A string of new country artists are helping boost the country sector in the US. Sales of albums by Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Josh Gracin, Julie Roberts, Dierks Bentley and Josh Turner, all of whom have albums in this week's Billboard album chart, have helped fuel a 11.2% sales increase in the sector, giving a real boost to both major and independent country labels.
Industry insiders are particularly pleased that the sector's growth is being fuelled by new talent rather than established names and back catalogue, recognising that the success of newer artists gives the sector more long term security.
Luke Lewis of Universal Music Group Nashville told the BBC this week: "The really good news is that new artists are contributing in a big way. The pick-up in sales is not attributable to a couple of big superstars. The sales are spread out among a lot of different artists".
The success of some new country artists has taken many in the sector by surprise. Gretchen Wilson's debut album 'Here For The Party' has sold almost two million copies in eight weeks. John Grady, president of Wilson's label Sony Music Nashville, admitted this week: "That was a big surprise, and it represents a couple of million units that nobody thought was going to be there".