NASHVILLE, TN  [Thursday Jan.8.2004]  /WMQT.com/ -- In a year that saw almost a 10% drop (9.9) in overall country album sales last year (from 76.905 million to 69.311 million) the flagship stars at several labels played overpowering roles in keeping the ships of state afloat, notes Music Row magazine.

Dreamworks/Nashville's TOBY KEITH is a good example. According Music Row, Keith's SHOCK 'N Y'ALL CD was the top seller of the year with 2,324,437 units sold (making him the only country act in the all genre top ten sellers list at #9. Dreamworks Nashville benefited from Keith's hearty 89% contribution to its share of Top 100 country album sales. AT OTHER LABELS: RascalFlatts was responsible for 100% of Lyric Street's Top 100 unit sales Shania provided 71% for Mercury Alan Jackson scanned 62% for Arista Dixie Chicks floated 60% of the Sony boat.

TOBY KEITH AND DIXIE CHICKS TOP COUNTRY EARNERS OF '03 ACCORDING TO the Los Angeles Times' compilation of the top earning stars last year (combined album sales and concert gross) Toby Keith and The Dixie Chicks came in 4th and 5th overall (best in country). Toby raked in 106.6-million dollars in ticket and album sales. While the Chicks racked up 100.8-million in combined ticket and album revenue.

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