CMC Rocks acts storm the ARIA charts

CMC Rocks QLD had already broken a record before its staging this year when it made Australian history as the first country festival to sell out. Now, thanks to a star-studded lineup and over 45,000 attendees over the festival’s three days, 9country artists and 10 country releaseshave appeared in the mainstream ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart.

CMC Rocks promoter Rob Potts said nine of the 10 acts in the ARIA chart performed at the festival this month, further evidence of country music’s popularity.

“10 country albums in the ARIA top 100 is indisputable evidence of the huge demand for this genre of music with Australian music fans,” he said. “Imagine what would happen if mainstream radio came on board and supported this fanbase.”

Following his performance at CMC Rocks, US artistChase Ricesees his album Ignite The Night jump from #45 to #23 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Rice is followed by singer-songwriter Kip Moore, whore-enters the ARIA Top 100 at #31 with Wild Ones.

US country airplay chart topper and Billboard Rising Star winner Kelsea Ballerini sees her debut album The First Time move from #71 to #33.

Rob Pottstoday told TMN Kelsea Ballerini’s deal with Sony Music was expedited ahead of her other international distribution deals. Potts said this was to make product available for the festival and have the record in the market ahead of her Australian visit.

Festival headlinerJason Aldeansits at #35 in the ARIA Top 100 following his maiden visit to Australia; the spot is taken by his latest album Old Boots, New Dirt.

Festival favourite and CMC Music Awards performer Florida Georgia Line, see two albums in this week’s ARIA Top 100, as Anything Goes leaps from #80 to #45 and new release Here’s To The Good Times lands at #65.

Nashville’s Blackjack Billyre-enters the Top 100 at #58 with Rebel Child. 2016 Grammy nomineeCamdebuts at #61 with her major label debut Untamed, and Lee Bricesits at #70 with I Don’t Dance.

Further down the chart Tim Hicks has debuted at #94 with his self-titled EP.

The sold-out CMC Rocks QLDat Willowbank near Ipswich from March 11-13alsoresulted in the sale of 5,071 physical CDs and DVDs out of its on-site record store.

“With 10 countryCDs in the ARIA Top 100 and eight of the Top 10 in the ARIA country chart being festival artists, CD sales at the OnSite store have had a major impact on genre sales,” Rob Potts told TMN. “The store is ahuge part of the festival – it’s also thecentre for artist signings, which is anintegralpart of the experience for all the fans.

“CD sales by comparison with the current climate were fantastic, but per capita slightly down on 2015, in keeping with the overall market,” Potts added.

Country albums are also this week represented on the ARIA Top 50 Digital Albums Chart and the ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart. Jason Aldean’s Old Boots, New Dirt (#26), Kip Moore’s Wild Ones (#28) and Kelsea Ballerini’s The First Time(#42) are among six albums included in Australia’s Top 50 digital chart, while 13 CMC Rocks QLD performers have appeared in the ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart.

::WATCH THE CMC ROCKS 2016 WRAP-UP VIDEO

::CMC ROCKS: BEHIND THE COUNTRY MUSIC PARTNERSHIP THAT WON OVER AUSTRALIA