Cody Jinks’ “After The Fire” Goes #1 in Pure Album Sales
Without any label—mainstream or independent—with no major distribution and virtually no radio play or push in the media, the first of two new album from country music artists Cody Jinks called After The Fire has gone #1 in country music in pure album sales, #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart when factoring in streaming numbers, and #3 in all of music in pure album sales. The title also appears at #33 on the all-genre Billboard 200 where sales and streaming are combined.
Released on October 11th, After The Fire sold 12,661 physical copies and downloads. Combined with 2.5 million streams of the songs on the record, that brings the total equivalent sales for the record to 14,980.
The album marks the second time Cody Jinks has come in at #2 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart. His 2018 album Lifers came in at #2 (24,000 copies), while his 2016 album I’m Not The Devil debuted at #4 (11,300 copies). One difference this time is that vinyl sales were not factored into the numbers for After The Fire, since vinyl copies will not be shipped out until December 7th. When vinyl copies go out, they will be factored into Cody’s total sales numbers at that time. Jinks also did not take advantage of ticket bundling for this release, meaning selling albums with ticket packages which is a tool many artists use to boost 1st week sales.
After The Fire was only bested on the Billboard Country Albums chart by This One’s For You by Luke Combs. Released now nearly 2 1/2 years ago (June 7th, 2017), the Combs album continues to sell and stream remarkably well. Baby Metal’s Metal Galaxy, and Superm’s self-titled album beat out After the Fire in pure album sales in the all-genre numbers. Cody Jinks released a second new album called The Wanting on October 18th. It may face some slightly stiffer competition since both Chris Janson and Maddie & Tae also released new titles on the same date.
Cody Jinks has previously been signed to Thirty Tigers and Rounder Records, but chose to handle the release of his two new records totally in house this time through his management company, True Grit Presents. Cody Jinks is commonly named in the group of independent-minded artists that continue to prove that country music can be made and supported without the aid of mainstream radio or major labels. Jinks regularly sells out his concert dates, including a performance this summer at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:21 am
Very disappointed that he didn’t go number 1 on the billboard charts. And how did he sell so much less than Whiskey Myers? He seems to have a larger fanbase.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:26 am
1) Vinyl wasn’t factored into these 1st week sales. If vinyl had been factored in, he may have gone #1
2) Unlike Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks did not take advantage of a ticket bundle, meaning selling albums with ticket packages to boost debut sales.
3) Cody Jinks has NO record label, meaning less attention from the media, radio, potential distribution limitations, etc. You also get pushed to the back of the line for vinyl manufacturing when you don’t work with the big guys.
4) Luke Combs is an absolute monster when it comes to popularity, and we’re still not making enough about just what a remarkable run he has been on. It’s just not interesting to the rest of the media because he’s a doughy white guy instead of someone they find more interesting.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:45 am
Thank you for the info. I usually don’t care for this kind of stuff (charting) but this past year/ two with so much great music coming from non mainstream that is charting so well it’s become exciting to see. Or even in mainstream with George, Reba, Jon, a few others doing country; it’s exciting to see them do well too.
I am disappointed with the numbers especially compared to ‘Lifers’ but what you said above makes sense especially with no record label.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:31 pm
Everybody “indie” wears that badge like they just put the flag up on Iwo Jima or something, but it’s only symbolic and not always practical, and often counterproductive.
Indie artists without a label have bragging rights about “keepin’ it indie” and might be keeping a few extra dollars from sales, but few artists have the bandwidth to do the art AND the business. They have to outsource key duties to family, friends, and temporary intermediaries to do the things that a label can and should be doing. So, product gets delayed, fans don’t get their stuff, press doesn’t get access, retailers don’t get stock, etc. etc. The artist can burn out or plateau very easily.
I would’ve bought these Jinks albums on release day, as CD-quality downloads, but they’re not available anywhere like his entire back-catalogue is. Amazon doesn’t even have The Wanting available for download, and physical copies won’t be in stock for another week at least.
Similarly, I “pre-ordered” Mike & The Moonpies’ Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold album on release day direct from the band’s website (the only place it was available at the time), and I didn’t get my order for three months! Why? Because they don’t have a real label. They don’t have proper logistical and business support. I believe it’s literally just Mike Harmeier’s wife (a mom btw) packing and shipping the merch orders.
In this day and age, it’s not impossible to land a favorable label deal where you keep total creative control and the rights to your music, while benefiting from the professional distribution, marketing, sales, and other logistical functions only a competent label seems to be able to provide. The “indie” vs. “evil label” dichotomy is a bit disingenuous these days, and having the right label and management team behind an artist can help propel them to where they need to be commercially.
October 21, 2019 @ 3:51 pm
Sign to a major label with mainstream business “bandwidth” and let us know how that goes for you.
If Cody’s success proves anything, it’s that True Grit IS the right label/management and Cody is shaping his career his way, regardless of how convenient the downloads are…
October 21, 2019 @ 4:36 pm
Where did I say “major label”?
Why can’t I get a physical copy of either of Cody Jinks’ new albums on Amazon, or high quality downloads anywhere?
October 22, 2019 @ 8:02 am
To further your point I did an interview with Aaron Watson this summer. On his indie label he has 24 full time employees. That doesn’t include part time ppl he brings in to do stuff like you mentioned. Costs to play are quite expensive.
October 22, 2019 @ 9:32 am
Also worth nothing, indie labels have a 40% market share (and growing) in the music industry and nearly 80% of indie artists choose to re-sign with those labels.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/12/04/win-indie-labels-artists-2017-report/
The industry has changed. It’s no longer a matter of being locked into a draconian major label deal, or nothing. Independent artists now have many more options and resources than ever before, to compete with majors label artists.
I bring this all up because I’ve seen Jinks brag on social media about how he’s doing this all without a label, like he got fucked by Rounder last time or something. I see that narrative echoed on SCM. Where is that narrative coming from? Did Rounder control Jinks’ creative process or place undue pressure on him? Did they screw him out of money?
From what I can see, didn’t Lifers chart higher than any of his previous albums? Didn’t Rounder help boost Jinks’ profile, helping build momentum and interest for these two latest albums? All I know is, I was able to buy Lifers from any retailer I wanted on release day last year, but I couldn’t do that this time. Why? Show of hands, who actually has physical copies of either album in hand right now?
On the matter of True Grit, I’m sure they’re great at what they do but what that is exactly, I’m not sure. Case in point, Charles Wesley Godwin. Dude’s album is fire, hands down one of the best albums of 2019 (unpopular opinion maybe, but better than either of Jinks’ recent albums), but he’s been grinding on the road solo all year driving cross-country in his own car, playing gigs to small handfuls of people in bars or occasionally opening for other medium-level True Grit artists in small venues.
He can’t even afford to tour with his own band, is getting very little press, and I can’t say for sure but his album sales must’ve plateaued already. True Grit should be putting way more resources into an artist like Godwin, but they don’t seem to be doing that. I don’t get it.
October 22, 2019 @ 10:07 am
Tex,
I appreciate your perspective on this matter, and there have been some flubs in the rollout process of these Cody Jinks records. But I think fans are a lot more patient and understanding of these things when they’re dealing with artists directly. It’s the mom and pop model. Look at Saving Country Music. I’m going to make some typos and miss some stories because I can’t hire a team of writers and editors because I’m unwilling to sell off parts of my business to a bigger company. And if I had a team of writers and editors, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do because I would be beholden to paying a bunch of people’s salaries. Overall I think the rollout of these albums has been fine, and I’m sure with some of the mistakes they made, they’ll learn from them and be better next time.
I’m not seeing anyone here or anywhere else saying Cody Jinks got fucked by Rounder Records. I completely agree that independent record labels these days can offer very healthy alternatives to artists, and they don’t need to feel like they have to do everything in house. I also agree that if they had been released via a label, they probably would have performed better. However this is the way Cody Jinks chose to release his music, and if you listen to the songs themselves, you understand why. He doesn’t want to get so big that he loses himself in the process. That’s what these albums are all about, and how appropriate he chose to release them himself.
October 22, 2019 @ 10:43 am
@Trigger,
Thanks for your reply. I think running a blog (however great the blog is) is a very different animal from running a recording and touring career, but I see your point. Still, just because Jinks wants to keep everything “in house” doesn’t mean he’s not still beholden to the same traditional modes of sales, distribution, and press like everybody else.
The distribution pipelines are still the same. The press and promotion channels are still the same. An artist just saying “I’m done with the mainstream bullshit” doesn’t liberate them from having to engage with it in some way, to get a bit of that spotlight and market share.
As an example, Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, a huge artist with millions of fans, tried to go entirely “indie” years ago, no label, no help – selling his own stuff from his own website (hi-res files, box sets, merch etc.), even giving it away for free – and it didn’t work. He had to go back to a more traditional label deal, and had to admit he didn’t have the energy to do it all himself.
Regarding Jinks getting fucked by Rounder, I may have read too much into some of the chatter, but I seem to recall fans here in the comments being disappointed with Lifers and placing blame in part on the fact that Jinks was signed to them. Like Jinks’ mojo had been squashed by him being signed to Rounder or something. I’ve definitely seen Jinks’ social media using his new (renewed?) indie status as a selling point, and a rally cry. I think it’s disingenuous. What about doing things without a label makes the music better?
To your point about losing oneself in the process because they don’t want to get too big, I don’t see the correlation. Having a competent team behind you lets you focus on the art, instead of the logistics and drudgery of the business – which I’m sure Jinks now finds himself entirely responsible for, right? I also can never understand the concept of not wanting to “get too big.” It just seems like a preemptive admission and acceptance of failure. Setting the bar low.
Look at somebody like Stapleton who got big relatively organically, and is pretty huge on his own terms. I don’t hear him saying “I don’t want to get too big.” I could be totally wrong, but it looks to me like he’s just glad to be on that ride. Who wouldn’t be? That sort of success is a blessing.
Not trying to throw shade at Jinks or his fans. I have a ton of respect for him, and artists should experiment and work on their own terms, but I’m just not seeing how this is inherently better than than the alternative.
October 22, 2019 @ 11:01 am
@Tex Hex….raising my hand……I ordered 4 CD’s and a T-shirt on the 18th and they came yesterday USPS Priority. Discs & shirt look great too!! This is the best and the fastest service out of any CD I’ve recently ordered from any artist in the past 2 years I believe.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:43 am
Regarding Whiskey Myers: things worked out PERFECTLY for them. Between the exposure from and rise of Yellowstone, opening for the Rolling Stones at Soldier Field, pressing Road of Life on vinyl for ANY pre-order bundle, and the ticket bundling Trigger mentioned, they nailed their release.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
Yes, the Whiskey Myers release really was a good test case for all the stars aligning. They worked their asses off, AND got a little lucky. They also built everything around trying to have a big debut. It’s not that Cody Jinks doesn’t care, but I think he’s more focused on other things.
October 21, 2019 @ 3:59 pm
WM marketed their ticket/album bundle as a free cd with purchase of tour ticket. It’s weird to me that we counting those as albums sold. It’s great for them, but shows just how bad the record industry is anymore.
October 25, 2019 @ 8:18 am
That was Prince’s idea, god rest his soul. He saw things correctly long before anyone else and was tired of being taken advantage of by majors (Warner Bros). If I’m right (and correct me if I’m wrong), an artist announces a 40 date tour and when tickets go on sale the same day as album is released you give a free album download per ticket putting the cost of said album in the ticket price and end up charting higher …… per ticket sales of course. I’m actually surprised more artists don’t do it.
October 22, 2019 @ 2:23 am
I’m thinkn, just wait’ll they get a load of “THE WANTING”!!!👀💯%🔥🔥🔥💪💪💪👍!!! Not that “After The Fire” isn’t great but I had barely gotten started enjoying it when The Wanting dropped & I CANT STOP LISTENING LONG ENOUGH TO GET BACK TO THE FIRE!!! GEEEEEZ WHAT A HEART & SOUL ARTIST!!!
October 21, 2019 @ 11:28 am
I bought The Wanting in a shop, but they didn’t have this. I’ve streamed it on Spotify a couple of times, though.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:34 am
I doubt Maddie &Tae will be a competition this time around. Their last EP did not chart and that one had “Die from a broken heart”
October 21, 2019 @ 11:35 am
The vinyl delay definitely hurt. I don’t understand that strategy at all. Also, there were talks of an official fan club (Fam Club is what they were calling it I think) too that didn’t pan out, at least not before the release of the 2 albums. Between all that and some questionable production moments, this release seems a little rushed and unorganized.
I love the material on the albums, both separately and tied into each other. I just wish it could have all been pulled together a little better to make this release week and Jinks’ emergence as impactful as possible.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:06 pm
Right now since vinyl is in such high demand but there’s so few pressing plants, it often takes many months of lead time to get your album pressed. If you don’t have a big record label to grease palms, you often get sent to the back of the line. It’s not uncommon these days for vinyl to be released months after the digital/CD album, especially in the independent realm.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:28 pm
If the demand for vinyl pressing is becoming so high, I wonder if there may be more companies either gearing up their operations or even some new start ups being planned.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
Yes, they’re are, but the demand for vinyl also continues to increase, including for short run and specialty products like colors and such, which make it harder for mass manufacturing.
October 22, 2019 @ 12:07 pm
Some friends of mine who have produced vinyl records had to go to a company in Eastern Europe just to keep the wait down to a reasonable amount.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
I am waiting for the vinyl release for both to actually purchase them. I suspect many others are doing the same. Definitely had an impact on #s.
Anecdotally related: the behemoth that is Luke Combs is releasing his new album on 11/8, but the vinyl is releasing 12/7 alongside Jinks. So it’s not just the independent guys.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:39 am
I like Luke. The songs he’s released recently are country and good. He’s no Cody Jinks, but his stuff is fun to listen to and the guy can sing. Definitely looking forward to his new album.
October 21, 2019 @ 11:40 am
Oops, that was meant as a reply to Trigger’s comment.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:49 pm
As a plus-sized man about the same size as Luke is, it’s inspiring to me to see him do so well in the mainstream alongside all the pretty boys in skinny jeans and fauxhawks.
October 21, 2019 @ 12:36 pm
I know this isn’t the review thread, but I feel like that isn’t active anymore. Anyways, just started listening to the two Jinks albums today, and I just had to say when the fiddle cut in on “Ain’t a Train” is my single favorite musical moment of the year. Chills every time.
October 21, 2019 @ 12:51 pm
“doughy white guy”?…..LOL second only to “Country music hemorrhoid” for Hardy. I’m sure Luke would laugh at that…..lol all the way to the bank.
I didn’t order my Cody albums til this week leaving me wonder if those physical sales were “actual product shipped” or pre ordered? (Mine shipped yesterday) I don’t even know any more it’s so confusing but top of the charts with 2 albums in after next week will make a mighty big roar for sure.
October 21, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
12,661 physical copies and downloads gets you #1.
Jesus, the record industry ain’t what it used to be.
October 21, 2019 @ 3:10 pm
its an absolute joke…the record industry . 12,000 records ! wow ……just wow …..
but even real talented COUNTRY veterans like AJ only sell a fraction of what they used to sell . up until about 6-8 years ago Sgt. Peppers was still selling 50,000/month worldwide in various formats . I don’t wanna knock anyone but man …..if the songs aren’t there for mainstream consumption this is just the way it is .Its almost hard to believe the sales could be that low in a nation of 350 MILLION people .
October 21, 2019 @ 5:06 pm
“Here’s to the lost souls: may they never be found. Like silver and gold…”
October 21, 2019 @ 1:04 pm
How do ITUNES and Google album downloads factor into this?
October 21, 2019 @ 1:12 pm
If you download a full album, it counts as a full album sale, no different than a CD or a vinyl copy. If people download a number of individual songs (I believe it’s 10), then this is also counted as a full album sale.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:15 pm
So when it says “physical” album
Sales it includes iTunes?
October 21, 2019 @ 1:18 pm
Yes. Even though it’s digital, it’s still a physical copy, meaning you own it, as opposed to streaming it via a subscription service for a fee where you don’t own anything, you just have permission to listen.
October 22, 2019 @ 6:21 am
What about the orders directly from codyjinks.com? Are they somehow counted. Not that it matters, just curious. I always like to buy direct whenever possible.
October 22, 2019 @ 9:45 am
Yes, direct orders would be counted.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:26 pm
Good for him. The new albums are great, and his success is a true inspiration for artists like myself who self release music without a record contract.
I released my third album through a record label, and their ability to secure reviews, interviews, and promotion is a huge advantage that you learn to greatly appreciate when you realize how difficult it is to do on your own. But I just don’t want to give up the freedom and control I have through self releasing on my own label. Jinks gives me hope that artists like me can compete with the machine.
October 21, 2019 @ 1:56 pm
Where can the common folk like us find these charts that aren’t hidden behind a paywall? Especially pure album sale charts.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
That’s a very good question. I think Billboard paywalling their charts is just another step to them becoming virtually irrelevant, because the public can no longer interface with them and use them as a curation tool. HITS Daily Double has some public options, but their charts are sometimes off.
October 21, 2019 @ 7:53 pm
Subscribe to Billboard’s Country Update (It’s free), and you can get the country charts (usually) every Monday evening.
October 23, 2019 @ 8:33 am
Just did Sunny. Thanks for that info.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:02 pm
Have the sales so far from “After the Fire” matched the sales from “Lifers”? If so, that is impressive considering he withdrew major label support. I’m proud of Cody either way because I enjoyed “Lifers” for the album that it was.
October 22, 2019 @ 1:34 pm
Just to clarify, Rounder is technically an independent label (not a major) now a subsidiary of Concord Music Group, also classified as independent – though, like many indie labels they have a distribution deal with a major (by necessity). In this case, Universal Music Group. It’s unlikely UMG had anything to do with funding Jinks, or Lifers, at the time.
October 21, 2019 @ 2:44 pm
Well deserved sales numbers although I must admit I expected more because of the hype.
October 21, 2019 @ 7:54 pm
The Times they are A Changin…..good on Jinks for doing it his way…no matter what the numbers say….its a WIN for REAL country music…as well as Childers..Chris Knight…..support these musicians 💯
October 22, 2019 @ 7:38 am
Just drove through Nashville, TN., on the way to Anna Maria Is., FL.
Saw a Cody billboard for The Wanting and After The Fire.
Tres’ cool billboard. Simple. And Cody looks Great! As in Hot … Whew!
October 22, 2019 @ 4:49 pm
To me,Lifers sounded a bit more “mainstream” and ran through too many hands,and I was a little disappointed.The Wanting and After The Fire has me saying”This is Jinks!”