Jason Aldean’s controversial song “Try That In a Small Town” has seen a significant increase in popularity and sales following the online buzz surrounding the song. According to Luminate, a company that tracks music sales and streams, the song’s on-demand audio and video streams have skyrocketed by 999 percent, going from 987,000 to 11.7 million in just one week.
In addition to the surge in streams, sales for the song have also seen a substantial increase. Prior to the controversy, the track only sold 1,000 copies. However, in the week following the online uproar, sales jumped to 228,000 copies.
The controversy surrounding the song prompted CMT to pull the music video from its rotation after it had received approximately 350,000 views on YouTube. Since then, the video has gained tremendous traction, garnering over 16.6 million views.
“Try That in a Small Town” was released by Aldean in May, but its music video was released on July 14. The video features scenes of flag burning, protests, and looting, leading to criticism that it promotes gun violence and takes a dig at the Black Lives Matter movement. Of particular concern is the fact that Aldean performs in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, a location with a history of racial violence.
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While Aldean did not write the song, its lyrics contain controversial lines such as “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough / Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road.” The song also includes the lines “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck.”
Responses to the song have been divided. Artists like Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, and Margo Price have criticized the track and its video, while figures such as Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Blanco Brown, Cody Johnson, and Brantley Gilbert have voiced their support for Aldean.
Aldean, one of country music’s biggest stars, has defended the song in a lengthy statement, calling the claims made against it “not only meritless, but dangerous.” He reiterated his defense during a concert in Cincinnati, where he performed the song and received cheers from the audience, along with chants of “U.S.A.”
Some listeners have been particularly offended by the lyrics of the song, especially considering Aldean’s connection to the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting in Las Vegas in 2017. During the festival, a shooter opened fire, killing 60 concertgoers and injuring hundreds more. In response to criticism, Aldean tweeted, “NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.”
During his recent concert, Aldean also addressed the issue of “cancel culture” and expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from his fans.
Luminate, the company that provided the data on the song’s popularity, is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Penske Media Corporation, which also owns The Hollywood Reporter.
In conclusion, “Try That In a Small Town” has experienced a surge in popularity and sales despite the controversy surrounding it. The song’s increased streams and sales reflect the ongoing debate about its lyrics and video, with supporters and critics passionately voicing their opinions.
