BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS MAY 7, 2018 PAGE 1 OF 17. John Mellencamp: What Once Rocked Is Now Rolled Into Country

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1 Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS MAY 7, 218 PAGE 1 OF 17 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE Tom.Roland@billboard.com Urban s Graffiti Makes A Mark >page 3 Dierks Evolving In The Mountain >page 7 Opry, Alabama: Country Has Its Benefits >page 8 Danielle, Luke Combs Make Fashion Statements >page 8 Makin Tracks: Devin Dawson s Mystery Friend >page 12 Country Coda: When Raven Flew At No. 1 >page 17 John Mellencamp: What Once Rocked Is Now Rolled Into Country Baked into the foundation of any art form is the knowledge that everything new is built on some adaptation of what came before it. Rarely has that been so blatant or so timely as Jake Owen s I Was Jack (And You Were Diane), which is No. 12 on the Country Airplay chart dated May 12. It pays nostalgic homage to Jack & Diane, a title from 1982 that is steeped in small-town, teenage romance with the full knowledge that that era s days were numbered. And it comes at a time when John Mellencamp, the rebellious Indiana rocker who wrote and recorded Jack & Diane, is ironically at the heart of modern country music. Owen s paean is hardly unique in the current format. In 215, Keith Urban rose to No. 2 on both Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs with John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16, its title using the stage name that was thrust upon Mellencamp when he first rose to national prominence. Jack & Diane was referenced in the opening lines of Old Dominion s 217 single No Such Thing As a Broken Heart and Kenny Chesney s 24 release I Go Back. Hurts So Good, a single from the same American Fool album that yielded Jack, has been covered by Miranda Lambert on the USA Network s Nashville Star, OWEN MELLENCAMP MARIE by Charles Kelley and Bucky Covington in concert and by Chesney and Jason Aldean during their 215 co-headlining tour. Aldean got plenty of attention for his April 29 cover of Mellencamp s Pink Houses in Chicago. That song has likewise been covered by Darius Rucker and 14-year-old Warner Music Nashville artist Tegan Marie. It s amusing, to say the least, that a hard-nosed fighter who nicknamed himself Little Bastard has become one of the shoulders upon which familyfriendly contemporary country stands. About 99 percent of modern country music, I think, is about small-town life and about growing up in the heartland, reasons Owen. There s a part of us that all want to be kind of like him. We want to be that all-american, white-t-shirt-wearin, rollyour-sleeves-up center and grit of America. The visual images in that statement are what Mellencamp represented when he broke out in the midst of the synthetic glam and bright artifice of the New Wave era in the early and mid-198s. The motorcycle in the background on Mellencamp s American Fool album cover, the barbed wire and tractor on Scarecrow and even the wife-beater on Nothing Matters and What If It Did are images that resonate in country. The cover of MARIE: SWEETY HIGH; MELLENCAMP: HOFFMAN ENTERTAINMENT KANE BROWN HEAVEN Certified Platinum Top 5 Overall Consumption #2 On Demand Audio Streaming #1 On Demand Video Streaming POWER UP!

2 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 2 OF 17 Uh-Huh, where he s depicted in a T-shirt and jeans, has its own nostalgia for the era of James Dean, who died when he wrecked his Porsche that sported the inscription Little Bastard. He s so like sexy-looking and young, says John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 songwriter Shane McAnally of that cover. It s the epitome of where the 5s and the 8s met. Mellencamp was a rebel with a cause when he found his platform in the 198s. Pink Houses, with its Ain t that America chorus, has much like fellow rocker Bruce Springsteen s Born in the U.S.A. been misinterpreted at times as jingoistic patriotism. In actuality, Pink Houses is a savvy condemnation of cultural control by the 1 percent at the top of the economic food chain. Rain on the Scarecrow, the title track from the Scarecrow album, likewise railed against big business, assailing bankers who assisted in the demolition of the family farm through foreclosure. Mellencamp s music is about the working class and the Midwest and social conscience, observes Marie. It s about everything in between New York and L.A., that big chunk of land. He just gets so in depth with that. Appropriately, Mellencamp joined Willie Nelson and Neil Young in founding Farm Aid in 1985, and that association brought him into greater contact with the country and Americana communities, which have typically provided a big chunk of the talent for the annual benefit. Mellencamp represents the antiestablishment ideal that s part of the mind-set in farmers and cowboys, two iconic American symbols with obvious ties to country. Rock and country are born out of the same thing, says producer Frank Liddell, whose production of Lambert s current Keeper of the Flame has Mellencamplike heartland-rock shadings. Liddell says that big swaths of listeners understand Mellencamp s view whether they ve ever driven a tractor or not. They re not hearing about growing corn. They re hearing about people that are out there fighting, reasons Liddell. It s not the literal element of it. It s the emotions and the toil and the overcoming element that they identify with, not the specifics. Mellencamp has found plenty within the industry who relate. Trisha Yearwood sang Pink Houses with him in Colorado after opening a 21 show. Little Big Town backed him on eight tracks on his 27 album Freedom Road. Johnny Cash s family had him perform during the Man in Black s 23 funeral. And Darius Rucker enlisted Mellencamp for a CMT Crossroads installment, highly appropriate since Don Gehman Mellencamp s coproducer during much of the 8s also produced Hootie + The Blowfish s multiplatinum Cracked Rear View, with Rucker singing lead. Heck, Mellencamp even nabbed a Country Music Association Award nomination in 1992 as a member of Buzzin Cousins a collaboration with Dwight Yoakam, John Prine, Joe Ely and James McMurtry that appeared on the soundtrack of Falling From Grace. Those kinds of partnerships fit in with Mellencamp s influence on modern country. His lyrics and his music [were] always country with a rock n roll flair, says Owen. In my mind, John Mellencamp is a rocking version of Merle Haggard. He s able to say things simply about America in a way where everyone understood it. Even Urban, influenced from afar during his youth in Australia, understood how Mellencamp represented blue-collar America. He heard the same struggle between good and evil in Mellencamp that s inherent in country music. It s that spirit that goes out and just gets all crazy hell on Saturday night and then we re down at the church Sunday morning repenting, says Urban. It s those two juxtapositions that I ve always loved about Mellencamp. His voice to me was that theme it had that realism and struggle and empathy. I could go on forever about John s voice. That juxtaposition is at work in I Was Jack (You Were Diane), a song that reflects on the split between youth and maturity. It s the easiest canyon in Mellencamp s canon to navigate, but it s not all that dissimilar from his exploration of rural life in an urbanized world, of a middle-class warrior angered by The Man. What s not so divergent, however, is his brand of rock and the current brand of country, where Pink Houses and Jack & Diane are right at home in set lists with Fly Over States and Wagon Wheel. Mellencamp has always been country, says Chris Janson, who is set to tour with Owen beginning May 18. He wears cowboy boots, jeans and T-shirts. He looks like a guy that you went to high school with, went to college with, went to Tootsie s with and went to the arena with. He looks like an everyday guys guy, and he sings songs about how we all live in modern-day country music and have been living for years. It s a natural fit. Justin Moore (second from right) headlined Nashville s historic Ryman Auditorium for the first time on May 2. Among the show s attendees were (from left) Big Machine Label Group president/ceo Scott Borchetta, Valory artist Tyler Rich and Valory GM George Briner. Craig Campbell performed a bonus show on May 2 at the WDXB Birmingham Incredibull Tuesday Nights concert series at the Tin Roof. From left: WDXB morning host Dollar Bill Lawson, Campbell and WDXB personality Madison Reeves and PD Tom Hanrahan. New Reviver act Tenille Arts dropped by KUBL Salt Lake City just days after starting her first radio promotion tour on April 3. She s pictured with Reviver West Coast regional Dave Collins (left) and KUBL PD Travis Moon. Riser House/Columbia Nashville artist Mitchell Tenpenny visited the Billboard Nashville office on May 3 and performed his current single Drunk Me. From left: Nielsen Nashville senior vp/gm Erin Crawford, Tenpenny, Billboard Country Update editor Tom Roland and guitarist Rafe Tenpenny. MOORE: CODY VILLALOBOS; TENPENNY: LEE ANN PHOTOGLO

3 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 3 OF 17 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER jim.asker@billboard.com Keith Urban Writes Latest No. 1 Chapter With Graffiti U ; Willie Nelson Still Standing ; Looks Like Mason Ramsey Is Getting Famous Keith Urban s ninth studio LP, Graffiti U (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), roars in atop Billboard s Top Country Albums chart (dated May 12), earning 145, equivalent album units in its first week (according to Nielsen Music), with 137, in traditional sales. The set starts at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 2. The album benefited from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer tied to Urban s latest tour, which begins June 15. My audience, including those that have found my music more recently, has given me an amazing gift, Urban tells Billboard. They ve connected with the music, come out and seen us live and given so much to the shows, and they ve come with me on this ongoing journey. They re the ones that have made Graffiti U No. 1, and for that, I m so grateful. Urban earns his sixth Top Country Albums No. 1, all of which have debuted at the summit. His new leader follows Ripcord (93, sold; 216), Fuse (98,; 213), Defying Gravity (172,; 29), Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing (27,; 26) and Be Here (148,; 24). URBAN The new set has produced two singles so far: Female peaked at No. 11 on Hot Country Songs, and Coming Home (featuring Julia Michaels) hops 2-19 on Hot Country Songs and on Country Airplay (14.8 million impressions, up 12 percent), its highest peaks yet on those charts. -ING LEGEND Willie Nelson, who celebrated his 85th birthday on April 29, posts his record-extending 51st Top Country Albums top 1, as Last Man Standing (Legacy) enters at No. 3 (26, units). He pads his lead over Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and George Strait, who each have 4 top 1s. STILL MEANT TO BE NO. 1 Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line s Meant to Be (Warner Bros./Big Machine Label Group) tops Hot Country Songs for a 23rd week. The song is now a week from tying FGL s debut hit, Cruise, which ruled for 24 weeks in , as the second-longest-leading No. 1 in the chart s 59-year history. Sam Hunt s Body Like a Back Road leads with 34 weeks at No. 1 in 217. Meant also crowns Country Streaming Songs (22.9 million U.S. streams, up 1 percent) and Country Digital Song Sales (32, downloads sold, down 14 percent) for a 19th week each. EASY EXTENSION Jason Aldean s You Make It Easy (Macon/Broken Bow) tops Country Airplay for a second week (45.5 million, down 1 percent). He earns his first multiweek No. 1 since Burnin It Down (two weeks in November 214). ALREADY FAMOUS Mason Ramsey, the 11-yearold who drew viral buzz after yodeling at a Walmart in Illinois, debuts at No. 4 on Hot Country Songs with Famous (Atlantic/Big Loud). The song launches at No. 2 on Country Digital Song Sales (19,) while drawing 1.8 million U.S. streams. Ramsey follows such young performers on Hot Country Songs as Tanya Tucker, who was 13 when Delta Dawn reached No. 6 in 1972; Marie Osmond (14 when Paper Roses hit No. 1 in 1973); LeAnn Rimes (13 when Blue climbed to No. 1 in 1996); Billy Gilman (12 when One Voice hit No. 2 in 2); and Lennon & Maisy, who reached No. 32 with their cover of The Lumineers Ho Hey in 213, when the members of the sister duo were 13 and 9, respectively. WALLEN S UP Morgan Wallen earns his first Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay top 1 with Up Down (featuring Florida Georgia Line) (BMLG/Big Loud). It lifts 12-1 on the former chart and 11-1 on the latter (23.2 million in audience, up 9 percent). For FGL, it is its 15th top 1 on each tally and, with Meant to Be, featuring Bebe Rexha, at No. 3 on Country Airplay, becomes the first duo or group with concurrent top 1s in the chart s 28-year history. Among all acts, Tim McGraw last achieved such a double, thanks in part to FGL: On Jan. 21, 217, the twosome s May We All, featuring McGraw, and his own How I ll Always Be ranked at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. URBAN: GETTY IMAGES

4 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 4 OF 17 Country Airplay WKS ON CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS AIRPLAY MONITORED BY +/ +/ RANK YOU MAKE IT EASY Macon/Broken Bow HH No. 1 (2 weeks) HH Jason Aldean HEAVEN Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown MEANT TO BE Warner Bros./BMLG Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line FOR THE FIRST TIME Capitol Nashville Darius Rucker ONE NUMBER AWAY River House/Columbia Nashville HH Most Increased Audience HH Luke Combs MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD Capitol Nashville Luke Bryan WOMAN, AMEN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Blue Chair/Reviver David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney I LIVED IT Warner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton UP DOWN BMLG/Big Loud Morgan Wallen Featuring Florida Georgia Line GET ALONG Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) Big Loud Jake Owen TEQUILA Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay TAKE BACK HOME GIRL Big Loud Chris Lane Featuring Tori Kelly COMING HOME Capitol Nashville Keith Urban Featuring Julia Michaels KISS SOMEBODY Warner Bros./WEA Morgan Evans GET TO YOU Atlantic/WEA Michael Ray CRY PRETTY Capitol Nashville HH Airpower HH Carrie Underwood HEART BREAK Capitol Nashville HH Airpower HH Lady Antebellum HOOKED Curb Dylan Scott SHE AIN T IN IT Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi CRIMINAL Stoney Creek Lindsay Ell MERCY BMLG Brett Young KINDA DON T CARE Valory Justin Moore THREE CHORDS & THE TRUTH Dack Janiels/Broken Bow Chase Rice BREAK UP IN THE END Warner Bros./WMN Cole Swindell LIFE CHANGES Valory Thomas Rhett DOIN FINE 19/Interscope/Mercury Lauren Alaina BABE Big Machine Sugarland Featuring Taylor Swift A LITTLE DIVE BAR IN DAHLONEGA Atlantic/WAR Ashley McBryde

5 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 5 OF 17 Country Airplay WKS ON CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) PLAYS AIRPLAY MONITORED BY +/ +/ RANK HOTEL KEY RCA Nashville Old Dominion SHOOT ME STRAIGHT EMI Nashville Brothers Osborne HIDE THE WINE Big Machine Carly Pearce BORN TO LOVE YOU Arista Nashville LANCO RICH Columbia Nashville Maren Morris HANGIN ON RCA Nashville HH Breaker HH Chris Young NEW GOOD GIRL Broken Bow HH Hot Shot Debut/Most Added HH Dustin Lynch I HATE LOVE SONGS Black River Kelsea Ballerini SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore DRUNK ME Riser House/Columbia Nashville Mitchell Tenpenny BEST SHOT Stoney Creek Jimmie Allen YOU GOT EM ALL Big Machine Trent Harmon I GOT Curb Jerrod Niemann DON T GET BETTER THAN THAT Reviver LOCASH BLUE TACOMA Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson BURN OUT Big Machine Midland WORTH IT BMLG Danielle Bradbery MILLIONAIRE Mercury Chris Stapleton NEW END Big Machine Radio Romance YOUNG FOREVER EMI Nashville Eric Paslay RUN WILD HORSES BIG Label Aaron Watson SEE YOU TRY Red Bow Craig Campbell CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY Curb Rodney Atkins Featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers AMERICAN ROCK N ROLL Top Dog/BMG/Broken Bow Kid Rock THE DIFFERENCE Valory Tyler Rich CHILLS Universal Music Canada James Barker Band KEEPER OF THE FLAME Vanner/RCA Nashville Miranda Lambert SELFISH Rebel Engine Stephanie Quayle NEW ASKING FOR A FRIEND Atlantic/WEA Devin Dawson REASONS Big Loud Jillian Jacqueline GOING FOR ADDS GETTY IMAGES 37 DUSTIN LYNCH Good Girl The singer-songwriter posts his 1th appearance on Country Airplay and half of them hit No. 1 between Good Girl debuts at No. 37, the chart s highest bow, with 3.2 million first-week audience impressions. 5/14 ALEXANDRA DEMETREE Coastin SSM Nashville JENNIFER GRANT Feels Like Cheating SMG Nashville MADDIE & TAE Friends Don t Mercury 5/21 ABI A Day Without One Country/Nine North DUSTIN LYNCH Good Girl Broken Bow TYLER FARR Love By The Moon Columbia Nashville 5/28 JOE NICHOLS Billy Graham s Bible Red Bow

6 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 6 OF 17 Country Airplay AIRPLAY MONITORED BY MOST ADDED TITLE Imprint/Label Artist ADDS GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch 45 CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY Curb Rodney Atkins Feat. The Fisk Jubilee Singers 21 LIFE CHANGES Valory Thomas Rhett 19 END Big Machine Radio Romance 17 BLUE TACOMA Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson 13 HOTEL KEY RCA Nashville Old Dominion 1 BABE Big Machine/UMG Nashville Sugarland Feat. Taylor Swift 9 BORN TO LOVE YOU Arista Nashville LANCO 8 MILLIONAIRE Mercury Chris Stapleton 8 MERCY BMLG Brett Young 7 MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE TITLE Imprint/Label Artist GAIN (IN MIILIONS) ONE NUMBER AWAY River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs TEQUILA Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch GET ALONG Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney HEAVEN Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Blue Chair/Reviver David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney WOMAN, AMEN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley UP DOWN BMLG/Big Loud Morgan Wallen Featuring Florida Georgia Line FOR THE FIRST TIME Capitol Nashville Darius Rucker COMING HOME Capitol Nashville Keith Urban Featuring Julia Michaels TITLE Imprint/Label NEW AND ACTIVE Artist RECURRENTS TOTAL AUDIENCE TOTAL STATIONS CRAIG Monument/Arista Nashville Walker Hayes FAMOUS Atlantic/Big Loud Mason Ramsey HEY MAMA Reviver Michael Tyler SIXTEEN Valory Thomas Rhett HOTDAMALAMA Stoney Creek Parmalee NAMASTE Songs In The Key Of B Bobby Bones And The Raging Idiots TITLE Imprint/Label Artist TOTAL AUD. (IN MILLIONS) 1 SINGLES YOU UP MCA Nashville Jordan Davis SMALL TOWN BOY Broken Bow Dustin Lynch THE LONG WAY Atlantic/WMN Brett Eldredge BODY LIKE A BACK ROAD MCA Nashville Sam Hunt BROKEN HALOS Mercury Chris Stapleton MARRY ME Valory Thomas Rhett SHE S WITH ME Atlantic/WEA High Valley FIVE MORE MINUTES Triple Tigers Scotty McCreery ONES THAT LIKE ME Valory Brantley Gilbert UNFORGETTABLE Valory Thomas Rhett ADDS MOST INCREASED PLAYS TITLE Imprint/Label Artist GAIN GOOD GIRL Broken Bow Dustin Lynch +644 TEQUILA Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay +599 GET ALONG Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA Kenny Chesney +537 ONE NUMBER AWAY River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs +47 UP DOWN BMLG/Big Loud Morgan Wallen Featuring Florida Georgia Line +389 WOMAN, AMEN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley +354 HEAVEN Zone 4/RCA Nashville Kane Brown +351 LIFE CHANGES Valory Thomas Rhett +337 I LIVED IT Warner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton +329 EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Blue Chair/Reviver David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney +37 BILLBOARD COUNTRY BOXSCORE Gross Artist Attendance Ticket Price(s) Venue/Date(s) Capacity Promoter(s) $6,245,65 KENNY CHESNEY 55,292 MESSINA $257.5, $32.5 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa/April 21 sellout TOURING GROUP $5,136,66 KENNY CHESNEY 43,526 MESSINA $252, $42 Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wis./April 28 sellout TOURING GROUP $2,399,988 REBA MCENTIRE & BROOKS & DUNN 18,779 CONCERTS WEST/AEG PRESENTS, $25, $59.5 The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas/March ,542 six shows CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT $844,285 ERIC CHURCH 15,665 MESSINA $285, $22 C.W. Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, Texas/April 27 sellout TOURING GROUP $78,854 ERIC CHURCH 12,671 MESSINA $129, $27.5 Austin36 Amphitheater, Austin, Texas/April 28 sellout TOURING GROUP Reported worldwide boxscore figures for Country artists. Boxscore figures should be submitted to Bob Allen by phone ( ), fax ( ) or (bob.allen@billboard.com). TEXAS REGIONAL RADIO REPORT ENDING MAY 6, 218 WKS ON CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST TW SPINS DRINKIN BOUT YOU (Little Red Truck) HH 1 Week at 1 HH Deryl Dodd w/ Matt Hillyer RUN WILD HORSES (BIG Label ) Aaron Watson WHAT COWBOYS DO (Almost Country) Casey Donahew Band MISTAKES (Independent) Jesse Raub Jr GIRL DOWN IN TEXAS (Independent) Josh Abbott Band THE REWRITE (Independent) Mike Ryan MOMENT IN THE SUN (No Big Deal) Reckless Kelly SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO (Thirty Tigers) Turnpike Troubadours DRUNK ENOUGH (Independent) Robert Ray ALL ABOUT LOVINÍ (Independent) Josh Ward SPINS +/ WKS ON CHART TITLE (Label) ARTIST TW SPINS FLOOD (Independent) Drew Fish Band TEXAS RAIN (Independent) Case Hardin AIN T NOBODY HOTTER (Independent) Kyle Park TUGGIN ON MY HEARTSTRINGS (Independent) Randall King Band SO LONG 6TH STREET (Bowen Sounds) Wade Bowen I M NOT DRINKIN (Independent) Jamie Richards RAIN (Independent) Aaron Copeland GAME CHANGER (Nightlife/Dreamlined Ent Grp) Marty Heddin ANY NIGHT IN TEXAS (Independent) Jon Wolfe EVERYTHING TO LOSE (Independent) Sundance Head SPINS +/ Texas Regional Radio Report Top 1 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 or contact Dave Smith at Copyright 218, Texas Regional Radio Report

7 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 7 OF 17 NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line were surprised with RIAAcertified gold plaques for Up Down when Wallen made his late-night TV debut on April 26 on ABC s Jimmy Kimmel Live! From left: FGL s Brian Kelley, Wallen, host Kimmel and FGL s Tyler Hubbard. DIERKS BENTLEY S PEAK EXPERIENCE When Dierks Bentley sojourned to Telluride, Colo., to make his next album in August 217, he was taking the next logical step in a creative trek that mirrors developments at home. His 214 album, Riser, was heavily influenced by the death of his father, a life-altering moment in most men s lives. It s a natural reaction after that kind of shock to focus more completely on the relationships that remain, and his 216 followup, Black, was fully attuned to the subject of love and its complexities. Now, with The Mountain, Bentley seems to be reasserting himself, venturing out once more into the expanses of the world to rediscover his unique place in it. BENTLEY The Mountain makes a fair amount of references to Western imagery and the outdoors with co-producers Ross Copperman and Jon Randall Stewart helping the Arizonabred Bentley find a comfortable middle ground between his contemporary leanings and his reverence for country s acoustic traditions. C.S. Lewis talks about the hero s journey, how you always come back to where you started after you ve been out in the world and seen where you fit in it, says Bentley. A lot of the world is the fans, hearing all the stories, what they go through and what role you play in their lives. You bring this one thing to them, which is joy and healing and happiness. The best way to do that is to be authentic to yourself. With 1 of the 13 tracks co-written by Bentley, The Mountain set for release by Capitol on June 8 includes guest appearances by Brothers Osborne and Brandi Carlile while exploring a range of settings. The title track bears a Tom Petty stamp, You Can t Bring Me Down has an Allman Brothers vibe, and My Religion puts him in an atypical piano-based framework. There are no ditties, as he told a group of journalists no Somewhere on a Beach or Drunk on a Plane to counter the contemplative nature of the work. But when he concludes The Mountain with How I m Going Out, it s clear that Bentley is thinking about a legacy that he started to build with his national debut 15 years ago. And while his music has been based in Nashville, he s being tugged back to the frontier. I ve lived in the mid-south for about 25 years, and I love it, he says. I have a lot of friends [in Nashville], and I know the culture pretty well. But I m not from here. I m from the West. I m trying to keep learning about myself, and there s something about that part of the world that s in my blood, and that s where I ll be when it s all over. The Mountain is likely not his final destination, but perhaps a road map to where Bentley s future is invested. MOVERS AND SHAKERS WFUS Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., welcomes Scotty Davis as afternoon host, starting May 14. He moves into the role from the same shift at sister top 4 WFLZ iheartmedia/nashville is actively seeking a promotion director for WSIX and WSIX-HD. Apply here Premiere Networks has partnered with Canadian syndication company Orbyt Media to make iheartmedia s The Bobby Bones Show available in Canada WBWL Boston hired Ginny Brophey as PD, InsideRadio.com reported. She fills the post vacated by Lance Houston s transfer to WEBG Chicago. Brophey was previously WKLB Boston music director Nia Marciante was appointed promotion director for WMZQ Washington, D.C., and its adult contemporary sister, WASH, according to InsideRadio.com. She was previously iheartmedia/philadelphia promotions assistant KTTS Springfield, Mo., promoted Nancy Simpson to morning co-host, Talkers.com reported. She was previously assistant news director. ROUND THE ROW Curb Word Entertainment established Curb Word Music Publishing, consolidating Curb Music, Word Music and Wordcountry into one division. Janine Appleton Ebach was installed as VP, a promotion from her role as Wordcountry head. Colt Murski continues as senior creative director with Nina Jenkins as creative manager. Reach Appleton Ebach here Big Machine Music formally announced Mike Molinar s promotion to GM. His previous title, vp publishing, now belongs to Alex Heddle, formerly senior director. Reach Molinar here and Heddle here Aaron Watson s BIG Label hired Dan Anderson as vp sales, plucking him from a similar post at Black River. Reach him here Allison Skiff joined Kaleidoscope Media as head of partnerships after a nine-year run in a similar position with 4Fini. Reach her here Brickshore Media hired Erin Coad as publicity coordinator following an internship. Reach her here Los Angeles-based dick clark productions promoted Ben Roy to vp programming and development from executive director CMT renewed its production agreement with John Hamlin s Switched On Entertainment. Switched On will continue to handle the CMT Music Awards, CMT Artists of the Year and CMT Crossroads New artist Mason Lively signed a booking deal with William Morris Endeavor Leroy Van Dyke enlisted Absolute Publicity for media Austin-based singer-songwriter Parker McCollum joined the songwriting roster at Warner/Chappell Nashville Indie artist Harper Grae s Grae Area label partnered with ONErpm for distribution. The first single in the arrangement is due in May Nashville Insider added RIDE TV to its affiliates list The Country Music Association finalized its 218 balloting schedule. First-round voting is set for July 2-12, the second round for Aug and the third for Oct The CMA is currently accepting submissions for its broadcast awards. Go here to enter through June 3 Songwriter-musician Tony Kinman died following a battle with cancer. He was a member of several roots-rock acts, most notably the 198s cowpunk band Rank and File. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill participated May 3 in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum s All Access program, which puts hundreds of Nashville-area students in touch with the city s creators. From left: CMT Insider correspondent Katie Cook, McGraw, Hill and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young.

8 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 8 OF 17 NASHVILLE & NATIONAL TOM ROLAND MUSIC NOTES Country s civic-minded tendencies are on display again with a raft of benefits and celebrations. The Grand Ole Opry has its annual Salute the Troops show May 22 with Trace Adkins, Lee Greenwood, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler and Darius Rucker. Lee Brice meanwhile raised $3, for Folds of Honor with a private event at the Masters Golf Tournament. Alabama set a tornado-relief concert for Sept. 26 in Jacksonville, Ala., with guests Jamey Johnson, Shenandoah and The Charlie Daniels Band. Singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman raised $225, for St. Jude Children s Research Hospital with an April 28 Seattle show that featured Gordon Kennedy ( Change The World ) and Dan Navarro ( We Belong ). And Love and Theft scheduled a Hope for Horses benefit May 16 in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., with eight support acts, including Andy Griggs and Mo Pitney. Lindsay Ell prepared for her album The Project by re-recording John RUCKER Mayer s Continuum album in its entirety. That effort is being released by Stoney Creek on May 25, one of several developments that weave country acts with other entertainment genres. Lady Antebellum picked up a Tony nomination for a contribution to SpongeBob Squarepants: The Musical; indie act Stranger Friends (Jamie Floyd and John Martin) provides music for the new Burt Reynolds film, The Last Movie Star; and Ryan Kinder set a 2-date tour with John Fogerty and ZZ Top, in addition to booking a concert at London s Hyde Park with Eric Clapton, Santana and Steve Winwood. Two developing acts picked up partnerships with fashion enterprises. Danielle Bradbery has affiliated with Able, a brand with a female-empowerment message, designing a line of accessories that employs the title of her single, Worth It. Luke Combs teamed with outdoor apparel company Columbia Sportswear, whose PFG fishing shirt has been part of his wardrobe for years. The Johnny Cash Museum held a press event May 1 to show off its latest acquisition: the first gold record Cash ever received for I Walk The Line, in Cash s boyhood home in Dyess, Ark., was subsequently announced May 4 as a new addition to the National Register of Historic Places. ON DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC May Warner Bros. releases Chris Janson s Fix a Drink to radio. 29 Dolly Parton receives an honorary doctorate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She performs Rocky Top and quotes from I Will Always Love You during her commencement speech. JANSON May Little Big Town s Girl Crush kicks off a 13-week ride at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart Merle Haggard records Mama Tried at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood. May Cole Swindell sings You Should Be Here at the top of the new One World Trade Center in New York, becoming the first artist to perform there since it opened. May Epic releases Gretchen Wilson s debut album, Here for the Party Brooks & Dunn claim three honors during the NBC telecast of the 28th annual Academy of Country Music Awards from Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre: top vocal duet; single record of the year, for Boot Scootin Boogie ; and album of the year, for Brand New Man. May Donald Trump fires two contestants on NBC s The Celebrity Apprentice, leaving Trace Adkins to battle Penn Jillette for the championship. They are tasked with developing an ice cream flavor that will be sold at Walgreen s. May Jason Aldean performs Hicktown and Why as he makes his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. May American Idol contestant Scotty McCreery is surprised during a hometown parade and concert in Garner, N.C., by Josh Turner, who joins him onstage to perform Your Man and Long Black Train. Top Headlines from Click on headlines below for more details.com Source: RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database Warner Music Revenue Rises 16.7 Percent To $963 Million As Digital Keeps Driving Elle King Signs With Red Light Management Moving Toward Gender Equality In The Studio Discussed At The 7% Panel Work-For-Hire Websites Give New Life To Songwriters, Producers And Beatmakers Billboard Finalizes Changes To How Streams Are Weighted For Billboard Hot 1 & Billboard 2 Craig Morgan (left) completed his 1th USO tour, visiting seven countries in eight days, including such far-flung territories as Japan, Iraq and Spain. Joining him on the tour were celebrity chef Robert Irvine (center) and NBA player Richard Rip Hamilton. U.S. ARMY SGT. JAMES K. MCCANN

9 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 9 OF 17 TWO S AGO WKS ON CHART TITLE PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) Hot Country Songs Artist IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL MEANT TO BE HH No. 1 (23 weeks)hh Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line WILSHIRE (B.REXHA,T.HUBBARD,J.MILLER,D.A.GARCIA) WARNER BROS./BMLG HEAVEN Kane Brown D.HUFF (S.CARTER,M.MCGINN,L.RIMES) ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE YOU MAKE IT EASY Jason Aldean M.KNOX (T.HUBBARD,B.KELLEY,M.WALLEN,J.M.SCHMIDT) MACON/BROKEN BOW 4 NEW 1 FAMOUS HH Hot Shot Debut HH Mason Ramsey J.MOI,C.CROWDER (T.HUBBARD,C.CROWDER,S.BUXTON,C.SMITH) ATLANTIC/BIG LOUD ONE NUMBER AWAY HH Airplay Gainer HH Luke Combs S.MITCHELL,JACKIE BOYZ (L.COMBS,S.A.BATTEY,S.MITCHELL,R.WILLIFORD) RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE TEQUILA Dan + Shay D.SMYERS,S.HENDRICKS (D.SMYERS,J.REYNOLDS,N.GALYON) WARNER BROS./WAR MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD Luke Bryan J.STEVENS,J.STEVENS (D.FRASIER,E.M.HILL,J.KEAR) SINGLES YOU UP P.DIGIOVANNI (J.DAVIS,S.D.JONES,J.EBACH) CAPITOL NASHVILLE Jordan Davis MCA NASHVILLE MARRY ME Thomas Rhett D.HUFF,J.FRASURE,THOMAS RHETT (THOMAS RHETT,J.FRASURE,A.GORLEY,S.MCANALLY) VALORY UP DOWN Morgan Wallen Featuring Florida Georgia Line J.MOI (B.CLAWSON,M.HARDY,C.J. SOLAR) BMLG/BIG LOUD GET ALONG Kenny Chesney B.CANNON,K.CHESNEY (R.COPPERMAN,S.MCANALLY,J.OSBORNE) BLUE CHAIR/WARNER BROS./WEA FOR THE FIRST TIME Darius Rucker R. COPPERMAN (D.RUCKER,D.GEORGE,SCOOTER CARUSOE) CAPITOL NASHVILLE I LIVED IT Blake Shelton S.HENDRICKS (A.GORLEY,B.HAYSLIP,R.AKINS,R.COPPERMAN) WARNER BROS./WMN WOMAN, AMEN Dierks Bentley R. COPPERMAN (R.COPPERMAN,J.KEAR,D.BENTLEY) CAPITOL NASHVILLE EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney K.CHESNEY,B.CANNON (D.L.MURPHY,C.STEVENS,J.YEARY) BLUE CHAIR/REVIVER MERCY Brett Young D.HUFF (B.YOUNG,S.MCCONNELL) BMLG I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) Jake Owen J.MOI (T.CECIL,J.MELLENCAMP,D.RAY,J.STEVENS,C.WISEMAN) BIG LOUD TAKE BACK HOME GIRL Chris Lane Featuring Tori Kelly J.MOI (D.A.GARCIA,H.LINDSEY,J.MILLER) BIG LOUD COMING HOME HH Digital Gainer HH Keith Urban Featuring Julia Michaels J.R.ROTEM,K.URBAN (K.URBAN,J.R.ROTEM,J.MICHAELS,M.HAGGARD,N.GALYON) CAPITOL NASHVILLE CRY PRETTY Carrie Underwood D.GARCIA,C.UNDERWOOD (C.UNDERWOOD,H.LINDSEY,L.MCKENNA,L.ROSE) CAPITOL NASHVILLE BREAK UP IN THE END Cole Swindell M.CARTER (J.M.NITE,C.MCGILL,J.J.DILLON) WARNER BROS./WMN GET TO YOU Michael Ray S.HENDRICKS (A.STOKLASA,P.DOVGALYUK) ATLANTIC/WEA BABE Sugarland Featuring Taylor Swift K.BUSH,J.NETTLES,J.RAYMOND (T.SWIFT,P.T.MONAHAN) BIG MACHINE KISS SOMEBODY Morgan Evans C. DESTEFANO (M.EVANS,C. DESTEFANO,J.OSBORNE) WARNER BROS./WEA HOOKED Dylan Scott M.ALDERMAN,C.GIBBS,J.E.NORMAN (L.RIMES,S.ENNIS,M.EVANS) CURB COUNTRY AIRPLAY RANK SALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA COMPILED BY PEAK POSITION RC 4 RC GETTY IMAGES 28 THOMAS RHETT Life Changes Co-written by Rhett, Changes bumps on Hot Country Songs, its highest point since it debuted at No. 25 on the chart dated Sept. 23, 217. It gains by 27 percent to 3, downloads sold and 22 percent to 2 million U.S. streams. 44 OLD DOMINION Hotel Key In its second week on Hot Country Songs, Key rises on the strength of its 69 percent gain to 2, sold and 27 percent boost to 5.1 million impressions as it pushes on Country Airplay.

10 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 1 OF 17 Hot Country Songs SALES, AIRPLAY & STREAMING DATA COMPILED BY TWO S WKS ON TITLE Artist AGO CHART PRODUCER (SONGWRITER) IMPRINT / PROMOTION LABEL SHE AIN T IN IT Jon Pardi B.BUTLER,J.PARDI (C.DANIELS,W.VARBLE) CAPITOL NASHVILLE HEART BREAK Lady Antebellum BUSBEE (D.HAYWOOD,C.KELLEY,H.SCOTT,J.FRASURE,N.GALYON) CAPITOL NASHVILLE LIFE CHANGES Thomas Rhett D.HUFF,J.FRASURE,THOMAS RHETT (THOMAS RHETT,R.AKINS,J.FRASURE,A.GORLEY) VALORY CRIMINAL Lindsay Ell K.BUSH (L.ELL,C.STEVENS,F.WILHELM) STONEY CREEK DRUNK GIRL Chris Janson S.HENDRICKS (C.JANSON,SCOOTER CARUSOE,T.DOUGLAS) WARNER BROS./WAR SHOOT ME STRAIGHT Brothers Osborne J.JOYCE (J. OSBORNE,T.J. OSBORNE,L.T.MILLER) EMI NASHVILLE KINDA DON T CARE Justin Moore S.BORCHETTA,J.S.STOVER (R.AKINS,R.COPPERMAN,B.HAYSLIP) VALORY BORN TO LOVE YOU LANCO J.JOYCE (B.LANCASTER,R.COPPERMAN,A.GORLEY,J.OSBORNE) ARISTA NASHVILLE RICH Maren Morris BUSBEE,M.MORRIS (M.MORRIS,J.J.DILLON,L.VELTZ) COLUMBIA NASHVILLE A LITTLE DIVE BAR IN DAHLONEGA Ashley McBryde J.JOYCE (A.MCBRYDE,N.HAYFORD,J.RICE) ATLANTIC/WAR DOIN FINE Lauren Alaina BUSBEE (LAUREN ALAINA,E.SHACKELTON,BUSBEE) 19/INTERSCOPE/MERCURY THREE CHORDS & THE TRUTH Chase Rice R. COPPERMAN (C.RICE,R.COPPERMAN,J.M.NITE) DACK JANIELS/BROKEN BOW I HATE LOVE SONGS Kelsea Ballerini F.G.WHITEHEAD,J.MASSEY (K.BALLERINI,T. ROSEN,S.MCANALLY) BLACK RIVER PARALLEL LINE HH Streaming Gainer HH Keith Urban BENNY BLANCO,E.SHEERAN,J.MCDAID,K.URBAN (E.C.SHEERAN,B.J.LEVIN,J.MCDAID,J.MICHAELS,A.WADGE) HIT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE I D BE JEALOUS TOO Dustin Lynch R. COPPERMAN (D.LYNCH,R.COPPERMAN,J.M.NITE) BROKEN BOW HANGIN ON Chris Young C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER (C.YOUNG,C.CROWDER,J.HOGE) RCA NASHVILLE HIDE THE WINE Carly Pearce BUSBEE (A.GORLEY,L.LAIRD,H.LINDSEY) BIG MACHINE REARVIEW TOWN Jason Aldean M.KNOX (N.THRASHER,B.PINSON,K.LOVELACE) MACON/BROKEN BOW HOTEL KEY Old Dominion S.MCANALLY (M.RAMSEY,T. ROSEN,J.OSBORNE) RCA NASHVILLE 45 NEW 1 THE DIFFERENCE Tyler Rich J.RAYMOND,L.RIMES (R.AKINS,B.BURGESS,D.DAWSON,J.DURRETT) VALORY SOMETHING BOUT YOU Sir Rosevelt TIMBALAND,A.LOPEZ,G.FLORES (Z.BROWN,N.MOON,B.SIMONETTI,T.V.MOSLEY,J.A.VELAZQUEZ,G.FLORES) SOUTHERN GROUND/ELEKTRA/WAR 47 NEW 1 NIGHT MOVES Pryor Baird B.APPLEBERRY (R.SEGER) REPUBLIC LEAVE RIGHT NOW Thomas Rhett J.BUNETTA,THOMAS RHETT (THOMAS RHETT,J.BUNETTA,E.DREWETT,J.H.RYAN) VALORY 49 NEW 1 LIVING Dierks Bentley R. COPPERMAN,J.R.STEWART (R.COPPERMAN,J.M.NITE,A.GORLEY,D.BENTLEY) CAPITOL NASHVILLE SPACE COWBOY Kacey Musgraves I.FITCHUK,D.TASHIAN,K.MUSGRAVES (S.MCANALLY,L.LAIRD,K.MUSGRAVES) MCA NASHVILLE 5 RE-ENTRY 4 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 2 weeks. COUNTRY AIRPLAY RANK PEAK POSITION RC RC Year-Over-Year Album Sales ALBUM SALES DIGITAL TRACKS SALES million 5.7 million. million 25.1 million 17.4 million For week ending May 3, 218. Figures are rounded. Compiled from a national sample of retail store and rack sales reports collected and provided by Nielsen Music. COUNTRY MARKET WATCH A Weekly National Music Sales Report Weekly Unit Sales ALBUMS DIGITAL ALBUMS* DIGITAL TRACKS This Week 462, 14, 924, Last Week 368, 19, 984, Change 25.5% -4.6% -6.1% This Week Last Year 381, 19, 1,356, Change 21.3% -4.6% -31.9% *Digital album sales are also counted within album sales. YEAR-TO-DATE Overall Unit Sales CHANGE Albums 6,749, 5,668, -16.% Digital Tracks 25,67, 17,391, -3.6% Sales by Album Format CHANGE Physical 4,598, 4,6, -11.7% Digital 2,151, 1,67, -25.3% For inquiries about any Nielsen Music data, please contact Josh Bennett at or josh.bennett@nielsen.com

11 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 11 OF 17 SALES, DATA COMPILED BY STREAMING & SALES DATA COMPILED BY 2 S AGO S ON CHT TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS ARTIST TITLE IMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL 1 NEW KEITH URBAN 1 HIT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE 28285/UMGN GRAFFITI U 1 JASON ALDEAN REARVIEW TOWN MACON/BROKEN BOW/BMG */BBMG ( ) 1 3 NEW WILLIE NELSON 1 LEGACY * MAN STANDING 3 KANE BROWN ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE 53947*/SMN KANE BROWN 1 1 LUKE COMBS RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE */SMN ONE S FOR YOU 1 THOMAS RHETT VALORY TR3A/BMLG LIFE CHANGES 1 CHRIS STAPLETON TRAVELLER MERCURY 1945*/UMGN 2 1 KENNY CHESNEY LIVE IN NO SHOES NATION BLUE CHAIR/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE /SMN BRETT YOUNG BRETT YOUNG BMLG BY1A* 2 LUKE BRYAN CAPITOL NASHVILLE 27589*/UMGN WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY 1 MORGAN WALLEN 11 NEW 1 BIG LOUD DIGITAL EX IF I KNOW ME 11 CHRIS STAPLETON MERCURY 26379*/UMGN FROM A ROOM: VOLUME AMERICANA/ FOLK ALBUMS CERT. PEAK POS. BROTHERS OSBORNE PORT SAINT JOE EMI NASHVILLE 28*/UMGN 2 JON PARDI CALIFORNIA SUNRISE CAPITOL NASHVILLE 24744*/UMGN 1 KACEY MUSGRAVES GOLDEN HOUR MCA NASHVILLE 27921*/UMGN 1 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE DIG YOUR ROOTS BMLG 3* 1 1 SAM HUNT MCA NASHVILLE 2152/UMGN MONTEVALLO 3 1 ZAC BROWN BAND GREATEST HITS SO FAR ROAR/SOUTHERN GROUND/ATLANTIC /AG 3 THOMAS RHETT VALORY RT2A/BMLG TANGLED UP 1 2 CHRIS STAPLETON MERCURY 2748*/UMGN FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 1 BLAKE SHELTON WARNER BROS /WMN RELOADED: 2 #1 HITS 2 KEITH URBAN HIT RED/CAPITOL NASHVILLE 23591*/UMGN (25848 AMS & WSEX) RIPCORD 1 1 OLD DOMINION RCA NASHVILLE */SMN HAPPY ENDINGS 1 JOHN PRINE OH BOY 13327* (35143) THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS 2 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE REPUBLIC NASHVILLE 17773/BMLG HERE S TO THE GOOD TIMES 2 1 Top Country Albums ranks the most popular country 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 218, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. SALES DATA COMPILED BY COUNTRY STREAMING SONGS WKS ON CHART TITLE ARTIST MEANT TO BE BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE HEAVEN KANE BROWN 3 NEW FAMOUS MASON RAMSEY TEQUILA DAN + SHAY YOU MAKE IT EASY JASON ALDEAN WHAT IFS KANE BROWN FEAT. LAUREN ALAINA MARRY ME THOMAS RHETT TENNESSEE WHISKEY CHRIS STAPLETON BODY LIKE A BACK ROAD SAM HUNT ONE NUMBER AWAY LUKE COMBS SINGLES YOU UP JORDAN DAVIS WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS LUKE COMBS IN CASE YOU DIDN T KNOW BRETT YOUNG MERCY BRETT YOUNG SMALL TOWN BOY DUSTIN LYNCH BLUE AIN T YOUR COLOR KEITH URBAN HURRICANE LUKE COMBS H.O.L.Y. FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE DIE A HAPPY MAN THOMAS RHETT FIVE MORE MINUTES SCOTTY MCCREERY UP DOWN MORGAN WALLEN FEAT. FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE THE LONG WAY BRETT ELDREDGE TAKE BACK HOME GIRL CHRIS LANE FEAT. TORI KELLY GREATEST LOVE STORY 24 RE-ENTRY LANCO MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD LUKE BRYAN COUNTRY DIGITAL SONG SALES The week s top-streamed and top-selling paid download country songs, respectively, from sales reports collected and provided by Nielsen Music. Charts update weekly on Tuesdays at charts. Copyright 218, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. WKS ON CHART TITLE ARTIST MEANT TO BE BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE 2 NEW FAMOUS MASON RAMSEY YOU MAKE IT EASY JASON ALDEAN HEAVEN KANE BROWN GET ALONG KENNY CHESNEY TEQUILA DAN + SHAY MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD LUKE BRYAN ONE NUMBER AWAY LUKE COMBS UP DOWN MORGAN WALLEN FEAT. FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE 1 NEW NIGHT MOVES PRYOR BAIRD COMING HOME KEITH URBAN FEAT. JULIA MICHAELS MERCY BRETT YOUNG CRY PRETTY CARRIE UNDERWOOD EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT DAVID LEE MURPHY & KENNY CHESNEY SINGLES YOU UP JORDAN DAVIS I LIVED IT BLAKE SHELTON MARRY ME THOMAS RHETT WHAT IFS KANE BROWN FEAT. LAUREN ALAINA BROKEN HALOS CHRIS STAPLETON TENNESSEE WHISKEY CHRIS STAPLETON BABE SUGARLAND FEAT. TAYLOR SWIFT WOMAN, AMEN DIERKS BENTLEY 23 NEW LIVING DIERKS BENTLEY TAKE BACK HOME GIRL CHRIS LANE FEAT. TORI KELLY I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) JAKE OWEN 2 S AGO S ON CHT ARTIST TITLE IMPRINT & NUMBER / DISTRIBUTING LABEL 1 NEW WILLIE NELSON 1 LEGACY * MAN STANDING 1 CHRIS STAPLETON MERCURY NASHVILLE 1945*/UMGN TRAVELLER NEW VAN MORRISON AND JOEY DEFRANCESCO 1 EXILE 5823*/LEGACY YOU RE DRIVING ME CRAZY 3 CHRIS STAPLETON MERCURY NASHVILLE 26379*/UMGN FROM A ROOM: VOLUME NEW DR. DOG 1 WE BUY GOLD 65*/THIRTY TIGERS CRITICAL EQUATION 5 KACEY MUSGRAVES MCA NASHVILLE 27921*/UMGN GOLDEN HOUR CERT. PEAK POS. NEIL YOUNG ROXY: TONIGHT S THE NIGHT LIVE REPRISE 56739* RSD 218 EX/WARNER BROS. 5 CHRIS STAPLETON FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 MERCURY NASHVILLE 2748*/UMGN 1 JOHN PRINE OH BOY 13327* (35143) THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS 1 ZACH WILLIAMS ESSENTIAL 1153/PLG CHAIN BREAKER 4 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 218, Prometheus Global Media, LLC and Nielsen Music, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 PRYOR BAIRD Night Moves Competing for Team Blake Shelton on NBC s The Voice, Baird covered Bob Seger s classic, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 1 in Following Baird s performance on the April 3 episode, his version arrives on Country Digital Song Sales at No. 1 (8, sold) and Hot Country Songs at No. 47. GETTY IMAGES

12 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 12 OF 17 MAKIN TRACKS TOM ROLAND What s Behind The Mystery In Devin Dawson s Sophomore Single? Just Asking As the listener reaches the end of Devin Dawson s sophomore single, Asking for a Friend, he or she is left in limbo. Has the singer approached this woman in the bar on his own behalf, is he acting as an emissary for a buddy, or is he simply saying he needs a friend? Any one of those interpretations works, and the song s mild mystery is designed to draw you in. It s a song where you could just enjoy the melodies and the groove and the feel, and then slowly dig into each verse, and then slowly dig into the story, says Dawson. It kind of brings you back for more without being too complex. The mystery is thinly veiled: The song s three writers Dawson, Connie Harrington ( I Drive Your Truck, I Got the Boy ) and Brett Beavers ( What Was I Thinkin, Red Solo Cup ) address it as if the singer is trying to disguise himself by talking in third person. He practically telegraphs his evasiveness as he makes a quasi-confession to the woman from that other-person point of view: He ain t never been any good at laying it all out on the line. There s only one line at the very end where he says, Do you think you can love him again? and he s still not talking about himself, says Dawson. He is, but his pride is up, and isn t that just like every guy: to not want to apologize or to not know how to just say, I m sorry. I was wrong. Maybe, in fact, that guy is Devin Dawson. DAWSON When they wrote Asking for a Friend on March 7, 216, Dawson showed up at Beavers writing studio in Nashville s Berry Hill neighborhood around 1:3 a.m. with a heavy heart. It was one of those songs that was definitely rooted in my story, he says. I was going through a relationship where I probably could have used this song, you know, and I needed to say sorry to someone. I think we had already ended things a couple weeks earlier. Dawson addressed the emotions of his predicament in the writing room, but like the guy in the song, he held back, revealing his sensitivities without admitting just how close to home Asking for a Friend hit. I sensed that there was some real-life situations that he was drawing this idea from, says Harrington. And I remember after we finished, he texted me a few days later that the song just broke his heart. So I thought, I don t know what his story is, but I think this is autobiographical. Dawson brought a lot to the table that day. The hook, I m just asking for a friend, was one he had stored in his cellphone, knowing a familiar phrase made it more likely to connect with an audience. The chord progression F, B-flat, D, F is one he had played with at home. And the guitar he had brought helped shade the sound. It was a shitty little $55 miniature, like a ukulele with six strings, he says. I put it in an open tuning, and for that whole month, I wrote on that little guitar because it was just so inspiring, even though it was a shitty little thing. Harrington and Beavers brought cigars and tequila, a now-traditional part of their co-writing that dates back to the early 2s, around the time the two penned Brooks & Dunn s My Heart Is Lost to You. The alcohol had a positive effect on the mood in the room. We just kind of let our inhibitions go loose, says Dawson, and that s why it is such an emotional song. It s because when you get a little inebriated, your emotions come out, you know. I remember having to Uber home because I was drunk by the end of the day. Beavers developed a key guitar riff for the piece, and Dawson drove the melodic part of the session, centering on the reedy part of his range. He animatedly paced the room, and it added to the spirit of the day. He gets totally fired up about it, says Harrington. It makes the writing process so fun, because when you get a line that rhymes, he will literally yell out, Yes! Yes! So it spurs you on to want to write better and better. By the time they had finished, they had Asking for a Friend framing the male protagonist as a sympathetic, likable guy who despite his inability to own his feelings is transparent enough in his third-person dialogue to perhaps affect his lady friend. The guy is endearing, says Harrington, because to approach it that way is a bit more effort, honestly. For that character in the song, after that much effort, it was like a real, genuine I m sorry. Dawson finished negotiating his Atlantic contract in the summer of 216, and he cut Asking for a Friend just a few weeks later at St. Charles, the spacious East Nashville recording studio owned by producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town). Dawson and the band played it from start to finish about five times, and then Joyce tinkered with each verse and chorus, allowing every different section to have its own identity and create an overall arc. The intensity, if you will, changes throughout the song, says Dawson. The verse is kind of chill in the lead-in, and then the chorus brings it huge, and then the second verse kind of gets a little bit more driving with the drums. It just takes you through all the different sides of what this guy s feeling. Much of the variance came from using two drummers. Kip Allen provided the softer, relaxed rhythms in the verses, while Fred Eltringham came in to overdub more ferocious pops in the chorus. Sam Rodberg brought a soulful sensibility to the bass in the second verse, and Joyce added Dobro in a separate session. Additional guitar harmonics near the song s conclusion create the illusion of a whistle. Joyce encouraged Dawson to sing it conversationally, getting close in on the mic, almost as if he s whispering in the listener s ear. If you notice, every time I say, asking for a friend, it s a different meter, says Dawson. Every single one has a different kind of feeling. In the last of those four moments, he asks the woman point-blank, Is there any way you could ever love him again? then pauses. That hesitation had been built into the song from the outset, but Joyce drew it out a full eight beats before Dawson adds the qualifier: I m just asking for a friend. It folds in one final piece of mystery for the puzzle. Jay made it a little more dramatic, says Dawson. You wonder, is the song over, is he going to say, Asking for a friend, or are they just going to go into the outro? Dawson s debut single, All on Me, peaked at No. 2 on the Country Airplay chart dated March 31. That guarantees Asking for a Friend will get some attention from programmers and from the audience, too. It debuts at No. 59 on the May 12 chart, beginning a journey whose ultimate end is a mystery. Just like Asking for a Friend. DAWSON: JIMMY FONTAINE

13 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 13 OF 17 Country Indicator WKS ON CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist PLAYS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) +/ HEAVEN Zone 4/RCA Nashville HH No. 1 (1 week) HH Kane Brown YOU MAKE IT EASY Macon/Broken Bow Jason Aldean ONE NUMBER AWAY River House/Columbia Nashville Luke Combs FOR THE FIRST TIME Capitol Nashville Darius Rucker I LIVED IT Warner Bros./WMN Blake Shelton WOMAN, AMEN Capitol Nashville Dierks Bentley EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Blue Chair/Reviver David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney UP DOWN Big Loud/BMLG Morgan Wallen Feat. Florida Georgia Line I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) Big Loud Jake Owen GET ALONG Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA HH Most Increased Plays HH Kenny Chesney COMING HOME Capitol Nashville Keith Urban Feat. Julia Michaels SHE AIN T IN IT Capitol Nashville Jon Pardi HEART BREAK Capitol Nashville Lady Antebellum CRY PRETTY Capitol Nashville Carrie Underwood TAKE BACK HOME GIRL Big Loud Chris Lane Feat. Tori Kelly KISS SOMEBODY Warner Bros./WEA Morgan Evans TEQUILA Warner Bros./WAR Dan + Shay GET TO YOU Atlantic/WEA Michael Ray KINDA DON T CARE Valory Justin Moore CRIMINAL Stoney Creek Lindsay Ell BREAK UP IN THE END Warner Bros./WMN Cole Swindell HOOKED Curb Dylan Scott DOIN FINE 19/Interscope/Mercury Lauren Alaina MERCY BMLG Brett Young LIFE CHANGES Valory Thomas Rhett SHOOT ME STRAIGHT EMI Nashville Brothers Osborne DRUNK GIRL Warner Bros./WAR Chris Janson A LITTLE DIVE BAR IN DAHLONEGA Atlantic/WAR Ashley McBryde THREE CHORDS & THE TRUTH Dack Janiels/Broken Bow Chase Rice RUN WILD HORSES BIG Label Aaron Watson BILLBOARD COUNTRY INDICATOR PANEL 17 STATIONS Abilene, Texas Alexandria, La. Amarillo, Texas Asheville, N.C. Atlantic City, N.J. Beaumont, Texas Beckley, W. Va. Biloxi, Miss. Bloomington, Ill. Bluefield, W. Va. Burlington, Vt. Cape Girardeau, Mo. Charleston, W. Va College Station, Texas Columbia, Mo. Columbus, Ga. Cookeville, Tenn. Dothan, Ala. Duluth, Minn. Eau Claire, Wis. Elizabeth City, N.C. Erie, Pa. Eugene, Ore. Evansville, Ind. Fargo, N.D. KEAN KRRV KGNC WKSF WPUR KYKR WJLS WZKX WIBL WHKX WOKO KEZS WKWS WQBE KAGG KCLR WKCN WSTH WGSQ WTVY KKCB WAXX WRSF WTWF KKNU WKDQ KBVB WSTH Fayetteville, N.C. Flagstaff, Ariz. Flint, Mich. Florence, Ala. Florence, S.C. Ft. Collins, Colo. Ft. Smith, Ark. Frederick, Md. Fredericksburg, Va. Green Bay, Wis. Hagerstown, Md. Hot Springs, Ark. Huntington, Ky. Huntington, W. Va. Idaho Falls, Idaho Marshalltown, Iowa Jackson, Miss. Janesville, Wis. Jonesboro, Ark. Joplin, Mo. Kalamazoo, Mich. Kalispell, Mont. Kingmah, Ariz. Lafayette, Ind. Laredo, Texas Lansing, Mich. WKML KAFF WFBE WXFL WEGX KUAD KTCS WFRE WFLS WNCY WAYZ KQUS WDGG WTCR KTHK KXIA WMSI WUSJ WJVL KDXY KIXQ WNWN KDBR KFLG WKOA KRRG WITL Laurel, Miss. Lebanon, N.H. Lincoln, Neb Longview, Texas Lubbock, Texas Lufkin, Texas Mason City, Iowa Medford, Ore. Meridian, Miss. Montgomery, Ala. Morgantown, W. Va. Muskegon, Mich. New London, Conn. Odessa, Texas Palm Springs, Calif. Pensacola, Fla. Peoria, Ill. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Rapid City, S.D. Rockford, Ill. Rocky Mount, N.C. Saginaw, Mich. St. Cloud, Minn. Salina, Kan. Salisbury, Md. San Angelo, Texas WBBN WXXK KFGE KYKX KLLL KYKS KIAI KRWQ WOKK WLWI WKKW WMUS WCTY KHKX KPLM WXBM WXCL WRWD KOUT WXXQ WDWG WCEN KZPK KYEZ WKTT KGKL San Luis Obispo, Calif. KKJG Santa Barbara, Calif. KRAZ Santa Maria, Calif. KSNI Sheboygan, Wis. WBFM Savannah, Ga. WJCL WUBB Shreveport, La. KXKS Sioux Cty, Iowa KSUX South Bend, Ind. WBYT Springfield, Ill. WFMB Springfield, Mo. KTTS Terre Haute, Ind. WTHI Topeka, Kan. WIBW Traverse City, Mich. WTCM Tupelo, Miss. WWZD Utica, N.Y. WFRG Victor Valley, CA. KATJ Waco, Texas WACO Wausau, Wis. WDEZ Wheeling, W. Va. WOVK Williamsport, Pa. WILQ Yakima, Wash. KXDD Youngstown, Ohio WQXK WWGY Westwood One HOT COUNTRY MAINSTREAM COUNTRY Music Choice TODAY S COUNTRY Sirius XM THE HIGHWAY

14 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 14 OF 17 Country Indicator WKS ON CHART TITLE Imprint/Label Artist PLAYS AUDIENCE (IN MILLIONS) +/ HOTEL KEY RCA Nashville Old Dominion HIDE THE WINE Big Machine Carly Pearce BABE Big Machine/UMG Nashville HH Most Added HH Sugarland Feat. Taylor Swift I HATE LOVE SONGS Black River Kelsea Ballerini SHOT MCA Nashville Kip Moore RICH Columbia Nashville Maren Morris AIRPLANE Sea Gayle CJ Solar HANGIN ON RCA Nashville Chris Young BORN TO LOVE YOU Arista Nashville LANCO POWER OF GARTH Forge Lucas Hoge MILLIONAIRE Mercury Chris Stapleton CANNONBALL Captain & Bear Cash Campbell WORTH IT BMLG Danielle Bradbery YOUNG FOREVER EMI Nashville Eric Paslay DRUNK ME Riser House/Columbia Nashville Mitchell Tenpenny DON T GET BETTER THAN THAT Reviver LOCASH YOU GOT EM ALL Big Machine Trent Harmon KEEPER OF THE FLAME Vanner/RCA Nashville Miranda Lambert GAME CHANGER Nightlife Marty Heddin THE OLDER I GET ACR/EMI Nashville Alan Jackson BEST SHOT Stoney Creek Jimmie Allen CALIFORNIA DREAMIN Red Star Productions Denny Strickland DAVID ASHLEY PARKER FROM POWDER SPRINGS Mercury Travis Denning ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE Southern Halo Southern Halo BURN OUT Big Machine Midland BLUE TACOMA Triple Tigers Russell Dickerson REARVIEW G&N Jagertown NEW CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY Curb HH Hot Shot Debut HH Rodney Atkins Feat. The Fisk Jubilee Singers REASONS Big Loud Jillian Jacqueline NEW HURT GOOD Grassroots James Dupre RANKINGS Country Airplay is ranked by total audience impressions for the week ending Sunday based on monitored airplay of 148 stations by Nielsen BDS. Audience totals on the chart are derived, in part, using certain Arbitron Inc. copyrighted Persons 12+ audience estimates (under license 218, Arbitron Inc.) Country Indicator is tabulated using reported playlists and Nielsen BDS-monitored airplay at 17 stations, ranked by total plays. BULLETS l Awarded on Country Airplay to titles gaining audience or remaining flat from the previous week. A song will also receive a bullet if its percentage loss in audience does not exceed the percentage of monitored station downtime for the format. Titles that decline in audience but increase in detections will also receive a bullet if the total audience erosion for the week does not exceed 3%. Bullets are awarded on Country Indicator to titles gaining plays or remaining flat from the previous week. TIES On Country Airplay, if two songs are tied in total audience, the song with the larger increase in audience is placed first. On Country Indicator, if two songs are tied in total plays, the song with the larger increase in plays is placed first. RECURRENTS On Country Airplay, descending titles below No. 1 in either audience or detections are moved to recurrent after 2 weeks, provided that they are not still CHARTS LEGEND gaining enough audience points to bullet or if they rank below No. 1 and post a third consecutive week of (non-bulleted) audience decline, regardless of total chart weeks. On Country Indicator, descending, non-bulleted titles below No. 1 are moved to recurrent after 2 weeks or if they post a third consecutive week of decline in plays after 1 weeks. HOT SHOT DEBUT Awarded to the highest-ranking new entry on Country Airplay and Country Indicator, respectively. MOST ADDED The total number of new adds officially reported to Billboard by each reporting station, or by an automatic-add threshold (seven plays for the first time in a chart tracking week, according to Nielsen BDS) for stations that do not report adds. MOST INCREASED AUDIENCE/ PLAYS Most Increased Audience on Country Airplay and Most Increased Plays on Country Indicator list the songs with the greatest week-to-week increases in total audience or plays, respectively. AIRPOWER Awarded on Country Airplay to titles ranking inside top 2 in plays and audience rankings for the first time, with increases in both plays and audience. BREAKER Awarded on Country Airplay to titles achieving airplay (at least one detection) at 6% of reporting stations for the first time. 218 Prometheus Global Media, LLC

15 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 15 OF 17 Country Airplay Index TITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. (Songwriter) Chart Position A AMERICAN ROCK N ROLL RJR Music Publishing, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Prince Of Minnesota Publishing, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Cooper Cavalier, ASCAP (R.J.Ritchie, J.Hyde, N.A.Medley, A.Eshuis) 54 ASKING FOR A FRIEND Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/JJ Music Inc., BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/Goes Something Like Music, BMI/Make It Matter Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Big Deal Beats, BMI (D.Dawson, C.Harrington, B.Beavers) 59 BABE Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Taylor Swift Music, BMI/Monoman Music, ASCAP (T.Swift, P.T.Monahan) 29 B BEST SHOT Red Lining Music, SESAC/Amplified Hour Songs, SESAC/Castle Bound Music, Inc., SESAC/Rio Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Blonde Leading Blind, BMI (J.Allen, J.London, J.P.Williams) 41 BLUE TACOMA BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/ Provident Music Group, ASCAP/Hillbilly Science And Research Publishing, SESAC/Trailerlily Music, SESAC/ Stephen Harris, BMI/Tyler Barksdale, BMI (R.Dickerson, C.Brown, P.Welling) 45 BORN TO LOVE YOU Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Concession 114 Music, BMI/ Neon Cross Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/ Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (B.Lancaster, R.Copperman, A.Gorley, J.Osborne) 34 BREAK UP IN THE END EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Plum Nelly, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music, BMI (J.M.Nite, C.McGill, J.J.Dillon) 26 BURN OUT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/TipTop Music, ASCAP/Tropical Cowboy Publishing, ASCAP/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Kitt Cass Publishing Corporation, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/One Little Indian Creek Music, ASCAP (J.Carson, C.Duddy, M.Wystrach, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 46 C CAUGHT UP IN THE COUNTRY WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, ASCAP/Goes Something Like Music, BMI/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Make It Matter Music, BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI (C.Harrington, J.M.Schmidt, M.Walker) 53 CHILLS WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Meant Well, ASCAP/ole Publishing, SOCAN (D.Woods, T.Wood, G.Slate, J.Barker) 56 COMING HOME Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Mary Rose Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Jonathan Rotem Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Thanks For The Songs Richard, BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (K.Urban, J.R.Rotem, J.Michaels, M.Haggard, N.Galyon) 15 CRIMINAL Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Lindsay Ell Music, BMI/Moody Producer Music, BMI/Capitol CMG Paragon, BMI/Float Music, BMI/Meaux Mercy, BMI (L.Ell, C.Stevens, F.Wilhelm) 22 CRY PRETTY Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Maps And Records Music, BMI/Creative Pulse Music, BMI/These Are Pulse Songs, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Songs Of Crazy Girl Music, BMI (C.Underwood, H.Lindsey, L.McKenna, L.Rose) 18 D THE DIFFERENCE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/ Bump Into Genius Music, BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/ Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI (R.Akins, B.Burgess, D.Dawson, J.Durrett) 55 DOIN FINE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Lylas Music, BMI/Better Boat Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Jam Writers Group, BMI/Hello I Love You Music, BMI (Lauren Alaina, E.Shackelton, busbee) 28 DON T GET BETTER THAN THAT Mars Marley Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Koala T Tunes, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Yeah Baby Songs Global, BMI/Better Boat Music, BMI (P. Brust, C.Lucas, L.Rimes, P.Barton) 44 DRUNK ME Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP/We-Volve Music, ASCAP/Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, SESAC/BMG Silver Songs, SESAC (M.Tenpenny, J.M.Schmidt, J.Wilson) 4 E EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Meaux Mercy, BMI/Moody Producer Music, BMI/ EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Great Day At This Music, BMI/Beattyville Music, BMI (D.L.Murphy, C.Stevens, J.Yeary) 8 F FOR THE FIRST TIME Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/ GrowingMusic, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Funky Friar Music, ASCAP/Scrambler Music, ASCAP/Abbotts Creek Music Two, ASCAP (D.Rucker, D.George, Scooter Carusoe) 4 G GET ALONG EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/ Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/ Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (R.Copperman, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 11 GET TO YOU Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/ole Green Vinyl Music, ASCAP (A.Stoklasa, P.Dovgalyuk) 17 GOOD GIRL Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Memory Days, SESAC/ Buzz Light Beer Music, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP (D.Lynch, J.Ebach, A.Albert) 37 H HANGIN ON EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/Write 2 Be Free Music, SESAC (C.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 36 HEART BREAK WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Haywoodja Cut That Song, ASCAP/The Best I Could Do Publishing, ASCAP/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/EKT Publishing, SESCA/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (D.Haywood, C.Kelley, H.Scott, J.Frasure, N.Galyon) 19 HEAVEN BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/You Want How Much Of What Publishing, PRS/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Sony/ ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Koala T Tunes, BMI (S.Carter, M.McGinn, L.Rimes) 2 HIDE THE WINE WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Universal Music Works, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/Jake & Mack Music, GMR/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Sony/ ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR (A.Gorley, L.Laird, H.Lindsey) 33 HOOKED WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Koala T Tunes, BMI/SongsbyME, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (L.Rimes, S.Ennis, M.Evans) 2 HOTEL KEY Smackville Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Carrot Seed Songs, ASCAP/ ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/MeGusta Music, ASCAP/Unfair Entertainment, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, J.Osborne) 31 I I GOT Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Little Louder Songs, BMI/Emileon Songs, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/Big Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/Round Hill Compositions, BMI/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (L.Dick, R.Clawson, J.Osborne) 43 I HATE LOVE SONGS Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB Music, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/ Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (K.Ballerini, T. Rosen, S.McAnally) 38 I LIVED IT Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Pinetucky Road Publishing, ASCAP/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI (A.Gorley, B.Hayslip, R.Akins, R.Copperman) 9 I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) Sony/ ATV Countryside, BMI/Songs Of XO, BMI/We In Good Company, BMI/EMI Full Keel Music, ASCAP/David Ray Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Sawyer Cash Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP/Sony/ ATV Accent, ASCAP (T.Cecil, J.Mellencamp, D.Ray, J.Stevens, C.Wiseman) 12 K KEEPER OF THE FLAME Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Pink Dog Publishing, BMI/ HappyGoWrucke, BMI/These Are Pulse Songs, BMI/ Creative Pulse Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Crazy Girl Music, BMI (M.Lambert, N.Hemby, L.Rose) 57 KINDA DON T CARE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Rezolant Music, BMI/Songs By Red Room, BMI/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (R.Akins, R.Copperman, B.Hayslip) 24 KISS SOMEBODY Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Morgan Evans Publishing Designee, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS Words And Music, ASACP/ Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (M.Evans, C. DeStefano, J.Osborne) 16 L SHOT WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Point Break Publishing, ASCAP/Music Of The Corn, ASCAP/Songs From The Couch, BMI/Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Carol Vincent And Associates, LLC., ASCAP (K.Moore, D.Couch, D.L.Murphy) 39 LIFE CHANGES EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Cricket On The Line, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/ WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/ Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP (Thomas Rhett, R.Akins, J.Frasure, A.Gorley) 27 A LITTLE DIVE BAR IN DAHLONEGA Songs Of Song Factroy, BMI/Veranda Music, SESAC/Little Falcor Music, BMI (A.McBryde, N.Hayford, J.Rice) 3 M MEANT TO BE BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/ Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Kiss Me If You Can Music, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/ Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of The Corn, BMI/Jack 1 Publishing, BMI/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP (B.Rexha, T.Hubbard, J.Miller, D.A.Garcia) 3 MERCY Super Big Music, ASCAP/Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Little Beluga Music, BMI (B.Young, S.McConnell) 23 MILLIONAIRE Universal Tunes, SESAC/Spur 66 Music, SESAC (K.Welch) 48 MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD SB 21 Music Publishing, BMI/Purdy Beard Music, BMI/Songs Of Amylase Music, BMI/Five Hills Music, BMI/Do Write Music, LLC/Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/Champagne Whiskey Publishing, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP (D.Frasier, E.M.Hill, J.Kear) 6 O ONE NUMBER AWAY Works For RHA Music, BMI/ Mall B. Publishing, ASCAP/Razor & Tie Music Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/The Bicycle Music Company, ASCAP/Tunes of R And T Direct, SESAC/Self Shrevident Music, SESAC/ Rowdy Rob Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (L.Combs, S.A.Battey, S.Mitchell, R.Williford) 5 R REASONS Archer And Arrow Publishing, ASCAP/ Razor And Tie Music Publishing, BMI/Tofer The Musical, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/Big Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/ Bux Tone Music, BMI (J.Jacqueline, T.Brown, S.Buxton) 6 RICH International Dog Music, BMI/Nettwerk One B Music, BMI/Unlimited, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Jay Gatsby Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI (M.Morris, J.J.Dillon, L.Veltz) 35 RUN WILD HORSES Tunes From HTK, BMI/Me Gusta Music, BMI (A.Watson) 51 S SEE YOU TRY Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Stay Creative Music, BMI/Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Sixteen Stars Music, BMI/HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc., BMI/Bill Butler Music, BMI/Freshy Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ We-Volve Music, ASCAP (J.McNair, T.Hubbard, B.Butler, J.M.Schmidt) 52 SELFISH Rebel Engine Publishing LLC, BMI/Living Will s Music, BMI/Five Owls, ASCAP (S.Quayle, A.S.Wills, T.Tuiller) 58 SHE AIN T IN IT Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/ Spirit Cataloge Holdings, S.A.R.L./Spirit Of Nashville One, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Mater Pie Music, BMI (C. Daniels, W.Varble) 21 SHOOT ME STRAIGHT Trampy McCauley, ASCAP/All The Kings Pens, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/The Country And Western Music, BMI/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (J. Osborne, T.J. Osborne, L.T.Miller) 32 TAKE BACK HOME GIRL Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/BIRB Music, ASCAP/ Rezonant Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Songs Of The Corn, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Jack 1 Publishing, BMI/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP (D.A.Garcia, H.Lindsey, J.Miller) 14 T TEQUILA WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/Buckeye26, ASCAP/Jreynmusic, ASCAP/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (D.Smyers, J.Reynolds, N.Galyon) 13 THREE CHORDS & THE TRUTH Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack Janiel s Publishing, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP (C.Rice, R.Copperman, J.M.Nite) 25 U UP DOWN Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Murphy The Wolf Music, BMI/Five Miles West Songs, BMI/Mandy s Favorite Songs, BMI/Watsky Music, LLC, BMI/Harding Road Music, BMI/New House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP (B.Clawson, M.Hardy, C.J. Solar) 1 W END Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Swat Publishing Company, BMI (S.Hayes, J.Gramling, M.Padilla, J.Dunne) 49 WOMAN, AMEN EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/Champagne Whiskey Publishing, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP/DudeTunes, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (R. Copperman, J.Kear, D.Bentley) 7 WORTH IT Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/One Voice Global Publishing, BMI/Canal Music Publishing BV, BUMA/Meaux Jeaux Music, SESAC/Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears Music, SESAC/Capitol CMG Amplifier, SESAC/ Dayspring Music, LLC, BMI/Goes Something Like Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (D. Bradbery, J.Pardo, M.E.Reed) 47 Y YOU GOT EM ALL Big Music Machine, BMI/ Trent Harmon Publishing, BMI/Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/Memory Days, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/ Here Comes The Boom Music, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI (T.Harmon, J.Ebach, J.Minton) 42 YOU MAKE IT EASY Big Loud Mountain, BMI/ Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Pranch Ringle Music, BMI/We-Volve Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP (T.Hubbard, B.Kelley, M.Wallen, J.M.Schmidt) 1 YOUNG FOREVER WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Five Foot Sixteen Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/SongsbyME, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS Words And Music, ASACP (E.Paslay, M.Evans, C. DeStefano) 5

16 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE MAY 7, 218 PAGE 16 OF 17 Hot Country Songs Index TITLE Publishing-Licensing Org. (Songwriter) Chart Position BABE Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Taylor Swift Music, BMI/Monoman Music, ASCAP (T.Swift, P.T.Monahan) 23 B BORN TO LOVE YOU Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Concession 114 Music, BMI/ Neon Cross Music, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/ Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (B.Lancaster, R.Copperman, A.Gorley, J.Osborne) 33 BREAK UP IN THE END EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Plum Nelly, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music, BMI (J.M.Nite, C.McGill, J.J.Dillon) 21 C COMING HOME Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/Mary Rose Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Jonathan Rotem Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Thanks For The Songs Richard, BMI/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (K.Urban, J.R.Rotem, J.Michaels, M.Haggard, N.Galyon) 19 CRIMINAL Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Lindsay Ell Music, BMI/Moody Producer Music, BMI/Capitol CMG Paragon, BMI/Float Music, BMI/Meaux Mercy, BMI (L.Ell, C.Stevens, F.Wilhelm) 29 CRY PRETTY Carrie-Okie Music, BMI/BIRB Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Maps And Records Music, BMI/Creative Pulse Music, BMI/These Are Pulse Songs, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Songs Of Crazy Girl Music, BMI (C.Underwood, H.Lindsey, L.McKenna, L.Rose) 2 D THE DIFFERENCE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Mr. Buck Lucky, BMI/ Bump Into Genius Music, BMI/Neon Cross Music, BMI/ Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI (R.Akins, B.Burgess, D.Dawson, J.Durrett) 45 DOIN FINE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Lylas Music, BMI/Better Boat Music, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Jam Writers Group, BMI/Hello I Love You Music, BMI (Lauren Alaina, E.Shackelton, busbee) 36 DRUNK GIRL ole Red Vinyl Music, BMI/Buckkilla Music, BMI/Scrambler Music, ASCAP/Abbotts Creek Music Two, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/ Tomdouglasmusic, BMI (C.Janson, Scooter Carusoe, T.Douglas) 3 E EVERYTHING S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Old Desperados, LLC, ASCAP/N2D Publishing Company, Inc., ASCAP/Meaux Mercy, BMI/Moody Producer Music, BMI/ EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Great Day At This Music, BMI/Beattyville Music, BMI (D.L.Murphy, C.Stevens, J.Yeary) 15 F FAMOUS Big Loud Mountain, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/Georgia Song Vibez, ASCAP/ Big Crowd Publishing, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Shirt At Work, BMI/Round Hill Compositions, BMI/Peace In The Prism, BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Skinny Fat Nashville Music, ASCAP (T.Hubbard, C.Crowder, S.Buxton, C.Smith) 4 FOR THE FIRST TIME Sony/ATV Accent, ASCAP/ GrowingMusic, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Funky Friar Music, ASCAP/Scrambler Music, ASCAP/Abbotts Creek Music Two, ASCAP (D.Rucker, D.George, Scooter Carusoe) 12 G GET ALONG EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Smack Hits, GMR/ Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/ Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (R.Copperman, S.McAnally, J.Osborne) 11 GET TO YOU Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/ole Green Vinyl Music, ASCAP (A.Stoklasa, P.Dovgalyuk) 22 H HANGIN ON EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Goodbye Pants Music, BMI/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/EMI Foray Music, SESAC/Write 2 Be Free Music, SESAC (C.Young, C.Crowder, J.Hoge) 41 HEART BREAK WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Haywoodja Cut That Song, ASCAP/The Best I Could Do Publishing, ASCAP/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/EKT Publishing, SESCA/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (D.Haywood, C.Kelley, H.Scott, J.Frasure, N.Galyon) 27 HEAVEN BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/You Want How Much Of What Publishing, PRS/Smackworks Music, SESAC/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Sony/ ATV Songs LLC, BMI/Koala T Tunes, BMI (S.Carter, M.McGinn, L.Rimes) 2 HIDE THE WINE WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/Universal Music Works, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/Jake & Mack Music, GMR/Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/Sony/ ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR (A.Gorley, L.Laird, H.Lindsey) 42 HOOKED WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Songs From The Rose Hotel, ASCAP/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Koala T Tunes, BMI/SongsbyME, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (L.Rimes, S.Ennis, M.Evans) 25 HOTEL KEY Smackville Music, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Carrot Seed Songs, ASCAP/ ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/MeGusta Music, ASCAP/Unfair Entertainment, ASCAP/Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP (M.Ramsey, T. Rosen, J.Osborne) 44 I I D BE JEALOUS TOO Magic Mustang Music Inc., BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plane Jane Songs, BMI/ Rezolant Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP (D.Lynch, R.Copperman, J.M.Nite) 4 I HATE LOVE SONGS Songs Of Black River, ASCAP/KNB Music, ASCAP/ReHits Music, Inc., ASCAP/ Smacktown Music, ASCAP/Smack Blue, LLC, SESAC/ Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (K.Ballerini, T. Rosen, S.McAnally) 38 I LIVED IT Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/Pinetucky Road Publishing, ASCAP/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI (A.Gorley, B.Hayslip, R.Akins, R.Copperman) 13 I WAS JACK (YOU WERE DIANE) Sony/ ATV Countryside, BMI/Songs Of XO, BMI/We In Good Company, BMI/EMI Full Keel Music, ASCAP/David Ray Music, ASCAP/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, BMI/Sawyer Cash Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs BLS JV, ASCAP/Big Loud Proud Songs, ASCAP/Red Toe Rocker, ASCAP/Sony/ ATV Accent, ASCAP (T.Cecil, J.Mellencamp, D.Ray, J.Stevens, C.Wiseman) 17 K KINDA DON T CARE Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Rezolant Music, BMI/Songs By Red Room, BMI/Thankful For This Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (R.Akins, R.Copperman, B.Hayslip) 32 KISS SOMEBODY Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Morgan Evans Publishing Designee, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/CDS Words And Music, ASACP/ Anderson Fork In The Road Music, ASCAP/Smackville Music, ASCAP/Smack Songs LLC, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (M.Evans, C. DeStefano, J.Osborne) 24 L LEAVE RIGHT NOW EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line, BMI/Dragon Bunny Music, BMI/Music Of Big Family, BMI/Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd., PRS/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Bob Erotik Music, BMI/The Family Songbook, BMI/Music Of Big Deal, BMI (Thomas Rhett, J.Bunetta, E.Drewett, J.H.Ryan) 48 LIFE CHANGES EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Cricket On The Line, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Ritten by Rhettro, BMI/Telemitry Rhythm House Music, BMI/Songs Of Roc Nation Music, BMI/ WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/ Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP (Thomas Rhett, R.Akins, J.Frasure, A.Gorley) 28 A LITTLE DIVE BAR IN DAHLONEGA Songs Of Song Factroy, BMI/Veranda Music, SESAC/Little Falcor Music, BMI (A.McBryde, N.Hayford, J.Rice) 35 LIVING EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP/Nite Writer Music, ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/DudeTunes, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (R.Copperman, J.M.Nite, A.Gorley, D.Bentley) 49 M MARRY ME EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Cricket On The Line, BMI/Rio Bravo Music, Inc., BMI/Telemitry Productions, BMI/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Combustion Engine Music, ASCAP/Sadie s Favorite Songs, ASCAP/ Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR (Thomas Rhett, J.Frasure, A.Gorley, S.McAnally) 9 MEANT TO BE BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/ Big Loud Mountain, BMI/Kiss Me If You Can Music, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Round Hill Works, BMI/ Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Songs Of The Corn, BMI/Jack 1 Publishing, BMI/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, ASCAP/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP (B.Rexha, T.Hubbard, J.Miller, D.A.Garcia) 1 MERCY Super Big Music, ASCAP/Caliville Publishing, ASCAP/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Little Beluga Music, BMI (B.Young, S.McConnell) 16 MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD SB 21 Music Publishing, BMI/Purdy Beard Music, BMI/Songs Of Amylase Music, BMI/Five Hills Music, BMI/Do Write Music, LLC/Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/Champagne Whiskey Publishing, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP (D.Frasier, E.M.Hill, J.Kear) 7 N NIGHT MOVES Not Listed (R.Seger) 47 O ONE NUMBER AWAY Works For RHA Music, BMI/ Mall B. Publishing, ASCAP/Razor & Tie Music Publishing, LLC, ASCAP/The Bicycle Music Company, ASCAP/Tunes of R And T Direct, SESAC/Self Shrevident Music, SESAC/ Rowdy Rob Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (L.Combs, S.A.Battey, S.Mitchell, R.Williford) 5 P PARALLEL LINE Ed Sheeran Limited, GMR/Sony/ ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR/Please Don t Forget To Pay Me Music, GMR/Universal Music Works, GMR/Spirit B-Unique Polar Patrol, PRS/Kobalt Music Publishing, PRS/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Thanks For The Songs Richard, BMI/BDi Music Limited, PRS (E.C.Sheeran, B.J.Levin, J.McDaid, J.Michaels, A.Wadge) 39 R REARVIEW TOWN Songs Of Peer Ltd., ASCAP/ Team Thrash, ASCAP/Songs Of Peer, BMI/New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/Not A Track Guy Music, BMI/ New House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP (N.Thrasher, B.Pinson, K.Lovelace) 43 RICH International Dog Music, BMI/Nettwerk One B Music, BMI/Unlimited, BMI/Revelry Music, BMI/Jay Gatsby Music, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/Oh Denise Publishing, BMI/Big Music Machine, BMI (M.Morris, J.J.Dillon, L.Veltz) 34 S SHE AIN T IN IT Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, BMI/ Spirit Cataloge Holdings, S.A.R.L./Spirit Of Nashville One, BMI/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/Mater Pie Music, BMI (C. Daniels, W.Varble) 26 SHOOT ME STRAIGHT Trampy McCauley, ASCAP/All The Kings Pens, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/The Country And Western Music, BMI/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI (J. Osborne, T.J. Osborne, L.T.Miller) 31 SINGLES YOU UP Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/ Word Music, LLC, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/ Wordspring Music, LLC, SESAC/Memory Days, SESAC/ W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC (J.Davis, S.D.Jones, J.Ebach) 8 SOMETHING BOUT YOU Day For The Dead Publishing, SESAC/Reach Music Tunes, SESAC/Siva Moon Publishing, SESAC/W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC/Simonetti Music Publishing, SESAC/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/Ole Red Cape Songs, ASCAP/VB Rising Publishing, ASCAP/Jose A. Velazquez Music, ASCAP/Gilde Flores Publishing Designee, ASCAP (Z.Brown, N.Moon, B.Simonetti, T.V.Mosley, J.A.Velazquez, G.Flores) 46 SPACE COWBOY Smack Hits, GMR/Smack Songs LLC, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/Sony/ATV Story Music Publishing, GMR/We Are Creative Nation, GMR/ Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/351 Music, BMI (S.McAnally, L.Laird, K.Musgraves) 5 TAKE BACK HOME GIRL Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, ASCAP/D Soul Music, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/BIRB Music, ASCAP/ Rezonant Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Songs Of The Corn, BMI/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Jack 1 Publishing, BMI/Capitol CMG Genesis, ASCAP (D.A.Garcia, H.Lindsey, J.Miller) 18 T TEQUILA WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Beats And Banjos, ASCAP/Buckeye26, ASCAP/Jreynmusic, ASCAP/Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/A Girl Named Charlie, BMI (D.Smyers, J.Reynolds, N.Galyon) 6 THREE CHORDS & THE TRUTH Sony/ATV Countryside, BMI/Dack Janiel s Publishing, BMI/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP (C.Rice, R.Copperman, J.M.Nite) 37 U UP DOWN Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI/ Murphy The Wolf Music, BMI/Five Miles West Songs, BMI/Mandy s Favorite Songs, BMI/Watsky Music, LLC, BMI/Harding Road Music, BMI/New House Of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP (B.Clawson, M.Hardy, C.J. Solar) 1 W WOMAN, AMEN EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/ Plain Jane Songs, BMI/Rezolant Music, BMI/Year Of The Dog Music, ASCAP/Champagne Whiskey Publishing, ASCAP/Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP/DudeTunes, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP (R. Copperman, J.Kear, D.Bentley) 14 Y YOU MAKE IT EASY Big Loud Mountain, BMI/ Round Hill Works, BMI/T Hubb Publishing, BMI/Pranch Ringle Music, BMI/We-Volve Music, ASCAP/WB Music Corp., ASCAP/Freshy Music, ASCAP (T.Hubbard, B.Kelley, M.Wallen, J.M.Schmidt) 3

17 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE CODA 3 Years Ago Eddy Raven Got A No. 1 Hit In 1988, the Cajun-flavored I m Gonna Get You became his third of six Hot Country Songs leaders MAY 7, 218 PAGE 17 OF 17 On May 14, 1988, Eddy Raven s Ridge Boys took to No. 3 on Hot I m G on na G et You cl i mb ed Country Songs in 1983, and Don 2-1 on Hot Country Songs. The Gibson s Touch the Morning, Dennis Linde-penned tune first which hit No. 6 in hit the chart in 1987 when Billy Raven first visited the chart with Swan recorded it, reaching No. 63. The Last of the Sunshine Cowboys For the Lafayette, La.-born Raven, in He made his top 1 debut Gonna marked his third of six No. in 1982 with She s Playing Hard 1s on the list among 18 top 1s and to Forget and scored his f irst 4 total entries. No. 1 with 1984 s I Got Mexico, While he was growing up, Raven which he co-authored with Frank J. became known for his songwriting Myers. Gonna ruled amid a run of and guitar skills that encompassed 17 straight top 1s for Raven, from rock, blues, Cajun and country. Mexico through Island in 199. Many other acts have recorded Raven, 73, and Myers still regularly songs that he has written, including write and perform together. Thank God for Kids, which Oak JIM ASKER Raven at the Palomino in North Hollywood, Calif. MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES R EW I N D I N G THE C O U N T RY C H A RT S