UK Country Airplay

The UK Country Airplay chart is a weekly music chart based on the radio airplay of country music singles on radio stations in the United Kingdom. It serves as the UK equivalent to the American Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Announced on 8 March 2024, the debut chart was revealed a few days later on 10 March to coincide with the final day of the 2024 C2C: Country to Country music festival, with the official top 40 being posted each week on the UK-based country publication Countrymusic.co.uk. The chart, which is the first genre-specific radio chart in the UK, aims to serve as a key measure of which songs are being enjoyed most frequently by listeners across the country and is produced in collaboration with music company Radiomonitor, and the UK branch of the Country Music Association.^[1]

The first number one song on the UK Country Airplay chart was "Creek Will Rise" by Conner Smith.^[2] The current number one single is "Old Tricks" by Thomas Rhett featuring Niall Horan.

The creation of the chart was spearheaded by the increase in popularity of country music within the UK and was described by Milly Olykan, vice president of international relations and development for the CMA, as a “pivotal initiative in a move towards more mainstream moments for the genre” and noting how the consumption of country music in the UK increased by 40% in 2023. In a statement following the announcement of the chart, Olkyan explained “This is an incredibly exciting time for country music in the UK. From the genre experiencing a 40% growth in consumption throughout the last year, to the volume of tickets sold to Country festivals and tours increasing at a record pace, it's apparent the Country is broadening significantly into the mainstream in the UK. This new radio chart will provide another exposure opportunity to further elevate Country artists and allow for greater engagement with fans. As the premier trade association supporting the growth of the Country Music industry, CMA's focus in the UK is to continue to identify how we can move towards more mainstream moments for the genre, and this is another pivotal initiative.”

Alexa Hannaby, head of Big Machine Records in the UK and leader of the project, stated "I'm thrilled for the launch of the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart, a significant milestone for Country music in the UK. This achievement is truly a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration between industry experts and Radiomonitor. Together, we're paving the way for increased recognition and exposure for country artists in the UK and I'm excited to see its impact unfold.^[3]

The first ever top 10 was revealed on 10 March 2024:

1. "Creek Will Rise" – Conner Smith
2. "The Painter" – Cody Johnson
3. "Pretty Little Poison" – Warren Zeiders
4. "Tucson Too Late" – Jordan Davis
5. "Your Place" – Ashley Cooke
6. "I Can Feel It" – Kane Brown
7. "Burn It Down" – Parker McCollum
8. "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" – Lainey Wilson
9. "Where It Ends" – Bailey Zimmerman
10. "23" – Chayce Beckham

Each weekly iteration of the chart will consist of the Top 50 songs being heard on the radio, taken from a pool of new releases, with anything that was made available more than three years ago discounted. This will help to ensure the chart is an accurate reflection of current trends and interests within the genre. Data is compiled from a plethora of UK country radio stations, including Absolute Radio Country, BBC Radio 2 - The Country Show with Bob Harris, CountryLine: The Big 615, Downtown Country Radio, and Smooth Country Radio.^[4]