music, BMI/ole, BMI/Crack The Glass Songs, BMI/Stars And Stripes And Maple Leaf Music, BMI/Downtown DMP Songs, BMI/Sound Wagon Songs, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Music Of The Corn, ASCAP (T.Denning, K.Archer, J.Weaver) 21

B

BEER CAN’T FIX EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line, BMI/Music Of Big Family, BMI/Dragon Bunny Music, BMI/Patriot Games Publishing, ASCAP/Write Me A Song Publishing, GMR/Downtown Global Two, GMR (Thomas Rhett, J.Bunetta, Z.Skelton, R.B.Tedder) 19

BETTER TOGETHER Big Music Machine, BMI/Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Sullivan S Guns Music, BMI (L.Combs, D.Isbell, R.Montana) 26

BIG, BIG PLANS Magic Mustang Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Tree Vibez Music, LLC, BMI/Ern Dog Music, BMI (J.Durrett, C.Lane, E.K.Smith) 43

BLESSINGS Big Loud Mountain, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Pranch Ringle Music, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Tomdouglasmusic, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, ASCAP/Ern Dog Music, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Tree Vibez Music, LLC, BMI (T.Hubbard, B.Kelley, T.Douglas, J.Frasure, J.M.Schmidt, E.K.Smith) 30

BLUEBIRD Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Pink Dog Publishing, BMI/Emileon Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Wrucke For You Publishing, BMI (M.Lambert, L.Dick, N.Hemby) 28

THE BONES International Dog Music, BMI/Downtown DMP Songs, BMI/Jammy Rabbins Music, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs Jimmy Robbins, ASCAP/Extraordinary Alien Publishing, ASCAP/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Heroes And Halos Music, BMI (M.Morris, J.Robbins, L.J.Veltz) 1

C

CATCH Super Big Music, ASCAP/Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (B.Young, R.Copperman, A.Gorley) 15

CHASIN’ YOU BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Team Destiny, ASCAP/JMZL Music, ASCAP/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP (J.Moore, M.Wallen, C.Wiseman) 9

COVER ME UP Fame Publishing Company LLC, BMI/Songs Of Emchant, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (M.J.Isbell) 44

D

DETAILS WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Future Heartbeat Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Boy Named Ford, BMI/Slo Circus Music, ASCAP/Roc Nation Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Rhythm House Red, ASCAP (M.Trussell, N.Galyon, S.L.Olsen) 48

DIE FROM A BROKEN HEART Super Big Music, ASCAP/Seven Red Brids Publishing, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/Jehovah Nissi Music, BMI/Jett Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Doc And Maggie Music, SOCAN/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (M.Marlow, T.Dye, J.Singleton, D.Ruttan) 24

DOES TO ME Big Music Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Works Of RHA, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Larkin Hill Publishing, BMI/Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music, BMI (L.Combs, R.M.L.Fulcher, T.M.Reeve) 17

DONE ole Red Vinyl Music, BMI/Buckkilla Music, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Songsfortatum Publishing, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Rounding Third Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Mitchell Marlow Music, ASCAP/KJM Music Publishing, ASCAP (C.Janson, M.Oglesby, J.Paulin, M.Roy) 46

DRINKING ALONE Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/Universal Music - Brentwood-Benson Songs, BMI/D Soul Music, ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (C.Underwood, D.A.Garcia, Brett James) 32

DROWNING Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/They’ve Gone To Plaid Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Big Crowd Publishing, ASCAP/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/Universal Tunes, SESAC/Songs For Owen Music, SESAC (C.A.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 31

F

FAMOUS Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Sehr Laut, ASCAP/Songs Of Razor And Tie Music, ASCAP (A.Doleac, B.Hamrick, A.Skib) 45

G

GASLIGHTER Woolly Puddin’ Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Scrapin’ Toast, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Ducky Donath Music, BMI (M.Maguire, E.Strayer, N.Maines, J.M.Antonoff) 20

GETTING GOOD Weistribe Publishing, ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (E.L.Weisband) 33

GOD WHISPERED YOUR NAME BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Gold Leaf Pages, ASCAP/Micah Carter Publishing Designee, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/You Want How Much Of What Publishing, BMI/Worldwide EMG Music B, BMI/Bro 2 Bro Publishing, BMI (C.August, M.Carter, Shy Carter, J.T.Slater) 25

H

HARD TO FORGET Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Between the Pines, LLC, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/Suzanne James Songs, GMR/Unichappell Music, Inc., BMI/Smackstreet Music, GMR/Warner Geo Met Ric Music, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP/Jamie Music Publishing Co., BMI (S.L.Hunt, A.Gorley, L.Laird, S.McAnally, J.Osborne, A.Grisham, M.J.Shurtz, R.Hull) 39

HERE AND NOW Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/4TheKidz Music, ASCAP (C.Wiseman, D.L.Murphy, D.A.Garcia) 22

HER WORLD OR MINE Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/I’m About To Go RED On Ya Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI/Stalefish Music, BMI (J.Paulin, T.Denning, B.Beavers) 35

HOMECOMING QUEEN? Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/JRM3, ASCAP/Muse Magic, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Boy Named Ford, BMI (K.Ballerini, J.Robbins, N.Galyon) 18

HOMEMADE BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Songs Of Big Deal, ASCAP/Go For The Goldsmith, ASCAP/Mullins It Over Music, BMI/Tree Vibez Music, LLC, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Works Of RHA, BMI/Oak Tree Swing Publishing, BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/Not A Track Guy Music, BMI (B.Goldsmith, J.Mullins, D.Parker, B.Pinson) 6

HOMESICK Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Kane Brown Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Don’t Be A Gypsy, BMI/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/TDP Publishing, BMI (K.Brown, B.Berryhill, M.J.McGinn, T.Phillips) 3

I

I HOPE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Revinyl House, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI (Z.Kale, J.M.Nite, G.Barrett) 4

I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY NOW BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/For The Kids Gold, ASCAP/Redfeather Publishing, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Super Big Music, ASCAP/Jett Music, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Sullivan S Guns Music, BMI (C.Pearce, L.Combs, R.Montana, J.Singleton) 16

IN BETWEEN Dagum Music, BMI/Austintatious Tunes, BMI/Spirit Cataloge Holdings, S.A.R.L./Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/Party Of Five Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Super Big Music, ASCAP/Jett Music, ASCAP (S.McCreery, F.Rogers, J.L.Alexander, J.Singleton) 27

I WISH GRANDPAS NEVER DIED Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Riley Green Publishing Designee, BMI (R.Green, L.Bonds, B.Green) 13

J

JUST THE WAY Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/JM Thomas Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Tunes LLC, ASCAP/Kevin Bard Music, ASCAP/Margetts Road Music, ASCAP/Nolan W. Sipe Music, ASACP (M.Thomas, K.Bard, N.W.Sipe) 42

K

KINFOLKS Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Bentween The Pines, LLC, ASCAP/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Miller Crow Music, ASCAP/Kyler’s Kinda Night, ASCAP/Twelve6 Dogwood, ASCAP/JFlow Records & Tapes, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP (S.L.Hunt, Z.Crowell, J.Flowers, J.Osborne) 5

L

LONELY IF YOU ARE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack Janiels Publishing, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Koala T Tunes, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP (C.Rice, L.Rimes, H.Phelps) 23

M

MONSTERS Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Longer And Louder Music, BMI/Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music, BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (E.Church, J.Hyde) 29

MORE HEARTS THAN MINE What Is An Ingrid, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Straight From The Art Music, BMI/Songs For A Stone Heart, BMI/Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Happy Rock Publishing, ASCAP (I.Andress, S.Ellis, D.Southerland) 14

MY TRUCK Daniel Preland Publishing Designee, BMI/No Quincydence Music Publishing, BMI/Kalvin Austin, Publishing Designee, BMI/Devon Barton, Publishing Designee, BMI/E.MilesMusic, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Tatiana Zeigler Publishing Designee, BMI (D.Breland, T.Taylor, K.Austin, D.Barton, T.Zeigler) 34

N

NOBODY BUT YOU EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/Smackborne Music, ASCAP/Still Working For The Man Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (T.L.James, R.Copperman, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 8

O

ONE BEER Relative Music Group, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/West Pass Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP (M.W.Hardy, H.Lindsey, J.Mitchell) 36

ONE BIG COUNTRY SONG Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/Relative Music Group, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (J.Frasure, A.Gorley, M.W.Hardy) 38

ONE MAN BAND WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Rezsongs, ASCAP/Reehits World, ASCAP/Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Smack Blue, LLC, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP/Unfair Entertainment, ASCAP/MeGusta Music, ASCAP/We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing, ASCAP/Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Turs And Chorus, ASCAP (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, B.F.Tursi, J.Osborne) 7

ONE NIGHT STANDARDS Canned Biscuit Songs, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Influence Media Music SPV, LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/I Love RHA, SESAC/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC (A.McBryde, S.McAnally, N.Hayford) 37

S

SHE’S MINE Music Of Stage Three, BMI/Songs Of Cornman, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs US, BMI/Songs From The Couch, BMI/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (K.Moore, D.Couch, S.Stepakoff) 50

SLOW DANCE IN A PARKING LOT Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Jordan Davis Music, ASCAP/Amylase Songs ‘N Such, ASCAP/Matching Cowlicks Music, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP (J.Davis, L.L.Fowler) 10

SOME GIRLS Harding Road Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Watsky Music, LLC, BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/West Pass Music, BMI/New House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP (M.W.Hardy, J.Mitchell, C.J. Solar) 49

T

THIS BAR Relative Music Group, BMI/Ransom Quarter Note Music, ASCAP/Pie Cost Publishing, ASCAP/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Torches And Pitchforks Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI (M.W.Hardy, J.Morgan, J.Scott, E.K.Smith, R.Vojtesak, M.Wallen) 47

W

WE BACK Songs Of TriScore, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Loyal Feather Music, BMI/Chifforobe Songs, BMI/Free Dive Music, BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, ASCAP (B.D.Warren, B.Warren, T.Hubbard, J.M.Schmidt) 12

WHAT COULD’VE BEEN Maliburrito Music, BMI/Elehala Music, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/MRMD Music, BMI/Songs From Outter Space Music, BMI/WC Music Corp., ASCAP/Carver Music, ASCAP (C.Caillat, J.K.Young, J.Reeves, D.J.Reeves, J.Kenney) 40

WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Peanut Mill Songs, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP (L.Bryan, R.Copperman, H.Lindsey, J.M.Nite) 11

WHY WE DRINK Big Music Machine, BMI/Double Barrel Ace Music, BMI/Seven Ring Circus Songs, BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent And Associates, LLC., ASCAP/Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Real Big Red Tunes, ASCAP (J.Moore, C.Beathard, D.L.Murphy, J.S.Stover) 41

On March 19, 2005, Josh Gracin’s “Nothin’ to Lose” crowned Hot

Country Songs, becoming his lone No. 1 — and the first by an American Idol contestant.

The song, co-written by Kevin Savigar and Marcel Chagnon, was released as the second single from Gracin’s self-titled freshman album, which produced two other top 10s on the chart: “I Want to Live” (No. 4) and “Stay With Me (Brass Bed)” (No. 5). He notched an additional top 10 in 2008 with the No. 10-peaking

“We Weren’t Crazy.”Born in Westland, Mich., Gra-

cin enlisted in the U.S. Marine

Corps shortly after high school. He broke t h rou gh i n music as t h e f o u r t h - p l a c e f i n a l i s t o n the second season of American Idol in 2003. After he led Hot Country Songs, 2005 Idol champ Carrie Un-derwood became the series’ next contestant to reign, with “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” in January 2006.

Following Idol, Gracin finished his tour with the marines and signed to the Lyric Street label after being honorably discharged. Now 39, he and his wife, Katie, welcomed son Luka Roman Gracin, his fourth child, on Jan. 13.

—JIM ASKER

15 Years AgoJosh Gracin Won Big With ‘Lose’The former American Idol contestant scored his lone Hot Country Songs leader

Gracin performed in February 2005 at the

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in

Jacksonville, Fla.

CODA

R EW I N D I N GT H E

C O U N T RY C H A R T S

FR

AN

K M

ICE

LO

TTA

/GE

TT

Y I

MA

GE

S

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MARCH 16, 2020 | PAGE 17 OF 17