ACM Awards Help Country Artists On Album Charts This Week

Last week we told you that the 2010 ACM Awards broadcast was likely to have an impact on the sales numbers this week and that prophecy came true as virtually every artist who played or won something at the award show came away with sales increases.  Lady Antebellum, once again leads the way with their double platinum album Need You Now moving up the Nielsen SoundScan chart again this week, landing just behind the third Glee album.  The trio, which took home five ACM Awards including Group of the Year and Single and Song of the Year for “Need You Now,” has held the #1 country album since it was released 13 weeks ago.  The Zac Brown Band moves into the Top 10 of the Hot 200 Albums chart for the first time with The Foundation.  While the group didn’t take home any awards, they were nominated in the Entertainer of the Year category and had performance video from their USO Tour. 

Miranda Lambert, who won Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year at the award show, jumped 23 spots on this week’s chart to land her album inside the Top 15 albums on Nielsen SoundScan’s chart.  The gold recording contains the #1 single (and video of the year winner) “White Liar” and the Top 10 hit “The House That Built Me.”   Willie Nelson’s latest, which is like his billionth album, Country Music debuted at number 4 on the Hot Country Albums chart and it includes many classic songs that were unknown to Willie, himself.  Carrie Underwood returns to the Top 5 this week with Play On thanks to the healthy sales increase from her Entertainer of the Year win at the ACM Awards. 

The Crazy Heart soundtrack wasn’t an ACM nominated album but the film DVD came out which really helped drive sales of the album as it leapt up the charts from 76 to 22, good enough to make it the 6^th best-selling country album of the week.  Taylor Swift maintained the same position on the Hot 200 Albums but slid into down the country tally from 4 to 7.  Colt Ford’s latest album, Chicken & Biscuits, debuted in the Top 30 with over 15,000 copies sold.  Ford’s Ride Through The Country has sold over 150,000 copies with only two Top 60 Billboard hit singles, making him one of if not the most successful indie artist working in country music.  Mercury’s Laura Bell Bundy sold slightly less than she did last week but her Achin’ and Shakin’ album still moved enough to retain a Top 10 country album.  Alan Jackson’s Freight Train remained in the Top 10 of the country albums chart as well and with his earworm second single “Hard Hat And A Hammer” jumping up the charts, he may just remain there for a while.

Lady A’s debut album, which is two years old but was still somehow nominated for the Album of the Year award, experienced a sales growth as it landed inside the Top 50 of the SoundScan chart this week.  Luke Bryan, who took home the Top New Artist ACM award, jumped 19 spots on the Hot 200 Albums chart to land at 55.  His appearance on the Celebrity Apprentice may have helped his album move a few copies as well.  Jason Aldean’s Wide Open continues to be a consistent seller, the same thing which can be said about Blake Shelton’s Hillbilly Bone.  Easton Corbin, who is planning to “Roll With” the flow this summer, is the 15^th best-selling country album this week as he has passed the 130,000 copies-sold mark.

Brooks And Dunn lead our larger than normal list of interesting albums this week as they enjoyed the ACM Exposure and found their #1’s album moving into the Hot 100 half of the Hot 200 charts this week.  Merle Haggards’s latest I Am What I Am debuted at 76 on this week’s SoundScan chart while Shelby Lynne found her latest, Tears, Lies and Alibis entering the charts as well, finding over 5,000 homes its first week out.  Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night experienced a healthy sales increase this week as the ACM Top Male Vocalist winner played an energetic “Water” on the telecast before falling into the pool.  Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice followed Paisley up the charts as word came out that he was working on his follow-up album (and likely last Curb Records release). 

Keith Urban’s album slid down the charts a bit this week but still experienced a healthy sales increase as Defying Gravity enjoyed the debut of “I’m In,” a song that may become the star’s next single from the album.  Danny Gokey’s My Best Days continues to sell nicely and is now nearing 135,000 copies sold, not too far from winner Kris Allen’s older and more promoted release.  Jason Boland and the Stragglers’ live recording High in the Rockies lands at 130 this week while Christian Country artist Guy Penrod’s Breathe Deep landed at 172 in its second week on the charts.  Gloriana returned to the Top 200 this week as well.

Next week we’ll see the debut of albums from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lonestar among other artists. Check back to see how your favorites did as well.