Dolly Parton’s Catalog Surges by 1,143% in Streams After Her Death

Here's a rundown of her full impact on the Sept. 5-dated Billboard charts. Dolly Parton at the Academy of Country Music Awards held at Allegiant Stadium on March 7, 2022, in Las Vegas. Christopher Polk/PMC Dolly Parton’s musical catalog experienced a vault of 1,143% in official on-demand streams in the United States week over week following her Aug. 25 death, according to Luminate. Related In the Aug. 21-27 tracking period, Parton’s music was streamed 116.7 million times in the U.S., up from 9.4 million streams the previous week (Aug. 14-20). Parton’s songs Aug. 21-27 vs. Aug. 14-20 also accumulated 48.9 million radio audience impressions — up 1,632% from 2.8 million; earned 150,000 equivalent album units — a gain of 1,428% from 10,000; and sold 144,000 downloads — an 8,084% boost from 2,000. Of those 150,000 units earned, 27,000 are in album sales, marking a 2,556% growth from 1,000 the week before. On Aug. 26, the day after her death, Parton was the most streamed artist in the U.S., with 54.3 million streams occurring that day; the next closest act, Drake, earned 41.9 million. As a result of those gains, Parton’s music surges on the latest Billboard charts, dated Sept. 5. As previously reported, it’s paced by a No. 16 reentry for “Jolene” on the Billboard Hot 100, while Ultimate Dolly Parton returns to the Billboard 200 at No. 5. “Jolene,” which originally reached No. 60 on the Hot 100 in 1974, scores a new high via 10.2 million chart-eligible streams, 5.5 million in airplay audience and nearly 15,000 sold Aug. 21-27. It also returns at No. 7 on Hot Country Songs and debuts at the same position on the all-genre Streaming Songs list and places at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart. Related “I Will Always Love You” is the song that beats “Jolene” on Digital Song Sales, bowing at No. 1 with over 15,000 sold. Also with 6.5 million streams and 5.1 million in radio reach, it debuts at No. 27 on the Hot 100, more than a half-century after its 1974 release. “9 to 5” (No. 16; 9.5 million streams, 7.2 million in airplay audience,15,000 sold), Parton’s Kenny Rogers duet “Islands in the Stream” (No. 26; 7.2 million streams, 4.2 million in audience,13,000 sold) and “Here You Come Again” (No. 44; 5 million streams, 2.9 million in audience, 10,000 sold) also reach the Hot 100. An additional track, “Coat of Many Colors,” from 1971, appears on Hot Country Songs (No. 21; 4.5 million streams, 2.2 million in audience, 7,000 sold). Along with Ultimate Dolly Parton on the Billboard 200, Parton appears with The Essential Dolly Parton (No. 85, 14,000 units). Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection joins both sets on Top Country Albums (No. 41, 9,000 units). More activity for Parton’s catalog will be reflected on the Sept. 12-dated Billboard charts covering the Aug. 28-Sept. 3 tracking week, the first full seven-day period after Parton’s death. Daily newsletters straight to your inbox Sign Up More From Pro