Single Earns 100 Million Streams in China in Record Time
What began as a homegrown American duo just seven years ago, whose members hailed from small-town Arkansas and industrial Pennsylvania, has now gone global. GRAMMY-winning superstars Dan + Shay are among the nominees for the 2020 CMA International Awards in recognition of their support for and influence upon the growth and promotion of country music around the world. The awards are voted on by international CMA members, and presentations will begin in March during a series of several events in territories across the globe.
“Our entire team has gone above and beyond in supporting the mission to increase Warner Music Nashville’s – and country music’s – presence in traditionally underserved markets all over the world, and, as artists, Dan + Shay have engaged wholeheartedly with the concept,” Esposito said. “There are people in nearly every corner of the Earth who are craving what we have to share, and Dan + Shay are doing everything they can, from touring to content creation to music rollout, at the highest level to make sure they’re serving their fans. Their impact is evidenced by the fact that ‘10,000 Hours’ just reached 100 million streams in China – in half the time it usually takes a massive hit to get there.”
As their global appeal continues to explode, the chart-topping duo is nominated for the International Artist Achievement Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by a US-based artist has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside the country during the eligibility period. Dan + Shay’s “10,000 Hours” with Justin Bieber has sold 1.6 million track equivalents in the US and is already certified 2x Platinum in Canada as well as Gold in Australia, Brazil, Ireland, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
The song has earned more than 600 million global streams, including the recent milestone of 100 million in China alone, earning spots on 39 out of 40 Spotify New Music Friday and all 115 of Apple’s New Music Daily playlists. “10,000 Hours” quickly reached No. 5 on Spotify’s Top 200 Global chart, No. 3 on Apple Music’s Top 100: Global chart and No. 1 all-genre on the US iTunes chart upon release. The “stunning” (E! News) single has charted on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, currently sitting at No. 5, and has spent 15 on Hot Country Songs, 14 of which have been at No. 1.
“10,000 Hours” is also nearing the top of the country airplay charts in the U.S. as it hits No. 6 on Hot AC, No. 10 on Top 40 and No. 11 on AC. Dan + Shay toured in Australia along with Shawn Mendes the same week the single became the country’s most-played song of the week. It also earned significant radio airplay in the Philippines, France, the UK and more. Their latest hit is anything but an anomaly – their two previous smashes, 4x Platinum GRAMMY-winner “Tequila” and 3x Platinum GRAMMY-nominee “Speechless,” have earned upwards of 1.6 billion global streams combined. In 2019 they brought their stacked catalogue of songs to sold-out headlining runs in the UK, US and Canada.
Dan + Shay’s success is just one example of the influence Warner Music Nashville artists have had as ambassadors of country music throughout the world. Chairman & CEO John Esposito earned a nod for the Jo Walker Meador International Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States. Ashley McBryde, Brett Eldredge, Devin Dawson, Ingrid Andress, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, The Last Bandoleros and more have toured across Europe and Australia. WMN works in conjunction with members of more than 50 Warner offices across the globe to secure marketing and consumption opportunities for its roster of artists.