Bebe Rexha‘s duet with Florida Georgia Line just broke a Billboard Hot Country Songs record, despite of less-than-overwhelming response from country radio.
That was the case for the woman whose record she broke, too, though. Rexha’s “Meant” to Be” tops the Hot Country Songs chart for an 11th straight week, making it the longest-leading No. 1 in the chart’s history for a song by a female. Taylor Swift held the record previously when “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” spent 10 weeks on top, starting in October 2012.
“Meant to Be” sits at No. 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with about two-thirds of reporting country radio stations playing the song, according to Country Aircheck. The song still has a bullet, which means it’s still expected to climb the airplay chart. Swift’s song peaked at No. 13 six weeks before her run at No. 1 started. That run began with the very first modern version of the Hot Country Songs chart, which incorporates streaming, airplay and sales (previously it was just an airplay indicator).
According to Billboard, “Meant to Be” is No. 1 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart — a spot it has held for eight of the last 10 weeks. The song is being promoted as both a pop and country song, and it’s actually doing better on pop and adult pop stations than at country radio. Similarly, “WANEGBT” was received better at pop radio than at country radio, perhaps signaling Swift’s eventual transition to becoming a pop artist.
This isn’t the first time Florida Georgia Line have teamed with a pop singer to set a country chart record. “Cruise” famously spent 24 weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart, most coming during a pop airplay run with rapper Nelly, and most coming in the months after the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart (Dec. 2012). That song is the only country song to ever be certified diamond for 10 million in sales.
“Meant to Be” is on Rexha’s All Your Fault: Pt. 2 EP. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line begin the song before Rexha joins for the chorus. Florida Georgia Line are said to be working toward a new studio album with an eye on a 2018 release.
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This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TasteofCountry.com
http://tasteofcountry.com/bebe-rexha-florida-georgia-line-meant-to-be-billboard-record/
