The UK Country Airplay chart is a weekly music chart based on the radio airplay of country music singles on radio stations in the United Kingdom. It serves as the UK equivalent to the American Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Announced on 8 March 2024, the debut chart was revealed a few days later on 10 March to coincide with the final day of the 2024 C2C: Country to Country music festival, with the official top 20 being posted each week on the UK-based country publication Holler. The chart, which is the first genre-specific radio chart in the UK, aims to serve as a key measure of which songs are being enjoyed most frequently by listeners across the country and is produced in collaboration with music company Radiomonitor, and the UK branch of the Country Music Association. [1]
The first number one song on the UK Country Airplay chart was "Creek Will Rise" by Conner Smith. [2] The current number one single is "4x4xU" by Lainey Wilson.
The creation of the chart was spearheaded by the increase in popularity of country music within the UK and was described by Milly Olykan, vice president of international relations and development for the CMA, as a “pivotal initiative in a move towards more mainstream moments for the genre” and noting how the consumption of country music in the UK increased by 40% in 2023. In a statement following the announcement of the chart, Olkyan explained “This is an incredibly exciting time for country music in the UK. From the genre experiencing a 40% growth in consumption throughout the last year, to the volume of tickets sold to Country festivals and tours increasing at a record pace, it's apparent the Country is broadening significantly into the mainstream in the UK. This new radio chart will provide another exposure opportunity to further elevate Country artists and allow for greater engagement with fans. As the premier trade association supporting the growth of the Country Music industry, CMA's focus in the UK is to continue to identify how we can move towards more mainstream moments for the genre, and this is another pivotal initiative.”
Alexa Hannaby, head of Big Machine Records in the UK and leader of the project, stated "I'm thrilled for the launch of the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart, a significant milestone for Country music in the UK. This achievement is truly a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration between industry experts and Radiomonitor. Together, we're paving the way for increased recognition and exposure for country artists in the UK and I'm excited to see its impact unfold. [3]
The first ever top 10 was revealed on 10 March 2024:
Each weekly iteration of the chart will consist of the Top 50 songs being heard on the radio, taken from a pool of new releases, with anything that was made available more than three years ago discounted. This will help to ensure the chart is an accurate reflection of current trends and interests within the genre. Data is compiled from a plethora of UK country radio stations, including Absolute Radio Country, BBC Radio 2 - The Country Show with Bob Harris, CountryLine: The Big 615, Downtown Country Radio, and Smooth Country Radio. [4]
No. | nth singe to top the UK Country Airplay chart |
---|---|
re | Return of a single to number one |
Artist | Weeks at number one |
---|---|
Ashley Cooke | 4 |
Keith Urban | |
Lainey Wilson | |
Conner Smith | 3 |
Jordan Davis | |
Morgan Wallen | |
Post Malone | |
Thomas Rhett | |
Drew Baldridge | 2 |
Shaboozey |
Country pop is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres like rock, pop, and country, continuing similar efforts that began in the late 1950s, known originally as the Nashville sound and later on as Countrypolitan. By the mid-1970s, many country artists were transitioning to the pop-country sound, which led to some records charting high on the mainstream top 40 and the Billboard country chart. In turn, many pop and easy listening artists crossed over to country charts during this time. After declining in popularity during the neotraditional movement of the 1980s, country pop had a comeback in the 1990s with a sound that drew more heavily on pop rock and adult contemporary. In the 2010s, country pop metamorphosized again with the addition of hip-hop beats and rap-style phrasing.
Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in nightclubs and at discotheques between the 1940s and 1960s would also have airplay.
"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released on October 18, 2005, as the first single from Underwood's debut album Some Hearts (2005). The ballad tells of a woman seeking help from Jesus in an emergency and surrendering control to a higher power.
The UK music charts are a collection of charts that reflect the music-buying habits of people within the United Kingdom. Most of them are produced by the Official Charts Company.
Pop Airplay is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played on a panel of Top 40 radio stations in the United States. The rankings are based on radio airplay detections as measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, a subsidiary of the U.S.' leading marketing research company. Consumer researchers, Nielsen Audio, refers to the format as contemporary hit radio (CHR). The current number-one song on the chart is "Die With a Smile" by Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga.
Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, as part of the history of the Country Airplay listing. The chart lists the 60 most-listened-to records played on 150 mainstream country radio stations across the country as monitored by Nielsen BDS, weighted to each station's Nielsen ratings.
The Shires are a British country music duo composed of singer-songwriters Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes. Earle sings harmony vocals, plays piano and guitar, and Rhodes is lead singer. The duo formed in 2013 and released their debut album Brave in 2015, becoming the first UK country act to chart in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. The group's second album, My Universe, became the fastest-selling UK country album in history when it was released in October 2016.
Cody Daniel Johnson is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has self-released six albums, including Gotta Be Me, which debuted at number two on Billboard's Country Albums chart, before releasing his first major-label album, Ain't Nothin' to It, in January 2019. He released his second major-label album, Human: The Double Album, in October 2021. His style is classified as contemporary country and neo-traditionalist country, drawing influences from artists like George Strait and Willie Nelson. His song "'Til You Can't" won two awards at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022.
"Biscuits" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kacey Musgraves that serves as the lead single from her second major label studio album, Pageant Material. It was released to country radio on March 16, 2015, through Mercury Nashville and was released to digital retailers the following day. The song was written and produced by Musgraves and Shane McAnally, with additional songwriting by Brandy Clark and additional production by Luke Laird. In December 2015, Billboard ranked "Biscuits" number one on its "10 Best Country Songs of 2015" list and number 16 on its list of the 25 best songs of 2015 across all genres.
Radiomonitor is a British music company that tracks the worldwide airplay of songs, with the information given to record labels and radio stations. They have established partnerships with several international companies located in Ireland, Australia and South Africa, and compiled several airplay charts in the United Kingdom in contrast to the Official Charts Company's physical sales-based UK Singles Chart.
The TurnTable Top 100 Songs is the music industry standard record chart in Nigeria for songs, published weekly by TurnTable magazine. Chart rankings are based on airplay and online streaming in Nigeria. In its opening year, TurnTable charts listed 50 positions, but later expanded its chart ranking to 100 on the second half of 2022.
Lainey Denay Wilson is an American country singer-songwriter. She performed at an early age, before going to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career as a country performer. In 2014, she released her first album on Cupit, followed by a second on Lone Chief in 2016. Wilson secured a publishing deal and later released an extended play (EP) in 2019 which included the song "Things a Man Oughta Know". In 2020, it was issued as a single through the BBR Music Group and eventually reached number one on the American country songs chart.
"Heart Like a Truck" is a song recorded by American country music singer Lainey Wilson. It was released in May 2022 as the lead single from her third studio album, Bell Bottom Country. It was written by Wilson, Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson, and was produced by Jay Joyce. Described as a "song about triumph", the track has received praise for Wilson's passionate and powerful vocals and for its poignant and raw lyrics. The song reached number 2 for two weeks on the Country Airplay chart.
Conner Smith is an American country music singer. He is signed to Big Machine Records' Valory label and has charted three singles.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2023.
"Pretty Little Poison" is a song by American country music singer Warren Zeiders, released on July 10, 2023 as the second single from his third studio album of the same name (2023). It was written by Zeiders, Ryan Beaver and Jared Keim and produced by Ross Copperman.
"Wildflowers and Wild Horses" is a song recorded by American country music singer Lainey Wilson. It was released on November 13, 2023, as the third single from her third studio album, Bell Bottom Country. It was written by Wilson alongside Trannie Anderson and Paul Sikes, and was produced by Jay Joyce. Wilson performed the track live for the first time at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards.
"Creek Will Rise" is a song by American country music singer Conner Smith. It was released on April 3, 2023 as the lead single from his debut album Smoky Mountains. Smith co-wrote the song with Chris Lacorte, Chase McGill, and Parker Welling, and it was produced by Zach Crowell.
Baylen Leonard is an American British radio and TV broadcaster specialising in country music. He started his radio career at BBC London in 2001 after moving in 2000 from New York City. While working at the BBC, Leonard recalls he always wanted to broadcast country music. “If it was a bank holiday and everybody else was away, they’d let me do a country show, which helped them cotton on to the fact that country music was a thing, so I started doing that more on Radio 2 with Bob Harris and then moved into commercial radio when Absolute and Bauer launched their commercial radio country station.”
The UK Country Artists Albums Chart is a music charts compiled in the United Kingdom by the Official Charts Company from sales of songs in the country music genre in record stores and digital downloads. The chart can be viewed on the Official Charts Company's website and is released weekly. The archive on the Official Charts Company website goes back to 30 January 1994, with the first listed number one album being K.d. lang's Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, the soundtrack to the film of the same name.