Jana Kramer put country radio on blast in a Twitter post on April 19, claiming RaeLynn’s “Love Triangle” has outsold the past two No. 1 songs, despite struggling on the charts.
Let’s take a look at Jana’s post below . . . and then dissect it for accuracy.
Love Triangle by @RaeLynn sold more than the last 2 songs that went #1 but yet struggled on charts. Why? Wait let me guess #girl #whattheFK
— Jana Kramer (@kramergirl) April 19, 2017
First of all, RaeLynn’s “Love Triangle,” which dropped in August 2016, peaked at No. 26 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart before being removed from the chart last month. The song is currently still on the Mediabase chart at No. 28.
According to Nielsen Music, “Love Triangle” has sold 153,088 units as of April 19.
As far as “the past two No. 1s” Jana was referencing in her Twitter post? On both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts, the past two No. 1 songs were Lauren Alaina’s “Road Less Traveled” and Jason Aldean’s “Any Ol’ Barstool.”
According to Nielsen, “Any Ol’ Barstool”—released in December 2016—has sold 147,892 units as of April 19, which is 5,196 units less than “Love Triangle.” Jana was correct in this instance.
However, “Lauren Alaina’s “Road Less Traveled”—released in July 2016—has sold 203,524 units as of April 19, which is 50,436 units more than “Love Triangle.” Jana was incorrect in this instance.
- “Road Less Traveled” (Lauren Alaina): 203,524 units sold
- “Love Triangle” (RaeLynn): 153,088 units sold
- “Any Ol’ Barstool” (Jason Aldean): 147,892 units sold
Just for good measure, I took a look at Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road,” which has been No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for the last 10 weeks. According to Nielsen, “Body Like a Back Road” has sold 730,723 units as of April 19, which is 577,635 more units than “Love Triangle.”
Unless Jana was looking at different sales figures (Apple’s sales figures are consistent with Nielsen’s aforementioned numbers) or she was referencing a different chart, her Twitter post is inaccurate.
Obviously, Jana’s post was more about bringing to light the discrepancy in the number of female artists currently represented on the charts. In the instance of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, currently only six female solo artists have songs in the Top 60: Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Alaina, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce.
