According to Billboard and Nielsen Music, individual track sales took a hit in 2016, dropping from 113.9 million units sold in 2015 to 87.5 million units in 2016. Even with the 26.4-million decline, two artists managed to release singles that soared over the 1-million mark: Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y” (1.37 million) and Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” (1.02 million). Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” (910,000) fell just short of the 1-million threshold.
Rounding out the Top 5 were Maren Morris’ “My Church” (830,000) and Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” (697,000).
- “H.O.L.Y.” – Florida Georgia Line – 1,379,000
- “Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw – 1,023,000
- “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett – 910,000
- “My Church” – Maren Morris – 830,000
- “Somewhere on a Beach” – Dierks Bentley – 697,000
- “You Should Be Here” – Cole Swindell – 681,000
- “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban – 660,000
- “Head Over Boots” – Jon Pardi – 626,000
- “From the Ground Up” – Dan + Shay – 607,000
- “Peter Pan” – Kelsea Ballerini – 604,000
Interestingly enough, only one song on the list didn’t ascend to the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in 2016: Maren Morris’ “My Church,” which peaked at No. 9. Maren’s performance of the tune at the CMA Awards, as well as winning the CMA New Artist of the Year, certainly helped increase sales.
photos via: Cole Swindell by Jim Wright/Schmidt Relations; Dierks Bentley courtesy The Greenroom PR; Jon Pardi courtesy UMG Nashville; Florida Georgia Line courtesy CMT; Maren Morris by LeAnn Mueller/Sony Music; Kelsea Ballerini by Joseph Llanes/Sweet Talk Publicity; Tim McGraw courtesy PMK/BNC
