The UK Country Airplay chart is a weekly music chart based on the radio airplay of country music singles on radio stations in the United Kingdom. It serves as the UK equivalent to the American Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Announced on 8 March 2024, the debut chart was revealed a few days later on 10 March to coincide with the final day of the 2024 C2C: Country to Country music festival, with the official top 40 being posted each week on the UK-based country publication Countrymusic.co.uk. The chart, which is the first genre-specific radio chart in the UK, aims to serve as a key measure of which songs are being enjoyed most frequently by listeners across the country and is produced in collaboration with music company Radiomonitor, and the UK branch of the Country Music Association.
The first number one song on the UK Country Airplay chart was "Creek Will Rise" by Conner Smith. The current number one single is "Can't Sit Still" by Lainey Wilson.
Background The creation of the chart was spearheaded by the increase in popularity of country music within the UK and was described by Milly Olykan, vice president of international relations and development for the CMA, as a "pivotal initiative in a move towards more mainstream moments for the genre" and noting how the consumption of country music in the UK increased by 40% in 2023. In a statement following the announcement of the chart, Olkyan explained "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 this is another pivotal initiative."
Alexa Hannaby, head of Big Machine Records in the UK and leader of the project, stated "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.
First top 10 The first ever top 10 was revealed on 10 March 2024: "Creek Will Rise" – Conner Smith "The Painter" – Cody Johnson "Pretty Little Poison" – Warren Zeiders "Tucson Too Late" – Jordan Davis "Your Place" – Ashley Cooke "I Can Feel It" – Kane Brown "Burn It Down" – Parker McCollum "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" – Lainey Wilson "Where It Ends" – Bailey Zimmerman "23" – Chayce Beckham
Eligibility Each weekly iteration of the chart will consist of the Top 50 songs being heard on the radio, taken from a pool of new releases, with anything that was made available more than three years ago discounted. This will help to ensure the chart is an accurate reflection of current trends and interests within the genre. Data is compiled from a plethora of UK country radio stations, including Absolute Radio Country, BBC Radio 2 - The Country Show with Bob Harris, CountryLine: The Big 615, Downtown Country Radio, and Smooth Country Radio.
Number ones +Keynth singe to top the UK Country Airplay chartreReturn of a single to number one
ArtistSongRecord labelReached number oneWeeks at number oneRef.1Conner Smith"Creek Will Rise"Valory Music Co.12Cody Johnson"The Painter"Mercury NashvillereConner Smith"Creek Will Rise"Valory Music Co.23Jordan Davis"Tucson Too Late"MCA Nashville14Parker McCollum"Burn It Down"5Dasha"Austin"Warner Records6Sam Hunt"Outskirts"MCA Nashville7Ashley Cooke"Your Place"Big LoudreSam Hunt"Outskirts"MCA NashvilleAshley Cooke"Your Place"Big Loud8Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen"I Had Some Help"Republic Nashville/Mercury NashvillereAshley Cooke"Your Place"Big Loud2Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen"I Had Some Help"Republic Nashville/Mercury Nashville19Nate Smith"Bulletproof"RCA Nashville10Thomas Rhett"Beautiful as You"Big Machine211Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton"Pour Me a Drink"Republic Nashville/Mercury Nashville112Ella Langley featuring Riley Green"You Look Like You Love Me"SAWGOD/Columbia Records13Lainey Wilson"Hang Tight Honey"BBR Music Group314Shaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"American Dogwood/Magnolia/Empire/Republic115Luke Combs"Ain't No Love in Oklahoma"Columbia/AtlanticreThomas Rhett"Beautiful as You"Big Machine16Drew Baldridge"She's Somebody's Daughter"Lyric Ridge217Keith Urban"Wildside"Hit Red/Capitol Nashville418Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan"Cowboys Cry Too"Black River119Morgan Wallen"Love Somebody"Big Loud/Republic/Mercury20Jordan Davis"I Ain't Sayin'"MCA NashvillereShaboozey"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"American Dogwood/Magnolia/Empire/RepublicJordan Davis"I Ain't Sayin'"MCA Nashville21Lainey Wilson"4x4xU"BBR Music Group2reJordan Davis"I Ain't Sayin'"MCA Nashville422Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood"I'm Gonna Love You"Warner Music Nashville1reJordan Davis"I Ain't Sayin'"MCA Nashville223Tucker WetmoreWind Up Missin' YouEMI Nashville124Blake Shelton"Texas"Ten Point/Wheelhouse325Drew Baldridge"Tough People"Stoney Creek1reBlake Shelton"Texas"Ten Point/Wheelhouse526Eric Church"Hands of Time"EMI Nashville127Riley Green"Worst Way"Nashville Harbor28Dasha"Not at This Party"Warner Records29Ella Langley"Weren't for the Wind"Sawgod/Columbia Records2reEric Church"Hands of Time"EMI Nashville1Ella Langley"Weren't for the Wind"Sawgod/Columbia Records230Tucker Wetmore"3,2,1"Back Blocks/UMG Nashville131Lainey Wilson"Somewhere Over Laredo"BBRreEric Church"Hands of Time"EMI Nashville32Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs"Backup Plan"Atlantic Records/Warner Nashville233Russell Dickerson"Happen to Me"Triple Tigers1reBailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs"Backup Plan"Atlantic Records/Warner Nashville5Russell Dickerson"Happen to Me"Triple Tigers234Jelly Roll"Heart of Stone"Stoney Creek235Riley Green"Change My Mind"Nashville Harbor1reJelly Roll"Heart of Stone"Stoney CreekRussell Dickerson"Happen to Me"Triple Tigers36Ella Langley featuring Hardy"Never Met Anyone Like You"Sawgod/Columbia37Cody Johnson"The Fall"Warner Music Nashville338Megan Moroney"6 Months Later"Sony139Josh Ross"Hate How You Look"The Core/Universal Canada/Mercury Nashville40Ella Langley"Choosin' Texas"Sawgod/Columbia Records341Thomas Rhett featuring Niall Horan"Old Tricks"Valory1reElla Langley"Choosin' Texas"Sawgod/Columbia Records942Tucker Wetmore"Brunette"Black Blocks343Morgan Wallen"20 Cigarettes"Big Loud/Republic Records/Mercury Records244Luke Combs"Sleepless in a Hotel Room"Seven Ridges/Sony1reElla Langley"Choosin' Texas"Sawgod/Columbia Records1reTucker Wetmore"Brunette"Black Blocks145The Shires"Getaway Car"Big Machine Records146Jon Pardi"Boots Off"Capitol Nashville147Lainey Wilson"Can't Sit Still"This Is Hit/BBR1ReJon Pardi"Boots Off"Capitol Nashville1ReLainey Wilson"Can't Sit Still"This Is Hit/BBR248Stella Lefty"Boston"Netflix Music7
Artist milestones Most number one songs Number onesArtistSongs (Weeks at number one)4Ella Langley"You Look Like You Love Me" (1), "Weren't for the Wind" (4), "Never Met Anyone Like You" (1), "Choosin' Texas" (13)Lainey Wilson"Hang Tight Honey" (3), "4x4xU" (2), "Somewhere Over Laredo" (1), "Can't Sit Still" (3)3Cody Johnson"The Painter" (1), "I'm Gonna Love You" (1), "The Fall" (3)Luke Combs"Ain't No Love in Oklahoma" (1), "Backup Plan" (7), "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" (1)Morgan Wallen"I Had Some Help" (2), "Love Somebody", (1), "20 Cigarettes" (2)Riley Green "You Look Like You Love Me" (1), "Worst Way" (1), "Change My Mind" (1)Tucker Wetmore"Wind Up Missin' You" (1), "3, 2, 1" (1), "Brunette" (4)
Most cumulative weeks at number one Weeks at number oneArtist19Ella Langley9Blake SheltonJordan DavisLainey WilsonLuke Combs7Bailey ZimmermanStella Lefty6Tucker Wetmore5Cody JohnsonMorgan Wallen4Ashley CookeCody Johnson Keith UrbanRussell DickersonThomas Rhett
Song milestones Most weeks at number one Weeks at number oneSongArtist13"Choosin' Texas"Ella Langley9"Backup Plan"Bailey Zimmerman feat. Luke Combs8"Texas"Blake Shelton7"Boston"Stella Lefty
References