Chart Analysis May 16, 2020

The McClymonts hit #1 on Country Hot 50 as Aussie acts own the chart

Former Assistant Editor

Aussie country radio continues to back local artists, with The McClymonts celebrating a second week at #1 on the TMN Country Hot 50 with ‘I Got This’.

The achievement follows a remarkable start to the year for Aussies. The McClymonts become the sixth local act to land a chart-topping single on the leaderboard, powered by Radio Monitor.

More significantly, it continues a sustained dominance of the #1 position by local artists, with no internationals achieving the feat since the 2020 calendar year began.

Melanie Dyer, one of TMN’s Ones To Watch in 2020, summited the Country Hot 50 in late 2019 with ‘Memphis T-Shirt’. She continued that run atop the chart throughout January 2020, before Brad Cox (‘Give Me Tonight’) and Morgan Evans (‘Diamonds’) went tit-for-tat at #1 for over a month.

More recently Casey Barnes had a six week, non-consecutive run on top with ‘Sparks Fly’. His eminence was only interrupted by Travis Collins, who went to #1 in April with ‘The Weekend’.

While its undoubtedly a fantastic advertisement for local country music, the strength of local acts at radio should come as no surprise this year.

Established stars like Amber Lawrence and Keith Urban continue to set a benchmark, with emerging acts like Darlinghurst and The Buckleys also landing their first #1 chart singles.

“We are witnessing a new generational movement towards Country music,” Triple M Digital Radio content director Adam Williscroft told TMN last September.

“You are seeing country music consistently impact the wider mainstream charts, via collaboration, genre cross-pollination, and just great, well written and produced songs.”

“The new wave of Australian country is fresh, the production is world-class meaning it can compete sonically with what’s been delivered to us from America.”