Country Update

BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 1 OF 19

INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE [email protected]

Dan + Shay Leap To No. 1 After Borderline Shooting, Country Artists >page 5 Begin To Speak Out On Gun Control

‘Clown’ Case Impacts Songwriters At least a dozen families spent Thanksgiving with an unoccupied red carpet. >page 9 chair at the table and an empty place in their hearts following the Indeed, artists’ responses to questions this year about the slaughter of 12 people at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand issue are a sharp reversal from the 2017 CMA Awards, which Oaks, Calif. occurred 39 days after the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest The Nov. 7 attack marked the 307th mass shooting in the festival in Las Vegas, where 58 country concertgoers were killed Kenny Chesney’s New United States in the first 311 days of 2018. The Country Music and another 441 were injured. With the industry’s emotions Paradigm Association acknowledged the tragedy as Garth Brooks led still raw, the CMA initially threatened journalists last year with >page 9 a moment of silence for expulsion if they asked the victims at the start of artists on the red carpet the CMA’s 52nd annual about gun violence. It awards on Nov. 14. rescinded that order after Bentley, Stapleton, In contrast to that Morris and Brad Paisley Aldean Aid Charities silence, the Borderline publicly criticized the >page 10 incident seems to have policy. Regardless, most

made country artists artists shied away from more vocal about the the subject or spoke in MORRIS BRICE PRICE Makin’ Tracks: Carly subject of guns. Most of general “thoughts and Pearce Gets ‘Closer’ them on the red carpet prayers” platitudes if >page 14 before the CMA Awards — and the ASCAP, BMI and SESAC reporters asked. Few journalists did. songwriter awards that were held the three preceding nights This time, artists were willing to speak in greater depth, and — were willing to address the issue, revealing a mix of sorrow, some even expressed gratitude for the chance to discuss the rage, fear and resignation. Beyond their concern for the victims, issue. Country Coda: they addressed their own worries about stepping onstage and “That’s the most important question I’ve been asked all Taylor’s Fearless how the shootings affect them and their fans. night,” said Margo Price on the SESAC red carpet. Leader Much like the nation at large, the artists don’t have a single, Country artists typically avoid politics for fear of offending >page 19 easy solution to fix the ongoing problem, but their willingness the conservative elements in their fan bases, but few topics to at least field questions represented a remarkable change in make them go silent as quickly and completely as gun control. attitude in the past year. The genre’s very roots include singing-cowboy movies, where “The fact that it’s even being uttered in conversation is some such good guys as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry policed the West

sort of step forward,” said Maren Morris on the CMA Awards with a big iron on their hip. A chunk of the country audience SMITH RYAN BRYCE:

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AVAILABLE FREE TO CURRENT BILLBOARD SUBSCRIBERS billboard.com/iPad BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 2 OF 19 embraces gun culture and passionately defends the Second Amendment, but the number of artists who recently had a cozy relationship with the National Rifle Association has dwindled. From 2010 until the Route 91 shooting, the NRA had partnered with performers through its NRA Country arm, a soft- sell lifestyle brand meant to attract younger NRA members, by featuring a different artist each month on its website. Such stars as Alan Jackson and Jon Pardi played its conventions and trade shows, which have become increasingly controversial as the mass-shooting epidemic continues. The Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, is a significant marker in the timeline. Some 13 victims were gunned down in what seemed to be an aberration at the time. But in the ensuing 19 years, the number of incidents has increased dramatically while gun rights activists — led by the NRA — have largely refused to compromise on most prevention measures, stoking fears in their base that their rights to own firearms might be taken away. Carlton Anderson performed Nov. 19 when WKSF Asheville, N.C., As mass shootings have increased, the country industry has typically hosted the Kiss Country Guitar Jam at the Orange Peel. From left: addressed the issue by performing at vigils or holding benefits for survivors, WKSF music director Aaron Michael, Anderson and Arista Nashville but with the Harvest 91 tragedy, artists themselves were survivors. Jason regional promotion manager Southeast Ali O’Connell. Aldean, Chris Young, Luke Combs and Jake Owen — all whom were onstage or backstage when the shooting began in Las Vegas — have the horrors of that night etched in their memories. Artist links and references were soon scrubbed from the NRA Country website. Now with the Borderline shooting, the country industry and its fans are feeling more and more under siege. “The thought [of a concert shooting] goes through my mind every single night,” said Lindsay Ell. “It’s sad that we live in a day that we need to think about it, but it’s true. Any time you’re in a room full of people — especially when you’re on a stage or walking a carpet and brought to attention — anybody’s in jeopardy.” The artists recognize that it’s increasingly important to discuss the issue if they intend to see a change.

“The fact that more people are willing to talk about it shows that progress is JR. BURNS GEORGE BRYAN: being made — small progress, but it’s still progress,” said Brothers Osborne Luke Bryan (left) guested Nov. 20 on the syndicated Pickler & Ben. He’s guitarist John Osborne prior to the ASCAP Awards. “If people keep talking shown with co-hosts Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron. about it, I think healthy change will be made.” Cultural changes were already underway before Borderline. In addition to country’s reduced involvement with the NRA, some corporate partners ended relationships in the last year with the organization, which is now struggling financially. Polls show that many voting blocs — including suburban females, who proved key in the November midterm elections — favor legislation that would tighten gun ownership laws. Voters in Washington State approved new restrictions on assault weapons. Additionally, numerous candidates, even in such traditionally conservative states as Kansas and South Carolina, won at the ballot box while pledging to fight for stricter gun laws. “A lot [of voters] in Georgia were talking about [gun control], and people who weren’t even politicians were running on it,” reflected Sugarland’s Kristian Bush on the BMI carpet. “Thank goodness people are talking about it, because conversation makes it go forward.” Outsiders have criticized the country music industry for dragging its feet on the topic, even in the past few weeks. The New Yorker chastised the CMA KJLO Monroe, La., played host when record executives arrived Nov. 17 Awards for shying away from politics under the headline “The Scripted, Gun- for the first Bayou Stock Country Festival in Sterlington, La. From left: Free Escapism Of The Country Music Association Awards.” A story in The KJLO afternoon drive host “Hot” Rod Thompson, Curb West Coast New York Times proclaimed that “Country Music Will Talk About The Hurt, regional Lori Hartigan and 1608 West Coast regional Roger Fregoso. But Not The Politics.” Some artists did, in fact, discuss policy on the red carpets. Price, Lee Brice and Drake White specifically advocated for tighter background checks. “If it was harder for me to go get a gun, that’s OK with me,” said Brice, who is a gun owner. “That background check, it takes about 30 minutes to go in, get it filled out and get a gun. Maybe that’s a big first thing to be changed. Maybe you have to wait two weeks to get it back for an extensive search — or longer.” “I’m a gun owner,” said Price. “My dad was a hunter, but we don’t need AR- 15s, we don’t need Glocks to hunt. And I really think that we need to tighten regulations, how people get guns, and gun safety in general.” Others, such as Jerrod Niemann, focused on the mental health aspect of the cultural crisis. Niemann, whose new single “Old Glory” honors the sacrifices of soldiers, spent several hours in a Nov. 13 Facetime chat with survivors from the Borderline shooting. The killer, noted Niemann, was a veteran who may have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Independent artist CJ Solar discussed his current single, “American “A lot of people don’t realize one of our vets commits suicide every 65 Girls,” with the WFMS Indianapolis morning team when station staff minutes,” he said. “It seems like it’s kind of swept under the rug. There’s no visited Nashville. From left: WFMS personalities Kevin Freeman and excuse, obviously, to ever take innocent lives, but we just need to pay more Jim Denny, Solar and WFMS personality Deborah Honeycut. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 3 OF 19

NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND

about gun control is significant, even if they don’t have specific remedies. When pop artists in the 1960s protested racism and the Vietnam War, it helped turn the tide. Hambrick’s solution after Borderline is similar to the approach that Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young took during that earlier protest period: He channeled his emotions by writing a song. Some of his fellow country artists likewise addressed gun violence through music following the Route 91 shooting. Morris dedicated the proceeds of her single “Dear Hate” (featuring Vince Gill), written following the 2015 Charleston,

S.C., church massacre, to charities HOLLO CHRIS DENNING: benefitting the victims. Eric Church explored survivor’s guilt in “Why Not Kip Moore and Clare Dunn (right) met up with WBWL Boston PD Me,” which he wrote and debuted Ginny Brophey when they performed Nov. 15 at the station’s Country at the Grand Ole Opry in the week New artist Travis Denning huddled Uncorked concert at City Winery. after the Vegas tragedy. Carrie with Grand Ole Opry vp/GM Sally Underwood recorded “The Bullet,” Williams when he made his Opry attention to that.” a song about the long-term pain that debut on Nov. 16 at Nashville’s Only one artist who talked with Billboard outright opposed toughening gun violence inflicts on survivors, for Ryman Auditorium. gun regulations. her Cry Pretty project in reaction to “I don’t believe in any stricter gun laws,” said Craig Campbell. “I don’t the Las Vegas massacre. Kane Brown’s new album Experiment — released think that restricting somebody that is [like] the majority [of gun owners] and Nov. 9, just two days after the Borderline assault — includes “American Bad that has lived and obeyed the law and did everything the legal way, I shouldn’t Dream,” a song that explores school students’ psychological stress in the age be punished for that.” of mass shootings. If the shootings at concerts continue, however, musicians may find their Meanwhile, unlike Hambrick’s fans, artists cannot avoid shows. They are economic futures impaired. New Capitol artist Adam Hambrick opened for expected to be there for the concert, no matter the intensity of their fears, the Eli Young Band in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 8, the day after the Borderline and to occupy what is arguably the most at-risk position in the venue. That is shooting, and he received several notes from fans who canceled plans to attend another reason some cite a reluctance to discuss gun violence. his show. “I don’t want somebody to come and try to kill me because of something “They felt uneasy, they felt unsafe, and that shook me,” admitted Hambrick I said in the newspaper,” noted Cadillac Three frontman Jaren Johnston. before the ASCAP awards. “That’s scary.” In the short run, a few unsold Artists and their bands now have all established protocol for dealing with tickets here and there may not be potential issues, and many venues have increased security procedures, much of a problem. But if the volume reducing some of the danger. But it doesn’t entirely alleviate the acts’ fears. of public incidents increases — at And that, in turn, threatens the quality of performances. concert venues, churches, movie “People have paid money to see us play,” said Jordan Davis. “The last thing theaters and schools — the number I want to do is give them a half-hearted performance.” of people likely to avoid public events Thus, the artists fight through their fear, hoping to inspire a fan base that may rise too. increasingly shares the acts’ uneasiness about the safety of public places. Big Machine Music GM Mike “We can’t not think about it,” noted Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers. “But as Molinar has discussed that exact scared as you might be, it’s our duty to be up there entertaining those people, issue on a personal level with his wife. brightening their lives. Somebody might be going through something, and Working in a business that requires maybe our music is a way for them to escape. Maybe it’s an outlet for them to concert attendance potentially talk or express their feelings for somebody. Music is a good thing, man. It’s heightens his exposure to gun violence positivity, and we’re going to keep making it.” as the number of incidents rises. Only one artist, an independent act still fishing for his first hit, declined “If that sustains itself, the odds to speak about gun violence on CMA-related red carpets this year. Off the are you’re going to be involved or record, he said he does not feel he is in the position to publicly air his anger someone you love is going to be about the situation. But he is now in the minority as country artists address involved,” he said. “I don’t know an issue that threatens their bottom lines and the safety of everyone who what [the solution] is unless there’s visits a concert hall. a massive shift in perspective and a “It’s tough to be a fan, and it’s scary to be an artist and put yourself out there value of life over our access to guns. so vulnerably,” said Morris. “It’s a weird world to live in, but the thing that Dylan Scott (left) counted Morgan There’s so much in the middle that always makes me feel better and hopeful is the fact that we’re talking about it, Evans among the guests when he we can do, and there’s so much room whether that’s in an interview, or fan to fan, or fan to artist. People are really hosted the Bayou Stock Country in my mind that we can get better.” shaken up by this and want to do something about it.” Festival on Nov. 17, benefiting Which is why the increased “Enough is enough,” chimed in Brothers Osborne vocalist T.J. Osborne. local kids in Sterlington, La. willingness of country artists to talk “I’m a gun owner myself — it’s gotten ridiculous.”

BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 5 OF 19

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] Dan + Shay Score First Hot Country Songs No. 1 With ‘Speechless’; Jimmie Allen Holds Atop Country Airplay

Dan + Shay, the duo of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, achieve their first No. (No. 7, 2014). “Tequila,” “Not,” “Ground” and “Nothin’” all topped Country Airplay. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart as “Speechless” (Warner Bros./WAR) SECOND ‘BEST’ Jimmie Allen’s launch single, “Best Shot” (Stoney Creek), leads leaps 5-1 on the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based survey dated Dec. 1. Country Airplay for a second week, with 40 million impressions (down 4 per- “Speechless” is just the third Hot Country cent). The song is the 13th multiweek No. 1, Songs No. 1 of 2018. Bebe Rexha and of 31 total toppers, on Country Airplay this Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be” year. It follows Luke Combs’ “She Got the (Warner Bros./Big Machine Label Group) Best of Me,” which led for four weeks; Luke led for 50 straight weeks (starting Dec. 16, Bryan’s “Most People Are Good,” which 2017) until it was finally ­unseated on the Nov. led for three; and 10 two-week leaders: 24-dated chart by Kane Brown’s “Lose It” Bryan’s “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” Old (Zone 4/RCA Nashville), which jumped 5-1 Dominion’s“Hotel Key,” Brett Young’s as parent album Experiment launched at No. “Mercy,” Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along,” 1 on Top Country­ ­Albums. “Lose” falls to No. Dan + Shay’s “Tequila,” Kane Brown’s 5, while “Meant,” in its 52nd frame (marking “Heaven,” Thomas Rhett’s “Marry Me,” a full year on the tally), drops 2-4. Russell Dickerson’s “Yours,” and Jason Smyers and Mooney wrote “Speechless” Aldean’s “Drowns the Whiskey” (featur- with Laura Veltz and Jordan Reynolds. It ing Miranda Lambert) and “You Make It flies to No. 1 on Hot Country­ Songs on the Easy.” Similarly, in 2017, 12 of 33 songs that strength of across-the-board gains, aided ascended to No. 1 on Country Airplay led by the pair’s performance of the ballad on for multiple weeks. the Nov. 19 season finale of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. BENTLEY’S ‘BURNING’ Dierks Bentley’s “Speechless” rebounds 3-1 for a fifth “Burning Man” (Capitol Nashville), week atop Country Digital Song Sales featuring Brothers Osborne, pushes (14,000 sold, up 29 percent, in the week 11-10 on Country Airplay, up 5 percent ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen to 22.1 million impressions. Music), dips 3-6 on Country Streaming “Man” marks Bentley’s 24th Country Songs (8.9 million U.S. streams, up 4 Airplay top 10, a sum that includes 16 No. percent, in the week ending Nov. 22) 1s. He first reigned with his debut single, DAN + SHAY and pushes 7-6 on Country Airplay “What Was I Thinkin’,” in 2003. (30.5 million audience impressions, up 3 Bentley ties Alabama for 18th place percent, in the week ending Nov. 25). among acts with the most Country Airplay top 10s, dating to the chart’s January The track follows the twosome’s first five Hot Country Songs top 10s: “Tequila,” 1990 inception. George Strait leads with 61. which peaked at No. 2 on June 30; “How Not To” (No. 7, 2017); “From the Ground Brothers Osborne bank their second Country Airplay top 10, after “Stay a

Up” (No. 3, 2016); “Nothin’ Like You” (No. 5, 2015); and debut single “19 You + Me” Little Longer” reached No. 2 in 2016. IMAGES GETTY SHAY: + DAN BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 6 OF 19

AIRPLAY Country Airplay MONITORED BY

WKS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS THIS LAST ON WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK 1 1 41 BEST SHOT Stoney Creek HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH  Jimmie Allen 40.418 -1.558 7647 -399 1 2 2 21 SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs 39.590 -1.491 7051 -3 4 l3 3 25 LOSE IT Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown 38.259 +2.208 7372 484 2 l4 4 41 RICH Columbia Nashville HH Most Increased Audience HH Maren Morris 36.914 +2.570 7185 447 3 5 5 39 HANGIN’ ON RCA Nashville Chris Young 32.613 -1.701 5378 -768 7 l6 7 16 SPEECHLESS Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay 30.458 +0.857 5986 259 6 l7 6 35 DRUNK ME Riser House/Columbia Nashville Mitchell Tenpenny 30.410 +0.215 6013 117 5 8 8 39 BLUE TACOMA Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson 27.031 -0.685 4557 -177 9 l9 9 48 LAST SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore 23.868 +2.569 5050 354 8 l10 11 21 BURNING MAN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley Featuring Brothers Osborne 22.146 +1.134 4469 213 11 l11 13 30 GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch 21.945 +2.531 4480 484 10 l12 12 14 SIXTEEN Valory  Thomas Rhett 21.855 +1.321 4394 283 13 13 10 19 TURNIN’ ME ON Warner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton 20.976 -0.251 4413 -29 12 l14 15 32 MILLIONAIRE Mercury  Chris Stapleton 17.219 +0.181 3715 101 16 l15 16 26 THIS IS IT Triple Tigers Scotty McCreery 17.185 +0.907 3790 224 15 16 14 20 DESPERATE MAN EMI Nashville Eric Church 16.792 -0.809 3840 81 14 l17 17 11 GIRL LIKE YOU Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean 16.612 +1.534 3363 263 18 l18 19 27 TAKE IT FROM ME MCA Nashville Jordan Davis 15.075 +0.939 3354 142 19 l19 20 33 BURN OUT Big Machine Midland 15.011 +1.108 3409 89 17 l20 18 6 WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan 14.833 +0.491 3 115 351 22 l21 22 20 THERE WAS THIS GIRL BMLG  Riley Green 13.278 +1.672 3253 305 20 l22 21 16 DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Big Loud Jake Owen 12.939 +1.290 3189 236 21 l23 23 8 NEON CHURCH McGraw/Columbia Nashville Tim McGraw 10.962 -0.192 2550 63 23 l24 26 19 ONE THAT GOT AWAY Atlantic/WEA  Michael Ray 7.656 +0.738 1968 163 25 l25 27 11 LOVE WINS Capitol Nashville HH Most Added HH Carrie Underwood 7.311 +0.409 1724 124 29 l26 28 14 BETTER BOAT Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney Featuring Mindy Smith 7.146 +0.320 1979 92 24 l27 25 18 NIGHT SHIFT Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi 7.094 +0.092 1829 71 27 l28 30 7 MAKE IT SWEET RCA Nashville Old Dominion 7.089 +0.445 1452 209 30 l29 29 16 ON MY WAY TO YOU CoJo/WMN  Cody Johnson 6.665 -0.037 13 11 -10 32 l30 31 14 NEVER COMIN DOWN Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 6.345 +0.331 1731 162 28

BILLBOARD COUNTRY AIRPLAY PANEL — 149 STATIONS Akron, OH WQMX Detroit WDRQ Memphis WGKX Richmond, Va. WKHK Albany, N.Y. WGNA WYCD WLFP Riverside, Calif. KFRG Albuquerque, N.M. KBQI El Paso, Texas KHEY Miami WKIS Roanoke, Va. WSLC KRST Ft. Myers, Fla. WCKT Milwaukee, WI. WKTI Rochester, N.Y. WBEE Allentown, Pa. WCTO WWGR WMIL Sacramento, Calif. KBEB Atlanta WKHX Ft. Wayne, Ind. WQHK Minneapolis KEEY KNCI WUBL Fresno, Calif. KSKS KMNB KNTY Augusta, Ga. WKXC Gainesville, Fla. WOGK Mobile, Ala. WKSJ St. Louis KSD Austin, Texas KASE Grand Rapids, Mich. WBCT Monmouth/Ocean, N.J. WKMK WIL Bakersfield, Calif. KUZZ Greensboro, N.C. WTQR Monterey, Calif.. KTOM Salt Lake City KSOP Baltimore WPOC Greenville, S.C. WSSL Nashville WKDF KUBL Baton Rouge, La. WYNK Harrisburg, Pa. WRBT WSIX San Antonio, Texas KAJA Birmingham, Ala. WDXB Hartford, Conn. WWYZ Nassau, N.Y. WJVC KCYY WZZK Houston KILT New Bern, N.C. WRNS San Diego KSON Boise, Idaho KAWO KKBQ New Orleans WNOE San Jose, Calif. KRTY KIZN Huntsville, Ala. WDRM New York WNSH Sarasota, Fla. WCTQ Boston WBWL Indianapolis WFMS Norfolk, Va. WGH Seattle KKWF WKLB WLHK WUSH KMPS Buffalo, N.Y. WYRK Jacksonville, Fla. WGNE Oklahoma City, Okla. KJKE Spokane, Wash. KXLY Charleston, S.C. WEZL WQIK KTST Springfield, Mass. WRNX Charlotte, N.C. WKKT Johnson City, Tenn. WXBQ Omaha, Neb. KXKT Stockton, Calif. KATM WSOC Kansas City KBEQ Orlando, Fla. WWKA Syracuse, N.Y. WBBS Chattanooga, Tenn. WUSY WDAF Oxnard-Ventura, CA KHAY Tampa, Fla. WFUS Chicago WEBG KFKF Philadelphia WXTU WQYK WUSN Knoxville, Tenn. WCYQ Phoenix KMLE Tucson, Ariz. KIIM Cincinnati WUBE WIVK KNIX Tulsa, Okla. KVOO Cleveland WGAR Lafayette, La. KMDL Pittsburgh WDSY KWEN Colorado Springs, Colo. KATC Lakeland, Fla. WPCV WOGI Visalia, Calif. KJUG KCCY Las Vegas KCYE WPGB Washington, D.C. WMZQ Columbia, S.C. WCOS KWNR Portland, Maine WPOR West Palm Beach, Fla. WIRK Columbus, Ohio WCOL Lexington, Ky. WBUL WTHT Wichita, Kan. KFDI Corpus Christi, Texas KRYS Little Rock, Ark. KSSN Portland, Ore. KUPL KZSN Dallas KPLX Los Angeles KKGO KWJJ Wilkes Barre, Pa. WGGY KSCS Louisville, Ky. WAMZ Providence, R.I. WCTK Wilmington, Del. WXCY Dayton, Ohio WHKO WQNU Raleigh, NC WQDR York, Pa. WGTY Denver KYGO Madison, Wis. WWQM Des Moines, Iowa KHKI WMAD Reno, Nevada KBUL McAllen, Texas KTEX KOLC BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 7 OF 19

AIRPLAY Country Airplay MONITORED BY

WKS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS THIS LAST ON WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK +/– RANK l31 32 34 THE DIFFERENCE Valory  Tyler Rich 6.147 +0.450 19 11 149 26 l32 33 10 HERE TONIGHT BMLG  Brett Young 5.621 +0.202 1353 111 31 l33 34 24 LOVE AIN’T Valory  Eli Young Band 5.163 +0.325 1263 55 33 l34 35 21 LOVE SOMEONE Atlantic/WMN  Brett Eldredge 3.838 +0.203 942 30 37 l35 36 15 EYES ON YOU Dack Janiels/Broken Bow Chase Rice 3.478 +0.083 1054 21 36 l36 37 33 CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY Curb  Rodney Atkins Featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers 3.429 +0.101 119 2 27 34 l37 39 5 MISS ME MORE Black River Kelsea Ballerini 3.274 +0.351 839 73 40 l38 38 27 YOU’RE IN IT Wheelhouse  Granger Smith 3.267 +0.213 1176 50 35 l39 40 12 RUMOR Curb  Lee Brice 2.837 +0.182 703 17 45 l40 41 19 WHAT WHISKEY DOES Stoney Creek Randy Houser Featuring Hillary Lindsey 2.646 +0.055 887 -33 38 41 24 2 BUCKED OFF Arista Nashville Brad Paisley 2.469 -5.462 505 -753 49 42 43 23 FRIENDS DON’T Mercury  Maddie & Tae 2.466 -0.018 725 -24 44 l43 45 4 TALK YOU OUT OF IT BMLG  Florida Georgia Line 2.455 +0.099 680 44 47 44 44 13 WHISKEY GLASSES Big Loud Morgan Wallen 2.365 -0.064 845 -8 39 45 46 9 BACK TO LIFE Big Machine Rascal Flatts 1.992 -0.194 772 26 42 l46 57 3 BEAUTIFUL CRAZY River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs 1.961 +0.656 363 48 55 47 47 17 YADA YADA YADA EMI Nashville Brandon Lay 1.902 -0.012 733 -16 43 l48 48 12 FEELS LIKE A PARTY Wheelhouse  LOCASH 1.872 +0.014 816 14 41 l49 50 6 DAY DRUNK Warner Bros./WEA Morgan Evans 1.796 -0.003 501 24 50 50 51 6 BUY MY OWN DRINKS Wheelhouse  Runaway June 1.599 -0.063 698 4 46 51 52 22 DROP EVERYTHING Arista Nashville Carlton Anderson 1.588 -0.053 666 -25 48 l52 56 13 HOW DOES IT SOUND Dylan Schneider/Placer Dylan Schneider 1.447 +0.105 471 14 52 l53 58 10 BRING IT ON OVER Mercury  Billy Currington 1.446 +0.153 484 27 51 54 54 4 LADIES IN THE ‘90S 19/Mercury  Lauren Alaina 1.337 -0.126 331 -61 56 55 55 14 FLOATIN’ Sturgeon General Uncle Kracker 1.306 -0.083 307 -33 58 56 49 3 THE ONES THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT BACK HOME Valory  Justin Moore 1.300 -0.519 401 -62 54 l57 59 5 90’S COUNTRY Monument/Arista Nashville Walker Hayes 1.169 +0.006 284 -2 - 58 53 13 I WON’T BE SORRY Blue Chair/Reviver David Lee Murphy 1.140 -0.451 464 -25 53 l59 NEW I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU Big Loud HH Hot Shot Debut HH  Chris Lane 0.959 +0.032 3 11 22 57 l60 NEW CLOSER TO YOU Big Machine Carly Pearce 0.870 +0.307 259 129 -

GOING FOR ADDS

12/3 RUSSELL DICKERSON Every Little Thing Triple Tigers

12/10 DEVIN DAWSON Dark Horse Atlantic/WEA 59

The second single from Lane’s Laps Around the Sun follows the No. 8 Country Airplay CHRIS LANE hit “Take Back Home Girl,” featuring I Don’t Know Tori About You Kelly. “Know” arrives at No. 59 with 1 million audience impressions. DICKERSON GETY IMAGES GETY BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 8 OF 19

AIRPLAY Country Airplay MONITORED BY

MOST ADDED® NEW AND ACTIVE TITLE Imprint/Label Artist ADDS TOTAL TOTAL LOVE WINS Capitol Nashville Carrie Underwood 14 TITLE Imprint/Label Artist AUDIENCE STATIONS ADDS MAKE IT SWEET RCA Nashville Old Dominion 14 LOVE YOU TOO LATE Warner Bros./WMN Cole Swindell 0.713 14 6 NEVER COMIN DOWN Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 11 WHEN IT COMES TO LOVING YOU 32 Bridge/EMI Nashville Jon Langston 0.562 25 2 MISS ME MORE Black River Kelsea Ballerini 9 CALL YOUR MAMA Arista Nashville Seth Ennis 0.480 16 0 CLOSER TO YOU Big Machine Carly Pearce 9 HERE TONIGHT BMLG Brett Young 8 HEY WHISKEY Deluge/in2une Smithfield 0.467 15 0 DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Big Loud Jake Owen 6 SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER Columbia Nashville Tenille Townes 0.462 21 1 WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan 6 GOT MY NAME CHANGED BACK RCA Nashville Pistol Annies 0.414 10 2 ONE THAT GOT AWAY Atlantic/WEA Michael Ray 6 BUCKED OFF Arista Nashville Brad Paisley 6 RECURRENTS MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE THIS TOTAL AUD. WEEK TITLE Imprint/Label Artist (IN MILLIONS) GAIN 1 ONE NUMBER AWAY River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs 19.240 TITLE Imprint/Label Artist (IN MIILIONS) 2 HOTEL KEY RCA Nashville Old Dominion 18.850 RICH Columbia Nashville Maren Morris +2.570 LAST SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore +2.568 3 DROWNS THE WHISKEY Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean Feat. Miranda Lambert 17.694 GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch +2.531 4 HEAVEN Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown 17.539 LOSE IT Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown +2.208 5 TEQUILA Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay 17.152 THERE WAS THIS GIRL BMLG Riley Green +1.672 6 GET ALONG Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney 16.898 GIRL LIKE YOU Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean +1.534 7 SUNRISE, SUNBURN, SUNSET Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan 12.989 SIXTEEN Valory Thomas Rhett +1.321 8 SINGLES YOU UP MCA Nashville Jordan Davis 11.912 DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Big Loud Jake Owen +1.290 9 SIMPLE BMLG Florida Georgia Line 11.685 BURNING MAN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne +1.134 BURN OUT Big Machine Midland +1.108 10 MEANT TO BE Warner Bros./BMLG Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line 11.525 MOST INCREASED PLAYS BILLBOARD COUNTRY BOXSCORE TITLE Imprint/Label Artist GAIN Gross Artist Attendance Ticket Price(s) Venue/Date(s) Capacity Promoter(s) LOSE IT Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown +484 $636,103 MIRANDA LAMBERT & LITTLE BIG TOWN 11,818 GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch +484 $92.75, $33.25 KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, Pa./Aug. 17 18,937 LIVE NATION RICH Columbia Nashville Maren Morris +447 $631,815 MIRANDA LAMBERT & LITTLE BIG TOWN 12,877 LAST SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore +354 $84.75, $33.25 BB&T Pavilion, Camden, N.J./Aug. 18 21,729 LIVE NATION WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan +351 $590,145 SHANIA TWAIN 6,976 KPS $173.63 Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg, Germany/Oct. 13 9,342 CONCERTBURO THERE WAS THIS GIRL BMLG Riley Green +305 SIXTEEN Valory Thomas Rhett +283 $494,164 MIRANDA LAMBERT & LITTLE BIG TOWN 9,401 $93.25, $33.25 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Lake, N.Y./Aug. 16 19,904 LIVE NATION GIRL LIKE YOU Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean +263 $451,217 SUGARLAND 6,228 SPEECHLESS Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay +259 $118, $88, $68, $48, $28 DCU Center, Worcester, Mass./Sept. 7 8,465 AEG DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Big Loud Jake Owen +236 Reported worldwide boxscore figures for Country artists. Boxscore figures should be submitted to Bob Allen by phone (615-891-1976), fax (615-891-2054) or email ([email protected]). TEXAS REGIONAL RADIO REPORT WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 18, 2018

THIS LAST WKS ON TW SPINS THIS LAST WKS ON TW SPINS WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST SPINS +/– WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST SPINS +/– l1 2 14 IF YOU WERE A COWBOY (Independent) HH 1 Week at 1 HH Bri Bagwell 1829 243 l11 14 21 I GOT ME (Independent)  Sarah Hobbs 1221 107 2 1 14 ON MY WAY TO YOU (CoJo Music)  Cody Johnson 1719 -31 l12 16 18 MISUNDERSTOOD (Vision Ent)  Parker McCollum 116 7 96 l3 4 13 MIRROR, MIRROR (Independent)  Randall King 1715 144 l13 12 19 SMOOTH TALKIN’ LADY (Smith)  Jason Allen 116 1 6 l4 3 17 FRIDAY’S COMING (Independent)  Pat Green 1643 67 14 6 18 SITTIN’ HERE (Independent)  Jesse Raub Jr. w/Cody Johnson 1110 -346 l5 5 23 LIFE IS (Miles Power)  Cameran Nelson 1524 13 l15 23 3 AIN’T IT BABY (Independent)  Josh Ward 1098 256 l6 10 12 HONEYWINE (Independent)  Flatland Cavalry 1432 84 l16 19 11 BETTER PLACE (Independent)  Drew Fish Band 1090 84 l7 9 19 MY SOUTH (Independent)  Natalie Rose 1421 46 17 8 26 KEEP IT COUNTRY (Independent)  Mark Powell 1073 -326 l8 11 9 RIO (Independent)  Kyle Park 1354 65 l18 17 19 YOU’RE IN IT (Independent)  Granger Smith 1062 39 l9 13 8 SHE REMAINS (Independent)  Jamie Richards 1348 199 l19 20 15 TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD (Independent)  Frank Ray 965 27 10 7 16 DAMN GOOD GOODBYE (Independent)  Mike Ryan 1347 -69 20 15 18 DEATH, DYIN’ & DEVILED EGGS (Independent)  Wade Bowen 940 -173

Texas Regional Radio Report Top 100 is compiled from weekly online playlist reports from 86 radio stations located in Texas and surrounding states, including reports from specialty shows, internet and satellite radio outlets. Songs are ranked by total plays. For tracking, complete chart methodology and more information, visit www.texasregionalradio.com, or contact Dave Smith at 817-283-7984. Copyright 2018, Texas Regional Radio Report BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 9 OF 19

NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND

Watkins here … Gail Austin will join KSD St. Louis as PD beginning Dec. 3, InsideRadio.com reported. It marks a return to iHeartMedia for Austin, who had programming roles at WQIK Jacksonville, Fla., and WCOL Columbus, Ohio, when the chain was branded as Clear Channel … Hubbard agreed to purchase a group of South Florida stations from Alpha Media for $88 million, according to InsideRadio.com. Included in the transfer is country WIRK West Palm Beach, Fla. … Michael “Frogman” Ovadia left the WOGI Pittsburgh morning show after four years, Talkers.com reported. Erika “Gator” Hink continues to host on her own. ’ROUND THE ROW Paradigm Talent acquired Dale Morris & Associates, the touring division of Morris Higham Management, in a deal that adds five acts to Paradigm’s concert booking roster: Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, Brandon Lay, Ryan Griffin and Walker County. Morris & Associates agents Mike Betterton and Nate Riches also join the Paradigm staff. The agreement brings MHM additional resources for its management efforts … Nielsen named David Kenny the new CEO of the company, including subsidiary Nielsen Music, which provides much of the data for Billboard’s charts. Kenny starts Dec. 3,

OWEN: JAMM ENTERTAINMENT JAMM OWEN: succeeding retiring CEO Mitch Barns. Kenny was previously IBM senior vp Alabama vocalist Randy Owen was inducted into the Alabama cognitive solutions … Producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Business Hall of Fame Nov. 15 by Culverhouse College of Business Band) signed with Creative Artists Agency with an eye toward expanding Dean Kay M. Palan. his presence in TV and movie music. He worked as a producer-consultant on the soundtrack to A Star is Born … Singer-songwriter Tyler Reeve signed a EVERLYS AT ODDS IN ‘CLOWN’ CASE publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Nashville. He co-wrote Brett Young’s A November court ruling over the authorship of a classic Everly Brothers song “In Case You Didn’t Know,” named song of the year during the BMI Country may provide incentive for songwriters — and publishers — to tidy up ownership Awards on Nov. 13 … Suretone Entertainment signed independent teen artist records that could significantly affect their wallets and those of their heirs. Caroline Dare to a management contract … Country Road Management, A judge ruled in Nashville that Don Everly is the sole author of “Cathy’s the parent company of CountryRoadTV.com, has launched Country Road Clown,” barring the estate of the late Phil Everly from claiming a stake in the Records in partnership with The Orchard. Focused on traditional country, the composition. The song was a No. 1 pop title for the duo, which is enshrined label’s first album is Country’s Family Reunion Presents: Home for Christmas, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It also released Nov. 23 … The Tennessee Entertainment Commission established became a No. 1 country single for Reba McEntire in 1989, winning BMI’s an incentives program in tandem with the Nashville and Memphis chapters Robert J. Burton Award as country’s most-performed song in 1990. of The Recording Academy that provides a 25 percent tax rebate for music The brothers were credited as co-writers when the copyright was originally scoring projects launched in the state. The program is available for companies filed in 1960, but Phil relinquished “all of his rights, titles, interests and that spend a minimum of $50,000 on a project in large markets or $25,000 in claim[s]” to “Cathy’s Clown,” according to an agreement he signed in June secondary markets. Go here for details … Edaghogho Eferakeya died Nov. 19 1980. Subsequently, Phil’s name was removed from public credits and from in Nashville. He was Crystal Gayle’s production manager and front-of-house royalty statements by Acuff/Rose, which owned publishing on the copyright, engineer … Songwriter and former Warner Bros. Nashville GM Eddie Reeves and BMI. died Nov. 18. He earned a No. 1 country hit as a songwriter in 1979 when Don filed in 2011 to recapture ownership from Sony/ATV, which now owns Kenny Rogers and Dottie West covered “All I Ever Need Is You” and an the Acuff/Rose catalog. Phil died in 2014, and his estate filed for recapture additional top 10 in 1971 when Tompall & The Glaser Brothers recorded the same year. “Rings.” Reeves spent 15 years at Warner, working with a roster that included Don’s suit maintained Phil had renounced his authorship in the song. The Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and Faith Hill. family held that while he had forfeited his credit and earnings, the 1980 agreement never disputed his authorship. The estate thus attempted to recapture a piece of “Cathy’s Clown.” The court ruled in a Nov. 6 judgment that the statute of limitations bars the family from claiming authorship because Phil repeatedly failed to challenge Don’s public claim as the sole writer. Many band members make agreements to share co-writing credits on all of their material — The Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney are the most famous example — and the Everly case provides incentive for songwriters and publishers to shore up agreements in case authorship is ever disputed. “If your name’s been left off a song by accident and liner notes come out, you’ve got an obligation to speak up or forever hold your peace,” said Adams and Reese partner Linda Edell Howard, Don’s attorney. The case may not be over. Phil’s attorney, Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton partner Jay Bowen, plans to “ask the court to reconsider her ruling.” RADIO & RECORDS Monument hired publicist Casey Thomas and marketing coordinator Joel Bill Anderson rounded up Kid Rock, Tanya Tucker, Gretchen Wilson Beaver. Thomas held a development position at the Country Music Hall of and Jeannie Seely to shoot the video for his holiday single “Waffle Fame for nearly three years. Beaver steps up from a Monument temp role after House Christmas.” From left: songwriter Erin Enderlin, Straight 8 graduating recently from Belmont University … Candice Watkins started Entertainment director Lee Willard, singer/songwriter Joe Denim, as Big Loud vp marketing on Nov. 26. She was previously Universal Music Anderson, Kid Rock, Tucker, Seely, Adkins Publicity owner Scott Group Nashville senior director of marketing and artist development. Reach Adkins and Wilson. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 10 OF 19

NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND

MUSIC NOTES ON THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC

C’Ya on the Flip Side, a fundraiser for the Troy Gentry Foundation, is beefing Nov. 27 up. With Blake Shelton already hosting a cast that includes Rascal Flatts, • 1993 — Joe Diffie joins the Grand Ole Dustin Lynch, Eddie Montgomery and Justin Moore, more acts joined Opry. His set list for the night includes the Jan. 9, 2019, lineup in Nashville, including Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Colt Ford and Tracy Lawrence. Charity spills over into other events too. Die),” “John Deere Green” and “Honky Chris Stapleton joins Shawn Mendes, Tonk Attitude.” Leon Bridges and Norah Jones among • 1978 — Kenny Rogers and Dottie West the first guests when Dolly Parton remake the Tammy Wynette hit “’Til is hailed as the MusiCares person I Can Make It On My Own” during the DIFFIE of the year on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. afternoon at the Jack Clement Studios Indie artist Lucas Hoge rounded up in Nashville. four former Major League Baseball players — Orel Hershiser, Rick Nov. 28 Honeycutt, Jim Lonborg and Matt • 2009 — Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” begins a five-week Young — to raise $520,000 for cystic ride at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. fibrosis in a Mexican fishing event. And WhyHunger is conducting a Nov. 29 Hungerthon with an online auction that • 2017 — Old Dominion pockets a platinum single from the RIAA includes signed items and experiences for “Snapback.” here from Willie Nelson, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. Nov. 30 GENTRY • 1998 — Garth Brooks and George Strait are both double nominees Whatever happened to Tu c ke r as finalists are announced for the People’s Choice Awards. Other Beathard? After his 2016 debut, “Rock On,” became a hit, he put an album country acts on the list include Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and on the release schedule with Big Machine Label Group’s Dot imprint, then Alan Jackson. withdrew the project and seemed to disappear. Now, Beathard’s first album, Nobody’s Everything, drops Nov. 30 on his own Mother Tucker label, and it’s Dec. 1 just one-half of a double album. The mysterious story is to be continued ... • 2014 — Capitol releases Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” to radio. • 2005 — Ricky Skaggs and The Whites perform “White Christmas” Two short tours from proven country hitmakers are headed for the United for the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. Kingdom in 2019. Dan + Shay launches a six-show romp on Jan. 17 in Glasgow, Scotland, with Devin Dawson opening. Chris Young’s Losing Sleep World Dec. 2 Tour has booked four shows, beginning May 5 in Manchester, England, with • 2016 — RCA releases Kane Brown’s self-titled debut album. Lindsay Ell in the lead-in role. • 2013 — Rascal Flatts performs “Jingle Bell Rock” on ABC’s CMA Country Christmas, hosted by Jennifer Nettles. Also onboard: Luke Mitchell Tenpenny has little time for Christmas in 2018. With his debut single, Bryan, The Robertsons, Darius Rucker, Lucy Hale, Jake Owen and “Drunk Me,” at No. 7 on Country Airplay, he starts touring Dec. 8 to celebrate Hunter Hayes. the Dec. 14 release of his first album, Telling All My Secrets. He starts in Rome, Ga., with seven shows on the books through Dec. 22, then returns for five more Dec. 3 road dates beginning Jan. 4, 2019. Three different acts take turns opening: • 2006 — Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson are awarded Kennedy Seaforth, Ross Ellis and Adam Hambrick. Center Honors in a Washington, D.C., event attended by President George W. Bush. • 1968 — Elvis Presley’s comeback special airs on NBC-TV. From the Top Headlines from .com show, he scores minor pop hits with “If I Can Dream” and “Memories.” Click on headlines below for more details Source: RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers, Foster The People & More To Headline ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ West Coast Event

Average Joes Entertainment Marks 10th Anniversary, Looks To The Future

SiriusXM’s Acquisition Of Pandora Approved In Europe, Where Neither Service Is Available

Kid Rock Won’t Be Charged With Campaign Finance Violations After Stunt Senate Run

Miley Cyrus Wipes Instagram Account, Announces New Collaboration With Mark Ronson Michael Ray (left) reconnected with KUBL Salt Lake City PD Travis Moon during the station’s Bull Bash on Nov. 20 at the Union Event Center. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 11 OF 19

SALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA Hot Country Songs COMPILED BY

TWO COUNTRY THIS LAST WEEKS WKS ON TITLE Artist AIRPLAY PEAK WEEK WEEK AGO CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL RANK POSITION HH HH 1 5 4 27 SPEECHLESS No. 1 (1 Week)/Digital Gainer Dan + Shay 6 1 l D.SMYERS,S.HENDRICKS (D.SMYERS,S.MOONEY,J.REYNOLDS,L.VELTZ) WARNER BROS./WAR HH HH 2 3 2 23 SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME Streaming Gainer Luke Combs 2 2 l S.MOFFATT (L.COMBS,R.SNYDER,C.WILSON) RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 3 4 3 45 TEQUILA Dan + Shay RC 2 D.SMYERS,S.HENDRICKS (D.SMYERS,J.REYNOLDS,N.GALYON) WA RNER BROS./WAR 4 2 1 52 MEANT TO BE Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line RC 1 WILSHIRE (B.REXHA,T.HUBBARD,J.MILLER,D.A.GARCIA) WARNER BROS./BMLG 5 1 6 25 LOSE IT Kane Brown 3 1 D.HUFF (K.BROWN,C.MCGILL,W.WEATHERLY) ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 6 6 5 28 BEST SHOT Jimmie Allen 1 5 A.BOWERS (J.ALLEN,J.LONDON,J.P.WILLIAMS) STONEY CREEK 7 7 7 17 DRUNK ME Mitchell Tenpenny 7 7 J.M.SCHMIDT,M.TENPENNY (M.TENPENNY,J.M.SCHMIDT,J.T.WILSON) RISER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE RICH 8 9 9 35 Maren Morris 4 8 l BUSBEE,M.MORRIS (M.MORRIS,J.J.DILLON,L.VELTZ) COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 9 8 8 39 HANGIN’ ON Chris Young 5 8 C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER (C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER,J.HOGE) RCA NASHVILLE BURNING MAN 10 10 12 22 Dierks Bentley Featuring Brothers Osborne 10 10 l R. COPPERMAN,J.R.STEWART (L.DICK,B.PINSON) CAPITOL NASHVILLE 11 11 10 26 BLUE TACOMA Russell Dickerson 8 5 C.BROWN (R.DICKERSON,C.BROWN,P.WELLING) TRIPLE TIGERS SIXTEEN 12 13 17 15 Thomas Rhett 12 12 l D.HUFF,J.FRASURE,THOMAS RHETT (THOMAS RHETT,S.M.DOUGLAS,JOE LONDON) VALORY HH HH 13 14 15 21 GOOD GIRL Airplay Gainer Dustin Lynch 11 13 l Z.CROWELL (D.LYNCH,J.EBACH,A.ALBERT) BROKEN BOW LAST SHOT 14 16 13 24 Kip Moore 9 13 l K.MOORE (K.MOORE,D.COUCH,D.L.MURPHY) MCA NASHVILLE 15 12 11 26 SIMPLE Florida Georgia Line RC 2 J.MOI (T.HUBBARD,B.KELLEY,M.HARDY,M.HOLMAN) BMLG 16 15 14 20 DESPERATE MAN Eric Church 16 8 J.JOYCE (E.CHURCH,R.W.HUBBARD) EMI NASHVILLE MILLIONAIRE 17 17 18 44 Chris Stapleton 14 17 l D.COBB,C.STAPLETON (K.WELCH) MERCURY GIRL LIKE YOU 18 19 19 11 Jason Aldean 17 18 l M.KNOX (M.TYLER,J.BOYER,J.MIRENDA) MACON/BROKEN BOW 19 18 16 14 TURNIN’ ME ON Blake Shelton 13 16 S.HENDRICKS (B.SHELTON,J.L.ALEXANDER,J.OSBORNE) WARNER BROS./WMN THIS IS IT 20 20 21 18 Scotty McCreery 15 20 l F.ROGERS,D.WELLS,A.ESHUIS (S.MCCREERY,F.ROGERS,A.ESHUIS) TRIPLE TIGERS BEAUTIFUL CRAZY 21 22 22 29 Luke Combs 46 6 l S.MOFFATT (L.COMBS,W.B.DURRETTE,R.WILLIFORD) RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE TAKE IT FROM ME 22 21 20 20 Jordan Davis 18 20 l P.DIGIOVANNI (J.DAVIS,J.DAVIS,J.GANTT) MCA NASHVILLE DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK 23 23 23 15 Jake Owen 22 23 l J.MOI (R.CLAWSON,L.LAIRD,S.MCANALLY) BIG LOUD WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY 24 26 29 9 Luke Bryan 20 24 l J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (L.BRYAN,D.DAVIDSON,A.GORLEY) CAPITOL NASHVILLE BURN OUT 25 24 26 23 Midland 19 24 l D.HUFF,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE (J.CARSON,C.DUDDY,M.WYSTRACH,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE) BIG MACHINE

13 33

The track hits a new No. 13 high on Hot Country Songs as it bumps 13-11 The Texas singer-songwriter’s traditional- DUSTIN on Country Airplay, up 13 percent to 21.9 CODY leaning track lifts 35-33 on Hot Country LYNCH JOHNSON Good Girl million in audience. It also gains by 1 percent On My Way Songs. It advances by 4 percent to 2 million to 3.1 million U.S. streams. to You U.S. streams and 2 percent to 3,000 sold. GETTY IMAGES GETTY BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 12 OF 19

SALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA Hot Country Songs COMPILED BY

TWO COUNTRY THIS LAST WEEKS WKS ON TITLE Artist AIRPLAY PEAK WEEK WEEK AGO CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL RANK POSITION THERE WAS THIS GIRL 26 30 28 13 Riley Green 21 26 l D.HUFF (R.GREEN,ERIK DYLAN) BMLG LOVE WINS 27 31 32 12 Carrie Underwood 25 26 l D.GARCIA,C.UNDERWOOD (C.UNDERWOOD,D.A.GARCIA,BRETT JAMES) CAPITOL NASHVILLE 28 29 27 7 NEON CHURCH Tim McGraw 23 27 B.GALLIMORE,T.MCGRAW (B.GOLDSMITH,R.E.LIPSEY,B.M.STENNIS) MCGRAW/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE HERE TONIGHT 29 33 33 10 Brett Young 32 29 l D.HUFF (B.YOUNG,B.CAVER,J.EBACH,C.KELLEY) BMLG MISS ME MORE 30 38 — 4 Kelsea Ballerini 37 28 l F.G.WHITEHEAD,J.MASSEY (K.BALLERINI,D.H.HODGES,B.MCLAUGHLIN) BLACK RIVER NIGHT SHIFT 31 34 30 14 Jon Pardi 27 30 l B.BUTLER,J.PARDI (T.BROWN,P.LARUE,B.MONTANA) CAPITOL NASHVILLE NEVER COMIN DOWN 32 36 44 7 Keith Urban 30 32 l J.KERR,K.URBAN (K.URBAN,J.KEAR,J.ABRAHART,SHY CARTER) HIT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE ON MY WAY TO YOU 33 35 31 15 Cody Johnson 29 25 l T.W.WILLMON (BRETT JAMES,T.LANE) COJO/WMN MAKE IT SWEET 34 37 38 7 Old Dominion 28 28 l S.MCANALLY (M.RAMSEY,T. ROSEN,W.SELLERS,G.SPRUNG,B.TURSI,S.MCANALLY) RCA NASHVILLE RUMOR 35 43 39 11 Lee Brice 39 35 l L.BRICE,J.STONE,K.JACOBS,D.FRIZSELL (L.BRICE,K.JACOBS,A.GORLEY) CURB BETTER BOAT 36 39 36 10 Kenny Chesney Featuring Mindy Smith 26 36 l B.CANNON,K.CHESNEY (L.ROSE,T.MEADOWS) BLUE CHAIR/WARNER BROS./WEA TALK YOU OUT OF IT 37 41 46 11 Florida Georgia Line 43 19 l J.MOI (M.HARDY,H.PHELPS,J.ROGERS,A.VANDERHEYM) BMLG ONE THAT GOT AWAY 38 44 41 9 Michael Ray 24 38 l S.HENDRICKS (J.FRASURE,T. ROSEN,M.RAMSEY,J.OSBORNE) ATLANTIC/WEA I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU 39 49 35 7 Chris Lane - 35 l J.MOI (A.GORLEY,M.HARDY,H.PHELPS,J.RODGERS) BIG LOUD WHISKEY GLASSES 40 47 34 6 Morgan Wallen 44 34 l J.MOI (B.BURGESS,K.KADISH) BIG LOUD THE DIFFERENCE 41 46 37 19 Tyler Rich 31 37 l J.RAYMOND,L.RIMES (R.AKINS,B.BURGESS,D.DAWSON,J.DURRETT) VALORY LOVE AIN’T 42 45 40 9 Eli Young Band 33 40 l D.HUFF (R.COPPERMAN,A.GORLEY,S.MCANALLY) VALORY HH HH 43 NEW 1 FROM NOW ON Hot Shot Debut Zac Brown Band - 43 l NOT LISTED (NOT LISTED) FOX/20TH CENTURY FOX/ATLANTIC 44 28 47 11 HOMESICK Kane Brown - 24 D.HUFF (K.BROWN,B.BERRYHILL,M.J.MCGINN,T.PHILLIPS) ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 45 32 45 5 GOOD AS YOU Kane Brown - 17 D.HUFF (K.BROWN,B.BERRYHILL,S.CARTER,T.PHILLIPS,W.WEATHERLY) ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 46 48 42 14 EYES ON YOU Chase Rice 35 42 C. DESTEFANO (C.RICE,C. DESTEFANO,A.GORLEY) DACK JANIELS/BROKEN BOW CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY 47 50 43 18 Rodney Atkins Featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers 36 42 l R.ATKINS,T.HEWITT,B.BOLLINGER (C.HARRINGTON,J.M.SCHMIDT,M.WALKER) CURB LOVE SOMEONE Brett Eldredge 48 RE-ENTRY 4 34 46 l R. COPPERMAN,B.ELDREDGE (B.ELDREDGE,R.COPPERMAN,H.MORGAN) ATLANTIC/WMN DAVID ASHLEY PARKER FROM POWDER SPRINGS Travis Denning 49 RE-ENTRY 18 RC 37 l J.S.STOVER (T.DENNING,J.R.STEWART,J.L.ALEXANDER) MERCURY YOU’RE IN IT 50 NEW 1 Granger Smith 38 50 l G.SMITH,F.ROGERS,D.WELLS (F.ROGERS,J.ADAMS,M.NESLER) WHEELHOUSE

The week’s most popular country songs, ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen Music, sales data as compiled by Nielsen Music and streaming activity data from online music sources tracked by Nielsen Music. Descending titles below No. 25 are moved to recurrent after 20 weeks.

COUNTRY MARKET WATCH A Weekly National Music Sales Report YEAR-TO-DATE Year-Over-Year Album Sales Weekly Unit Sales Overall Unit Sales DIGITAL DIGITAL 2017 2018 CHANGE ALBUM SALES ALBUMS ’15 ALBUMS* TRACKS Albums 18,455,000 13,802,000 -25.2% ’17 18.5 million This Week’14 309,000 72,000 693,000 ’18 13.8 million Digital Tracks 59,655,000 43,072,000 -27.8% Last Week 356,000 87,000 705,000 Sales by Album Format Change DIGITAL TRACKS SALES -13.2% -17.2% -1.7% 2017 2018 CHANGE ’17 000.0 million59.7 million This Week Last Year 626,000 134,000 931,000 Physical 12,521,000 9,843,000 -21.4% ’18 43.1 million Change -50.6% -46.3% -25.6% Digital 5,934,000 3,969,000 -33.1% For week ending Nov. 22, 2018. Figures are rounded. Compiled from a national sample of retail store and rack sales reports collected and *Digital album sales are also counted within album sales. provided by Nielsen Music.

For inquiries about any Nielsen Music data, please contact Josh Bennett at 615-807-1338 or [email protected] BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 13 OF 19

SALES, DATA STREAMING & SALES COMPILED BY DATA COMPILED BY

COUNTRY COUNTRY TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS STREAMING SONGS DIGITAL SONG SALES

TITLE TITLE AGO POS. THIS THIS LAST LAST PEAK CERT. WEEK WEEK ARTIST TITLE THIS WEEK LAST WEEK WKS ON CHART THIS WEEK LAST WEEK WKS ON CHART WEEKS WEEKS

ON CHT ARTIST ARTIST 2 WEEKS 2 WEEKS IMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL MEANT TO BE SPEECHLESS LUKE COMBS THIS ONE’S FOR YOU 1 1 52 1 3 22 1 2 2 77 1 l BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE l DAN + SHAY l RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE 538883*/SMN 1 ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME KANE BROWN EXPERIMENT l2 9 31 l2 2 16 2 1 — 2 ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE /SMN 1 BRENDA LEE LUKE COMBS A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS TEQUILA DAN + SHAY DAN + SHAY 3 15 25 3 4 44 3 3 22 1 l BURL IVES DAN + SHAY l3 WARNER BROS. 570796/WMN   JINGLE BELL ROCK BURNING MAN 4 4 186 CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLER 1 l4 17 27 4 8 15 l4 MERCURY 019405*/UMGN 3 BOBBY HELMS DIERKS BENTLEY FEAT. BROTHERS OSBORNE TEQUILA BEST SHOT KANE BROWN KANE BROWN 5 4 39 5 11 9 5 5 5 103 ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 530947*/SMN 1 1 l DAN + SHAY JIMMIE ALLEN SPEECHLESS MISS ME MORE 7 6 10 CARRIE UNDERWOOD CRY PRETTY 1 l6 3 18 6 10 3 l6 CAPITOL NASHVILLE 028557*/UMGN 0 DAN + SHAY KELSEA BALLERINI HEAVEN DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK JASON ALDEAN REARVIEW TOWN 7 5 55 7 15 13 7 6 7 32 MACON/BROKEN BOW/BMG 538375642*/BBMG (538375730) 0 1 l KANE BROWN l JAKE OWEN TENNESSEE WHISKEY MEANT TO BE 8 10 63 THOMAS RHETT LIFE CHANGES 1 l8 6 85 8 5 52 l8 VALORY TR0300A/BMLG 1 CHRIS STAPLETON BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE LOSE IT TENNESSEE WHISKEY 16 34 27 ELVIS PRESLEY THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM 9 9 2 24 9 9 150 l9 RCA 45538/LEGACY (9.98) KANE BROWN CHRIS STAPLETON SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME BROKEN HALOS 11 9 7 ERIC CHURCH DESPERATE MAN 1 10 8 15 10 7 40 l10 EMI NASHVILLE 028733*/UMGN l LUKE COMBS CHRIS STAPLETON RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER DRUNK ME BRETT YOUNG BRETT YOUNG 11 RE-ENTRY 11 12 18 11 9 11 93 BMLG BY0100A* 1 2 l GENE AUTRY MITCHELL TENPENNY BEAUTIFUL CRAZY LOSE IT 12 15 81 CHRIS STAPLETON FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 1 1 12 10 29 12 RE-ENTRY l12 MERCURY 026379*/UMGN 1 l LUKE COMBS l KANE BROWN HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS (DOWN SANTA CLAUS LANE) FROM NOW ON 17 — 29 KACEY MUSGRAVES GOLDEN HOUR 1 13 RE-ENTRY 13 NEW l13 MCA NASHVILLE 027921*/UMGN l GENE AUTRY l ZAC BROWN BAND DRUNK ME NEVER COMIN DOWN 27 — 9 BURL IVES RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER 14 14 7 15 14 14 2 l14 MCA SPECIAL PRODUCTS/GEFFEN 322177/UME (8.98) 0 MITCHELL TENPENNY KEITH URBAN MERCY MERCY PISTOL ANNIES INTERSTATE GOSPEL 15 11 35 15 6 34 15 10 1 3 RCA NASHVILLE 589142*/SMN 1 l BRETT YOUNG BRETT YOUNG GENE AUTRY RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER AND OTHER CHRISTMAS CLASSICS BLUE CHRISTMAS I’M ALREADY THERE 42 — 7 16 16 RE-ENTRY 16 NEW l16 COLUMBIA 63598/LEGACY (6.98) l ELVIS PRESLEY l KIRK JAY WHAT IFS DESPERATE MAN JON PARDI CALIFORNIA SUNRISE 17 13 81 17 19 18 17 14 14 127 CAPITOL NASHVILLE 024744*/UMGN 1 1 l KANE BROWN FEAT. LAUREN ALAINA ERIC CHURCH YOU MAKE IT EASY BEAUTIFUL CRAZY ZAC BROWN BAND GREATEST HITS SO FAR... 18 14 43 18 20 29 18 15 17 174 ROAR/SOUTHERN GROUND/ATLANTIC 546369/AG 3 l JASON ALDEAN LUKE COMBS CHRIS STAPLETON FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 BODY LIKE A BACK ROAD MILLIONAIRE 22 23 51 1 19 16 94 19 16 8 l19 MERCURY 027408*/UMGN 0 l SAM HUNT CHRIS STAPLETON HURRICANE LOVE WINS NEW 1 KIP MOORE ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS 20 20 12 110 20 24 5 l20 MCA NASHVILLE WS EX/UMGN LUKE COMBS CARRIE UNDERWOOD FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE DIG YOUR ROOTS DIE A HAPPY MAN SIMPLE 21 18 86 21 21 25 21 21 20 117 BMLG 0300* 1 1 l THOMAS RHETT FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE SAM HUNT MONTEVALLO BEST SHOT DROWNS THE WHISKEY 22 21 9 22 13 25 22 20 18 197 MCA NASHVILLE 021502/UMGN 3 1 l JIMMIE ALLEN JASON ALDEAN FEAT. MIRANDA LAMBERT REBA MY KIND OF CHRISTMAS MARRY ME GIRL LIKE YOU 23 RE-ENTRY 24 7 23 20 49 23 23 6 l NASH ICON CBEX/BMLG l THOMAS RHETT JASON ALDEAN BLAKE SHELTON RELOADED: 20 #1 HITS ONE NUMBER AWAY HEAVEN 24 24 19 161 2 24 22 37 24 18 53 WARNER BROS. 551788/WMN l LUKE COMBS KANE BROWN LUKE BRYAN WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY SIMPLE RICH 25 26 26 50 1 25 19 25 25 RE-ENTRY l CAPITOL NASHVILLE 027589*/UMGN l FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE l MAREN MORRIS Top Country Albums ranks the most popular country albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, The week’s top-streamed and top-selling paid download country songs, respectively, from sales reports based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming collected and provided by Nielsen Music. Charts update weekly on Tuesdays at www.Billboard.Biz/ equivalent albums). Copyright 2018, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. charts. Copyright 2018, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. SALES DATA COMPILED BY AMERICANA/ FOLK ALBUMS

AGO POS. THIS THIS LAST LAST PEAK CERT. WEEK WEEK ARTIST TITLE WEEKS WEEKS ON CHT 2 WEEKS 2 WEEKS IMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL 1 NEW 1 MUMFORD & SONS DELTA 1 l GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD 0240*/GLASSNOTE NEW 1 MARK KNOPFLER DOWN THE ROAD WHEREVER 2 l2 WILL D. SIDE/BRITISH GROVE 029206*/BLUE NOTE 1 3 132 CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLER 1 l3 MERCURY NASHVILLE 019405*/UMGN 3 3 4 81 CHRIS STAPLETON FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 1 1 l4 MERCURY NASHVILLE 026379*/UMGN 1 5 23 34 KACEY MUSGRAVES GOLDEN HOUR 1 l5 MCA NASHVILLE 027921*/UMGN 6 2 1 3 PISTOL ANNIES INTERSTATE GOSPEL 1 RCA NASHVILLE 589142*/SMN 7 7 8 51 CHRIS STAPLETON FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 1 l7 MERCURY NASHVILLE 027408*/UMGN 0 The track bounds 15-7 on Country Digital 8 6 6 178 HOZIER HOZIER 1 RUBYWORKS 309996*/COLUMBIA 2 Song Sales, up 26 percent to 6,000 sold JAKE OWEN 9 25 24 78 ZACH WILLIAMS CHAIN BREAKER 4 in the week ending Nov. 22. The increase l ESSENTIAL 11053/PLG Down to the follows Owen’s performance of the song on THE LUMINEERS CLEOPATRA Honky Tonk 10 8 7 137 DUALTONE 1738* 1 1 ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Nov. 13. Americana/Folk Albums ranks the most popular Americana/folk albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums). Copyright 2018, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. GETTY IMAGES GETTY BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 14 OF 19

MAKIN’ TRACKS TOM ROLAND [email protected] Carly Pearce Fashions Personal Space Odyssey With ‘Closer To You’

One of the odd realities of country music stardom is the space paradigm. higher than the choruses.” Not the hurdles of outer space, but the inverse relationship of physical and When Pearce heard it, she recognized it as a figurative representation of emotional space with fans on one hand and loved ones on the other. Getting her relationship with Ray. With “Hide the Wine” reaching its chart peak, she into the physical space of fans means touring, which pulls an artist, band and put “Closer” on a fast track, deciding it made more sense to unveil fresh music crew away from families and significant others for this year than to work a third single from her debut days — sometimes weeks — at a time. album, which was released in October 2017. Carly Pearce’s life tests that reality in full. “I’ve based and built this foundation of my career In addition to her own touring and promotional on being very honest and transparent, and so much calendar, she’s now dating fellow artist Michael Ray. has changed in my life professionally and personally Their respective schedules create a Rubik’s Cube that I was ready for the next chapter,” she reasons. relationship that brings an extra dimension to “Closer Producer busbee (Maren Morris, Lauren Alaina) to You,” a single Pearce’s label, BMLG, released to held a tracking session at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio country radio on Nov. 2 via PlayMPE. The song just weeks before “Closer” was released, using the finds a woman — presumably in a new relationship finger snaps and some inventive snare-rim percussion — separated from her love and desperately longing to from Sampson’s demo. In a rare twist, the four-bar eliminate the distance with a romantic escape. foundation never reaches the tonic chord, notes “When you have two people that do what we do, busbee, and he found subtle ways to enhance the finding the escape and being able to completely shut unfulfilled anticipation that creates. the world out is a really amazing thing,” says Pearce. “The fact that the chords never resolve plays into “Everyone who does this for a living would tell you the lack of resolution with the lyric,” he says. “The it’s something you desire, and when your work is your song doesn’t end with a ‘ta da’ and here you are.” PEARCE lifestyle, it gets harder and harder.” The heightened bass in the track underscores While “Closer to You” matches their relationship, some of that lack of resolution. The instrument is a the couple was not the muse for the song. In fact, they hadn’t started dating bit muted in the demo’s mix, but session musician Mark Hill found interesting yet when “Closer” was penned in October 2017 in the Nashville home studio ways to build movement into his part once the bass is introduced at that first of Gordie Sampson (“God, Your Mama, and Me,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel”), pre-chorus in the master. who hosted a writing session with Hillary Lindsey (“Hide the Wine,” “Blue “He’s a very melodic player, but he doesn’t overplay, which is such a fine line Ain’t Your Color”) and Troy Verges (“Wanted,” “Day Drinking”). to walk,” says busbee. “In a song like this that has a loopish nature, it’s very “Closer” emanated from a guitar sequence Sampson had built into a snippet hypnotic. To try to find a way to kind of break out of that a little bit without of a track. stepping on a vocal, I think Mark did that brilliantly.” “It wasn’t very ironed out,” he recalls. “It was just a four-bar phrase — no Mixing engineer Dave Clauss (Rascal Flatts, Shakira) gave Hill’s part a lyrics, no concept of where it was going to go or anything — but Troy and little more prominence than is typical for a country song, and it unintentionally Hillary just really liked the groove. They started jamming on it, and it just hints at the male energy the singer longs for in the song’s storyline. It also fits became this song.” Pearce’s self-definition as an artist. The chords were extremely simple — only the root and the middle note “I love bass,” she says. “I am very feminine, but I want to stay strong, and from a typical three-note chord, says Verges — and those notes were voiced I feel like some of those lower tones and textures really play to my voice and an octave apart, leaving plenty of sonic space between them. “It really makes show underlying strength without you even knowing.” it fragile or delicate-sounding,” he says. Big Machine Label Group president/CEO Scott Borchetta thought the Working without the typical title as a road map, they wandered into a melody, initial mixes needed more of Pearce’s trademark Dobro backing, and she mumbling short words and syllables before they locked into a first-line image specifically asked busbee to replace a more standard guitar solo with the that set the tone for the story: “I got a fast car gassed up, sittin’ in the driveway.” resonator guitar, provided by Josh Matheny from her touring band. The protagonist lays out her dream scenario: a drive to a secluded place in Pearce cut her final vocals at busbee’s East Nashville studio, which allowed the country where they can reconnect in secret. The chorus captured both her to play with space in a way that mimics the song’s lyrics: instead of working the macro and the micro setting in tidy fashion, with images of a big-picture in an isolated vocal booth, she recorded in closer proximity with the producer, “diamond sky that’s waitin’ for us” outside the vehicle and an intimate, in-car just five feet away from him as she delivered the lyric. desire to “slide across the leather seat.” Pearce got key exposure for “Closer to You” over the holiday weekend, “The bigger macro stuff is often easier to put into a song,” notes Verges. lip-syncing the song on the Green Giant float when NBC aired The Macy’s “It’s harder to find the details that don’t sound overwritten or cheesy. But it’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The next day, she brought the relationship behind those little moments in songs, it seems, that stick with me the longest, so we the song closer, welcoming Ray for turkey dinner with her parents for the were really focused on that.” first time. The foundational four-bar chord progression had enough movement and “Closer” debuts at No. 60 on Country Airplay, providing a glimpse into the suspense that the verses and chorus worked with rather linear melodies. An direction of her sophomore album. ascendant, fluttery pre-chorus provided a short variation between those parts. “Not to sound sappy, but in a lot of ways, Michael is the inspiration for “The function of the pre-chorus melody a lot of times is to set up the chorus this record,” she says. “Not just from a love standpoint, but he has made me and make the chorus explode or pop when it hits,” says Sampson. “This one, in understand [and help me] figure out who I am through meeting him.” some ways, kind of does the opposite and still is effective because the classic Thus, “Closer to You” is a page-turner in Pearce’s artistic statement, mentality is to not have a melody go higher in the pre-chorus than your chorus a song that brings the world closer to understanding the next chapter in a so that your chorus will sound bigger and better. This one goes as high or promising career. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 15 OF 19 Country Indicator

AUDIENCE WKS PLAYS (IN MILLIONS) THIS LAST ON WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK 1 1 35 BEST SHOT BBR/Stoney Creek/BMG HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH Jimmie Allen 4918 -170 7.889 2 2 24 LOSE IT Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown 4872 -131 8.124 l3 3 41 RICH Columbia Nashville Maren Morris 4700 +18 7.353 l4 5 15 SPEECHLESS Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay 4483 +141 7.002 l5 4 32 DRUNK ME Riser House/Columbia Nashville Mitchell Tenpenny 4470 +122 6.987 l6 7 45 LAST SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore 4094 +130 6.090 l7 9 18 TURNIN’ ME ON Warner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton 4011 +95 6.236 l8 10 21 BURNING MAN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne 3977 +166 6.031 9 8 21 SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs 3670 -261 6.415 l10 11 10 SIXTEEN Valory Thomas Rhett 3551 +145 5.461 11 6 40 HANGIN’ ON RCA Nashville Chris Young 3500 -774 6.110 l12 12 29 GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch 3405 +222 5.378 l13 14 31 MILLIONAIRE Mercury Chris Stapleton 3199 +156 4.661 l14 13 20 DESPERATE MAN EMI Nashville Eric Church 3170 +8 4.826 l15 15 16 DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Big Loud Jake Owen 2849 +140 3.945 l16 18 11 GIRL LIKE YOU Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean 2817 +179 3.972 l17 17 31 BURN OUT Big Machine Midland 2762 +74 3.958 l18 16 27 TAKE IT FROM ME MCA Nashville Jordan Davis 2753 +63 3.796 l19 19 19 THIS IS IT Triple Tigers Scotty McCreery 2723 +267 4.284 l20 21 6 WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Capitol Nashville HH Most Increased Plays HH Luke Bryan 2650 +271 4.073 l21 20 8 NEON CHURCH McGraw/Columbia Nashville Tim McGraw 2467 +71 3.747 l22 22 16 THERE WAS THIS GIRL BMLG Riley Green 2379 +219 3.186 l23 23 14 BETTER BOAT Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney Feat. Mindy Smith 2073 +80 2.845 l24 24 14 NEVER COMIN DOWN Hit Red/Capitol Nashville Keith Urban 2027 +65 2.772 l25 25 17 NIGHT SHIFT Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi 1712 +126 2.123 l26 27 11 LOVE WINS Capitol Nashville Carrie Underwood 1635 +134 2.017 l27 28 6 MAKE IT SWEET RCA Nashville Old Dominion 1588 +142 2.339 l28 26 13 ON MY WAY TO YOU CoJo/WMN Cody Johnson 1564 +17 1.996 l29 30 14 ONE THAT GOT AWAY Atlantic/WEA Michael Ray 1195 +157 1.438 l30 33 9 HERE TONIGHT BMLG Brett Young 1117 +174 1.242

BILLBOARD COUNTRY INDICATOR PANEL — 109 STATIONS

Abilene, Texas KEAN Fargo, N.D. KBVB Laurel, Miss. WBBN San Luis Obispo, Calif. KKJG Alexandria, La. KRRV WSTH Lebanon, N.H. WXXK Santa Barbara, Calif. KRAZ Amarillo, Texas KGNC Fayetteville, N.C. WKML Lincoln, Neb KFGE Santa Maria, Calif. KSNI Asheville, N.C. WKSF Flagstaff, Ariz. KAFF Longview, Texas KYKX Sheboygan, Wis. WBFM Atlantic City, N.J. WPUR Flint, Mich. WFBE Lubbock, Texas KLLL Savannah, Ga. WJCL Beaumont, Texas KYKR Florence, Ala. WXFL Lufkin, Texas KYKS WUBB Beckley, W. Va. WJLS Florence, S.C. WEGX Marshalltown, Iowa KXIA Shreveport, La. KXKS Biloxi, Miss. WZKX Ft. Collins, Colo. KUAD Mason City, Iowa KIAI Sioux Cty, Iowa KSUX Bloomington, Ill. WIBL Ft. Smith, Ark. KTCS Medford, Ore. KRWQ South Bend, Ind. WBYT Bluefield, W. Va. WHKX Frederick, Md. WFRE Meridian, Miss. WOKK Springfield, Ill. WFMB Burlington, Vt. WOKO Fredericksburg, Va. WFLS Milwaukee, WI. WKTI Springfield, Mo. KTTS Cape Girardeau, Mo. KEZS Green Bay, Wis. WNCY Montgomery, Ala. WLWI Terre Haute, Ind. WTHI Charleston, W. Va WKWS Hagerstown, Md. WAYZ Morgantown, W. Va. WKKW Topeka, Kan. WIBW WQBE Hot Springs, Ark. KQUS Muskegon, Mich. WMUS Traverse City, Mich. WTCM College Station, Texas KAGG Huntington, Ky. WDGG New London, Conn. WCTY Tupelo, Miss. WWZD Colorado Springs. KCCY Huntington, W. Va. WTCR Odessa, Texas KHKX Utica, N.Y. WFRG Columbia, Mo. KCLR Idaho Falls, Idaho KTHK Palm Springs, Calif. KPLM Victor Valley, CA. KATJ Columbus, Ga. WKCN Jackson, Miss. WMSI Pensacola, Fla. WXBM Waco, Texas WACO WSTH WUSJ Peoria, Ill. WXCL Wausau, Wis. WDEZ Cookeville, Tenn. WGSQ Janesville, Wis. WJVL Poughkeepsie, N.Y. WRWD Wheeling, W. Va. WOVK Dothan, Ala. WTVY Jonesboro, Ark. KDXY Rapid City, S.D. KOUT Williamsport, Pa. WILQ Duluth, Minn. KKCB Joplin, Mo. KIXQ Rockford, Ill. WXXQ Yakima, Wash. KXDD Eau Claire, Wis. WAXX Kalamazoo, Mich. WNWN Rocky Mount, N.C. WDWG Youngstown, Ohio WQXK Elizabeth City, N.C. WRSF Kalispell, Mont. KDBR Saginaw, Mich. WCEN WWGY Erie, Pa. WTWF Kingmah, Ariz. KFLG St. Cloud, Minn. KZPK Westwood One HOT COUNTRY Eugene, Ore. KKNU Lafayette, Ind. WKOA Salina, Kan. KYEZ MAINSTREAM COUNTRY Evansville, Ind. WKDQ Laredo, Texas KRRG Salisbury, Md. WKTT Music Choice TODAY’S COUNTRY Lansing, Mich. WITL San Angelo, Texas KGKL Sirius XM THE HIGHWAY BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 16 OF 19 Country Indicator

AUDIENCE WKS PLAYS (IN MILLIONS) THIS LAST ON WEEK WEEK CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist THIS WEEK +/– THIS WEEK l31 31 16 LOVE AIN’T Valory Eli Young Band 1079 +62 1.389 l32 32 23 THE DIFFERENCE Valory Tyler Rich 1038 +70 1.363 l33 45 6 MISS ME MORE Black River Kelsea Ballerini 756 +223 0.894 34 35 10 BRING IT ON OVER Mercury Billy Currington 732 -12 0.820 l35 36 9 BACK TO LIFE Big Machine Rascal Flatts 724 +26 0.879 l36 37 30 CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY Curb Rodney Atkins Feat. The Fisk Jubilee Singers 676 +23 0.818 l37 46 4 TALK YOU OUT OF IT BMLG Florida Georgia Line 661 +148 0.820 l38 38 15 AMERICAN GIRLS Sea Gayle CJ Solar 616 +17 0.727 l39 41 25 FRIENDS DON’T Mercury Maddie & Tae 591 +36 0.505 40 39 20 YADA YADA YADA EMI Nashville Brandon Lay 574 -10 0.457 l41 43 7 MUST BE THE WHISKEY Rounder/Concord Cody Jinks 567 +30 0.601 l42 40 17 WHAT WHISKEY DOES Stoney Creek Randy Houser Feat. Hillary Lindsey 566 +2 0.755 l43 42 18 LOVE SOMEONE Atlantic/WMN Brett Eldredge 562 +15 0.730 l44 44 11 WHISKEY GLASSES Big Loud Morgan Wallen 547 +12 0.435 l45 48 2 BUCKED OFF Arista Nashville HH Most Added HH Brad Paisley 502 +121 0.781 l46 47 19 YOU’RE IN IT Wheelhouse Granger Smith 450 +25 0.470 47 49 6 EYES ON YOU Dack Janiels/Broken Bow Chase Rice 359 -3 0.391 48 50 10 FEELS LIKE A PARTY Wheelhouse LOCASH 348 -3 0.486 l49 51 9 THE IN BETWEEN Captain & Bear Cash Campbell 334 +34 0.371 50 34 16 GOODBYE SUMMER Valory/BMLG Danielle Bradbery w/ Thomas Rhett 326 -441 0.368 l51 54 5 I THINK TOO MUCH Southern Halo Southern Halo 298 +30 0.337 l52 52 13 MORE MCA Nashville Clare Dunn 292 +7 0.264 l53 53 3 LADIES IN THE ‘90S 19/Mercury Lauren Alaina 282 +8 0.299 l54 55 4 I DON’T REMEMBER ME (BEFORE YOU) EMI Nashville Brothers Osborne 275 +13 0.272 l55 57 5 ONE MORE RED LIGHT Awake Cassadee Pope 253 +5 0.225 l56 NEW NOW WE’RE GETTIN’ SOMEWHERE Bison Creek HH Hot Shot Debut HH  James Robert Webb 236 +28 0.259 l57 NEW WHEN IT COMES TO LOVING YOU 32 Bridge/EMI Nashville Jon Langston 235 +18 0.213 l58 60 2 FINE BY ME Dreamlined/Nightlife Marty Heddin 233 +13 0.294 l59 RE-ENTRY DROP EVERYTHING Arista Nashville Carlton Anderson 220 +3 0.410 l60 59 2 TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD White Knuckle Frank Ray 220 0 0.240

CHARTS LEGEND RANKINGS station downtime for the format. gaining enough audience points MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE/ Country Airplay is ranked by Titles that decline in audience to bullet or if they rank below No. PLAYS total audience impressions but increase in detections will 10 and post a third consecutive Most Increased Audience on for the week ending Sunday also receive a bullet if the total week of (non-bulleted) audience Country Airplay and Most based on monitored airplay of audience erosion for the week decline, regardless of total chart Increased Plays on Country 149 stations by Nielsen BDS. does not exceed 3%. Bullets are weeks. On Country Indicator, Indicator list the songs with the Audience totals on the chart are awarded on Country Indicator to descending, non-bulleted titles greatest week-to-week increases derived, in part, using certain titles gaining plays or remaining below No. 10 are moved to in total audience or plays, Arbitron Inc. copyrighted flat from the previous week. recurrent after 20 weeks or if they respectively. Persons 12+ audience post a third consecutive week of estimates (under license © TIES decline in plays after 10 weeks. AIRPOWER 2018, Arbitron Inc.) Country On Country Airplay, if two songs Awarded on Country Airplay to Indicator is tabulated using are tied in total audience, the song HOT SHOT DEBUT titles ranking inside top 20 in reported playlists and Nielsen with the larger increase in audience Awarded to the highest-ranking plays and audience rankings for BDS-monitored airplay at 109 is placed first. On Country Indicator, new entry on Country Airplay and the first time, with increases in stations, ranked by total plays. if two songs are tied in total plays, Country Indicator, respectively. both plays and audience. the song with the larger increase in BULLETS plays is placed first. MOST ADDED BREAKER l Awarded on Country Airplay The total number of new adds Awarded on Country Airplay to titles gaining audience or RECURRENTS officially reported to Billboard by to titles achieving airplay (at remaining flat from the previous On Country Airplay, descending each reporting station, or by an least one detection) at 60% of week. A song will also receive titles below No. 10 in either automatic-add threshold (seven plays reporting stations for the first a bullet if its percentage loss audience or detections are moved for the first time in a chart tracking time. in audience does not exceed to recurrent after 20 weeks, week, according to Nielsen BDS) for the percentage of monitored provided that they are not still stations that do not report adds. © 2018 Prometheus Global Media, LLC BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 17 OF 19 Country Airplay Index

TITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Round Hill LAST SHOT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Point Break RUMOR Mike Curb Music, BMI/Curb Songs, ASCAP/ (Songwriter) Chart Position Works, BMI/Big Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/Round Hill Publishing, ASCAP/Music Of The Corn, ASCAP/Songs Jacobsong, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/ Compositions, BMI/Shirt At Work, BMI/Sony/ATV Story From The Couch, BMI/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., Music Publishing, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/ Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent And ASCAP (L.Brice, K.Jacobs, A.Gorley) 39 90’S COUNTRY Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Associates, LLC., ASCAP (K.Moore, D.Couch, D.L.Murphy) 9 America, Inc., BMI/Spark In Your Pocket, BMI/Songs Group Ltd., GMR (R.Clawson, L.Laird, S.McAnally) 22 S   Of Smack, BMI/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/LYRX LOSE IT Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Kane Brown Publishing, LLC, BMI (W.Hayes, S.McAnally, LYRX) 57 DROP EVERYTHING Warner-Tamerlane Music, BMI/Plum Nelly, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME Big Music Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Matt Drag Publishing Corp., BMI/Mandy’s Favorite Songs, BMI/Track Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes B   Music, ASCAP/Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud House Worldwide Entertainment, BMI (K.Brown, C.McGill, Publishing, BMI/Little Extra Songs, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Proud Songs, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Sadie’s W.Weatherly) 3 Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/No Cats Round Here Music, BACK TO LIFE W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/ Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP ASCAP/Heart Scarred Songs, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Bennett’s Dad’s Songs, SESAC/Songs Of Rhythm House (R.Akins, M.Dragstrem, A.Gorley) 51 LOVE AIN’T EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Publishing Corp., BMI/Super LCS Publishing, BMI (L. Black, SESAC/Niko Moon Publishing, SESAC/Roc Nation Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Combustion Combs, R.Snyder, C.Wilson) 2 US Music, SESAC/Shay Mooney Music, BMI/Warner- DRUNK ME Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/WB Music Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/WB Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Farm Thang Music, Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, Music Corp., ASCAP/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, SIXTEEN EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On BMI/Me Gusta Music, BMI (C.R.Barlowe, N.Moon, S.Mooney, ASCAP/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/BMG GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (R.Copperman, A.Gorley, The Line, BMI/Sony/ATV Ballad, BMI/Eastman Pond F.Wilhelm) 45 Silver Songs, SESAC (M.Tenpenny, J.M.Schmidt, J.T.Wilson) 7 S.McAnally) 33 Publishing, BMI/Big Deal Beats, BMI/Brodsky Spensive Publishing, BMI/Nice Life, BMI (Thomas Rhett, S.M.Douglas, BEAUTIFUL CRAZY Big Machine Music, BMI/ E   LOVE SOMEONE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Paris Joe London) 12 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Works Not France Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Of RHA Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing EYES ON YOU Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack Rezolant Music, BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Sony/ATV SPEECHLESS Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/WB Corp., BMI/Rowdy Rob Music, BMI (L.Combs, W.B.Durrette, Janiel’s Publishing, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/ Tree Publishing, BMI/Heather Feather Songs, BMI (B. Music Corp., ASCAP/Shay Mooney Music, BMI/Warner- R.Williford) 46 CDS Words And Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Eldredge, R.Copperman, H.Morgan) 34 Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Buckeye26, ASCAP/ Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Jreynmusic, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/Never Veltz BEST SHOT Red Lining Music, SESAC/Amplified Songs, ASCAP (C.Rice, C. DeStefano, A.Gorley) 35 LOVE WINS Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/Universal Music So Good Publishing, BMI (D.Smyers, S.Mooney, J.Reynolds, Hour Songs, SESAC/Castle Bound Music, Inc., SESAC/Rio - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, L.Veltz) 6 Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Blonde Leading Blind, BMI (J.Allen, F   ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, J.London, J.P.Williams) 1 ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (C.Underwood, D.A.Garcia, T   FEELS LIKE A PARTY ole Purple Cape Music, Brett James) 25 BETTER BOAT Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Mars Marley Music, BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/ TAKE IT FROM ME Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/ BMI/Liz Rose Music, LLC, BMI/It’s Killer Music, BMI/She Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/WB M   Jordan Davis Music, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ And I, LLC, BMI/Songs Of Mighty Isis Music, BMI/Songs Music Corp., ASCAP/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/Big MeGusta Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (L.Rose, Crowd Publishing, ASCAP (P.Brust, C.Lucas, T.Hubbard, MAKE IT SWEET Carrot Seed Songs, ASCAP/WB Songs Of Red Bandana, BMI (J.Davis, J.Davis, J.Gantt) 18 T.Meadows) 26 C.Crowder) 48 Music Corp., ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, TALK YOU OUT OF IT Relative Music Group, BLUE TACOMA Kailey’s Dream, BMI/Music That FLOATIN’ Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ ASCAP/Rezsongs, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., Is Russelled, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Provident Gaje Music, Inc., BMI/Internal Combustion Music, BMI/ Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Smack Blue, LLC, ASCAP/ BMI/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Music Group, ASCAP/Hillbilly Science And Research One77 Songs, BMI/Southside Independent Music Unfair Entertainment, ASCAP/MeGusta Music, ASCAP/ Corp., ASCAP/Highly Combustible Music, ASCAP/One77 Publishing, SESAC/Trailerlily Music, SESAC/Stephen Publishing, LLC, BMI/Kickin’ Grids Music, BMI/Leo Tiny Handstand, ASCAP/Sharkules Music, ASCAP/ Songs, BMI/Castle Bound Music, Inc., SESAC (M.Hardy, Harris, BMI/Tyler Barksdale, BMI (R.Dickerson, C.Brown, Rosewater Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (M. We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing, ASCAP/Smack Hits, H.Phelps, J.Rogers, A.Vanderheym) 43 P.Welling) 8 Shafer, B.Daly, Z.Maloy) 55 GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, W.Sellers, G.Sprung, B.Tursi, S.McAnally) 28 THERE WAS THIS GIRL Riley Green Publishing BRING IT ON OVER Round Hill Compositions, FRIENDS DON’T Super Big Music, ASCAP/Seven Designee, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ BMI/Natalia’s Music Money, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Red Brids Publishing, ASCAP/Jehovah Nissi, BMI/Big MILLIONAIRE Universal Tunes, SESAC/Spur 66 Peermusic III, Ltd., BMI/Tawnes Van Hawke Publishing, Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/WB Music Machine Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Memory Music, SESAC (K.Welch) 14 BMI (R.Green, Erik Dylan) 21 Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Pinetucky Days, SESAC/Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Road Publishing, ASCAP/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, Corp., SESAC (M.Marlow, T.Dye, J.M.Nite, J.Ebach) 42 MISS ME MORE Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB THIS IS IT Dagum Music, BMI/Austintatious Tunes, BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI (D.Davidson, R.Akins, Music, ASCAP/3 Weddings Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt BMI/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Fluid Tunes, ASCAP/ B.Hayslip, J.Frasure) 53 G   Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Ice ASCAP/Bob Ochoa’s Homemade Salsa, ASCAP (K.Ballerini, House Tunes, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, BUCKED OFF New House Of Sea Gayle Music, GIRL LIKE YOU Peertunes, Ltd., SESAC/MTNoize, D.H.Hodges, B.McLaughlin) 37 ASCAP (S.McCreery, F.Rogers, A.Eshuis) 15 ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Own My Own Music SESAC/Jaron Boyer Music, SESAC/Music Of The Corn, Publishing, ASCAP (B.Paisley, C.DuBois, K.Lovelace) 41 ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (M.Tyler, J.Boyer, J.Mirenda) N   TURNIN’ ME ON Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ 17 Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Damn Country Music BURNING MAN Emileon Songs, BMI/Little Louder NEON CHURCH BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Go For Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Anderson Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, GOOD GIRL Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/Warner- The Goldsmith, ASCAP/Big Deal Beats, BMI/Songs Of Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, Inc., BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/Not A Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Wordspring Music, LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Dead Aim ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (B.Shelton, J.L.Alexander, Track Guy Music, BMI (L.Dick, B.Pinson) 10 SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Memory Days, SESAC/ Music, BMI/The Stennis Mightier Music, BMI/Young Guns J.Osborne) 13 Buzz Light Beer Music, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, Publishing, LLC, BMI (B.Goldsmith, R.E.Lipsey, B.M.Stennis) 23 BURN OUT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/TipTop Music, ASCAP (D.Lynch, J.Ebach, A.Albert) 11 W   ASCAP/Tropical Cowboy Publishing, ASCAP/Warner- NEVER COMIN DOWN Songs Of Universal, Inc., Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Kitt Cass Publishing H   BMI/MAROMA Music, BMI/Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/ WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Sony/ATV Corporation, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, Whistlepig Winners, ASCAP/James Abrahart Publishing Tree Publishing, BMI/Peanut Mill Songs, BMI/Round GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Songs Of Black River, Designee, SESAC/Artist 101 Publishing Group, BMI/Songs Hill Compositions, BMI/Natalia’s Music Money, BMI/ ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP (J.Carson, HANGIN’ ON EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/BMG C.Duddy, M.Wystrach, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 19 Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/Songs From The Rose Hotel, Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/ Rights Management (UK) Ltd., PRS/You Want How Much ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP (L.Bryan, D.Davidson, Of What Publishing, PRS/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Lets A.Gorley) 20 BUY MY OWN DRINKS BMG Platinum Songs, Write 2 Be Free Music, SESAC (C.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 5 Get Brunch Publishing, BMI (K.Urban, J.Kear, J.Abrahart, BMI/BMG Silver Songs, SESAC/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/ Shy Carter) 30 Rezonate Music, ASCAP/BIRB Music, ASCAP/Champagne HERE TONIGHT Super Big Music, ASCAP/ WHAT WHISKEY DOES EMI Blackwood Music Whiskey Publishing, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/Songs Of Black River, Inc., BMI/Little Britches Music, BMI/Gattis Music, BMI/ ASCAP/Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/Memory Days, NIGHT SHIFT Maxx Music, BMI/Let The Road Pave Rezonate Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/BIRB ASCAP/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/Music Itself, BMI/Razor And Tie Music Publishing, BMI/Mike Music, ASCAP (R.Houser, K.Gattis, H.Lindsey) 40 Of Platinum Pen, SESAC/Wild Wild West Songs, SESAC/ SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/The Best I Could Do Curb Music, BMI/Rain Town Music, BMI (T.Brown, P.LaRue, Thunder Cookie, SESAC/Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/ Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (B.Young, B.Montana) 27 Songwriters of Platinum Pen Publishing, BMI/Hannah B.Caver, J.Ebach, C.Kelley) 32 WHISKEY GLASSES Warner-Tamerlane Mulholland Music, BMI (H.Mulholland, J.Wayne, N.Cooke, Publishing Corp., BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/Bump Into H.Lindsey, J.Kear) 50 HOW DOES IT SOUND Two Black Dogs, ASCAP/ O   Genius Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Allegro, ASCAP/Over- Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP/Songs For Thought Under-Appreciated Songs, ASCAP/Rezven Buddy.ASCAP/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/WB THE ONES THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT BACK Music, ASCAP/Moving Targest In The Dark, ASCAP (B. C   HOME Big Music Machine, BMI/Double Barrel Ace Burgess, K.Kadish) 44 Music Corp., ASCAP (D.Schneider, J.Johnston, C.Crowder) 52 Music, BMI/Universal Music Corp., ASCAP/Paulywood CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY WB Music Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Plum Nelly, Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, I   BMI/Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/Real Big Red Tunes, Y   ASCAP/Goes Something Like THIS Music, BMI/Warner- ASCAP (J.Moore, P.DiGiovanni, C.McGill, J.S.Stover) 56 Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Make It Matter Music, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU Round Hill YADA YADA YADA Mid South Mood Maker Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI (C.Harrington, J.M.Schmidt, Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/WB ONE THAT GOT AWAY Downtown DMP Songs, M.Walker) 36 Music Corp., ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, BMI/Telemitry Productions, BMI/ReHits Music, Inc., Publishing, BMI/Heather Feather Songs, BMI/Songs Of ASCAP/Relative Music Group, BMI/One77 Songs, BMI/ ASCAP/Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Carrot Seed Songs, Universal, Inc., BMI (B.Lay, H.Morgan, M.Reeves) 47 CLOSER TO YOU Not Listed (Not Listed) 60 Highly Combustible Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (A.Gorley, M.Hardy, H.Phelps, Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, YOU’RE IN IT Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Fluid D   J.Rodgers) 59 ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP Tunes, ASCAP/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Block Of (J.Frasure, T. Rosen, M.Ramsey, J.Osborne) 24 Marble Music, BMI/SNG Music, LLP, BMI/Rizer Point Publishing, BMI (F.Rogers, J.Adams, M.Nesler) 38 DAY DRUNK Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., I WON’T BE SORRY Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/ BMI/SongsbyME, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent ON MY WAY TO YOU WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Words And Music, ASCAP/Hey Kiddo Music, ASCAP/ And Associates, LLC., ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/Atlas Music Publishing, ASCAP/ Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (M.Evans, C. BMI/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP (D.L.Murphy, External Combustion Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, DeStefano, L.Robbins) 49 P.Jenkins, J.Sellers) 58 ASCAP/Heytone Music, ASCAP (Brett James, T.Lane) 29 DESPERATE MAN Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ L   R   Longer And Louder Music, BMI/Snake Farm Publishing, SESAC/BMG Cicada, SESAC (E.Church, R.W.Hubbard) 16 LADIES IN THE ‘90S Warner-Tamerlane RICH International Dog Music, BMI/Nettwerk One Publishing Corp., BMI/Lylas Music, BMI/Songs Of Roc B Music, BMI/Unlimited, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Jay THE DIFFERENCE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Nation Music, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/ Gatsby Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/ WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Cookie Jar Music LLP, PRS (Lauren BMI/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI Bump Into Genius Music, BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/ Alaina, J.Frasure, A.Wadge) 54 (M.Morris, J.J.Dillon, L.Veltz) 4 Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI (R.Akins, B.Burgess, D.Dawson, J.Durrett) 31 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 18 OF 19 Hot Country Songs Index

TITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. F   M   SIMPLE Hubb Publishing, BMI/Big Loud Mountain, (Songwriter) Chart Position BMI/Pranch Ringle Music, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/ FROM NOW ON Not Listed (Not Listed) 43 MAKE IT SWEET Carrot Seed Songs, ASCAP/WB Relative Music Group, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Music Corp., ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack B   Publishing America, Inc., BMI/BMG Bumblebee, BMI/ G   Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, Rygo Music, BMI/Art In The Fodder Music, BMI/Songs BEAUTIFUL CRAZY Big Machine Music, BMI/ ASCAP/Rezsongs, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ Of Universal, Inc., BMI (T.Hubbard, B.Kelley, M.Hardy, GIRL LIKE YOU Peertunes, Ltd., SESAC/MTNoize, Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Smack Blue, LLC, ASCAP/ M.Holman) 15 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Publishing, BMI/Works SESAC/Jaron Boyer Music, SESAC/Music Of The Corn, Of RHA Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Unfair Entertainment, ASCAP/MeGusta Music, ASCAP/ ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (M.Tyler, J.Boyer, J.Mirenda) Tiny Handstand, ASCAP/Sharkules Music, ASCAP/ SIXTEEN EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On Corp., BMI/Rowdy Rob Music, BMI (L.Combs, W.B.Durrette, 18 R.Williford) 21 We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing, ASCAP/Smack Hits, The Line, BMI/Sony/ATV Ballad, BMI/Eastman Pond GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, Publishing, BMI/Big Deal Beats, BMI/Brodsky Spensive GOOD AS YOU Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/ W.Sellers, G.Sprung, B.Tursi, S.McAnally) 34 Publishing, BMI/Nice Life, BMI (Thomas Rhett, S.M.Douglas, BEST SHOT Red Lining Music, SESAC/Amplified Kane Brown Music, BMI/Don’t Be A Gypsy, BMI/ Hour Songs, SESAC/Castle Bound Music, Inc., SESAC/Rio Joe London) 12 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/BMG Rights MEANT TO BE BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/ Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Blonde Leading Blind, BMI (J.Allen, Management (UK) Ltd., PRS/You Want How Much Of J.London, J.P.Williams) 6 Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Kiss Me If You Can Music, SPEECHLESS Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/WB What Publishing, PRS/TDP Publishing, BMI/Track House BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/ Music Corp., ASCAP/Shay Mooney Music, BMI/Warner- BETTER BOAT Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Worldwide Entertainment, BMI/Mandy’s Favorite Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Buckeye26, ASCAP/ BMI/Liz Rose Music, LLC, BMI/It’s Killer Music, BMI/She BMI (K.Brown, B.Berryhill, S.Carter, T.Phillips, W.Weatherly) 45 The Corn, BMI/Jack 10 Publishing, BMI/Universal Music Jreynmusic, ASCAP/Big Music Machine, BMI/Never Veltz And I, LLC, BMI/Songs Of Mighty Isis Music, BMI/Songs - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, So Good Publishing, BMI (D.Smyers, S.Mooney, J.Reynolds, GOOD GIRL Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/Warner- ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP (B.Rexha, T.Hubbard, L.Veltz) 1 Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (L.Rose, Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Wordspring Music, LLC, T.Meadows) 36 J.Miller, D.A.Garcia) 4 SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Memory Days, SESAC/ T   BLUE TACOMA Kailey’s Dream, BMI/Music That Buzz Light Beer Music, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, MILLIONAIRE Universal Tunes, SESAC/Spur 66 Is Russelled, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Provident ASCAP (D.Lynch, J.Ebach, A.Albert) 13 Music, SESAC (K.Welch) 17 TAKE IT FROM ME Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/ Music Group, ASCAP/Hillbilly Science And Research Jordan Davis Music, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ Publishing, SESAC/Trailerlily Music, SESAC/Stephen H   MISS ME MORE Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB MeGusta Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ Music, ASCAP/3 Weddings Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Songs Of Red Bandana, BMI (J.Davis, J.Davis, J.Gantt) 22 Harris, BMI/Tyler Barksdale, BMI (R.Dickerson, C.Brown, HANGIN’ ON EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ P.Welling) 11 Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/Bob Ochoa’s Homemade Salsa, ASCAP (K.Ballerini, TALK YOU OUT OF IT Relative Music Group, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/ D.H.Hodges, B.McLaughlin) 30 BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BURNING MAN Emileon Songs, BMI/Little Louder Write 2 Be Free Music, SESAC  9 Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, (C.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge)  BMI/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music N   Corp., ASCAP/Highly Combustible Music, ASCAP/One77 Inc., BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/Not A HERE TONIGHT Super Big Music, ASCAP/ Track Guy Music, BMI (L.Dick, B.Pinson) 10 Songs, BMI/Castle Bound Music, Inc., SESAC (M.Hardy, Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/Songs Of Black River, NEON CHURCH BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Go For H.Phelps, J.Rogers, A.Vanderheym) 37 ASCAP/Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/Memory Days, The Goldsmith, ASCAP/Big Deal Beats, BMI/Songs Of BURN OUT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/TipTop Music, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/The Best I Could Do ASCAP/Tropical Cowboy Publishing, ASCAP/Warner- Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Dead Aim TEQUILA WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Beats And Banjos, Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (B.Young, Music, BMI/The Stennis Mightier Music, BMI/Young Guns ASCAP/Buckeye26, ASCAP/Jreynmusic, ASCAP/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Kitt Cass Publishing 29 Corporation, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, B.Caver, J.Ebach, C.Kelley)  Publishing, LLC, BMI (B.Goldsmith, R.E.Lipsey, B.M.Stennis) 28 Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (D.Smyers, J.Reynolds, N.Galyon) 3 GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Songs Of Black River, HOMESICK Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Kane ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP (J.Carson, NEVER COMIN DOWN Songs Of Universal, Inc., Brown Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/MAROMA Music, BMI/Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/ THERE WAS THIS GIRL Riley Green Publishing C.Duddy, M.Wystrach, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 25 BMI/Don’t Be A Gypsy, BMI/Smackworks Music, SESAC/ Whistlepig Winners, ASCAP/James Abrahart Publishing Designee, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, C   Designee, SESAC/Artist 101 Publishing Group, BMI/Songs Peermusic III, Ltd., BMI/Tawnes Van Hawke Publishing, SESAC/TDP Publishing, BMI (K.Brown, B.Berryhill, M.J.McGinn, Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/BMG BMI (R.Green, Erik Dylan) 26 CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY WB Music T.Phillips) 44 Rights Management (UK) Ltd., PRS/You Want How Much Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, Of What Publishing, PRS/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Lets THIS IS IT Dagum Music, BMI/Austintatious Tunes, ASCAP/Goes Something Like THIS Music, BMI/Warner- I   Get Brunch Publishing, BMI (K.Urban, J.Kear, J.Abrahart, BMI/Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Fluid Tunes, ASCAP/ Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Make It Matter Music, Shy Carter) 32 Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Ice I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU Round Hill House Tunes, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI (C.Harrington, J.M.Schmidt, Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/WB M.Walker) 47 NIGHT SHIFT Maxx Music, BMI/Let The Road Pave ASCAP (S.McCreery, F.Rogers, A.Eshuis) 20 Music Corp., ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, Itself, BMI/Razor And Tie Music Publishing, BMI/Mike ASCAP/Relative Music Group, BMI/One77 Songs, BMI/ D   Curb Music, BMI/Rain Town Music, BMI (T.Brown, P.LaRue, TURNIN’ ME ON Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ Highly Combustible Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music B.Montana) 31 Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Damn Country Music DAVID ASHLEY PARKER FROM Publishing LLC, ASCAP (A.Gorley, M.Hardy, H.Phelps, Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Anderson POWDER SPRINGS I’m About To Go RED On J.Rodgers) 39 O   Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, Ya Music, BMI/Travis Denning Music, BMI/ole, BMI/BMG ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (B.Shelton, J.L.Alexander, Platinum Songs, BMI/SWMBMGBMI, BMI/Lonesome Vinyl L   ONE THAT GOT AWAY Downtown DMP Songs, J.Osborne) 19 Music, BMI/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/WB Music BMI/Telemitry Productions, BMI/ReHits Music, Inc., LAST SHOT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Point Break ASCAP/Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Carrot Seed Songs, W   Corp., ASCAP/Damn Country Music Publishing, ASCAP (T. Publishing, ASCAP/Music Of The Corn, ASCAP/Songs Denning, J.R.Stewart, J.L.Alexander) 49 ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music From The Couch, BMI/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY Sony/ATV DESPERATE MAN Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent And ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP Tree Publishing, BMI/Peanut Mill Songs, BMI/Round Longer And Louder Music, BMI/Snake Farm Publishing, Associates, LLC., ASCAP (K.Moore, D.Couch, D.L.Murphy) 14 (J.Frasure, T. Rosen, M.Ramsey, J.Osborne) 38 Hill Compositions, BMI/Natalia’s Music Money, BMI/ SESAC/BMG Cicada, SESAC (E.Church, R.W.Hubbard) 16 Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., LOSE IT Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Kane Brown ON MY WAY TO YOU WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP (L.Bryan, D.Davidson, THE DIFFERENCE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Music, BMI/Plum Nelly, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Songs Of Brett, ASCAP/Atlas Music Publishing, ASCAP/ A.Gorley) 24 Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/ Publishing Corp., BMI/Mandy’s Favorite Songs, BMI/Track External Combustion Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, Bump Into Genius Music, BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/ House Worldwide Entertainment, BMI (K.Brown, C.McGill, ASCAP/Heytone Music, ASCAP (Brett James, T.Lane) 33 WHISKEY GLASSES Warner-Tamerlane Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI (R.Akins, B.Burgess, W.Weatherly) 5 Publishing Corp., BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/Bump Into D.Dawson, J.Durrett) 41 R   Genius Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Allegro, ASCAP/Over- LOVE AIN’T EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Thought Under-Appreciated Songs, ASCAP/Rezven DOWN TO THE HONKYTONK Round Hill Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Combustion RICH International Dog Music, BMI/Nettwerk One Music, ASCAP/Moving Targest In The Dark, ASCAP (B. Works, BMI/Big Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/Round Hill Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/WB B Music, BMI/Unlimited, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Jay Burgess, K.Kadish) 40 Compositions, BMI/Shirt At Work, BMI/Sony/ATV Story Music Corp., ASCAP/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, Gatsby Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Music Publishing, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/ GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (R.Copperman, A.Gorley, BMI/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI Y   Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music S.McAnally) 42 (M.Morris, J.J.Dillon, L.Veltz) 8 Group Ltd., GMR (R.Clawson, L.Laird, S.McAnally) 23 YOU’RE IN IT Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP/Fluid LOVE SOMEONE Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Paris RUMOR Mike Curb Music, BMI/Curb Songs, ASCAP/ Tunes, ASCAP/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Block Of DRUNK ME Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/WB Music Not France Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Jacobsong, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/ Marble Music, BMI/SNG Music, LLP, BMI/Rizer Point Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, Rezolant Music, BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Sony/ATV Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., Publishing, BMI (F.Rogers, J.Adams, M.Nesler) 50 ASCAP/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/BMG Tree Publishing, BMI/Heather Feather Songs, BMI (B. ASCAP (L.Brice, K.Jacobs, A.Gorley) 35 Silver Songs, SESAC (M.Tenpenny, J.M.Schmidt, J.T.Wilson) 7 Eldredge, R.Copperman, H.Morgan) 48 S   E   LOVE WINS Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME Big Music EYES ON YOU Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP/Songs Of Brett, Machine, BMI/50 Egg Music, BMI/Straight Dimes Janiel’s Publishing, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/ ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (C.Underwood, D.A.Garcia, Publishing, BMI/Little Extra Songs, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs CDS Words And Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Brett James) 27 Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/No Cats Round Here Music, Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie’s Favorite ASCAP/Heart Scarred Songs, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Songs, ASCAP (C.Rice, C. DeStefano, A.Gorley) 46 Publishing Corp., BMI/Super LCS Publishing, BMI (L. Combs, R.Snyder, C.Wilson) 2 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE NOVEMBER 26, 2018 | PAGE 19 OF 19 CODA On Nov. 29, 2008, Taylor Swift’s followed: “White Horse” (No. 2), 10 Years Ago second LP, Fearless, debuted at the “You Belong With Me” (No. 1, two summit of Top Country Albums weeks), “Fifteen” (No. 7) and the title as her third leader, following her track (No. 10). Before segueing fully Taylor Swift self-titled debut set and the EP to pop with 2014’s 1989, she banked Beautiful Eyes. Fearless led for 35 five Top Country Albums No. 1s and Was Fearless weeks, the second-longest run by a seven Hot Country Songs leaders. woman and the fifth-longest overall. Swift’s latest album, 2017’s Prior to her pop prominence, she was Shania Twain’s 50-week No. 1 Reputation, was her fifth No. 1 Nashville’s darling at No. 1 Come On Over remains the top ruler. on the all-genre Billboard 200. Swift wrote or co-wrote all 13 Fearless, her first, and 1989 have tracks on Fearless, which she co- led the longest: 11 weeks each. produced with Nathan Chapman. After spending her entire career so Lead single “Love Story” spent far with Big Machine Records, the its second of two weeks atop Hot 28-year-old artist recently signed Country Songs when the album with Universal Music Group. debuted, and four more top 10s —JIM ASKER

Taylor Swift performs onstage during MTV’s Total Request Live on June 16, 2008 at the MTV Times Square Studios in New York City.

REWINDING THE COUNTRY CHARTS SCOTT GRIES/GETTY IMAGES GRIES/GETTY SCOTT