The chart returns to normal this week as Bublé and Carey get put away in a box mark Christmas Decorations. We have 29 re-entries and four new singles. We even have two kiwis in the Top 40 With help from Moana 2, Shane Walker makes his debut with Coasty Girl at #25. It's Walker's third hit single in the NZ Singles chart but first to cross over to the main chart. The other kiwi is Hori Shaw who gets a new high tide mark with Back In My Arms at #29. SZA scores two new singles. BMF at #17 and 30 For 30 at #35 come from her re-issued album Lana which was originally titled SOS from 2022. South African Tyla has the other new single. Push 2 Start, new at #24 is her second hit single here. It has so far peaked at #11 in her home country. Over on the album chart, Jorge Rivera-Herrans is at it again. Last year he charted two EP’s in his EPIC series. This week, the third installment EPIC: The Ithaca Saga (Official Concept Album) is new at #29. Finally, newcomer Doechii enters the chart at #40 with Alligator Bites Never Heal. For the record, he is an American rapper.
Chart Beat - 13 January, 2025 Three new artists appear in the singles chart this week. G3 GELO is LiAngelo Ball, and the middle brother of Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. The 26 year old has dabbled in rap and produced Tweaker, new at #22. American country singer Sam Barber has one studio album and two EP's since 2021 but it's taken 16 singles to even get a hit in America. Indigo is new at #35 here and has so far peaked at #48 in the US. Staying in America we have Leon Thomas. Born in 1993, the R&B singer has only been able to score a minor entry on US R&B chart with Favorite back in 2018. Now the singer/ actor can claim a NZ chart entry with Mutt at #38. Two albums return to the album chart this week, one flies right to the top. SZA topped the chart back in April with SOS but now her deluxue version, subtitled Lana takes the album back to the top for a 12th week. The other album to return is Morgan Wallen's album One Thing At A Time, from 2023. Lil Baby has the only new album. WHAM, at #21, is the rappers fourth album. WHAM stands for Who Hard as Me.
For the third year in a row L.A.B. have the most weeks charted on the NZ Singles chart in a calendar year, with a total of 194 weeks. This week they gain the double with most weeks charted in the albums chart as well (101). In the main chart they have only scored two number one singles and four number one albums. In the meantime, though, they look to continue championing the NZ Singles and Albums chart. Interesting to note, though, that the runner up on the albums was No Cigar (62) with Hori Shaw (174) runner up on the NZ Singles chart. Andrew Hozier-Byrne leads off this weeks new singles with Do I Wanna Know? at #21. His fifth NZ hit single, is a cover of the Arctic Monkeys track from 2013 that appeared on their AM album. American rapper Jaylah Hickmon (aka Doechii) scores her second hit with Denial Is A River. New at #36, it's taken from her album Alligator Bites Never Heal, which is currently at #32. We continue with stage names for new entries in the album chart. Benito Ocasio goes by the name Bad Bunny and is huge in the States. To date the 30-year-old American rapper of Puerto Rican descent has three number one albums; his latest stalling, so far, at #2. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is his first hit here. Translated I Should Have Taken More Photos it's his sixth album.
At the end of 2024, Ed Sheeran held the 'most weeks charted in the Singles Chart for artist' statistic, with a total of 835 weeks. Sheeran has now held that record for six consecutive years. Taylor Swift, however, jumped to number two from last years eighth spot to chart a total of 632 weeks. That was helped by charting 113 weeks with 38 singles last year. She didn't chart the most though. That honour goes to Sabrina Carpenter who charted 114 weeks. Last week Bad Bunny charted his first NZ hit album with DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOTo. This week, as the album tops the US charts, the first single from that album enters the chart at #32.DtMF is the title track and stands for Debí Tirar Más Fotos which is translated I Should Have Taken More Photos. It's the Puerto Rican rapper's second NZ hit single. Central Cee has the other new single. Debuting at #40, GBP comes from his debut album Can't Rush Greatness just out. Malcolm McCormick (aka Mac Miller) has the only new album this week. Balloonerism drops in at #3 and is the rappers seventh long player. This is his eighth NZ hit album and his second posthumous album since his death in September 2018.
Last week I mentioned Taylor Swift missed out by one week in topping the statistic for most weeks charted on the Singles chart for 2024. Well, over on the album chart, she took top place for most number ones on the Album chart. That place has been held by U2 since Adam was a boy and she looks set to hold onto that statistic maybe just as long. For the record, that's 14 number ones. In total she has had 41 weeks on top of the Albums chart which ties for third place with U2 and Six60. Ed Sheeran and Adele share the top spot with 60 number one weeks. The first new single for 2025 is a first for Brit CHRYSTAL. The Days is the 771st number one since the chart began. The third single from Tate McRae's upcoming new album is this weeks highest new single. Sports Car, (new at #9), is her seventh hit single. Watch out for So Close To What on 21 February. Rapper Travis Scott places non album single 4X4 at #30 on entry. This is his 24th NZ hit. The final new single is discusting. I don't usually put my opinion into the mix but this cannot go unmentioned. I think it's about time songs like Sexyy Red's Fat Juicy & Wet get banned. Look up the lyric and you'll see what I mean. The song debuts at #36. Central Cee flies to the top of the Albums pile on entry with Can't Rush Greatness. This is the British rappers first NZ number one album and second, if you include his 2022 mixtape, second in the UK. Teddy Swims peaked at #6 with part one, now I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) goes two better at #4. He revealed his personal life was the inspiration for this new disc. FKA Twigs is next with EUSEXUA at #21. This is her fifth NZ chart entry, since 2014. This comes after a four year hiatus. Finally, kiwis The Veils enter the 40 at #30. Asphodels is their fifth Top 40 album.
If you wanted evidence how much American music has an influence on our charts, look no further. Singles and albums either rise or re-enter the charts, directly influenced from this weeks Grammy's. Canada's Abel Tesfaye has one of two new singles with Cry For Me calling in at #35. It's The Weeknd's 31st hit single, and third from his sixth studio album Hurry Up Tomorrowwhich debut's at number one, giving him four number one albums in a row. That doesn't put him in the record books though. That honour belongs to U2 who had 13. He also has Eminem, Taylor Swift, Pink and Ed Sheeran to beat. It's the only new album this week. Over the border, Morgan Wallen is back with his latest. I'm The Problem, new at #3, is a tease for his upcoming album with the same name. Honorable mention this week to Aucklanders Tablefox. To date they have only managed entries in the Hot Charts but thet actually have this weeks number one single on the Radioscop Rock chart. Where Do I Belong is now enjoying it's third week at the top. It only managed a #5 peak on the NZHot 20 chart. Let's get these guys in the main charts. Check out their video on YouTube.
Big week in the singles chart with five new entries. There are also some big movers too with Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar up 22 knotches to #2 (his album GNX also jumps back to the top) and Pink Pony Club from Chappell Roan up 18 to #11. Kendrick Lamar also reclaims the top spot with Luther jumping back up 7 knotches. Lady Gaga has the highest new entry. Abracadabra was a big hit for Steve Miller Band back in 1982 where it peaked at #8. This, however is not a remake but rather a new song written by Gaga and six others. New at #13, its taken from her upcoming album Mayhem due in stores next month. Next is American singer-songwriter Alex Warren. Ordinary at #19 is his second hit and also comes from an upcoming album to be announced. Lower down the chart at #33 is Giveon. The Amerrican R&B artist last charted in 2021 with the #2 hit Heartbreak Anniversary and, you guessed it, the new one comes from an upcoming album. Twenties is new at #33. Charli XCX lifts another track from her deluxe edition of BRAT with Guess at #35. Former BlackPink member LISA has the final new single number with with Born Again at #36. It's the Thai rappers second hit singl Our own Nadia Reid has the highest of two albums. Enter Now Brightness is the Port Chalmers local's fourth long player since 2015. Debuting at #17, it's the lowest position in the chart on entry but with her current tour, it's hoped she can push it up a few knotches. Sharon Van Etten enters at @28 with Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory. Her third hit album here, is actually her seventh.
This week it's all about Sabrina Carpenter. Whilst having this weeks biggest mover with Please Please Please jumping up 26 knotches to #13 in her 36th week, she also has this weeks highest new entry. Busy Woman at #20 comes from the new deluxe edition of her Short n' Sweet album which also jumps back to the top. The new single gives her four Top 40 singles. Drake scores the other new single. NOKIA at #37 is his 52nd hit single, which comes from the new collaborative album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U by PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drakedebuting at #2. American singer-songwriter and former rapper ROLE MODEL lists the other new album at #30. Born Tucker Pillsbury in 1997, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) opens his account in New Zealand, even though he has two other albums, both of which failed to chart anywhere.
Five new singles, one artist. That's how the singles chart looks this week. In case you wondered,Tate McRae has a new album. So Close To What debuts at the top whilst singles Revolving Door, Dear God, I Know Love, Miss Possessive and Purple Lace Bra also make an entrance. The 21 year old Canadian peaked at #4 with her last album, Think Later which clocks up 50 weeks this week. So Close To What is her third. Englishman Sam Fender released his first album, Hypersonic Missiles in 2019. His second Seventeen Going Under followed the first to number one in both the UK and Scotland. Now album #3 is out and we are first to hear it. People Watching debuts at #12 and is supported by the single with the same name, which has so far peaked at #4 on the UK charts. American rockers A Day To Remember last charted here in 2016, peaking at #23 with Bad Vibrations. This week, Big Ole Album Vol. 1 breaks the drought with a #16 debut. This is their eighth long player. Canadians Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu have the final new album at #23. Young G.O.A.T is the third collaboration from the rappers, having put out two EP's before this.
Tegan Chambers (aka Sleepy Hallow) places his second hit single firmly at #5 on entry. A N X I E T Y was actually released in September and is from the rapper's second studio album Boy Meets World. American R&B singer Ravyn Lenae has single number two at #37. Love Me Not is her first single and has to date peaked at #32 in Ireland. In July last year we lost kiwi legend Martin Phillipps. Now, passion project and The Chills album Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs becomes this week's highest new album, and the number one kiwi album. The double disc has been finalised for release with the love and support of his band, family and friends. It's the band's tenth charting long player. Thai rapper LISA has two hit singles but until today, no albums. Alter Ego is her first attempt at a full studio album. It also debuts at #18 in Japan. British metalcore band Architects last charted in 2016 for a week at #25 with their seventh album. Now their eleventh becomes our second hit. The Sky, The Earth And All Between isnew at #40. Over on the NZ albums chart there's an interesting entry. The 3D's were part of the Dunedin sound and hit the charts with two albums. back in the 1980's. Now, celebrating 30 years, they are back with The Peel Sessions & Triple J Live-to-air 1994. Now there's a piece of history.
Jaylah Hickmon (aka Doechii) lists her third NZ hit single at #5. Anxiety appears as the title of a new single two weeks in a row. That's where it gets confusing. The Sleepy Hallow version from last week samples the Doechii version which in turn samples the Gotye song Somebody That I Used To Know from 2011. This version is the original from 2019. South Korean singer and rapper JENNIE opens her account at #31 with like JENNIE. This is from the BlackPink members debut album Ruby, which opens at #2. Alex Warren has the other new single. Carry You Home, new at #33, comes from his 2024 album You'll Be Alright, K.id (Chapter 1), which moves up 6 knotches to #17 this week. The 110th number one album this decade is the fifth number one for Lady Gaga. According to Gaga, the inspiration for the album stemmed from a period of deep introspection and personal challenges. Maybe that's why she calls it MAYHEM. Reb Fountain lists her fourth chart album at #6. How Love Bends is her third Top 10 album. Finally, Canadian heavy metal band Spiritbox open their account at #36 with Tsunami Sea. Formed in 2016, this is their second long player. Last edited:
The 69th number one single this decade and second this year debued at #5 last week. Anxiety by Doechii is also the artists first chart topper in Godzone. We have ten new entry singles this week, seven belonging to Playboi Carti. The American rapper, of course, has a new album out so under current chart rules is allowed to monopolise the chart. The album is an elaborate 30 tracks over 77 minutes with multiple producers, writers and collaborators. I Am Music is his third and highest charting album and debuts at number one. Chappell Roan is new at #14 with The Giver. It's the second single from the up and coming second album, that still doesn't have a name. This track talks of lesbian intimacy. The next new single comes as a surprise - well kinda. The success and popularity of Te Matatini is no secret but its taken till this week to chart in the Top 40. Kei Wareware i a Tātoufrom Te Matatini and Te Kuru Marutea is new at #30 and the second local act to chart this year. Te Matatini have had multiple hits on the NZ Singles and Te Reo charts. The also enter the NZ Albums chart this week with four albums. Lil Tecca has the final new single at #33. Dark Thoughts is the rappers second hit here. Two weeks ago The 3D's opened at #10 on the NZ Albums chart with The Peel Sessions & Triple J Live-To-Air 1994. This week that album crosses to the Top 40 Albums at #21. It's the third time the Dunedinites have charted and first time since 1993. The band haven't been active since 2010. LE SSERAFIM has the final new album entry with another EP titled simply HOT. The 12 minute EP is the South Korean's fouth album chart entry.
This week Playboi Carti exists the chart faster than a politician can break a promise, as five of his seven new entries from last week vacate the chart. We also have a new number one. In his seventh week, Alex Warren tops the singles pile with Ordinary. We do have one new entry. Born and raised in Edgecumbe, Te Wehi has five hit singles in the NZ Singles chart. His second is the Top 40's first as it enters the chart at #40. Unaware has been at number one on that chart for three weeks. His music can best be described as a blend of Soul, Reggae, Country, Dub, Rock, and Alternative. Selena Gomez joins forces with benny blanco for the only new album this week. I Said I Love You First is new at #6. The couple announced their engagement in December 2023. Over on the NZ albums chart we have a kiwi classic from 1999 back and on vinyl for the first time. Stellar* topped the chart for one week with Mix and stayed in the chart 42 weeks. Had there been a NZ Albums chart back then, it would have been on top for 22 weeks. The album produced four Top 20 singles with What You Do (#17), Part Of Me (#4), Violent (#11) and Undone (#13). Last edited:
One more month and the chart celebrates 50 years. Over the next few weeks I will be looking at the top songs and albums of each decade. The chart started in 1975 so we only have half of the decade. There was a singles chart as far back as 1946, so, when you put points to everything, the top single for the seventies was Fernando by Abba. The top album, also based on points, was easily Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd which had charted 182 weeks by the end of the decade. We start out this weeks newbies with two from Ariana Grande. twilight zone (#17) and dandelion (#38) are both from the deluxe edition of last years album Eternal Sunshine which jumps up 29 knotches to enjoy a third week at the top. twilight zone is not a remake but named after the series The Twilight Zone. New Yorks sombr (aka Shane Boose) is next, also with two. undressed (#31) and back to friends (#36) are his first two hit singles here. The Marías have the fifth and final new single. The American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles in 2016 and have two albums in their catalogue. No One Noticed at #37, is their first Top 40 single. Over on the album chart American Lucy Dacus places her first NZ charting album at #14. Forever Is A Feeling is actually her fourth long player; the first coming out in 2016. Nemzzz has been in the chart before. Last year the British rapper placed Do Not Disturb at #38. Rent's Due does a bit better with a #25 debut. Mumford And Sons are next with RUSHMERE. New at #26, this is the British folk rock bands fifth album with six entries gracing our Top 40. Alien Weaponry are last with Te Rā at #30. This is the Auckland metallers third album to date.
Continuing in my series of the biggest songs and albums of each decade to celebrate the charts 50 years: this week looking at the 80's with a song that hung onto the most weeks charted statistic for 36 years. Charting 74 weeks, it took a change in chart rules to kick it off the top spot. Blue Monday by New Order now sits at #15 on the longevity chart. It was also one of the longest songs to chart, clocking in at 7 minutes, 20 seconds. Staying in England, Dire Straits had the biggest album of the 80's with Making Movies. That album stayed in the charts for 149 weeks. It's rare for a band to chart a single these days, but it's a band that scores the highest new single. English metallers Sleep Token have charted an album before, but it's Caramel at #28 the breaks the silence. Taken from their upcoming fourth album Even In Arcadia, it's the second song to be released from that album, Emergence being the first. Ed Sheeran also has a new album on the way. Azizam at #29 is the lead single from Play. Azizam is Persian and literally translates "my dear" or "my beloved". Single #5 from Benson Boone rounds off this weeks new singles. Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else at #39 is, you guessed it, from his upcoming album. It's been over a year since we had a kiwi at the top of the albums chart, but this week Marlon Williams makes it three number ones with Te Whare Tīwekaweka. It's an album with 100% Maori lyrics. Elton John and Brandi Carlile are next at #6 with Who Believes In Angels?. Elton's 39th charting album is a return musically to his 70's style. Carlile has been releasing albums since 2005 but not charted here until now. American Ethel Cain opens her account at #11 with Preacher's Daughter. This album was actually released in 2022 with her second album due out in August. Skrillex , Black Country, New Road and Djo list their new albums lower down the chart, at #29, #31 and #34.
And so we turn to the 1990's biggest songs and albums in the decade series to celebrate the charts 50 years. If the top song from the 80's was long, the top song of the 90's was even longer. Guns N Roses released a massive set of albums in the Use Your Illusion I and II series, which were released on the same day. From the second set came the number one single of the decade. Clocking in at 8 minutes 57 seconds, November Rain charted 40 weeks from 1992 peaking at #7. We have to remember, back then, this number of weeks was unheard of. The top album of the decade was released in 1991. Collecting 102 chart weeks and topping the chart for two weeks, Michael Jackson's Dangerous could have been easily overtaken had Shania Twain finished her chart run with Come On Over in 1999, instead of a further 21 weeks in 2000. When the chart was first published there was no chart at Easter. Looking at this weeks chart you can see why. No new singles. There are however four new albums. Bon Iver list their fourth hit album at #5. SABLE, fABLE is the American's first album in six years. Look out for lead single Everything Is Peaceful Love. Wanaka rockers Powder Chutes are next with their self titled debut. New at #22, file this under grunge rock. More Chaos follows Ken Carson's last album A Great Chaos from 2023 one knotch down from the peak of his first. This is the rappers fourth long player. Wellingtonian's There's A Tuesday round off this weeks new albums with Blush at #35. The four-piece consists of two female front women both on guitars and vocals
We are one week out from the charts 50th anniversary. Continuing the series of the biggest songs and albums from the decades we are up to the naughties. This time, the decade belongs to kiwis with both single and album at the top of the decade chart. As in previous decades it comes down to longevity, with Tiki Taane clocking up 55 weeks for Always on My Mind. The song topped the chart for two weeks. Bic Runga took out the top album of the naughties with Beautiful Collision topping the weekly chart for 8 weeks and charting 101 weeks. It’s another slow week on the singles chart with Show Me Love from WizTheMc the only new single at #35. WizTheMc is 26 year old Sanele Sydow from Cape Town, South Africa. Now based in Toronto, Canada, the rapper, record producer, and songwriter first recorded in 2018. Over on the album chart … well … nothing to see here. Not one new album.
The 2nd of May, 2025 marks 50 years since the chart began. It’s a bit hard to produce a best of chart from those years due to chart rules and industry changes. A look at the Top 20 singles, based on points, show mainly songs from the last ten years due to their longevity on the chart. Only Dreams by Fleetwood Mac shows up in that group. The song charted 14 weeks back in 1977 but 132 weeks since 2019, so even that song benefits from current chart rules. Its very similar on the albums best of chart. Twelve of the Top 20 came out in the last ten years. A best of chart, then, seems unfair. Instead, I thought I’d have a look at the chart’s history. The first New Zealand chart actually came out in 1946. Back then, it was called the Life Buoy Hit Parade, changing its name to the Lever Hit Parade some time in 1955. It’s a bit uncertain how the chart was compiled back then, but it appears to be a list of radio DJ favourites rather than a tabulated chart. That chart ran through to December 1965, and I’m lucky to have an actual recording of that chart. Sadly, most of those charts went missing in the early 90’s when Radio NZ had a clean out. I have most charts dating back to 1960 so if anyone has a collection somewhere, I’d love to hear from you. There was a sales chart printed briefly in 1960. The monthly Playdate Top 20 ran only for three months. March 1966 saw a new chart. Printed in the NZ Listener, the NZ Hit Parade Top 20 was compiled, initially by votes. That all changed in April 1970 with a new name, The Pop-O-Meter Chart, and tabulated by ‘measured’ sales. In 1973 it was suggested a ‘proper’ sales-based chart be compiled but it took until 2 May 1975 for that chart to see the light of day. The NZ Listener chart continued until that time, overlapping by three weeks. The new chart also published an albums chart for the very first time. In 1979 the Top 40 became a Top 50 and in June of that year, a third chart was born. The Mid-Range albums chart featured budget prices albums. A year later, that changed to the Compilations Chart. That chart continued until 14 June 2021 with 467 number ones. Changing formats from Record, Cassette, CD and now digital meant the chart had to adapt multiple times. That first big change came in 1999 with radio aiplay becoming a factor. Another big change came in 2004 when new checks and procedures came into play, and the chart reverted to a Top 40. Two new charts were also introduced. The Heatseeker and Music DVD charts were added with both charts now consigned to the history books. Nowadays, we have 11 different charts. 2011 saw the NZ Singles and NZ Albums Top 20’s added. The Te Reo Maori Singles replaced the Compilations Chart in 2021, the Hot charts were added in 2018 and the Catalogue charts in 2023. So, what IS the biggest single and album. As Christian artist Steve Taylor once said: “it’s a personal thing”.
Exactly 50 years to the day the Top 40 was born. For the first time ever we had an album chart. Hard to imagine the difference in the chart compared to today but as Bob Dylan once said: The Times They Are A-Changin'. Incidentally, 50 years ago today, the number one single belonged to Helen Reddy with Free And Easy. The top album that week was Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan. I knew he'd get in there somewhere. Finishing off the series in decade number ones we turn our attantion to the 2010's. For single, the award goes to Ed Sheeran with Shape Of You. Spending a staggering 13 weeks at number one and a total of 69 chart weeks it's a hard one to beat. For album, for the first time, Mr Sheeran scores the decade double with X. Also scoring 13 weeks at the top, his second long player spent 258 weeks in the chart. Pop Quiz! When was the last time a kiwi had a number one single. Well, that goes back to 2021 when Six60 topped the chart with All She Wrote. It's been a while but now we finally get a kiwi up top again. Lorde places What Was That at the top on debut. Her fourth number one has been teased for a while. First came a snippet on TikTok with the title WWT, then a change in profile photo on Instagram, and finally an annoucement last month. It comes from her new album, Virgin, due out next month Benson Boone continues to please with Mystical Magical at #33. This is single #6. Jack Black is a well-known figure in the entertainment scene but it's taken till now to get a chart entry. Steve's Lava Chicken at #34 comes from the current Minecraft Movie. English alt rockers Sleep Token have the final new single at #38. Damocles is their second new single in a month. It's taken 44 weeks but Gracie Abrams finally takes her album The Secret Of Us to the top. The chart produces three new albums. Swedish band Ghost have the highest with Skeletá at #14. Translated withered, this is their sixth studio album. d4vd is next at #31 with WITHERED. This is David Burke's first long player. Gigi Perez scrapes in at #38 with At The Beach, In Every Life. This is also her debut album.
In all of the excitement of last weeks 50th bithday I missed a new record. Jack Black debuted at #34 with Steve's Lava Chicken. It was the second time he has been in the chart; the last time in 2002 as one half of the duo Tenacious D. What his most recent single did was to break the record for the shortest ever song to hit the chart beating Eminem from last year with the 41 second Trouble. Blacks single lasts only 34 seconds American singer Jessie Murph has the only new single this week. Blue Strips at #36 is a country pop song with a Southern twang. Ed Sheeran jumps three knotches in the 32nd week to claim his seventh number one album with +-=÷× (Tour Collection). Pink Floyd lead off the new entries with an interesting entry. Pink Floyd At Pompeii: MCMLXXII was originally recorded and released in 1972 on film only. A DVD was issued in 2002 but the set has never been on audio only release. Now a new 2025 mix finally makes it to vinyl. Their 15th album entry is new at #15. Dope Lemon (aka Angus Stone) lists Golden Wolf at #32. This is the seventh long player from the Australian and fifth under the Dope Lemon moniker. Harry Charles is a British show jumping competitor. Not to be confused through is Harry Charles the kiwi with the same name at #38. Movement is his first chart entry. Taking you back to 1995, Greg Johnson had a huge hit with Vine Street Stories. Peaking at #8, it would have been the number one album for three weeks on the NZ Albums chart if it had been running back then. Now on 30th anniversary issue, this was his second album.
Week three of NZ Music Week and Edgecumbe resident Te Wehi leads the pack with the most weeks charted this year in the NZ Singles Chart. He is way out in from with a staggering 72 weeks in just 20 charts. Such a shame he only managed two weeks in the Singles Top 40. No new singles, no new number one but 16 entries charting 30 weeks or more. All the action this week is in the Albums Chart with six new entries. English rockers Sleep Token have two listed minor Top 40 singles, but their album Even In Arcadia goes all the way to the top on entry. Their last entry only managed a #12 peak. This is their first chart topper anywhere. PinkPantheress is next with Fancy That at #12. Her third chart entry also creats a new high tide mark for the British singer. 24 year old Victoria Walker was born in Bath. This entry is a Mix Tape. Shaboozey has also been doing well with this weeks number one single on the RadioScope AC chart. Good News is yet to chart on the official Top 40 but the 30 year old is still charting A Bar Song (Tipsy) in it's 55th week. Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going at #18 is his third album but first to chart. Just scraping into the last Top 20 entry is Australian indie rocker Spacey Jane. If That Makes Sense is also a third but first to chart here. Their first two both went into the Top 2 across the ditch. American singer songwriter Kali Uchis places Sincerely at #29. Her fourth long player is apparently inspired by a "life changing event". Finally comes Chaos In The CBD. The Dance-Electronical due grew up in Auckland. A Deeper Life is their debut album in the charts.
Morgan Wallen is up first at #17 with single What I Want. Featuring Tate McCrae, it's the fifth single from his current album I'm The Problem, which debuts at the top of the album chart. The other new single pops in at #39. Shake It To The Max (Fly) (Remix) from MOLIY and Silent Addy originaly ran for just 2:07 but a remix with Skillibeng and Shenseea took it to 3 minutes. The song gained traction thanks to TikTok. The last time Swedish DJ Avicii in the charts goes right back to 2019. He decided to go into retirement in 2016 so that was it from the now 28 year old. Avicii Forever brings him back to the Top 40 at #15. The compilation lists a generous 21 tracks over 70 minutes. Dr Tree takes us back even further. The 1970's jazz fusion innovators released their self titled album in 1976 and it's faded into the anals of NZ music ever since. Now it's back as a double album at #28. Jin has the other new album, or should I say EP. Echo is the second album entry for the South Korean. A couple of re-entries make this weeks chart interesting. In 2005 The Phoenix Foundation released debut album Pegasus, taking it to #10 on the chart. Now a 20th Anniversary Edition puts them into a new high tide mark at #7 on re-entry. As for the other re-entry! Dire Straits spent a staggering 21 weeks at the top of the chart in 1985 with Brothers In Arms. This 40th Anniversary Edition is a deluxe package and comes in a 5LP box set and a 3CD set with a truck load of bonus tracks. They re-enter the chart at #25. Greg Johnson also scores a historical re-entry. Sea Breeze Motel from 2000 originally peaked at #10. It's back this week at #35. Last edited:
And so we come to the final chart for NZ Music Month. Only one single graced this years Top 40 but over on the NZ Singles Chart we see that single take out the number one spot on the annual NZ Music Month chart. Based on points, Lorde places What Was That with her third NZ Music Month number one single. The others were Green Light from 2017 and Royals from 2013. On the album chart that honour goes to Six60 for the fifth time. That disc is The Six60 Collection. The full chart is on the way. The Kings Birthday weekend chart gives us just one new single. California resident Alex Warren places hit single #4 at #7 on entry. Bloodline is a non album single. Finishing off NZ Music Month we have two new kiwi albums. Mokomokai gave us their first album entry last year with Whakarehu peaking at #17. Now the producer/rapper places his self titled disc at #10. Fly My Pretties are no strangers to the charts. Despite never logging a Top 40 single, the Wellington group place album #8 at #24. Elemental is the first album to miss out on the Top 20, unless is rises from here. Myles Smith finishes off the new albums with A Minute, A Moment... at #39. The 26 year old Brit placed EP A Minute ... at #40 last year. Adding a moment to the title lifts his high tide mark by one.
Canadian Tate McRae places hit single #13 at #5 on entry, in a chart that is sparce oin new entries. Just Keep Watching is taken from the movie F1, starring Brad Pitt. The film opens on 25 June. On the lead up to her new album, Lorde has the other new single at #11. Man Of The Year is from her fourth long player Virgin due in stores 27 June. Miley Cyrus leads the pick of the bunch of new albums, placing Something Beautiful at #2. Her ninth album is what is described as a "visual album", which is another way of saying concept album. It contains the themes healing from trauma and finding beauty in the darkest moments Team Dynamite finish up this weeks new albums at #12. The hip hop dup from Auckland released Shepherd's Delight in 2014 taking it to #20 on the NZ Albums chart. Now, after over ten years, they enter the Album chart. Good job the lads are patient.
The singles chart continues to produce shorter songs. This week the average song length rises 6 seconds to 3:19, helped largely by the shortest song in the history of the chart leaving. That was Jack Black's 34 second Steve's Lava Chicken. For the record, the average song length this year is sitting at 3:08. That's the shortest average song length since 1969. Five new singles clocking over the three minute mark (except one) also help. Leading the pack is Sabrina Carpenter at #2. Manchild continues an incredible run for the American. Her new album Man's Best Friend is due August 29 with this being the lead single. We can also expect a new album from Ed Sheeran very soon. Third single from Play is new at #19. Sapphire is hit single #52. Addison Rae took Diet Pepsi to #17 last year. Now her sophomore debuts at #24. Fame Is A Gun comes from the same album, which debuts at #1. It's taken a while but now we have a second single from Lola Young. One Thing at #32 is from a new album yet to be announced. Olivia Dean has new single #5 at #35. Nice To Each Other is the English singers first hit here. It's been 27 years since Sheffield rockers Pulp appeared in our charts. Now their first album since 2001 becomes their third NZ hit. More marks the bands second reunion. American alt-rockers Turnstile have four albums to their résumé but not charted here until this week. Never Enough is new at #24. Little Simz charted No Thank You in 2023 for one week at #40. Now the British rapper born Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo places Lotus at #26 on entry. MARINA has been in our charts four time with a peak of #12. Previously known as Marina and the Diamonds, Princess Of Power is the Welch singers latest, at #28 American rapper Lil Wayne places 14th long player at #31. Tha Carter VI has been a series which started in 2004. Finally, Standover are new with when a clenched fist is no longer an option at #34. Place these kiwis under harcore metal.
Folded by Kehlani dives into the top ten on entry. New at #7, the American hasn’t charted here since 2019. Staying with female American singers comes No Broke Boys from Tinashe #35. This track comes from her seventh studio album Quantum Baby from last year. Chris Brown is back with Holy Blindfold at #37. This is his 31st hit single and I can’t for the life of me understand what the song is about. Over on the album chart it’s Lil Tecca who has the highest new entry; also at #7. His fifth studio album may contain 17 tracks but they are all under three minutes. Down to #28 it’s Ratso with F**K.RATSO. This is the debut from the Auckland garage band. Down a notch to #29 for the new long player from Onefour. Look At Me Now is the Australians debut album. Leon Thomas has peaked at #2 with Mutt, now the album with the same name is new at #39. It’s his first album on our charts. On the interesting re-entries topic, Metallica ard back with Load at #32. The album topped the charts back in 1996. Now remastered, a deluxe set will sting you $512. Dave Dobbyn is new on the NZ Albums Chart. Available Light at #11 actually came out in 2005 peaking at #3 on the album chart.
Alex Warren moves into third equal place with Ordinary for the most non-consecuctive weeks at number one. He shares the spot with Drake, Luis Fonsi and Ed Sheeran. The stay follows overseas trends with the UK (13) and Australia (13) just to name two. The record of 15 is held by Pharrell Williams with Happy from 2013. Fred Again.. nearly knocks him off his perch with this weeks highest new single. Victory Lap debuts at #2 and is Frederick Gibson's seventh hit single. Los Angeles based girl group KATSEYE open their account at #28 with Gabriela. Formed in 2023 they are described as a global girl group with members from Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. The hype continues for Lorde with another hit single at #40. Hammer is the third to chart. Her new album Virgin was released today. As Benson Boone reaches 64 weeks with debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades he flies to the top with new album American Heart. His second long player, he hopes to prove there is more to his songs than Beautiful Things which is still in our Top 10 and charting 75 weeks The soundtrack to KPop Demon Hunters debuts at #2. The American animated movie shows off K Pop with a selection of artists. Dominic Harrison (aka YUNGBLUD) places Idols at #12. The 27-year-old singer, songwriter and actor topped our chart for a week in 2022 with his self titled album. This is his fourth, but second to chart here. Album #4 for American rock band Haim is new at #15. I Quit is the rock-influenced project is "the closest [they] have ever gotten to how [they] wanted to sound" Loyle Carner has the final new album at #29. Hopefully ! is the English hip hop artists first to chart here but fourth overall.
As Alex Warren inches towards breaking the record for most weeks at number one with Ordinary we have a battle going on in the singles chart with new entries. That battle is between KPop Demon Hunters Cast (who debuted last week with the soundtrack album) and Lorde with tracks from her new album. And the score is: K-Pop 7, Lorde 3. Lorde does win on the albums chart though, taking out the top spot on entry with sixth album entry Virgin, whilst KPop have to settle for second place. Lorde also takes out the Top 11 on the NZ Singles chart. Her eight new singles is not the record though; that's 10 also held by her from 2021. There is one more new single. That comes in at #40 for PinkPantheress with llegal. This is the British singers second Top 40 single. Jaten Dimsdale (aka Teddy Swims) is new at #5 with I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition), which appears to be a digital only version of the two albums. The film F1 is doing well at box office; the soundtrack featuring tracks from the likes of Tate McRae, Rosé and Don Oliver debuts at #9. KATSEYE opened their account last week with single Gabriela. Whilst that song leaves the chart, the EP it came from, Beautiful Chaos, debuts at #14. Bruce Springsteen has had a bit of a rough ride lately after saying something against Donald Trump. Trumps supporters turned nasty against the superstar after nasty comments from the president. It doesn't appear to have affected sales, though, as his Best Of album reaches 62 weeks and his 31st album entry debuts at #27. Tracks II: The Lost Albums collects 20 tracks from across the Lost And Found series. Hit #35 from Rod Stewart debuts at #32 in glorious green vinyl. Ultimate Hits is his fifth compilation to chart.
At the half year mark it's interesting to compare the first half of this year to last year. There have been 9 new kiwi songs in the chart compared to last years none. Six of them came from Lorde, with Shane Walker, Te Matatini and Te Wehi contributing one each. There have been less new singles this year with 85 compared to last years 117. Albumside, 17 new kiwi albums which is the same as last year, and 86 new albums down from 97 last year. Speaking of Lorde, her new album has topped the charts in six countries around the world. Lil' Ole Kiwiland huh?. All six songs leave the chart though. We are so mean to our own in our chart. KPop Demon Hunters Cast also had a big week last week, but they reverse the trend with all seven songs moving up the chart. They even push Lorde off the top of the album chart. It's not enough to knock Alex Warren off his perch though, as he ties for first place with Pharrell Williams for most non-consecutive weeks at number one - 15 weeks. Drake has the only new single. What Did I Miss? at #29 is the lead single from his upcoming album Iceman. No new albums this week. And that, ladies and gentleman, is it. Last edited:
I was looking at a British Top 50 from 1973 and noticed a huge contrast to todays charts. Back then, of course, it was based solely on sales. Today it's largly based on what people listen to. The oldest song was a mere 18 weeks. That honour went to the Tony Orlando and Dawn hit Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree which spent a staggering 10 weeks at number one here. This week we have nine songs over 30 weeks. Alen Warren drops to #3 this week after a total of 15 weeks at number one. He now ties with Pharrell Williams for most non consecutive weeks at the top unless he can get back up there. The new number one goes to KPop Demon Hunters with Golden as the soundtrack artist keeps all seven songs in the top 20. Well, here we go again with one artist placing multiple songs in the singles chart. This time it's Justin Bieber with nine new songs from his new album SWAG, which debuts at #3. The proof is can these multiple tracks stay in the chart more than a week. BLACKPINK have the other new single at #13. JUMP is the South Korean girl groups eigth hit single here. After last weeks lean offerings we have a staggering nine new albums. Devilskin top the list with RE-EVOLUTION debuting at the top. This is studio album #4 and their third number one. JACKBOYS And Travis Scott went to #5 in 2020 with their first offering, now JACKBOYS 2 debuts at exactly the same spot. Can it beat the 11 weeks of the first though. Isle of Wight indie band Wet Leg are next with Moisturizer. New at #8, this is album #2. Giveon also places his second album in the charts. New at #10, Beloved beats his first from 2022 when Give Or Take peaked at #19. American hip hop trio Clipse have four albums, but Let God Sort Em Out is the first to chart here, new at #14. Tami Neilson is back with album #7. Neon Cowgirl is actually her tenth long player. New Zealand Jazz collective The Circling Sun place Orbits at #33. You may not recognise the name but the seven members are well known from other bands including Avandale Bowling Club. Finally South Korean girl group TWICE debut with THIS IS FOR at #36. The last word goes to Salmonella Dub. Their 2001 album Inside The Dub Plates topped the charts and stayed in the Top 40 for 77 weeks. This week is re-enters at #7.
KPop Demon Hunters Cast may still have a stranglehold on the top 10 with five singles but a Canadian knocks them off their perch. Last week Justin Bieber debuted with nine new singles. That number remains important this week as his ninth number one, DAISIES, takes the record for the most number one singles since the chart began in 1975. Overall, if you go back to 1960, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and The Shadows have more chart toppers. Alex Warren has the highest of three new singles. The American is having quite the year with a top five album and four Top 20 singles, one of them staying at number one 15 weeks. Eternity debuts at #5 and is the opening track from his album You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1). Tyler, The Creator debuts at #38 with Big Poe. The track comes from his new album Don't Tap The Glass which debuts at #4. South Korean girl group TWICE debuted on the album chart last week. This week single Takedown is new at #39. That track, though, comes from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. American Jessie Murph opens at #15 with her sophomore album Sex Hysteria. Watch out for lead single Gucci Mane. American rapper Joyner Lucas has the other new album. ADHD 2 debuts at #33, and follows the first installment from 2020, which peaked at #10. It's been a difficult week losing DJ Mu from Fat Freddy's Drop and a few days ago, Ozzy Osbourne. It seems fitting, then, to have a couple of re-entries in their honour. Greatest Hits from Black Sabbath re-enters at #11 and Based On A True Story by Fat Freddy's Drop is back at #18. The NZ albums chart lists seven Fat Freddy albums.
Well, we have an interesting chart this week. Nine new singles and two very interesting re-entry singles, and most appear posthumously. Born George Veikoso, Fiji is a a Fijian singer-songwriter, musician, producer and occasional actor. He passed away last Friday, 25 July, age 55. He produced many albums but never charted here. This week he places five singles in our charts: Lonely Days (2013), Jowenna (2005) , Sweet Darlin' (1996) , Morning Ride (2006) and Come On Over (2006). Albums Born And Raised II: The Rebirth from 2013 and Born & Raised from 1996 also debut on the chart. Ozzy Osbourne places songs in the chart after his passing away on 22 July. Crazy Train from his 1980 debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz is the highest at #27, whilst Mama, I'm Coming Home and No More Tears, both from 1991 make a re-entry. Further to that, Paranoid from Black Sabbath makes it's debut at #34. That song from 1970 has never charted until now, making it 55 years before it gained chart action. Phew! Drake makes an appearance with Which One at #18. This is hit single #54. Chris Brown also makes an appearance with a new single. It Depends at #39 is single #32. Freddie Gibbs And The Alchemist have the other new album. Alfredo 1 came out in 2020, now we have Alfredo 2. This is the first appearance in our chart for the American rapper. And to the re-issue department. In 2005 Shihad gave us Love Is The New Hate. Now a 20th Anniversary Edition takes the former #2 disc back to #9. Another kiwi band, goodshirt took Good to #5 in 2001. Both albums are on vinyl for the first time.
Chappel Roan flies to #3 on the singles chart on debut with The Subway. The 27 year old has a new album on the way, and this is the third single from that disc. American singer/songwriter Sombr has been trying to hit the charts since 2021. All of a sudden he started hitting charts across the globe. Simple maths gives his third single a place on this week’s chart. 12 To 12 is at #24 (that’s 12+12=24) with only Ireland to beat so far for a higher position. Over there it has peaked at #20. Over to the album chart it’s Auckland hip hop artist Revus with the highest new long player. Still Rollin’ debuts at #5 and is his first full length album. To date he has several singles and EP’s. One notch down give $uicideBoy$ their eighth NZ hit album. Thy Kingdom Come is new at #6. At just 29 minutes long it’s more like an EP. Making it a new entry hat trick we have Reneé Rapp at #7 with Bite Me. The Mean Girls star brought her first album out in 2023. Snow Angel peaked at #31 so this is a big improvement. No Cigar make the cross from NZ Albums chart to the Top 40 with Under The Surface at #24. This is the lads third album. Not bad for a bunch of mates that started off just jamming together. Rapper Yeat has the final new album at #27. Dangerous Summer is a 33 minute EP (that’s longer than $uicideBoy$ full length album) and fifth appearance on our charts.
Hori Shaw lists his second Top 40 single at #33. Ready To Ride follows Back In My Arms from October into the 40 and in doing so , continues a much better year in kiwi Top 40 singles. There’s so much more to the reggae roots artist, who enjoys three Top 20 singles in this week’s NZ Singles chart alone. Just below at #34 comes TWICE. The South Korean girl group list Strategy from their 2024 EP of the Same name. Over on the album chart, Ethel Cain lists Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You at #5. The American, born Hayden Anhedönia, follows his 2022 album Preacher’s Daughter as his sophomore album, improving the #11 peak. Colson Baker abbreviates his Machine Gun Kelly moniker to mgk with Lost Americana at #8. This is the singer/rappers sixth NZ Top 40 album plus an EP from 2018. Then there’s JID. The Atlanta born rapper places God Does Like Ugly at #12. His fourth long player features the usual long list of guest appearances. Staying with rap, we have Gunna placing The Last Wun at #16. His sixth album is his final with YSL Records, hence the title. Where The Roots Grow Deep is Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s first hit at #32. The Wellington band are known for their folk and bluegrass influences. This is their sophomore album. Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian is back with 100 Times Around The Sun. New at #37, this is his tenth album, possibly making him the most successful Idol winner to date. Check out single Cupid at track 8.
K-Pop Demon Hunters keep their stranglehold at the top of both main charts; and they still have 60% of the Top 10 singles. Tyler, The Creator places Sugar On My Tongue at #28. Whilst the song wasn’t released as a single it does come from his latest album Don’t Tap The Glass. Olivia Dean follows up her #26 peak of Nice To Each Other with her second single, Man I Need at #31. The 26 year old English neo soul lass has a new album out next month. It’s titled The Art Of Loving. Also 26 is American singer Conan Gray. Wishbone, his latest, enters at #8 on the album chart. He spent two years quietly working on the disc while on tour for album Found Heaven OneRepublic have been charting here since 2007 with 14 hit singles and 5 albums so it’s well overdue for a compilation. That disc, The Collection, sees a #12 debut.
Hit single #18 for Doja Cat is this weeks only new single. Jealous Type at #19 is from her new album due 26 September. It's a totally different story over on the album chart with 11 new entries. American mettalers Deftones make it seven top 10 albums in a row with their latest, Private Music debuting at #2. It's their first album since 2020. Laufey places A Matter Of Time at #3. This is the Icelandic lass' third album, but second to chart. American sombr continues his success with his first full length album. I Barely Know Her at #4, was written entirely by himself. Stray Kids are next at #7. KARMA is the fourth Korean-language studio album by the South Korean boy band. Indian singer and rapper Karan Aujla collaborated with Canadian producer Ikky for P-Pop Culture at #10. The album has 11 tracks split over two discs totalling only 34 minutes. Don McGlashan is back at #11. Joined by Anita Clark, Take It To The Bridge documents the 23-date nationwide tour he undertook. KORA place their third long player at #23. Fifth Season is their first album since 2012. English rockers Wolf Alice debut on our chart with The Clearing at #31. Their other three albums peaked in the Top 2 in the UK. Australian indie pop duo Royel Otis consist of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. Hickey is their first album to chart here, new at #32. American Dominic Fike places Rocket at #33. This one is described as a Mixtape and marks his fourth NZ hit. Rudimental last charted here in 2019. RUDIM3NTAL is their fifth album. It debuts at #36. Finally, Minuit placed The 88 at #21 in 2003. Now on vinyl the Nelson electronic band is back at #25. Last edited:
I don't like the modern chart. The excitement we used to have as your favourite song gradually moves up the chart, hopefully going to number one, are long gone. One of the things I don't like is when one artist takes over the chart, often for just one week. A week like this one. Sabrina Carpenter is the latest artist to monopolise the singles chart. Eleven new songs from her new alnum Man's Best Friend places the whole album in the Singles chart. That album also debut's this week, at number one. Auckland indie rockers The Beths place Straight Line Was A Lie at #6 on entry. Their fourth long player is their third Top 10 album. Sadly they are yet to hit the singles chart. Mt Maunganui lass Georgia Lines keeps it kiwi with her third album chart entry. The other two peaked at #3. This one is an EP. Skepta (Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr) and Fred Again.. (Frederick Gibson) join forces at #26 for EP Skepta .. Fred. Blood Orange rounds off this weeks newbies on the main charts. Essex Honey at #33 is Devonté Hynes's first NZ chart entry.
No new singles this week but, as expected, Sabrina Carpenter drops or leaves after her big week last week with 11 new singles. Ed Sheeran also drops a single but expect him to monopolise the chart next week with his new album. That just gives us four re-entries as the chart corrects, again. Honestly, this chart rule needs to change. Nine weeks ago Justin Bieber gave us SWAG. This week he gives us SWAG II. This release came by surprise. Listed as a re-issue, it contains 23 bonus tracks that are stacked on top of the 21 songs from the original version. The album debuts at #6 whilst the original moves up 5 to #10. It's been a while since we heard from David Byrne. Fourtine years ago the former Talking Heads man gave us Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, peaking at #31. This week we have Who Is The Sky? new at #17. His last two albums failed to chart here. American indie band Big Thief formed in New York in 2015. To date they have six albums with their latest, Double Infinity, debuting at #24. Their only other NZ chart entry was in 2022 when Dragon New Warm Fountain I Believe In You peaked at #21. Pickle Darling have the other new album. Bots is the Christchurch bands second chart entry, new at #37. Back in 2010 Julia Deans took her first solo album Modern Fables to #12. This week the Fur Patrol singer is back at #34. thanks to the vinyl revolution. Slipknot are also back, with their self titled album from 1991. The 25th anniversary edition gives them a new peak. Originally they only managed to peak at #49, back when the chart was a Top 50. They re-enter at #36. Last edited:
Olivia Dean scores her first number one with Man I Need pushing KPop Demon Hunters off the top after 7 consecutive weeks. For the second week in a row we have no new singles in the Top 40. It's also very quiet on the album chart with only two new long players. KPop Demon Hunters also get kicked off the top of the album chart, this time by Ed Sheeran. Surprisingly his new album didn't also enter the singles chart, thankfully. Play is the first of Sheeran's planned five albums with titles based on media control symbols. His eighth studio album has produced two Top 40 singles, Azizam and Sapphire. Play puts him at the top for most weeks at number one with 39 weeks. Until this week Adele held that title with 38 weeks, which was set in 2021. Twenty One Pilots have the other new album. The American duo place Breach at #4 giving them a fifth top ten. This is their eighth studio album since they came on the scene in 2015. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is it.
The first new single in three weeks debuts at #23 and is the only new song this week. 27-year old Rachel Keen (aka RAYE) last appeared as supporting act for the #36 peak of Lisa's single Born Again from February. Now she opens her own account with WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! Her first album My 21st Century Blues peaked at #34 last year; this is taken from her next album. In The UK she has listed 14 Top 40 singles, with Escapism from 2022 topping the charts. And that's the singles chart. At the moment it's flatter than a flounder that's been sat on. Ocean Alley lead off with five new albums this week. Love Balloon is the fourth visit to our album chart for the Australians. Lead single Tangerine was dropped in October last year. Cardi B is back with album number two. The last one, Invason Of Privacy, peaked at #2 and spent 63 weeks in the chart. Am I The Drama? is new at #19. Lola Young places I'm Only F**king Myself at #24. This is also album number two for the Brit. The eighth hit album for American Industrial Rockers Nine Inch Nails is actually a soundtrack to the movie TRON: Ares. New at #25, the lads were asked to write the music after the demise of Daft Punk. Newcomer Sammy Virji has the final new album. Same Day Cleaning at #26 is the London DJ and Record Producers second album, but first to chart here.
Canadian Tate McRae opens the new entries this week with TIT FOR TAT. New at #5, this is the 22 year old's 14th hit single. It's rumoured the single is in response The Kid Laroi's song A Cold Play after their breakup. Olivia Dean lists five songs from her new album The Art Of Loving which debuts at the top. Those songs are So Easy (To Fall In Love); Lady Lady; Let Alone The One You Love; Baby Steps and Something Inbetween. Next week expect Taylor Swift to monopolise the chart. American rapper Doja Cat lists her fourth NZ charting album at #4. Vie follows her usual themes of "love, romance, and sex". Kaylee Bell is back with sophomore Cowboy Up at #20. The Waimate lass has never had Top 40 single but did list five on the NZ singles chart. Jeffery Williams II is next. Better known as Young Thug, UY SCUTI is the 34 year old rappers fourth studio album. He debuts at #29. No introductions needed for the next new album. Robert Plant is legendary from Led Zeppelin, then a solo career with 17 charting albums with his band and 15 solo. Now age 77, he is still going with new album Saving Grace at #29. This one features the band he has been touring with since 2019 and contains ten cover songs by a variety of artists. Australian trio Folk Bitch Trio open their account at #34 with Now Would Be A Good Time. Swedish singer Zara Larsson lists her second NZ hit album at #38. Midnight Sun is her fifth studio album. Then we have Geese at #39. The New York rock band fomed in 2016 with four albums to date. Getting Killed is their first to chart here.
As predicted, Taylor Swift takes over the singles chart with every song from her new album The Life of a Showgirl. Almost every song vacates the top ten, with all twelve songs debuting in the top 14. It's the fourth time she has done this. She also sets the record for most songs to debut at the top. That was previously three, also set by her in 2023. The record is now four. You would be excused for questioning the cost of a vinyl copy. Looking at recent new albums from some top artists. a copy of Ed Sheeran's Play will set you back $74.99; Olivia Dean's The Art Of Living costs $79.99 but Taylor Swift's is a whopping $101.99. This is what happens when you have a chart based on what people listen to. At that price the album would probably fail to enter the Top 10. She now has 134 hit singles. And that's it. No other new singles; no other new albums.
We now have 898 number one albums since the chart began in 1975. Looking at the upcoming release schedule we have new albums by Demi Lovato, Benee, and the Wicked For Good soundtrack on the way. Will one of these be number one album #900? No new singles this week but Taylor Swift continues to chart her entire new album in the singles chart. Those twelve songs took out the Top 12 in American and Australia on entry. Only three songs from The Life Of A Showgirl entered the singles chart in the UK due to different chart rules. New Zealand rapper Tom Scott leads the charge, taking the first of five new albums. ANITYA debuts at #4. Scott is no stranger to the New Zealand charts as a member of Home Brew, @Peace and Avantdale Bowling Club. This is his first solo entry. Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu have also appeared in our charts with Young G.O.A.T peaking at #23 in February. The Simpsons charts a bit better with a #19 entry. Celebrating 50 years since Split Enz released their debut album Mental Notes, sees Hamilton East School re-imagine the album with Mental Notes Project: A Split Enz Tribute at #24. Receiving guidance from original Enz member Mike Chunn and mentor Lachie Holt, the disc went from a classroom inquiry into a full creative collaboration The 046 first appeared in our chart in 2023 with the #23 peak of Rhythm & Gutta. Now the Sydney collectve have Legacy In Motion new at #24. Huia rounds off the new albums with Kawakawa at #34. This is the electro-Māori artists first album. - This week we lost a couple of greats. KISS co-founder and guitarist Ace Frehley died at the age of 74 on 16th October. Kiss had four NZ hit singles; their biggest I Was Made For Lovin' You from 1979, which topped the chart for four weeks. Frehley also had a solo hit with a cover of Hello's song New York Groove peaking at #24 in the same year. We also lost John Lodge from The Moody Blues. Well known for hits like Night In White Satin, the Bass player died age 82 on 10 October.
Taylor Swift slips off the top as Olivia Dean regains the top spot on the singles chart with Man I Need. Further down the chart we have two new singles. Joji has the highest with Pixelated Kisses at #29. His fourth NZ hit single is one of the shortest songs to chart this year, clocking in at just 1 minute 50 seconds. It’s the New Yorkers first release on his own Palace Creek label. Back to Olivia Dean, she has the other new single at #35. A Couple Minutes comes from her current long player The Art Of Loving. Australian Tame Impala has the first new album at #5. Deadbeat is the multi instrumentalists fifth studio album and fourth to chart here. The Bats first charted way back in 1985 with seven track EP And Here Is Music For The Fireside. Since then the Christchurch band have listed six albums in the chart. Their last entry was way back in 1990, so it great to see Corner Coming Up, new at #17. This is their 11th studio album and was recorded in Port Chalmers by legendary Flying Nuns Ted Houston. Staying kiwi, the self titled album from Auckland indie-rockers Coast Arcade is new at #21. They came up with the name after a brainstorm, as they needed one for the Rockquest entry form. London rockers The Last Dinner Party place From The Pyre at #24. Formed in 2021, their first album Prelude To Ecstasy topped the British charts last year. This is their first NZ chart entry. bbno$ is new with his self titled album at #25. The Canadian rapper had two singles in our charts but this is his first album. This is album number nine. Staying with rap, 29 year old Ashton Casey (aka Ashnikko) is next at #30 with Smoochies. This is her first album to chart here. Finally, there’s High Dependency Unit with Higher++ at #31. Formed in Dunedin back in 1994, the psychedelic rockers have four albums and three EPs to their resume. Higher was the second EP released in 1997, with this version released a year later with remixes. This version is a reissue on vinyl.
No new singles again this week in a Singles chart that sees Taylor Swift's multiple singles take a dive as both Olivia Dean and KPop Demon Hunters jump up with their multiple singles. Yawn! It's been seven years since Brit Lily Allen charted an album in Godzone. This week the 40-year old breaks the drought with West End Girl at #6. The new album marks the highest she has charted here over her five album discography. The 14 tracks were recorded in just sixteen days in December 2024. Canadian singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar is back with Son Of Spergy at #8. His fourth album also marks a high tide mark. Previously he listed two albums, Freudian peaking at #39 in 2017 and Never Enough at #15 two years ago. British rapper Dave has two hit singles to his name but never an album, despite his first two topping the British charts. Album number three, The Boy Who Played The Harp, changes that with a #10 debut. Tallahassee rockers Creed charted five singles and albums at the turn of the century but nothing since 2009. The fourpiece reunited in 2023 after an eleven year break, so it's approapriate to bring out a compilation. The Best Of Creed is new at #21. I expected Demi Lovato to chart higher with her ninth album but It's Not That Deep can only manage a #35 debut. Three singles were released to support the album. Check out Fast, Here All Night and Kiss. We can't leave the chart before we look at an interesting re-entry. Nebraska from Bruce Springsteen came out in 1982 and peaked at #3. Two years later his biggest, Born In The USA was released, making this an important precurser to the album. Now expanded to five discs, the box set is back at #28.
For the second week in a row there are no new singles as three more Taylor Swift songs get evicted. Even the album chart is quiet, in what is normally a busy time with the Christmas market waking up. Florence + The Machine open at #6 with studio album number six. Everybody Scream is their first in three years and Florence Welch's most personal album to date. So, who is wax mustang and why does he have Greatest Hits! in our chart? Born in Dunedin as Hamish Calder, the 23 year old rapper is a self-proclaimed "big belly" with what he calls DIY Rap. He debuts at #20 with his first album. It's hardly a compilation though. Staying with kiwi hip hop is the second allbum from Mokomokai. PONO! debuts at #25, just seven knotches down from the peak of last years Whakarehu. Kiwi Darren Watson places Darren Watson Sings John Hiatt at #31 with the final new album of the week. His fourth hit album, covers, as the title suggests, a complete track listing of songs from John Hiatt. For the record, Hiatt is a 73 year old American singer-songwriter who charted here from 1987 to 1993.
Stability continues in the Top 5 singles as the Top 40 finally gives us new music....well, two new songs. HAVEN. opens in the Top 40 with I Run at #33. There's very little online about the artist so... The other new single comes from Fred Again.. Talk Of The Town at #40 comes from the USB reissue and is the multi-instrumentalist's ninth hit single here. Album number six from metallers Beastwars is this weeks highest new entry. The Ship // The Sea opens at #4 giving them a fifth Top 5 album. Spanish singer ROSALÍA just misses out on a Top 10 debut with fifth album LUX. New at #11, the album is split into four differest movements with lyrics in fourteen languages, each corresponding to a different female saint. Hayley Williams is next at #12. Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party is her second chart hit here and third overall. BENEE drops in at #24 with Ur An Angel I'm Just Particles. This is her second album after the #2 peak of Hey U X from five years ago. It was written over a three year period. Scottish born , kiwi based singer songwriter Karra Rhodes has the final new album at #38 with Hometown Therapy. Finally, cast your mind back to 2005. That's when kiwis Pluto peaked at #13 with Pipeline Under The Ocean. Now a 20th Anniversary Edition is available on vinyl which places it back in the chart at #21. Double Your Strength, Improve Your Health And Lengthen Your Life from Head Like A Hole from 1996 also makes an appearance, on the NZ Albums chart. The album originally peaked at #33 on the Albums Top 50. Double Your Strength, Improve Your Health And Lengthen Your Life from Head Like A Hole from 1996 also makes an appearance, on the NZ Albums chart. The album originally peaked at #33 on the Albums Top 50. Last edited:
Olivia Dean holds on to the top spot with single Man I Need for an eighth non-consecutive week as ninth single I've Seen It enters the chart at #37. Unlike other artists who monopolise the chart in one week, Dean has been drip feedining all nine songs from her number one album The Art Of Loving since June. Tame Impala has been charting albums since 2012 but never had a hit single until this week. Dracula (new at #40), comes from the multi-instrumentalist's (born Kevin Parker) current album Deadbeat, which sits at #38 this week. Busy album chart with seven newbies. Otorohanga local Triggar Happy (aka Regan Tucker) is first out of the box with Love Loyalty Respect at #4. This is a real success story. Tucker grew up in rural New Zealand and first appeared on a microphone at the age of five. The struggles of farm life reverberate through his music as he defies genre in this country, rock, hip hop disc. It's been six years since Aussies 5 Seconds Of Summer listed a hit single but only three since their last album. EVERYONE'S A STAR! at #5 gives them a sixth Top 5 album and eighth overall The soundtrack to Hazbin Hotel: Season Two debuts at #13. The adult animated American comedy last charted in February 2024, peaking at #6. Christian rapper ИF (aka Nathan Feuerstein) is back with EP FEAR at #14. The 21 minute disc is the fourth time he has graced our charts since 2019. American singer Summer Walker last charted here in 2021. Finally Over It at #16 has 41 producers and half the population of America writing it. Kiwi Andrew Fagan is legendary in Godzone, first as singer in The Mockers but then as a solo artist. Passage Of Time: 1991-2025 is a compilation of his solo work and debuts at #25. Auckland five-piece party punk band Dick Move have the final new album at #28. Dream, Believe, Achieve is their third hit album. Just missing out on the Top 40 is ENZyclopedia Volumes One & Two. New at #5 on the NZ Albums Chart, this is a 5-CD box set looking at an in-depth look at Split Enz' formative years.
Olivia Dean takes Man I Need onto ten weeks at the top making it the third time this year a song has stayed at the top into double figues. Christmas has come early this year with 12 festive re-entries in the first December chart. This time last year we didn't get the first festive single in the chart until the second week of December. It results in no new entries in the Top 40. It's a similar picture in the albums chart with only one new album, as Mr and Mrs Christmas (aka Careyand Bublé) re-enter the 40. Troy Kingi stands alone with Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords new at #18. It is his 8th Top 40 album and 11th on the NZ albums chart. This one steps into hip-hop and R&B and heavily influenced by his own love of '90s rap.
In America Mrs Christmas jumps back to the top of the chart with All I Want For Christmas Is You, which is fast becoming an annual number one. Here Mariah Carey remains at #6, unable to shake Olivia Dean off the top of the tree. Dean has now been at the top for 11 non-consecutive weeks, matching the record for most weeks at number one for a female artist with one song. She is in good company as that other song belongs to Whitney Houston, who took I Will Always Love You to number one for 11 weeks in 1992. Australia's Tones And I (aka Toni Watson) and Katy Perry also spent 11 non-consecutive weeks at the top with Dance Monkey and Roar. South African Tyla has the only new song in the chart at #35. CHANEL is the 23 year old's third NZ single. Very messy album chart with nine re-entries and no new entries. Olivia Dean continues her stranglehold at the top for a seventh week with The Art Of Loving.
It had to happen. Wham! Or Mariah Carey topping the Christmas chart. It was actually a four horse race with Brenda Lee and Bobby Helms to take the top spot. In the end they took the Top 4. John Lennon, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Paul McCartney, The Pogues, Darlene Love, Elton John, The Eagles, Chris Rea (who sadly passed away this week) Ed Sheeran/Elton John, Chuck Berry, John Williams, two from Frank Sinatra, Kelly Clarkson/Ariana Grande and Perry Como add in their respective Christmas hits to take the total to 31 in the Top 40. Still no Slade and no kiwis. Albumside, Olivia Dean holds on to the top spot despite the challenge from Mr Bublé. The chart has a similar response to the singles chart with no new entries, but three festive re-entries, taking the total to seven. Expect a big exodus next week as the chart returns to normal.
