Info From Music Row 07/07/2023

In case you missed it...

We told you earlier in the week that Luke Combs hadn't heard a word from Tracy Chapman about his success with her song "Fast Car." It was true at the time, but now Chapman has talked to Billboard magazine about the unlikely success of her 35 year old hit on the country charts. "I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there," Chapman told the magazine. "I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced 'Fast Car.'" Remember, Luke schooled us on why he didn't have to "get permission" to record and release the track; as long as certain rules were followed, and she got paid, it was all good. Not only does the song give Luke one of the fastest rising hits of his career, it also provides an unlikely jolt to the career of Chapman, who has been more or less retired for years. Not only is she getting some welcome revenue from the songs resurgence, now that the song has hit #1 on the country charts it marks the first time in music history that a song, solely written by a Black woman, has hit #1 on those charts.  And about that revenue: Luke's version has generated at least $500K in global publishing royalties, Billboard estimates, with the bulk going to Chapman who owns both the writers’ and publisher’s share of the song. Additionally, the success of Combs’ version has boosted Chapman’s original, with weekly consumption of Chapman’s version increasing 44% since Combs’ version was released. Not a bad couple months for someone who is semi-retired.

It seems long overdue, but that's being corrected. Josh Turner is finally putting out a greatest hits album. "When you start out in this business, you’re never guaranteed longevity," Turner says in a press release. "I’m humbled and thankful that I’m still around making music and that I’ve done well enough for long enough to warrant releasing a greatest hits album." The 11-track album, simply titled "Greatest Hits," will drop September 8 and will feature all five of his #1 hits: "Your Man", "Would You Go With Me", "Why Don't We Just Dance", "All Over Me" and "Hometown Girl."