Plus, new top 10s for Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan.
Jimmie Allen’s “Make Me Want To” ascends 3-1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart (dated March 7), gaining by 12% to 33.2 million audience impressions in the week ending March 1, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
The song reaches the Country Airplay summit in its 58th week on the survey, completing the longest journey to No. 1 in the history of the chart, which launched in January 1990. It passes Chris Young’s “Voices,” which took 51 weeks (over two release cycles) to lead at last in February 2011.
“I’m super-thankful to radio, my management team, band, label and booking agency for their hard work and never giving up on this song,” Allen told Billboard on March 2. “And to my co-writers, Paul Sikes and Jennifer Denmark: You are special talents with great hearts.”
As for the timing of the song’s coronation, Allen shares that his daughter Naomi was born on Sunday. “The baby and momma are doing great,” he beams. “March 1 will forever be my favorite day. Never give up on your dreams or yourself. Love always wins.”
Along with its record 58-week rise to No. 1 on Country Airplay, “Make” sets a new record for the most total weeks on the tally for a song. It bests Rodney Atkins’ “Caught Up in the Country,” (featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers), which logged 57 weeks on the list, peaking at No. 21 in April 2019. Next up, all at 56 total weeks: Dylan Scott’s “Hooked” (No. 2, 2018) and Lee Brice’s “Love Me Like Crazy” (No. 3, 2010). (Notably, the Atkins, Scott and Brice singles were all released on Curb Records.)
“Make” is Allen’s sophomore single and second straight Country Airplay leader. “Best Shot” scaled the summit on Nov. 24, 2018, in its 40th week, and led for three frames.Allen’s next single is “This Is Us,” a duet with Noah Cyrus.
NEW TOP 10s Jason Aldean’s “We Back” jumps 14-8 on the airplay-, streaming- and sales-powered Hot Country Songs chart, with 23.3 million in airplay audience and 5.3 million U.S. streams.
The track marks Aldean’s 32nd Hot Country Songs top 10, a sum that includes nine No. 1s. He last reached the tier with the No. 4-peaking “Rearview Town” in August 2019. The song topped Country Airplay, becoming Aldean’s 21st No. 1.
Also on Hot Country Songs, Luke Bryan’s “What She Wants Tonight” pushes 11-9, awarding him his 29th top 10, a total that includes 11 No. 1s. The song holds at No. 7 on Country Airplay, up 4% to 24.3 million in radio reach. It also attracted 4.8 million clicks in the tracking week. Predecessor single “Knockin’ Boots” hit No. 2 on Hot Country Songs and led Country Airplay for two weeks, marking Bryan’s 21st leader.
THE ‘NAME’ GAME Keith Urban’s new single, “God Whispered Your Name,” soars onto Country Airplay at No. 28 with 4.6 million impressions.The song, penned by Christian music artist Chris August with Micah Carter, Shy Carter and James Slater, was released to country radio on Feb. 27 and received hourly plays on participating iHeartMedia stations the following day.Urban adds his 46th Country Airplay entry, a history that includes 21 No. 1s among 40 top 10s.
As announced Feb. 27, Urban will host the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
