The Secret To Luke Combs' Chart-Busting Success

It’s difficult to find Luke Combs’ equal. Not now, not 10 years ago, not 30 years ago. Maybe not ever. The no-nonsense country singer and songwriter with a ‘90s country bent has released 9 singles to radio. Every one has reached No. 1. All but one has stayed there for multiple weeks. Since May of 2017 he’s spent 26 weeks at the top of the country charts — that’s a half year! — and I’m talking about the more illusive airplay chart, not the Hot Country Chart which is a mix of airplay, sales, streaming and witchcraft.

A decade ago Florida Georgia Line went seven out of 8. In 1989 and ’90 Clint black went five of seven. Garth Brooks? He batted closer to 500 for his first 10 singles. Is what we’re experiencing real? Or is Luke Combs just a product of right time, right place? Is he what happens when the field narrows and country music radio shaves away all its rough edges? Is he a radio star who can’t really get it done elsewhere or worse ... is a poised for a big fall?

My guest this week may know the answer.
Chris Owen is a country chart expert who can recall just about every forgettable country song you throw at him, and the label, and how far it went on the Billboard or Mediabase country airplay chart. I like the way his mind works because he leans hard into stats and logic and not so much on emotion. Chris is an even hand in Twitter sea of screamers and criers and he’s uniquely capable of find perspective as we watch Combs go No. 1 with the frequency of a 9-year-old who sucked down too many Coca Colas.

Are we making too big a deal of what Luke Combs is quietly accomplishing? Is it fair to compare him to Garth or anyone? What is he doing that nobody else is? Let’s find out, during Ep. No. 4 of the Country Music Media Podcast.
Follow Chris Owen on Twitter.
After the interview, it's "Pick-A-Hit."
Chris' picks:
Robert Counts, "What Do I Know"
Larry Fleet, "Where I Find God"
Runway June, "We Were Rich"
Billy's Picks
Priscilla Block, "Just About Over You"
Cody Johnson, "Dear Rodeo"
Elvie Shane, "My Boy"
Finally, it's a postscript and this week's numbers.