Jason Aldean Scores Fourth Straight #1 Album: Comment from Music Biz President James Donio

James Donio, President of the Music Business Association (Music Biz), commented on this week’s sales numbers issued by Nielsen (published by Billboard – albums, singles) and BuzzAngle Music (published by HITS Daily Double – albums, singles).

“Country music scored its biggest week yet of 2018, with Jason Aldean’s Rearview Town moving over 181,000 album equivalent units to reach #1 on the Nielsen and BuzzAngle Music charts. The feat makes Aldean just the second Country act ever to top the Billboard 200 chart with four consecutive studio albums, joining Rascal Flatts. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Hard Rock band Breaking Benjamin debut at #3 on both charts with Ember, Singer-Songwriter John Prine lands his highest-charting album and first Top 10 with The Tree of Forgiveness at #5 on both charts, and Vocal group Pentatonix reached #10 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the HITS Top 50 chart with PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. 1.

“Turning to singles, Drake continues to rule the Billboard Hot 100 and BuzzAngle Top Songs Chart. ‘Nice for What’ holds on to #1 for a second week on the Hot 100 with ‘God’s Plan’ at #2, while the latter is #1 on the BuzzAngle chart. It’s Drake’s 33rd cumulative week atop the Hot 100, passing Bruno Mars for most weeks at #1 for a male in the 2010s and trailing only Rihanna with 41. In addition, Country artists Florida Georgia Line and Maren Morris both found themselves in the Hot 100’s Top 5 this week, the former on ‘Meant to Be’ with Bebe Rexha and the latter on ‘The Middle’ with Zedd and Grey. It’s the first time in 18 years that two Country acts have reached the Hot 100 Top 5 at the same time. The tracks placed at #4 and #9, respectively, on the BuzzAngle chart.

“Next week, we’ll see whether Country star and Music Biz 2015 performer Ashley Monroe can crack the Top 10 with her new album, Sparrow.”