Bailey Zimmerman Shatters Global Amazon Music Record [Exclusive]
Bailey Zimmerman
Bailey Zimmerman continues his record-breaking streak following the release of his debut album Religiously. The Album. on Friday (May 12). The album’s first-day streams exceeded any other debut country album ever on Amazon Music globally. The project also earned the most first-week streams of any debut country album on Amazon Music globally.
Zimmerman is the 2023 country Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, which means he receives support platform wide. As part of the Breakthrough program, Zimmerman and his team get to work alongside Amazon Music to develop a long-term, customized global plan tailored to their specific needs. This includes video and audio content, global marketing support, custom merch stores on the Amazon website and increased visibility across Amazon Music’s playlists and programming.
For Zimmerman, the Breakthrough Artist program allowed him to participate in Stagecoach opportunities including a backstage livestream interview on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, meet-and-greet and merch giveaways with fans at the Amazon Music Live lounge, along with a dedicated Breakthrough billboard placement in Palm Springs. He was also a featured guest on Country Heat Weekly podcast, performed at the 58th annual ACM Awards as a part of the annual Breakthrough performance and came together with Amazon Music to celebrate his new album with an album release event in Austin.
In June, Zimmerman will participate in a CMA Fest activation, make a special guest appearance on Country Grammar Radio on Amazon Music, participate in Country Music Month initiatives and will receive campaign support from Amazon Live.
Zimmerman’s record-breaking success with Religiously. The Album. marks the third consecutive time that a country Breakthrough Artist has broken this record. Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, Gabby Barrett, broke the record in 2020, as did Breland in 2022, exemplifying the strength of the program.
“Amazon Music is dedicated to championing artists in all facets of their career and our Breakthrough Program allows us to work alongside artists in a special way,” Amazon Music’s Artist Relations Co-Lead, Chris Graham, tells MusicRow. “Breakthrough includes increased visibility across our stations and playlists, such as Amazon Country Music’s global playlist Country Heat, but it also extends to livestream performances (including Festivals), bespoke marketing activations and events, social promotion, merch offerings, Amazon Original songs, editorial content and more.”
He adds, “Breakthrough is intentionally a long-term program that allows us to get behind an artist for several months. That long-game perspective is key to finding and growing a fanbase for our Breakthrough Artists on Amazon Music and executing on their behalf throughout the campaign and beyond. It really allows us to take the time to build with them and take our customers and their fans along for the ride; and in turn, breaking some records along the way!”
