Monday update: Bucky Covington on Lyric Street, chart climbing and more...

By many requests, Bucky Covington (and his very popular T-shirt) at the autograph booth during CMA Fest in Nashville. Visit Music City Update for more great Fest shots by Aaron Crisler . Bucky Covington's debut CD is in stores now, and his music video is available for online viewing at CMT.com and Yahoo Music. You can buy Bucky's album at Amazon, Best Buy , iTunes and Target, hear the full version of his single "A Different World" at CMT and GAC, or enjoy samples of songs from the CD at Bucky's official MySpace. An autographed copy of Bucky Covington can be ordered while supplies last at his official site or via his official fan club. (Photo by Aaron Crisler/Music City Update.com)

Monday's news actually started very late Sunday, so we'll repeat last night's link to this radiant full page portrait of Bucky in USA Today. (There's also a link to a video from that photoshoot on the page--a truly fun must-see!) Bucky's busy schedule was one of the topics in the newspaper's CMA Fest roundup article, but it sounds like he's got a little time to rest up before the tour starts all over again at tomorrow's Country Music Night promotion for the Chicago Cubs. (US 99, who are sponsoring the event, have the details--enjoy!)

There's an interesting article in today's Nashville City Paper; as Lyric Street Records celebrates ten years of success, Randy Goodman, president of the label, mused about some of the reasons behind it. He spoke of the changes in the industry (and in technology) since the label began:

"Yes, it's certainly a very different atmosphere and environment now than it was then," Lyric Street President Randy Goodman agrees. "But there are some things that haven't changed. The biggest lesson that I've learned in all my years in the business and something that still drives us is that you’ve got to find artists who are engaging and distinctive, get them making music that's compelling and capture people’s hearts. That’s still in my view the key to success."

Lyric Street has clearly done that over its inception, with a track record that includes 10 No. 1 singles and sales in excess of 19 million units. The current roster includes powerhouse Rascal Flatts, Aaron Tippin, SHeDaisy, Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington, Trent Tomlinson, Marcel and Sarah Buxton.

While Flatts’ exceptional sales feats over the past couple of years have been well chronicled, American Idol Season 5 finalist Bucky Covington is now burning up the charts with both his self-titled debut disc and the single "A Different World." The full-length project is 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist as well as the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country performer since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.

He goes on to say that even with the exceptional opportunities for synergy made possible by the label's Disney connection, it's still all about the song:

"But still, if you don’t have the song, none of the other things make any difference," Goodman continued. "What's been demonstrated by the breakout success of Rascal Flatts and now Bucky Covington is that good songs attract people across the board."

Which leads directly into the next topic...

Those of us who've been here cheering Bucky's debut single, "A Different World" since its Christmas Day debut on Sirius and its mid January release to terrestrial radio have been as steadfast and determined as mountain climbers--and that determination has really paid off. This morning, we can see the snowy sweet peak of that Top Ten mountain from the closest point ever--Bucky's single is #13 on the Mediabase weighted chart. But look very closely at that bullet. Bucky's only got a bullet today because one more person took the time out to make a request yesterday. One more person. Does that red bullet have your name on it?

Y'all, we have been climbing this mountain since January, and we have come way too far and are way too close not to help give Bucky Covington that Top Ten debut single his performance and that beautiful song deserve. If you are that one who kept Bucky's bullet alive with your request on Sunday--thank you. And if you know deep down that you're not the one, it's always a good time to request "A Different World"--pick up that phone, call your local country station, email the streaming or satellite station you love to listen to at work--whatever it takes to be able to look at the next bullet and say "that could be me". Yes, we've got a lot more hits to look forward to from Bucky Covington this year. (Was there ever any doubt?) But a Top Ten single his first time out would be the sweetest gift ever, and the perfect launch to a long and lovely career. We're now at Top Thirteen. We can do this!

In other chart news, the Hits Daily Double sales estimates will start up again for the week at approximately 7:30 a.m. Pacific, with the final estimates posted tomorrow afternoon. (We bet many of the CMA festgoers might have been inspired to pick up a copy or two.) And "A Different World is back at #15 on the Mediabase Top 500, along with the previously-mentioned #13 spot it's gracing on the weighted chart. We'll add those handy video voting links right here, too--stop in at at CMT's Top 2o Countdown, GAC's Top Twenty Country Countdown and CMT's Pure 12-Pack , and give Bucky some affection.

Finally, a little more photo goodness to round things off--check out the Bucky Truck Stop for new and beautiful photos from Bucky's very first CMA Fest. Hope to see him--and you--there next year.

More soon--have a magnificent Monday!