Weekly Register: Captain, New Releases Ahead!

As I peer through my journalistic telescope like a scraggly third mate lashed to the crow’s nest atop a windblown vessel, I’ve finally spied good news!

“New releases ahead Captain, new releases ahead…”

Yes, regular Weekly Register readers have heard me complain about the dearth of new product since the start of the year, but now the pendulum is about to swing the other way. In fact, even the Washington Post is writing about new Nashville music this week—and it’s about time because country YTD album sales are down almost 5%.

WP’s Chris Richards writes, “Time to scrub that ‘I like all kinds of music, except country’ line off your OkCupid profile.” Thank you Chris. The article lauds this week’s new release from Ashley Monroe, (Pistol Annies member) but also mentions a bevy of new females soon to offer up some tasty musical wares. Richards mentions Kacey Musgraves, Kelleigh Bannen, Gretchen Wilson and Natalie Maines (yes the same) as having upcoming product. Richards left out the sizzling Maggie Rose who is also destined to light up playlists and sales charts this spring. Richards notes, “a cascade of discs from female country singers plotting to dominate annual best-of lists eight months down the road.”

But it’s not just the ladies that are coming to this dance. The gents will also be on the sales floor in full force. During the next month or so we’ll see new music from Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Eric Church. Now that’s a musical buffet I look forward to stuffin’ into my headphones. Groups like The Band Perry and Thompson Square are also on the list.

So now that you’ve heard the good news about the future, let’s move to the present…

Doin’ Some Album Math
The Mavericks, returning from an extended absence, have released In Time which landed at No. 8 this week on the Current Country Top 75 (14k units). And the legendary Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell teamed for Old Yellow Moon at No. 4 with almost 16k debut units.

Taylor Swift, whose quotable Vanity Fair interview is apparently packed with comments about her expanding love life and a pointed diss at Golden Globe hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, again tops the country chart with about 24k units. Swift, now more comfortable than ever in the media spotlight, remains country’s most bankable brand. Red is the highest ranking Nashville music on the YTD Albums w/TEA list.

Florida Georgia Line (No. 2; 22k), Tim McGraw (No. 3; 19k), Little Big Town (No. 5; 16k), Jason Aldean (No. 6; 15k), Hunter Hayes (No. 7; 14k), Gary Allan (No. 9; 13k) and Carrie Underwood (No. 10; 13k) round out the Top 10.

Tracks Back Jack
Love is in bloom as we near the spring and nowhere is it more evident than on our Digital Genre Country chart where lovebirds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert occupy the top two spots. Mr. Shelton leads with about 74k units and Miranda trails with almost 49k.

Also in the tracks derby it’s nice to see Lady A’s No. 4 “Downtown” gaining momentum and moving up 5% over last week to about 48k units.

Well now that I’ve reported the new releases are on the way, I can finally climb down from this damn crow’s nest and get me some strong grog…. stay tuned…