Jason Aldean’s Controversial Song Sees a Surge in Streams and Sales
Jason Aldean’s song “Try That in a Small Town” is making waves in the music industry, despite its controversial content. According to Luminate, a music tracking company, the song’s audio and video streams have increased by a staggering 999 percent in the week after online discussions about the song exploded.
Not only have the streams skyrocketed, but the sales for the song have also seen a significant boost. Prior to the controversy, the track only sold 1,000 units in a week. However, last week it sold an impressive 228,000 units.
CMT, a popular music television channel, initially pulled the song’s music video from its rotation when it had around 350,000 views on YouTube. But now, the video has been viewed over 16.6 million times. This increase in views has helped the song debut at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as claim the top spot on the Hot country songs chart. It marks Aldean’s highest-charting single on the Hot 100 chart, surpassing his previous best, “Dirt Road Anthem.”
The music video for “Try That in a Small Town” depicts controversial images, such as the burning of the American flag, protests, and looting. Some critics argue that it promotes gun violence and takes aim at the Black Lives Matter movement. The video was filmed in Columbia, Tennessee, which has a history of racial tension, including a 1946 race riot and a 1927 mob lynching of a Black teenager.
Although Aldean did not write the song, he defended it against criticism in a lengthy statement, calling the claims made against the track “not only meritless, but dangerous.” He also defended the song during a recent concert in Cincinnati, where he received cheers from the audience and chants of “U.S.A.”
The response to the song has been divided, with artists like Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, and Margo Price criticizing it, while figures like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Blanco Brown, Cody Johnson, and Brantley Gilbert expressing support for Aldean.
Amidst the controversy, Aldean addressed the concept of “cancel culture” during his concert, acknowledging the attempt to ruin someone’s life. He also commended country music fans for their support.
The success of “Try That in a Small Town” on both the streaming and sales fronts shows that controversy does not always hinder the popularity of a song. Aldean’s latest single demonstrates the power of polarizing content and how it can captivate people’s attention.