UK Country Radio Airplay Chart launched

08 March 2024 - Press release

 

In an exciting development for the UK's fastest-growing musical genre, Country music, a new UK Country Radio Airplay Chart is set to be launched. This pioneering step is a collaborative effort between global radio airplay monitoring company Radiomonitor and the Country Music Association’s (CMA) UK Task Force, a group of UK industry leaders working together on behalf of the Country industry at large. The initiative is spearheaded by Alexandra Hannaby, Head of Big Machine Label Group UK and a CMA UK Task Force member. 

The first genre specific radio chart to be established in the UK, the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart will compile the Top 20 songs each week from an eligible selection of new releases up to three years old, measured by impressions (the number of people each play is heard by). 

The chart will be announced every Sunday at 5pm GMT, culminating in the number 1 Country Radio UK Airplay song of the week. The first official chart will be made public on Sunday 10 March, co-inciding with the final day of 2024’s C2C (Country To Country) festival in the UK.

The UK Country Radio Airplay Chart will include data from the following stations and programmes (in alphabetical order): Absolute Radio Country, BBC Radio 2 - The Country Show with Bob Harris, CountryLine: The Big 615, Downtown Country Radio and Smooth Country Radio. Airplay will be measured from Friday to midnight on the following Thursday and the chart available to the public at 5pm GMT each Sunday. 

Music industry professionals who would like to receive the chart information under embargo on Friday afternoons, please contact Radiomonitor to sign up for this service.

Speaking about this innovative new initiative, Alexandra Hannaby, Head of Big Machine UK, said: "I'm thrilled for the launch of the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart, a significant milestone for Country music in the UK. This achievement is truly a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration between industry experts and Radiomonitor. Together, we're paving the way for increased recognition and exposure for country artists in the UK and I’m excited to see its impact unfold.”

Milly Olykan, CMA’s VP of International Relations and Development, added: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Country music in the UK. From the genre experiencing a 40% growth in consumption throughout the last year, to the volume of tickets sold to Country festivals and tours increasing at a record pace, it’s apparent the Country is broadening significantly into the mainstream in the UK. This new radio chart will provide another exposure opportunity to further elevate Country artists and allow for greater engagement with fans. As the premier trade association supporting the growth of the Country Music industry, CMA’s focus in the UK is to continue to identify how we can move towards more mainstream moments for the genre, and the is another pivotal initiative.”