RISING YOUNG COUNTRY STAR CONNER SMITH TOPS FIRST EVER
UK COUNTRY RADIO AIRPLAY CHART
Photo credit: Anthony Mooney
Hotly-tipped US country singer-songwriter Conner Smith has garnered the number 1 spot on the first UK Country Radio Airplay Chart, with his hit song “Creek Will Rise”. Currently in the UK performing at C2C (Country To Country) Festival, the 23 year old’s single is taken from his recently released debut album Smoky Mountains (Valory Music Co.)
Speaking about his achievement following the announcement of the chart today, a thrilled Smith said: “This is one of the coolest things for me. To have the number 1 song in the UK for the first country radio airplay chart while also being here for C2C Festival, you can’t plan it any better. I’m so grateful for all the support from radio believing in this song.”
About the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart: In an exciting development for the UK’s fastest-growing musical genre, Country music, the new UK Country Radio Airplay Chart was launched today. This pioneering step is a collaborative effort between global radio airplay monitoring company Radiomonitor and the Country Music Association’s (CMA) UK Task Force, a group of UK industry leaders working together on behalf of the Country industry at large. The initiative is spearheaded by Alexandra Hannaby, Head of Big Machine Label Group UK and a CMA UK Task Force member.
The first genre specific radio chart to be established in the UK, the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart will compile the Top 20 songs each week from an eligible selection of new releases up to three years old, measured by impressions (the number of people each play is heard by). Starting today, the official chart will be announced every Sunday at 5pm GMT, culminating in the number 1 Country Radio UK Airplay song of the week.
The UK Country Radio Airplay Chart includes data from the following stations and programmes (in alphabetical order): Absolute Radio Country, BBC Radio 2 – The Country Show with Bob Harris, CountryLine: The Big 615, Downtown Country Radio and Smooth Country Radio. Airplay will be measured from Friday to midnight on the following Thursday and the chart available to the public at 5pm GMT each Sunday.
Music industry professionals who would like to receive the chart information under embargo on Friday afternoons, please contact Radiomonitor to sign up for this service.
About Conner Smith: Just 23 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has emerged as one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated artists. An uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective, the rising singer/songwriter has spent 15 years matching a honeyed vocal to hints of bluegrass and the warmth of ‘90s Country, an instant-classic sound infused with riveting modern appeal.
Moving Country forward while remembering its all-natural roots, Smith’s long-anticipated full-length debut album SMOKY MOUNTAINS (The Valory Music Co.), released in January, is meant to stand the test of time. Featuring GOLD-certified “Take It Slow,” viral hit “I Hate Alabama” and current US Top-15-and-climbing single “Creek Will Rise,” his deeply personal 12-song project is one of classic style and contemporary spirit, and a reflection of the artist himself.
These songs, among others, laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only Country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and secured 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing and CMT Listen Up as well as joining the CRS New Faces Class of 2024.
Deemed “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with” by CMT, Smith’s authentic storytelling and rich, soulful voice has resonated with audiences worldwide, earning him a dedicated and passionate following. Recently touring alongside some of Country’s biggest artists including Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Jordan Davis, the “future entertainer of the year” (Morning Hangover) continues to put on his signature “high energy fan forward show” (All Country News) while headlining his CREEK WILL RISE TOUR in the US. This week, Smith travelled across the pond for C2C Festival, joining CMA’s Introducing Nashville Line Up for performances throughout the U.K. and Europe. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit ConnerSmithMusic.com.