Weekly Chart Report (3/11/11)

Rebel Dawg Records artist Eric Lee Beddingfield treated WGLR/Platteville, WI MD and self-avowed Barbara Mandrell fanatic Ryan McCall to a visit to Mandrell’s former home The Fontanel Mansion & Farm recently. Jaime Dudney, daughter of Mandrell and Ken Dudney, gave the two a personal tour of the home where she grew up and where she now serves as the director of hospitality. (L-R): Beddingfield, Dudney and McCall.

SPIN ZONE
Hearty congratulations again to the folks over at Stoney Creek Records, as Thompson Square notches a second week on top of the CountryBreakout Chart with “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.” Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music” is in hot pursuit at No. 2, followed by Darius Rucker’s “This” at No. 3 and Jason Aldean’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” at No. 4. But be on the lookout for Zac Brown Band’s “Colder Weather,” which makes a huge leap to No. 5 with a gain of 309 spins.
The ascent of Thompson Square to No. 1 speaks to the rise of a new class of young talents. We have already witnessed the exciting breakthroughs of twentysomethings Taylor, Carrie and Miranda, of course. But interestingly, nearly 50% of the chart’s Top 40 belongs to relative newcomers who are only two albums or less into their careers.
Some, like The Band Perry (“You Lie,” No. 12) and Easton Corbin (“I Can’t Love You Back,” No. 19), have tasted a little No. 1 success and appear positioned for bigger stardom in coming months. Others, like The Dirt Drifters (“Something Better,” No. 36) and JB & The Moonshine Band (“Perfect Girl,” No. 39), are just beginning that journey. The list also includes hopefuls Ashton Shepherd (“Look It Up,” No. 27), Josh Thompson (“Won’t Be Lonely Long,” No. 35), and Carter’s Chord (“A Little Less Comfortable,” No. 37).

Upcoming Singles
March 14
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA
Kip Moore/Mary Was The Marrying Kind/MCA
Due West/When The Smoke Clears/Black River
Sabastian Roberts/It’s Still Country To Me/Homage Records
Taylor Swift/Mean/Big Machine
Rachel Holder/Chocolate/All Entertainment
March 21
the JaneDear girls/Shotgun Girl/Warner Bros./WMN
Ashley Gearing/Five More Minutes/Curb
• • • • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Little Big Town/The Reason Why/Capitol — 54
Taylor Swift/Mean/Big Machine — 56
the JaneDear girls/Shotgun Girl/Warner Bros./WMN — 75
Steve Azar/Hard Road/Ride — 76
Amber Hayes/Wait/Funl — 77
Johnny Rivers/New Home/Soul City — 78
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA — 597
Taylor Swift/Mean/Big Machine — 422
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog-Universal — 413
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 342
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville — 340
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Frankie Ballard/A Buncha Girls/Warner Bros. — 193
Emma King & The Heartsets/I’m Not Forgotten/PLC — 190
Derek O’Bannon/Thinkin’ Bout The Wedding Night — 183
Leah Seawright/On The Backroads/Skytone — 180
Daniel Warren/Only For A Moment/Chaprielle Music — 175
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Taylor Swift/Mean/Big Machine — 35
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville — 29
Little Big Town/The Reason Why/Capitol — 25
Leah Seawright/On The Backroads/Skytone — 18
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA — 17

ercury’s Randy Montana dropped by WXCY in Maryland to play for the staff. (L-R): Brittain Rew, WXCY Mktg. Dir.; Mercury’s Sally Green; WXCY PD Dave Hovel; and Montana.

CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan was in Indianapolis, IN recently for its last stop of the CMT Radio Live Tour. Alan and affiliate WFMS broadcasted live and hosted a concert with Luke Bryan and The Harters. (L-R): Jean Williams, Dir. CMT Radio Networks; Stephen Linn, Sr. Dir. Music Programming & Promotion; Leslie Harter; Luke Bryan; Cody Alan, host CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan; Michael Harter; and Scott Harter.

Warner Bros./WMN band The Dirt Drifters flexed their muscle on their recent visit to KSKS/Fresno. The band was able to pull out a victory in a cut-throat 5-on-3 arm wrestling match against the morning show and PD Mac Daniels. (L-R): WMN VP Promotion Bob Reeves; TDD’s Jeremy Little, Nick Diamond, and Matt Fleener; Daniels; the morning show’s Gnarly Charley; TDD’s Jeff Middleton; morning show’s Jody Jo Mize; and TDD’s Ryan Fleener.