Country Music Album Sales Up in 2011

December 28, 2011

Lady Antebellum, from left, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood pose backstage with the award for best record of the year at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles.

In 2011, Country album sales increased more than four percent over the previous year and a number of Country artists enjoyed crossover success on the pop charts

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In 2011, the Eli Young Band earned its first Number One Country hit with “Crazy Girl.” Although it took 38 weeks to reach the summit, the song was played on radio more than any competitor to make it the Number One Country single of the year. In 2011, the Eli Young Band moved to Republic Nashville Records. The two-year-old label’s roster also includes Martina McBride, Sunny Sweeney and The Band Perry.

Sibling trio The Band Perry had the biggest breakout success of any Country newcomer during the past year. “If I Die Young” was the most downloaded digital Country single of 2011. Eleven months after its Number One success on the Country chart, the song ascended to the top of the Adult Contemporary list. The Band Perry’s follow-up hit, “You Lie,” ranks at Number Five on Billboard’s yearend Hot Country Songs chart.

In 2011, Lady Antebellum released its third album, “Own the Night,” but the trio was still riding high on the success of its previous release, “Need You Now.” “Need You Now” gave the group five Grammy Awards, and it was this year’s fourth best-selling Country album. “Own the Night” ranks two spaces lower at Number Six.