In April, Jason Aldean released his eighth studio album, Rearview Town, on Broken Bow Records – the Nashville independent label to which the country music superstar has stayed loyal since his eponymous debut in 2005.
It was his fourth album in a row to top the charts – not just the country charts, but the Billboard 200, the all-encompassing big leagues. Its success meant Aldean became only the second country artist in history to achieve the feat.
Rearview Town also took Aldean’s career-long album sales total past 15 million. Six of his previous seven collections had achieved Platinum status or better.
To date, Rearview Town has spawned two singles, You Make It Easy and Drowns the Whiskey – both of which topped the Billboard Country Airplay charts. In total, Aldean has 21 No. 1 singles to his name.
“It’s been a fantastic year, and everything goes back to that album.”
Clarence Spalding
To support Rearview Town, Aldean embarked on the High Noon Neon Tour, which wound up at the FivePoint Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA, last week, after sold out shows across the country, including at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and the Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park.
His long-term manager, Clarence Spalding, reflects on the fundamental reasons behind Aldean’s ongoing success – and how this latest chapter was rather different: “Jason Aldean has always known who he is and the direction he wants to go in. I think for an artist, you can’t ask any more, right?”
Spalding adds: “Every album represents who Jason Aldean was at that particular time, and Rearview Town is no different. He is always true to himself and honest with his fans: this is where I am at this stage in my life and this is what I want to sing about.
“It’s been a fantastic year, and everything goes back to that album. You go into launch and you plan a tour and you have a great plan. But you need great music to go with it, and with this record, a great warmth comes over everybody who listens to it; it has so many different layers and colors and flavors to it.
“There was this terrible tragedy [Aldean was on stage in Las Vegas when a gunman murdered 58 people at the Route 91 Festival last year], and that will always be part of who we are now. So this record and this tour was a new beginning in a way.
“What happened will never be forgotten, and nor will the victims, not by Jason or any of our crew who were there that night. But it won’t define him either, and that’s why this record was such an important one, and why he really appreciates how much people love it and that he gets to play it for his fans.”
“BMG is honored to represent Jason and couldn’t be more proud of his achievements.”
Zach Katz, BMG
At BMG, the company which bought Broken Bow Records at the start of 2017, Zach Katz, President, Repertoire & Marketing, says: “Not only does Jason continue to be the biggest star in country, but he remains one of the top artists across all genres.
“BMG is honored to represent him and couldn’t be more proud of his achievements and how he has represented country music this year.”
