Maddie & Tae’s “Die From a Broken Heart” Goes Gold Despite Radio
The snarky, anti Bro-Country anthem “Girl in a Country Song” is what put the country music duo Maddie & Tae on the map, but “Die From A Broken Heart” might end up being what makes their career, and whether country radio wants to play ball, or not.
Originally revealed to fans all the way back in the fall of 2018, and not released as a proper single to radio until May 6th, 2019, it has been a long, winding road for the song that features a strong, traditional sound, and excellent songwriting from the duo. But it’s also been a successful journey that may have an even more promising future.
Despite the lack of radio support, “Die From a Broken Heart” was recently certified Gold by the RIAA, mostly due to the strong support of the song via streaming by fans. The song has racked up a whopping 134 million streams total across all platforms. The duo celebrated the achievement recently during a Grand Ole Opry appearance, where they were presented with plaques for the certification.
But “Die From A Broken Heart” may just be getting started. After stalling out multiple times on radio, and hovering just outside of the Top 40, all of a sudden the song has found renewed traction, and shot from #36 to #30 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart just this week. Now that Maddie & Tae have secured a release date for their sophomore record—the conceptualized The Way It Feels due out April 10th—hopefully this will give radio and their label extra incentive to throw some additional support behind the song.
But even without radio, Maddie & Tae and “Die From A Broken Heart” have proven to be resonant. As radio continues to be a struggle for many women, the song’s success proves radio is not the only way forward. Going directly to fans with songs that hit hard has worked for Maddie & Tae. If they make it on radio now, even better.
When talking about he new wave of artists putting a more traditional sound on mainstream radio like Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, and others, don’t overlook the effort of Maddie & Tae’s “Die From A Broken Heart.”
February 19, 2020 @ 9:18 am
Didn’t it go gold back in December?
February 19, 2020 @ 9:41 am
Yes. They were just served the plaques recently. I think what makes this notable is it appears the Gold certification is what has stimulated radio to pay attention, and for their label to release their record, when usually this process works in reverse. Consumers spoke, and potentially saved their mainstream career.
February 19, 2020 @ 9:52 am
This song is fantastic, so I’m obviously happy it’s finally gaining some traction on the radio. I’m just curious as to why it’s doing well now after looking dead in the water months ago after stalling out in the 40s.
February 19, 2020 @ 10:00 am
Brushes and rimshots sound so much better than snap claps, don’t they?
February 19, 2020 @ 10:02 am
It’s a solid song and it really is ridiculous radio was pretty much handed a golden goose to push this and help promote more women in country but instead throw weight behind more songs with snap beats
February 19, 2020 @ 10:29 am
A lot of female jumps this week – Bluebird jumped 6 spots, Gabby Barrett (eh, song is ok), Ingrid Andress, Ashley Mcbride. Sad that Kinfolks is doing so well
February 19, 2020 @ 10:32 am
It appears radio is finally trying to douse the fires of the “play more women!” argument. This will be to mixed results as far as quality. But if it gives a boost to Maddie & Tae and Ashley McBride, which it appears to be doing at the moment, I’ll take it. Both of them have important releases coming up, and that’s what mainstream radio is for, to put these artists on the radar of listeners.
February 19, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
CMT’s quota may also be helping.
February 19, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Is there one? Wouldn’t surprise me, just curious.
February 19, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
Yes. It was posted on their website on January 21. Here’s the excerpt:
“CMT has made a landmark commitment to female country artists in 2020. The country music video and lifestyle channel has pledged to institute 50/50 airplay between male and female artists across all of its platforms, effective immediately.
https://tasteofcountry.com/cmt-equal-airplay-female-artists/
Some time ago on the website I posted a reply to a similar discussion that quota’s will be coming. It was met with negative replies. Well, it’s here at least for this source. Kind of surprised it wasn’t addressed on SCM.
By the way, this is a good song so this reply is in no way a reflection on that.
February 19, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Thank you. I did a quick search and it didn’t pop up. Things are going to get interesting.
February 19, 2020 @ 2:45 pm
Also, I agree with you last sentence, and that this is a big deal. Quotas were discussed quite a bit here in relation to festivals. I won’t state my opinion, having burnt myself out on the JI thread, and because I don’t want to imply it has anything to do with the success of this song either, but I’m sure the opportunity to discuss will come at some point.
February 19, 2020 @ 3:05 pm
The CMT pledge to play 50% women during their brief video segments during the morning has absolutely no bearing on the country radio charts, and most certainly not on the performance of this song specifically, nor does it have any significant bearing on their small radio presence. CMT’s decision is only relevant to CMT, and no “quotas” have been enacted or even proposed on country radio, which is so omnivorous and fractured in regards to ownership, could only happen through an act of government, and mandated by the FCC. Not saying it couldn’t happen, but let’s not be alarmist here.
February 19, 2020 @ 3:27 pm
We both made it clear not to imply it helped this song.
But I agree that the impact of this, at least in practical terms, is probably zero. But culturally, this is pretty significant . At least as much as a JI tweet?
February 20, 2020 @ 9:04 am
Yay! Affirmative action!
Now, are the great bands and singers of country music on the radio? Mostly, no. So we barely have won a skirmish.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:59 am
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’ve got this nebulous, sneaking suspicion floating around in the back of my head that says that if any change is coming to the output of mainstream country music institutions, “great bands and singers of country music” is Not even on the radar. But here’s hoping .
February 20, 2020 @ 10:59 am
More Hearts Than Mine by Ingrid Andress is really good in my opinion. Love her voice.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:00 pm
I am not so sure that there ever really was that much of a dearth of female artists getting airplay. When I was growing up there were pop queens such as Doris Day, Dinah Shore and Helen O’Connell, just to name three out of many. True, they did get somewhat pushed aside during the early rock ‘n roll years as Connie Francis and country crossover Brenda Lee being about the only ladies getting consistent airplay. The British Invasion gave us Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Marianne Faithfull. Another country crossover,Patsy Cline, is a bigger name than she might have been had her career not been cut short by the tragic plane crash.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Forgot to mention soul queens such as Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin, whose appeal transcended all musical boundaries. And can’t forget two ladies who were no doubt our very first female music superstars, Judy Garland and Jeanette MacDonald. And the Three J’s of the folk music world,Judy Collins, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.
February 19, 2020 @ 10:45 am
It’s about time these two ladies get the recognition they deserve!!! Great music always rises to the top!!! Stay true to yourself you two!!! Congratulations!!!!
February 19, 2020 @ 10:52 am
I keep the Highway on my presets mainly to keep a pulse what is going on mainstream and be able to keep up my wife is listening to. Rarely actually listen to the songs but they have been playing Bathroom Floor a lot which is a decent song
February 19, 2020 @ 10:59 am
Fuckin love this song, especially the live version
February 19, 2020 @ 11:29 am
Who wrote this song? It’s excellent!
February 19, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
Maddie & Tae did along with Deric Ruttan and Jonathan Singleton. Maddie & Tae write most of their material.
February 19, 2020 @ 11:35 am
They are not Jamie Lin Wilson or Courtney Patton, but I like their music. It sure would be nice to have their kind of sound help define the Pop side of the genre, rather than needing pry bar the back door to get them in because they are too traditional.
February 19, 2020 @ 11:41 am
Well…good for Maddie & Tae but a couple of songs “found renewed traction” on the charts:
Chris Young, Rayne Johnson, Lauren Alaina, Eli Young Band, Billy Currington, Kip Moore, Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton (all up 4 or more places & 18 weeks or older).
It’s a week with a lot of movement like Miranda Lambert with “Bluebird (#28 – was 34) or Luke Combs feat. Eric Church with “Does To Me” (#20 – was 25 – week 4).
Jimmie Allen is in week 56 & is still on the way up (“Make Me Want To” – #4 – was 5).
FGL are slowing down…”Blessings” goes up to #24 (was 27 – week 21) without a bullet.
Bitches Tenpenny is a new entry on #58 together with australian pop-country duo Seaforth (“Anything She Says”).
February 19, 2020 @ 11:52 am
It’s a great song, am so happy for the girls! They deserve this, they’ve worked very hard.
Goes to show you don’t need country radio to be successful.
February 19, 2020 @ 12:09 pm
Love to see this! And if anyone wants proof of how talented these ladies are, check out their live rendition of “After the Storm Blows Through” and their cover of “A Little Past Little Rock,” both on their official YouTube channel.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:39 am
Kevin, you’re right on the money. Their cover of “A Little Past Little Rock” is phenomenal!!
February 19, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
and there ya go . another act proving that radio doesn’t really know which way is up and attracts listeners with the same misguided concept of ‘country’ music .
on another note . caught YOLA live last night in Vancouver B.C. and had to search for my socks in Alberta . blew them clean off along with about 300 other pairs . all-age crowd who obviously were more than casually acquainted with her stuff applauding and singing to a lot of it . wouldn’t even let her off the stage . she slayed …..the show was musically flawless .
another case to support my comment above ……
February 19, 2020 @ 3:11 pm
I remember when country songs written by women weren’t written for tweens.
February 19, 2020 @ 3:40 pm
LOL- yeah, but you’re old, boomer.
February 19, 2020 @ 3:37 pm
Anything that takes airtime away from Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett is more than welcome. And if this new drive for gender equality at country radio opens up the door for Maddie and Tae as well as Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark and other female performers truer to the spirit of country music, all the better. I just hope it doesn’t mean getting 130 spins per week of the latest pure pop song from Kelsea Ballerini or Maren Morris or a flood of Kelsea/Maren clones. Or worst of all, more pop stars like Camila Cabello or Ariana Grande following in Bebe Rexha’s footsteps as their latest singles fail to set the CHR format on fire.
February 19, 2020 @ 5:31 pm
Wow!!! Mainstream country music that actually sounds country!!!
February 19, 2020 @ 8:20 pm
I really like the song. But I thought they missed on the video. I expected a harder hitting video, with domestic abuse or something, instead of just an argument or a breakup. The line in the song about ‘don’t let dad bring his gun’ or whatever kinda put the whole thing on a much darker path, IMO. Why would he bring his gun if you just argued and he stormed off?
February 21, 2020 @ 11:01 am
It’s just a joke about how overprotective the dad is.
February 20, 2020 @ 11:52 am
A real country song by people without penises, unlike the dickless bros. Hopefully things are turning around
February 20, 2020 @ 12:05 pm
man …you don’t see the plural of ‘penis’ too often do you …?
I wonder if its actually ‘penii “..?
carry on folks……..
February 21, 2020 @ 7:37 am
I hope this is the beginning of a solid career for them. They have released quality material to radio over and over again. Also, I wonder how much of this success could be contributed to them opening for Carrie Underwood. They are a talented duo, however, the exposure Carrie provided had to helpful. Do you have any insight, Trigger?
February 21, 2020 @ 11:21 am
Love them! Their cover of A little past little eick is superb.