The awards are certainly important, but a big yardstick for measuring success at the CMA Awards is the post-show sales rush on iTunes. The artists who appearance on Wednesday’s telecast received exposure in front of more than fifteen million viewers, and successful performances thus have the ability to pay huge dividends on the single sales market.
The biggest beneficiary was country duo Sugarland, which saw its “Stuck Like Glue” jump back near the top of the iTunes singles chart. Currently at number nine, the song did well in its initial promotional release and has recently spent several weeks on the cusp of breaking out with the mainstream pop audience.
Sugarland’s post-CMA Awards success is no surprise; as one of the most reliable vocalists in mainstream music (country, rock and pop), Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles almost always delivers on stage, and the consistent outcome is a high sales ranking on iTunes.
The Band Perry, which had been in the process of breaking out with the mass audience, is also benefitting–its red-hot “If I Die Young” is currently sitting at number fifteen. The band performed the song as an introductory piece to the CMA’s recognition of country radio stations.
Other performance singles charting include the Jason Aldean-Kelly Clarkson collaboration “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (19), Zac Brown Band’s “As She’s Walking Away (with Alan Jackson)” (28) and Taylor Swift’s “Back to December” (31).
