As winter approaches, both the temperature and sales begin to decline.
Last week, Country album sales were down 2.1 percent YTD (overall down 6.3 percent), yet this week Country album sales are down 6.6 percent YTD (overall down 6.8 percent). The 4.5 percent sales drop can be explained by Taylor Swift‘s RED, which debuted around this time last year. No release this week has even begun to match the success of Swift’s album, which sold 1.2 million units in its debut week.

Brandy Clark’s 12 Stories debuts at No. 28 this week (No. 197 overall), selling 2.1k units. The singer-songwriter, who is featured in MusicRow’s 2013 Publisher Issue, threw an album release party in Nashville last night (Oct. 29). Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party celebrates its return to No. 1 ( No. 10 overall), selling 25k units (1.094 million RTD). The top overall album this week is Katy Perry’s Prism, selling 285k units in its debut week.

Eric Church’s “The Outsiders” is the top Country track (No. 12 overall), selling 81k units this week. Lorde’s “Royals” retakes its throne, returning to the No. 1 spot this week with 222k units sold (2.93 million RTD). YTD, overall tracks are down 4 percent, while Country tracks are up 2.2 percent.
Plenty of debuts will be released next week, including Toby Keith’s Drinks After Work, Thomas Rhett’s It Goes Like This, Trace Adkins‘ The King’s Gift, Robertson Family’s Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas and more.
 
 

Randy Brown

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The Third Annual Touring Career Workshop will be held at Soundcheck Nov. 13 from 6-9:30 p.m. The free event will provide classes to engineers, production managers, and road crew members on safety measures, accounting, stress management, financial planning, fitness on the road, and other pertinent subjects during its evening of sessions.
Presented by Chris Lisle Lighting Design, the workshop was formed by Lisle and lighting director Erik Parker to educate colleagues on how to maintain stability and success in an ever-changing, challenging economic environment.
To register or for more information on the Touring Career Workshop, visit touringcareerworkshop.com.

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Regions Commercial Banking and Private Wealth Management group recently held a luncheon at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel featuring Baseball’s Iron Man and National Baseball Hall of Fame Member, Cal Ripken, Jr., who spoke on the fundamental lessons on life and business. Pictured here is one of the enthusiastic guests who was pleased with Ripken’s answer during the luncheon’s Q&A segment.

Tom Wheeler was confirmed last night (Oct. 29) as the new FCC Chairman, according to TVnewscheck.com. The former cable and wireless phone lobbyist will succeed Democrat Mignon Clyburn, who stepped into the role as acting chairwoman after Julius Genachowski stepped down earlier this year.
“I am humbled by the Senate’s confirmation and I look forward to taking the oath of office in the coming days,” said Wheeler in response to the confirmation. “I am deeply grateful to President Obama for his confidence in nominating me for this position. What excites me about this new responsibility is how we are at a hinge moment of history; the Internet is the greatest communications revolution in the last 150 years. We must all dedicate ourselves to encouraging its growth, expanding what it enables, and assuring its users’ rights are respected.”
Senate aide Mike O’Reilly was also confirmed to the vacant Republican seat on the commission.