dawhite76
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Post by dawhite76 on Apr 28, 2020 19:45:11 GMT -5
During the last two weeks of April 1980, five women - Debby Boone, Crystal Gayle, Emmylou Harris, Dottie West and Tammy Wynette (with George Jones) - occupied the Top 5 on Billboard's country chart. The weekly Billboard newsletter indirectly acknowledged this when it recapped Dottie West reaching # 1 with "A Lesson In Leavin'." All but Wynette's song would reach # 1.
Forty years later, it seems to be an even greater accomplishment for there to be just three women - Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett and Gwen Stefani (with Blake Shelton) - in the Top 5 simultaneously. Since April 1980, what has been the greatest number of women in the Top 5 at any time besides this week? Has there ever been a streak longer than four female artists (Gayle, Harris, Boone and West) consecutively topping the Country singles chart?
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dawhite76
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Post by dawhite76 on Apr 29, 2020 10:16:33 GMT -5
Found another streak of four consecutive # 1s by female artists in 1981:
* Dottie West "What Are We Doin' In Love" * Dolly Parton "But You Know I Love You" * Anne Murray "Blessed Are The Believers" * Barbara Mandrell "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"
...and streaks of five and four consecutive # 1s by female artists in 1986:
* Rosanne Cash "Never Be You" * Forester Sisters "Just In Case" * Juice Newton "Hurt" * Crystal Gayle (with Gary Morris) "Makin' Up For Lost Time" * Marie Osmond "There's No Stopping Your Heart"
* Janie Fricke "Always Have Always Will" * Juice Newton (with Eddie Rabbitt) "Both To Each Other (Friends And Lovers)" * Tanya Tucker "Just Another Love" * Crystal Gayle "Cry"
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Post by superdave3556 on Apr 29, 2020 10:38:04 GMT -5
In 1986, beginning with the week of Jan. 25, 5 different female lead or co-leads topped the charts for 5 consecutive weeks (each spending one week on at No.1.) 4 of the 5 were in the top 5 at the same time a couple of those weeks, but not all 5 at the same time. 1/25/86 - Roseann Cash - "Never Be You" 2/1/86 - The Forseter Sisters - "Just In Case" 2/8/86 - Juice Newton - "Hurt" 2/15/86 - Crystal Gayle & Gary Morris - "Makin' Up For Lost Time" 2/22/86 - Marie Osmond - There's No Stopping Your Heart
EDIT - dawhite 76 - sorry about reposting your work. I was researching mine when you posted.
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Apr 29, 2020 10:56:52 GMT -5
It's always been so weird to me how things have regressed with respect to the male vs female ratio of airplay. Like you would think it would be way better in today's time than back in the 1980s, for instance.
I've been saying it for the past like 6 months or so but it finally feels like real change is starting to happen though as far as women getting played more. They're slowly taking up more of the chart space and more of them are actually getting big hits again, and it's lovely to see. I hope the trend continues, and I feel more optimistic about the future right now for female artists in country than I have in like close to 10 years.
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dawhite76
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Post by dawhite76 on Apr 30, 2020 9:33:04 GMT -5
I think the problem already dates back to the 2000's since there were so few enduring female artists that emerged that decade. Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift were really the only female artists that decade to become superstars during the 2000's. (Although Miranda Lambert also broke out that decade, her greatest success really did not come until the 2010's.) Many of the female artists that succeeded in the 2000's were primarily holdovers from the 1990's - Reba, Dixie Chicks, Sara, Martina, Faith, JoDee, LeeAnn, LeAnn, Shania, Terri. Some of these women watched their careers implode (Dixie Chicks, Faith, LeAnn). But, as with any artist, radio eventually moved on from these women and there were not enough female artists ready to replace them. Too many new female artists that decade flamed out very quickly (Gretchen Wilson, Jamie O'Neal) or were one hit wonders (Jessica Andrews, Cyndi Thomson). If it hadn't been for mixed groups like Sugarland and Lady Antebellum, women would have been even scarcer at radio already back then. Carrie, Taylor and Miranda were the only consistent female solo artists to carryover into the 2010's - hardly the base that started the 2000's. And, it certainly did not help that Taylor transitioned to pop thereafter.
So, was Nashville already giving up on women in the 2000's or was it simply that the new female artists that decade were just not connecting at radio or with fans as their predecessors? You have to wonder whether the Bro Country tidal wave could have been curtailed if there was already a stronger contingent of successful female artists at that point that proved fans want to hear female artists, buy/stream their music and attend their shows.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on Apr 30, 2020 9:40:33 GMT -5
I have wondered whether the incident with the Dixie Chicks may have been a factor in reducing airtime for women. Since they were outspoken and considered βmouthyβ, could that have put a target on any woman considered to be opinionated in a way that didnβt align with right-wing values? I guess my real question is, is there a point where the performance of women on the charts saw a swift turnaround or was it more gradual? Does anyone have a year-over-year tally or anything even?
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Post by ladyπfan on Apr 30, 2020 11:02:08 GMT -5
I made a list of the weeks women (solo females or all-female groups) spent at #1 between 1985 and now:
1985: 10 weeks 1986: 16 weeks (5 of which were consecutive) 1987: 10 weeks 1988: 12 weeks 1989: 13 weeks 1990: 6 weeks 1991: 5 weeks 1992: 10 weeks 1993: 8 weeks 1994: 8 weeks 1995: 8 weeks 1996: 19 weeks 1997: 10 weeks 1998: 24 weeks 1999: 16 weeks 2000: 21 weeks 2001: 10 weeks 2002: 3 weeks 2003: 1 week 2004: 8 weeks 2005: 6 weeks 2006: 13 weeks 2007: 8 weeks 2008: 13 weeks 2009: 3 weeks 2010: 10 weeks 2011: 5 weeks 2012: 5 weeks 2013: 0 weeks 2014: 1 week 2015: 1 week 2016: 5 weeks 2017: 2 weeks 2018: 2 weeks 2019: 1 week 2020: 3 weeks so far
2020 will definitely be an improvement but it's a far cry from the 24 weeks female artists spent at #1 in 1998. It's also interesting how the lack of play of women in the 2010s almost perfectly lines up with the rise and fall of trends like bro-country and R&B-country.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on Apr 30, 2020 11:54:03 GMT -5
Iβm guessing the years with the most weeks after 2001 are from Carrie Underwood?
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trustypepper
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Post by trustypepper on Apr 30, 2020 12:47:49 GMT -5
From 2013-2015, 2 total weeks at #1. Over a 3-year period. Disgusting actually.
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raylatch98
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Post by raylatch98 on Apr 30, 2020 13:32:29 GMT -5
I wonder how many #1s you add when you credit any song that has a female voice (Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town) etc. Just curious.
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Apr 30, 2020 14:02:11 GMT -5
Iβm guessing the years with the most weeks after 2001 are from Carrie Underwood? Carrie in 2006, her + Taylor in 2007-2008, and then 2010 was mostly a combo of Reba + Miranda. I could be wrong but I think Miranda's "The House That Built Me" is currently the last female country song to get more than 2 weeks at #1 (she reigned for 4).
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Apr 30, 2020 18:37:12 GMT -5
During the last two weeks of April 1980, five women - Debby Boone, Crystal Gayle, Emmylou Harris, Dottie West and Tammy Wynette (with George Jones) - occupied the Top 5 on Billboard's country chart. The weekly Billboard newsletter indirectly acknowledged this when it recapped Dottie West reaching # 1 with "A Lesson In Leavin'." All but Wynette's song would reach # 1. Forty years later, it seems to be an even greater accomplishment for there to be just three women - Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett and Gwen Stefani (with Blake Shelton) - in the Top 5 simultaneously. Since April 1980, what has been the greatest number of women in the Top 5 at any time besides this week? Has there ever been a streak longer than four female artists (Gayle, Harris, Boone and West) consecutively topping the Country singles chart? I covered that topic in one of my columns. This is from April, 2010: 8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Let us hear it for country music's female artists! Female artists have ALWAYS played a major role in country music. Even the first number hit in country music history featured a female group (Pistol Packin' Mama by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1944). Let us list a few more female firsts: 1. First female to top the charts-Margaret Whiting-Slipping Around with Jimmy Wakely in 1949 2. First solo female to top the charts-Kitty Wells-It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels in 1952 3. First A.C.M. Female Vocalist of the Year-Bonnie Owens in 1965 4. First C.M.A. Female Vocalist of the Year-Loretta Lynn in 1967 5. First female Entertainer of the Year-A.C.M.-Lynn in 1975 6. First female Entertainer of the Year-C.M.A.-Lynn in 1972 7. First female inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame-Patsy Cline in 1973 I find it ironic that Lynn's sister, Crystal Gayle headed an all female top five 30 years ago this week with It's Like We Never Said Goodbye. It was the first time females occupied the top five (with George Jones thrown in for good measure). The songs and artists were: 1. It's Like We Never Said Goodbye-Crystal Gayle 2. A Lesson In Leavin'-Dottie West 3. Are You On The Road To Lovin' Me Again-Debby Boone 4. Beneath Still Waters-Emmylou Harris 5. Two Story House-Tammy Wynette and George Jones Titles 1-4 ended up being #1 hits. Wynette and Jones had to settle for a #2 placing. Goodbye was Gayle's first #1 hit for Columbia Records after a successful five year stretch of hits for United Artists (1974-1979). She would remain on Columbia until 1982. She then had a six year run of hits on Warner Bros. between 1982-1988. West would continue having hits until 1984. Boone would have hits until 1981. Harris would continue until 1989. Wynette's last top 40 hit was in 1988. This is what the chart looked like back then: BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 19, 1980: 1. IT'S LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE-CRYSTAL GAYLE-COLUMBIA 2. A LESSON IN LEAVIN'-DOTTIE WEST-UNITED ARTISTS 3. ARE YOU ON THE ROAD TO LOVIN' ME AGAIN-DEBBY BOONE-WARNER BROS. 4. BENEATH STILL WATERS-EMMYLOU HARRIS-WARNER BROS. 5. TWO STORY HOUSE-TAMMY WYNETTE AND GEORGE JONES-EPIC 6. Honky Tonk Blues-Charley Pride-RCA 7. Sugar Daddy-the Bellamy Bros.-Warner Bros. 8. Gone Too Far-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra 9. Women I've Never had-Hank Williams, Jr.-Elektra 10. The Cowgirl And The Dandy-Brenda Lee-MCA While we're at it, let us award the following: 1. Greatest female solo artist: Your choice 2. Greatest female duo: The Judds 3. Greatest female trio: The Dixie Chicks 4. Greatest female quartet: The Forester Sisters 5. Greatest female quintet: Wild Rose
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raylatch98
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Post by raylatch98 on Apr 30, 2020 22:02:50 GMT -5
I wonder how many #1s you add when you credit any song that has a female voice (Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town) etc. Just curious. So I decided to include any song that had a credited female artist (features, male/female groups, etc.) to see how many weeks this can get extended. Exclusively Billboard btw and the last 25 years as well (all the way to 1996). Also a general feel for how it goes for female voices. 2020: 5 (so far) 2019: 2 2018: 5 2017: 5 2016: 9 2015: 3 2014: 4 2013: 9 (2 for Lady Antebellum, 1 for Thompson Sqaure, 3 for The Band Perry, 1 for Miranda Lambert and 2 for Taylor Swift on a duet) 2012: 10 2011: 14 2010: 15 2009: 12 2008: 14 2007: 9 2006: 17 2005: 6 2004: 8 2003: 1 2002: 3 2001: 10 2000: 22 1999: 18 1998: 24 1997: 16 1996: 19
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fearlessarrow
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Post by fearlessarrow on Apr 30, 2020 22:10:55 GMT -5
Iβm guessing the years with the most weeks after 2001 are from Carrie Underwood? Carrie in 2006, her + Taylor in 2007-2008, and then 2010 was mostly a combo of Reba + Miranda. I could be wrong but I think Miranda's "The House That Built Me" is currently the last female country song to get more than 2 weeks at #1 (she reigned for 4). I did a quick check and this seems to be true. Now Kelly Clarkson did spend 3 weeks at #1 as a co-lead on "Don't You Wanna Stay" in 2011 but it's from a Jason Aldean album so...
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on May 30, 2020 19:42:25 GMT -5
Found another streak of four consecutive # 1s by female artists in 1981: * Dottie West "What Are We Doin' In Love" * Dolly Parton "But You Know I Love You" * Anne Murray "Blessed Are The Believers" * Barbara Mandrell "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" ...and streaks of five and four consecutive # 1s by female artists in 1986: * Rosanne Cash "Never Be You" * Forester Sisters "Just In Case" * Juice Newton "Hurt" * Crystal Gayle (with Gary Morris) "Makin' Up For Lost Time" * Marie Osmond "There's No Stopping Your Heart" * Janie Fricke "Always Have Always Will" * Juice Newton (with Eddie Rabbitt) "Both To Each Other (Friends And Lovers)" * Tanya Tucker "Just Another Love" * Crystal Gayle "Cry" Here are those charts. The songs you mentioned will be in capital letters. Ready? BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 13, 1981: 1. WHAT ARE WE DOIN' IN LOVE-DOTTIE WEST AND KENNY ROGERS-LIBERTY 2. BUT YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU-DOLLY PARTON-RCA 3. BLESSED ARE THE BELIEVERS-ANNE MURRAY-CAPITOL 4. I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday-John Anderson-Warner Bros. 5. I WAS COUNTRY WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL-BARBARA MANDRELL AND GEORGE JONES-MCA 6. Friends/Anywhere There's A Jukebox-Razzy Bailey-RCA 7. Fire And Smoke-Earl Thomas Conley-Sunbird 8. It's A Lovely, Lovely World-Gail Davies-Warner Bros. 9. Lovin' Arms/You Asked Me To-Elvis Presley-RCA 10. Whisper-Lacy J. Dalton-Columbia BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 25, 1986: 1. NEVER BE YOU-ROSANNE CASH-COLUMBIA 2. JUST IN CASE-FORESTER SISTERS-WARNER BROS. 3. HURT-JUICE NEWTON-RCA 4. MAKIN' UP FOR LOST TIME-CRYSTAL GAYLE AND GARY MORRIS-WARNER BROS. 5. Memories To Burn-Gene Watson-Epic 6. Old School-John Conlee-MCA 7. THERE'S NO STOPPING YOUR HEART-MARIE OSMOND-CAPITOL 8. I Tell It Like It Used To Be-T. Graham Brown-Capitol 9. Come On In You Did The Best You Could Do-Oak Ridge Boys-MCA 10. You Can Dream Of Me-Steve Wariner-MCA BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 4, 1986: 1. ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS WILL-JANIE FRICKIE-COLUMBIA 2. Lonely Alone-Forester Sisters-Warner Bros. 3. BOTH TO EACH OTHER FRIENDS AND LOVERS-JUICE NEWTON AND EDDIE RABBITT-RCA 4. Guitars, Cadillacs-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise 5. JUST ANOTHER LOVE-TANYA TUCKER-CAPITOL 6. CRY-CRYSTAL GAYLE-WARNER BROS. 7. Guitar Town-Steve Earle-MCA 8. Second To No One-Rosanne Cash-Columbia 9. It'll Be Me-Exile-Epic 10. Too Many Times-Earl Thomas Conley and Anita Pointer-RCA
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