Latest news with #CountryAirplay
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Max McNown's Girlfriend Inspired His Breakthrough Hit — And Gave Him ‘A Lot of Encouragement'
As singer-songwriter Max McNown prepared to release his country-folk love song 'Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)' last November, he felt reluctant to share such a vulnerable single about his girlfriend of nearly two years. But the track quickly resonated with fans, becoming his first entry on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and the Billboard Hot 100 — and soon, the 23-year-old's perspective changed. 'I wasn't expecting a song that is so specifically about my girlfriend to do so well,' he reflects. 'It gives me a lot of encouragement to keep writing personal songs about my life.' More from Billboard 2025's Chartbreakers: Alex Warren, The Marías and More Each Month Zach Bryan's Ex Brianna LaPaglia Fires Back Against Song Remarks, Leaked Text Message Matt Cameron Denies He's Retired Following Exit From Pearl Jam McNown wrote 'Better Me For You' in May 2024 during a session with Trent Dabbs, Ava Suppelsa and writer-producer Jamie Kenney, at the lattermost's Nashville-area studio. At the time, McNown had a basic melody, a simple concept and the written phrase, 'I didn't know you'd have brown eyes,' which became central to the song's chorus. 'Ava asked me more about my girlfriend, like, 'What do you love about her?'' McNown remembers. 'It's about wanting to be a better person, because you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody.' While McNown and his collaborators completed writing the hit-to-be in that session, slow-burning success from his summer 2023 ballad 'A Lot More Free' allowed his team more time to build momentum. The prior bittersweet acoustic single — and title track to his debut EP released at the same time — gained traction in fall 2024, entering the top 30 on Hot Country Songs. It has more recently crossed over to alternative and pop formats, reaching a No. 8 high on Adult Pop Airplay. 'He hadn't gone on any big tours yet, and 'A Lot More Free' was blowing up,' says McNown's uncle and manager, Brandon Ebel, president of Tooth & Nail Records and Solid State Records, of opting to hold on releasing a follow-up single. 'We wanted to wait for the perfect time.' McNown and his team teased 'Better Me For You' on social media in October, focusing on the chorus — and more specifically, his phrase about brown eyes. Seeing fans referring to the song as such in comment sections, they quickly added the words to the song title ahead of its Nov. 15 release. 'It already had thousands of people using the sound on [Instagram] and TikTok,' Ebel says, adding that they invested the bulk of McNown's budget into advertising with online marketing campaigns, including on social media platforms. But even before the backing support from his team, McNown had already proved his internet savvy. When the Oregon native moved to California in 2022, he was given his father's old guitar and slowly learned hit songs by Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. He began to busk on the San Clemente Pier within a few months of arriving, and at the suggestion of a friend, soon posted those covers online. After gaining a following, he self-released 'Freezing in November,' a solo write, in 2023, which signaled to Ebel that McNown was ready for the next step. 'He'd written a few other songs we thought were good, so I said, 'As a favor, I'll fly you down to Nashville and we can record a couple of songs,'' Ebel says. 'I also had a couple of writers at my publishing company [Fugitive Song Publishing], and they agreed to write with him.' One of those early sessions yielded 'A Lot More Free.' That September, McNown auditioned for American Idol but didn't proceed with the show despite advancing in the competition. He wanted the space to continue building his discography — and his team. He had signed with Fugitive Recordings and inked a partnership with The Orchard in 2023 a few months before releasing his debut EP. McNown then moved to Nashville in 2024 and released debut album Wandering. This January, he signed a deal with Columbia Records — and released follow-up album Night Diving the same month, which included 'Better Me For You.' As his team took shape, so did a promotional strategy for success. He's been able to experiment with various methods, ultimately landing on a Mount Rushmore of success stories that he continues to push on his socials. ''Better Me For You' is one of the 'core four,' ' McNown says. 'That one, [May single] 'Same Questions,' 'A Lot More Free' and [2024's] 'Love Me Back.' They seem to take off every time I post them on social media, so that has changed the approach. There's maybe one post of each of those a week.' A month before the official release of 'Better Me For You,' the team focused on opportunities at radio for McNown as well, Ebel says. 'We put out feelers to see their feedback,' he remembers. 'As soon as it came out and started streaming very well, we decided to go to country radio.' The decision proved to be wise: 'Better Me For You' became his first Country Airplay entry on the chart dated Feb. 22 and has yet to leave the chart since. The following month, it surfaced on Hot Country Songs and reaches a new No. 28 high on this week's chart. In June, boosted by its growing radio presence, 'Better Me For You' debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 98, and has spent five weeks on the chart. McNown hopes to continue his hot streak with an extended cut of Night Diving — titled Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up) — out July 18 through Fugitive Recordings/The Orchard/Columbia Records. Plus, he'll follow up performances this year at CMA Fest and Boston Calling with a set at Lollapalooza in Chicago before launching his 30-show headlining Forever Ain't Long Enough Tour. As McNown looks ahead, Ebel reflects on how far the rising star has already come. 'He's the whole package: A songwriter, a lyricist, a performer,' Ebel says. He immediately becomes reflective, recalling an opening set his nephew played last year: 'He'd never played harmonica live, but 30 minutes before he went onstage, he was like, 'I'm going to play harmonica on 'A Lot More Free'' and just dominated. That was the moment I knew, 'This kid's going to be big.' ' A version of this story appears in the July 19, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Morgan Wallen Notches Fourth Country Airplay No. 1 From ‘I'm the Problem' With ‘Just in Case'
Morgan Wallen logs his 18th No. 1 — and the fourth from his album I'm the Problem — on Billboard's Country Airplay chart as 'Just in Case' ascends two spots to the top of the survey dated July 12. The single surged 22% to 29.4 million audience impressions June 27-July 3, according to Luminate. More from Billboard Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' Spends Sixth Week in a Row at No. 1 on Billboard 200 5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Erin Enderlin, Randy Houser, Charley Crockett & More Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Celebrates 4th of July With 'F-k Donald Trump' Chant in Belgium Wallen co-authored the song, and Joey Moi produced it. The ballad becomes the fourth Country Airplay chart-topper among the 37 songs on Wallen's blockbuster I'm the Problem, which has led Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200 in its first six weeks of release. The title track dominated for eight weeks beginning in April, 'Love Somebody' ruled for three weeks in February, and 'Lies Lies Lies' led for a week last November. Notably, as we pass the halfway point this year, Wallen's latest Country Airplay No. 1 marks his third of 2025 — no other act has more than one. In 2024, he became the first artist to roll up five leaders in a single year since the list launched in 1990: 'Lies Lies Lies'; 'Cowgirls,' featuring Ernest; Post Malone's 'I Had Some Help,' featuring Wallen; 'Man Made a Bar,' featuring Eric Church, and Thomas Rhett's 'Mamaw's House,' featuring Wallen. Rhett's Milestone 25th Top 10 Speaking of Thomas Rhett, he claims his 25th Country Airplay top 10 with his co-authored 'After All the Bars Are Closed.' The single pushes 12-9 (19 million, up 15%). It follows 'Beautiful as You,' which hit No. 2 in November. His first top 10, 'It Goes Like This,' became his first of 20 No. 1s in October 2013. Bryan's Top 10 'Country Song' Luke Bryan scores his 37th Country Airplay top 10 as 'Country Song Came On' lifts 11-10 (18.1 million, up 8%). 'Love You, Miss You, Mean It' awarded the American Idol judge his prior top 10 (No. 2 last October). His rookie entry 'All My Friends Say' hit No. 5 in 2007, while 'Rain Is a Good Thing' became his first of 26 No. 1s in 2010. Bryan ties Reba McEntire for the 10th-most Country Airplay 10s (surpassing Garth Brooks' 36). Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and George Strait lead the pack with 61 each. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Morgan Wallen Dominates Country Radio Like Few Before Him
Morgan Wallen dominates Billboard's Country Airplay chart this week with five tracks, including two ... More top 10 hits and a debut with 'I Got Better.' NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 09: Morgan Wallen attends the 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) Billboard's Country Airplay chart is perhaps the most competitive of all the company's radio rankings, and certainly one of the busiest. Radio still makes a huge impact in the country space, and competition for the highest reaches is fierce between singer-songwriters. It's not common for any act to fill more than one or two spaces at a time, and a trio of wins at once is a surefire sign that a musician has become a superstar in the country world. Morgan Wallen has advanced beyond that title, and he manages a truly incredible feat this week. Morgan Wallen's Five Country Radio Smashes Wallen fills five spaces on the Country Airplay chart at the moment. He ups his count significantly from last time around, as 'I Got Better' debuts at No. 40, while 'What I Want,' his collaboration with Tate McRae, reenters the ranking. That tune, which has already conquered both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts, breaks back in at No. 60 – in last place – after once rising to No. 55. Multiple Top 10 Hits Also included in Wallen's roundup of smashes are a pair of top 10 hits: 'Just in Case' and 'I'm the Problem.' One of several singles and the title track from his recently-released blockbuster album sits at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, side-by-side. Morgan Wallen and Post Malone's Second Duet One of Wallen's two collaborations with Post Malone, 'I Ain't Comin' Back,' dips slightly 10 weeks into its tenure on the tally. Last time around, 'I Ain't Comin' Back' sat at No. 30, its all-time high point. This frame, it slips to No. 35. Jelly Roll Follows Next Jelly Roll claims the second-most hits on the Country Airplay chart at the moment, with three. 'Heart of Stone,' 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' with Brandon Lake, and 'Amen' with Shaboozey all manage to appear. Shaboozey, Parker McCollum, and Chris Young score a pair of wins each, while every other artist on the 60-spot roster manages only to live in one slot. Wallen's success on the Country Airplay tally is impressive, but he claims significantly more spaces on tallies like the Hot 100 and various country-only rankings.
Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Post Malone falls off stage while toasting a fan mid-performance in Arizona
Post Malone suffered a brief onstage mishap during his performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. While performing his hit single "Pour Me a Drink", the singer knelt to toast a fan when a section of the stage gave way, causing him to fall out of view. Fan-filmed clips show Malone smiling and holding his drink just before he dropped through the platform. Despite the incident, he quickly got back onstage, continued singing, and raised his cup to finish the toast. The crowd responded with loud cheers, applauding his quick recovery. One fan shared the viral moment on TikTok, joking, 'I didn't mean to almost break your back,' referencing the lyric 'I've been breakin' my back.' The fall brought back memories of a more serious 2022 incident when Malone fell through a trapdoor in St. Louis and suffered rib injuries. Malone, whose real name is Austin Post, is currently on the North American leg of his The Big Ass Stadium Tour in support of F-1 Trillion, his debut country album. The project includes Pour Me a Drink, a duet with Blake Shelton, which topped Billboard's Country Airplay chart. The Arizona show was among the largest of his summer dates. He's scheduled to continue the tour across major stadiums and arenas before heading to Europe and Asia in August.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Country Star Drove Into Elderly Woman At Crosswalk, Killing Her, Police Say
'Creek Will Rise' singer Conner Smith drove into a 77-year-old woman at a crosswalk, resulting in her death, Nashville police said Monday. The victim was identified as Dorothy Dobbins. She was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died, according to cops. 'The preliminary contributing factor for this crash appears to be Smith failing to yield the right of way to the pedestrian,' the police statement read. 'He showed no signs of impairment. There are no charges at present as the investigation continues.' Dobbins was walking her dog back from a dog park when Smith struck her in a pickup truck, WKRN reported. Worrick Robinson, an attorney for Smith, confirmed the singer's involvement in the fatal 'car accident.' He told Billboard in a statement: 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.' Nashville native Smith, 24, earned notice in 2021 for his viral song 'I Hate Alabama.' His 2023 'Creek Will Rise' single climbed to No. 12 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart. Smith did not immediately reply to HuffPost's request for comment.
