In its 46th week, singer-songwriter Dylan Scott's "My Girl" ascends 2-1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart (dated July 29), gaining 5 percent to 45.9 million audience impressions in the week ending July 16, according to Nielsen Music. On Hot Country Songs, which blends airplay, streaming and sales data, "My Girl" holds at its No. 4 high.
The 26-year-old from Louisiana (full name: Dylan Scott Robinson) lands his first No. 1 in his third appearance on Country Airplay. "Makin' This Girl Go Crazy" peaked at No. 54 on the chart dated April 19, 2014, and "Crazy Over Me" climbed to No. 36 on Feb. 27, 2016.
"This is definitely an incredible day for me and one that I will never forget," Scott tells Billboard after hearing the news of his coronation. "It has been a long and winding journey to get to this point in my career, and now I have my first No. 1 record. However, I realize that I still have a long way to go. I am really anxious to continue to work hard to fulfill my dreams. I feel very blessed and am thankful for all the support I have received."
"My Girl" additionally marks Curb Records' first Country Airplay leader in almost three years. The label last led with Lee Brice's "I Don't Dance" on the chart dated Aug. 23, 2014. "With Dylan reaching the Country Airplay pinnacle in 46 weeks, it means two things," says Curb Records vice president/GM Taylor Childress. "It takes an incredible song, one that transcends any challenges in its path and profoundly connects with the consumer. And second, unrelenting execution by the radio promotion team."
In reaching the Country Airplay summit in its 46th chart week, "My Girl," which Scott wrote with Josh Kerr, becomes one of only seven songs to complete such a lengthy journey to No. 1 in the tally's 27-year history. Most recently, Darius Rucker's "If I Told You" hit the top in its 47th frame (June 24). The longest trip to the top belongs to Chris Young's "Voices," which ascended to No. 1 in its 51st week (over two release cycles) on Feb. 19, 2011.
A WEEK AWAY: Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" lengthens its domination to a 23rd week atop Hot Country Songs. The track is now a week from matching Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" (24 weeks at No. 1 in 2012 and 2013) for the most time spent at No. 1 since Hot Country Songs launched as an all-encompassing genre chart on Oct. 20, 1958.
The flirty, R&B-flavored "Back Road," which Hunt wrote with Zach Crowell and Shane and Josh Osborne, also holds its grip atop Country Streaming Songs (17.2 million U.S. streams, down 4 percent) and Country Digital Song Sales (46,000 downloads, down 8 percent) for a 23rd week each.
On Country Airplay, the track sports record longevity in the top five, lingering in the region for a record-extending 16th week (5-4, down 4 percent to 35.8 million in audience). It led the list for three weeks in May.
For an in-depth analysis of the songwriting and production elements that have made "Back Road" so successful (by Hit Songs Deconstructed), listen to the next episode of Billboard's Chart Beat podcast, due to post July 20 on Billboard.com and iTunes.
HE MADE IT: Billy Currington rolls up his 14th top 10 on Hot Country Songs as "Do I Make You Wanna" pushes 11-8. It's buoyed by a 15 percent gain on Country Airplay, where it earns Most Increased Audience honors (34.3 million audience impressions, up 15 percent) and darts 8-6.
HOUSEKEEPING: Two radio stations join Billboard's Country Airplay chart reporting panel as of this week's chart (dated July 29): WHKO Dayton, Ohio, and WMAD Madison, Wis.
