Summer Sales Doldrums; Fall Product Parade

David M Ross – 08/08/2007

Taylor Swift. (Click photo to see album releases chart.)

What do Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Big & Rich and Rascal Flatts all have in common on this week’s Top Current Country Albums sales chart? Answer: They are all in line behind Taylor Swift who is No. 1 for the third consecutive week with an album that has now been on the chart for 41 weeks. Overall Top 75 current country sales were light again this week, just over 425,000 units. According to Nielsen SoundScan, year-to-date country sales remain down 29.3% through the week ending 8/5/07.

Despite country’s gaping sales deficit, the hopes of sales execs for an upbeat year-end finish are being bolstered by the slew of superstar product set for release in the final four months. Here’s a few of the biggest: Kenny Chesney (9/11), Rascal Flatts (9/25), Brooks & Dunn (10/2) and Carrie Underwood (10/23). Rumbles at the accounts (but still unofficial) indicate fans might find a Keith Urban Greatest Hits and a new CD from Josh Turner Nov. 6. Also watch for Nov. 13 releases from Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.