This was the first year of the 21st century, as well as the year where reality TV began to sink its teeth into the music industry as we started seeing many reality show contestants score massive hits worldwide. At least that wouldn't be an issue in the southern hemisphere until 2004 which means we still have a bunch of hits from non-TV stars to make it big until then.
Unlike in Australia where this had most of its success when Linkin Park had their big hit on Billboard, in NZ it had most of its success upon its initial release in lieu of the lead single becoming a hit over there like it was down under. Indeed, the band didn't have much success with their singles over there throughout the decade, however it was in favour of their albums seeing much more success.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Crawling #37
In the end #10
Given how Robbie Williams was already one of the biggest names in music entering the 00's in NZ, it only makes sense that his third solo album would be an instant success over there as opposed to here where it needed the runaway success of one of its singles to become as such. His popularity over there would line up with how big it was over here with his subsequent material later in the decade.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Rock DJ #1
Kids #5
Better man #4
Supreme #3
Let love be your energy #11
This had more of an immediate success for Craig David in NZ than it did here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis already went through an entire decade of RNB as opposed to us Aussies being more into EDM around the time this was initially released in the southern hemisphere. Of course, the album was a massive success in both countries thanks to how inescapable the singles were.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fill me in #11
7 days #6
Walking away #1
Rendezvous #31
Much like in Australia, this album from Limp Bizkit proved to be their magnum opus in NZ despite being panned by critics for its vulgar content (trust me, if you don't already know what the title is referring to, you're better off for not knowing.) Also like in Australia, their next album would be a huge commercial disappointment despite it containing their biggest hit with its lead single.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Take a look around #29
Rolling #14
My way #41
While this breakthrough album from Eminem proved to be equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, it appears to have come at the expense of hit spawning a hit over there like it did over here as none of the singles managed to catch on in their mainstream for some reason. He wouldn't have this conundrum with his next album which saw massive success with its singles in addition to it being a best seller.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
The real slim shady #15
Stan #14
Well at least the kiwis managed to make this album a success upon its initial release, although this seemed to come at the expense of the album spawning a hit for Nelly over there given how "Ride wit me" was released as a single several months prior to it ever being associated with Scary movie 2 like it was here in Australia. I'm guessing this is what led to him having more success here overall than he did over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Country grammar #42
Ride wit me #20
Normally it's us Aussies that are into EDM albums and the kiwis are the ones that overlook them; however, it appears that the opposite is the case with this entry as they quickly gravitated towards this album upon its initial release as opposed to us Aussies who only made it a minor sleeper hit about a year after its initial release over here.
Peak position #8
I guess the kiwis were finally willing to give these guys some well-deserved hits from this album as this managed to be the only album from the Corrs that managed to spawn hits for them over there despite their previous two albums being a massive success each for them throughout the 90's whilst failing to do so. This did lead to them scoring a hit off their greatest hits album over there that wasn't as such over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Radio #19
Breathless #3
Irresistible #8
Give me a reason #13
A major theme with these lists is me pointing out how refusing the release of a single to boost an album's popularity proved pointless here in Australia given how the album remained equally as popular in NZ such as this debut from Dido. Granted the singles were released over there due to Sony feeling that the lead single didn't pose much of a threat to Eminem's "Stan," although that might be because that flopped over there for some reason.
Peak position #1x9
Hit singles
Thank you #3
Here with me #3
Hunter #28
The boy bands might've been over by the time Westlife released their second album, however that didn't prevent the Irish fivesome from finding worldwide success with said album given how it was a massive hit for them over in NZ. I guess it did briefly chart here in Australia as the Irish lads did have sound success with their debut album here, however it was inconsequential compared to their success internationally.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
My love #3
I lay my love on you #24
When you're looking like that #30
Uptown girl #4 (deluxe edition)
Much like everywhere else in the world, this had a slow start to its success over in NZ due to people feeling that Nelly Furtado would be a one hit wonder with the lead single from the album. Of course, the success this album had once the second single dropped over there was very predictable given how that single quickly became one of the biggest hits of the decade over there due to its popularity in America.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I'm like a bird #2
Turn off the lights #1
On the radio #5
I'm guessing this albums success here in Australia came due to it being an even bigger success over in NZ months prior to it crossing over here, although I'm not sure why it was more successful over there as neither of the singles became a success (despite me having vivid memories of them being overplayed back in the day.) I guess this was a success over there due to Faith being considered the new Shania Twain by the kiwis.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Breathe #27
The way you love me #23
One of the bigger bands from NZ this decade was Salmonella dub, they were an EDM group who managed to score minor success entering the decade with their album Killervision given that was when EDM became more mainstream over there like it was throughout the 90's here in Australia. That said, this album's success was far more than its placement on this list suggests given how it lingered in the lower half of their charts for quite some time.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Love your ways #11
This was more of an immediate success over in NZ, so much so that it managed to reach the upper echelons of their charts unlike here in Australia where it only qualified for that side of my site due to it lingering around forever in a day for the (literally) animated band. It's no surprise this was a hit for them over there given how it spawned a genuine hit for them with its second single.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Clint Eastwood #12
19/2000 #1
Although these guys never found much success with their singles over in NZ (at least compared to here in Australia they didn't) I don't think they would've minded so much given how massively popular each of their albums were during their time in the spotlight. Even though this failed to spawn a hit for them over there, its popularity happened the same time that the lead single became a hit over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Yellow #23
Trouble #36
As per tradition, Simon and Garfunkel were able to enter a new decade with a highly successful greatest hits package over in NZ proving once more how much the kiwis loved their back catalogue from the 60's. Indeed, this was the duo's most successful album in this regard to the point where they didn't bother releasing another album over there once the 2010's had begun.
Peak position #5
I guess if this managed to be a massive success for Shaggy here in Australia, then it's success over in NZ was inevitable given how much the kiwis loved his music throughout the 90's compared to us Aussies. Still, it's worth noting that even though it appears much higher on this list and even began charting much sooner over there than it did over here, it was ultimately more successful here thanks to the singles being bigger here.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
It wasn't me #6
Angel #4
Luv me luv me #34
Hope #34
I guess the kiwis were more interested in reliving the glory days of when Billy Joel released new music than us Aussies were, either that or they just wanted to make this greatest hits package a bigger success than it was over here given how much more successful it was over there back in the day.
Peak position #2
It appears we Aussies weren't that interested in hearing the works of Aaron Lewis and company back in the day, fortunately the kiwis certainly were as their big breakthrough in their native America managed to crossover there thanks to what I'm sure was heavy airplay of the albums lead single. Even so, they remain a one album wonder over there like they were everywhere else in the world with this release.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
It's been awhile #13
While this didn't end up being as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, at least it was a success much sooner over there due to the kiwis instantly falling in love with the lead single as opposed to it only being a big success here rather than one of the biggest hits of the decade over there. All of this success and she still was in danger of becoming a one album wonder over there until her third album.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Falling #1
A woman's worth #5
Much like here in Australia, this was the only other successful album that Destiny's Child had in NZ given how their final album from later in the decade was a massive disappointment for fans worldwide likely due to the standards both they had for it not being met due to how well received the solo albums of Beyonce and Kelly were prior to its release.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Independent women #1
Survivor #3
Bootylicious #4
Emotion #2
Nasty girl #46
It was inevitable that this greatest hits package from Lenny Kravitz would be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia given how he managed to somewhat retain his popularity throughout the 90's over there rather consistently, indeed the bonus track from the album became a massive hit for him over there as opposed to it merely being a sleeper hit at best over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Again #5
Che Fu already achieved sound success with his first solo album during the late 90's, however I don't think anyone was expecting the former Supergroove frontman to achieve massive success with his sophomore album going into the new millennium. Sadly, third time wasn't the charm for him as his third album failed to make any sort of impact for him later in the decade.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Fade away #2
Random #19
Misty frequencies #10
Nowadays most people think of the Russian producer whenever they hear the name Zed (even though his name is spelt as Zedd) back in the day however, that was the name of a NZ alternative rock band who scored massive success with their debut album given how they were able to score a string of hits (some bigger than others) off the album before fading into obscurity as the decade went on.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I'm daisy #15
I'm cold #19
Glorafilla #9
Renegade fighter #4
Come on down #12
Driver's side #36
One of the biggest names of the decade in NZ was Hayley Westenra, she was a teenage opera singer who got her big break with this album over there thanks to opera music seeing a massive surge in popularity worldwide around the turn of the millennium. Her popularity over there would result in her seeing minor success here in Australia with her next album later in the decade.
Peak position #1x4
Given how Eminem's earlier entry on this list was equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia, it makes sense that his first album with his posse D12 would also be a success over there even if it also failed to produce a hit single for him over there like his earlier entry did. Much like the Eminem show, their next album would also not have any issues with giving the group some hits over there later in the decade.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Purple pills #17
Shit on you #32
You have no idea how much love the kiwis have for UB40 over the years, heck I wouldn't be surprise if that love hasn't diminished given how they still occasionally chart over there with new material and the odd greatest hits package.
Peak position #4
There haven't been many successful metal bands from NZ over the years, one of the lucky few to achieve success over there was Tadpole who scored a massive hit with their debut album from the start of the decade due to it being released at a time where all kinds of metal were able to find success worldwide effortlessly. Naturally they struggled to repeat this success later in their career due to how lucky they were with this album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
For me #12
Backdoor #12
Alright #21
This was originally released in 1998 to deafening silence for David Gray, I'm guessing because folk rock wasn't very popular in his native UK during the late 90's which seemed to be all about teen pop and nostalgia baiting from the twentieth century. It was given a second chance likely due to there being a sudden rise in more down to earth music entering the 21st century.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Babylon #31
Apparently in Germany, this film is called Schokolade zum frühstück (chocolate for breakfast) which I feel is a strange title since I've seen this movie (and its sequel) several dozen times and can confirm that at no point does Bridget obsess over chocolate at any point during the day, let alone breakfast. I feel like bringing that up as there's nothing more I can add about the success of its soundtrack that I haven't already covered.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
It's raining men #15
Out of reach #2
It's a bit of a surprise that this was a success over in NZ and not here in Australia given how immensely popular Bob Dylan was in both countries throughout the twentieth century, although admittedly his popularity was much bigger over there during the 80's even though people consider that to be the dark ages in his catalogue.
Peak position #2
I guess pulling the lead single from this soundtrack from shelves here in Australia did benefit the success of the soundtrack here after all as it was far less successful over there than it was down under, however its success here could also be due to patriotism since the film was made here in Australia even though Baz Lurhman was already a household name in Hollywood when it was released this year.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Lady marmalade #1
This was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia even if this too was a sleeper hit over there, I guess the trade-off for this was that the lead single wasn't a huge chart topper over there like it was over here despite it having airplay on its side with the kiwis. These guys are a one album wonder over there just like they are throughout the rest of the world as their subsequent follow ups all bombed.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Hanging by a moment #6
Sick cycle carousel #47
While the popularity of Tool did die down in NZ like it did here in Australia, it obviously wasn't to the same extent as this album managed to have a higher placement on this list despite charting lower over there than it did over here.
Peak position #2
This was almost a flop for J-Lo over in NZ given how the singles massively underperformed over there, however much like the rest of the world, it received a boost in popularity once the "remixes" of some of its songs became popular which led to an entire album of her commissioning remixes of each of the songs that was released the following year to massive success.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Love don't cost a thing #1
Play #7
Ain't it funny #31 (remix #34)
I'm real #3 (both original and remix)
I'm gonna be alright #30
This was a greatest hits package from the 60's band the Hollies, it became a success in NZ this year likely due to the kiwis feeling nostalgia for their catalogue which is a bit odd considering they hadn't had a hit over there since the launch of the RIANZ charts in 1975.
Peak position #1x1
From what I can gather, this album was released on the twentieth anniversary of its initial release in NZ where it became a hit for Dr Hook all over again, in fact it was able to match the success it achieved here in Australia twenty years prior by finally getting to number one over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1x1
This proved to be less successful a greatest hits package for the Corrs over in NZ, likely because they only started finding success with their singles over there with their (then) most recent album from earlier on this list, which made this album of theirs a tad redundant compared to here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Would you be happier #10
Much like the rest of the world, this greatest hits package from the Beatles was a massive success in NZ around the twentieth anniversary of John Lennon's tragic murder. I don't have much more to add to this entry as its success over there was for the exact same reason it was over here.
Peak position #1x9
We looked at their third album on the Australian side of my site, time now to look at the debut album from Bond which was a decent success for them over in NZ as well as it being a minor hit here in Australia (too minor to appear on that side of my site unfortunately.) Sadly, the kiwis didn't keep them around any further in the decade as Classified didn't even chart over there.
Peak position #10
It appears the kiwis were much more willing to give Diana Krall a chance when she sparked international interest with this album as this managed to be a hit over there upon its initial release as opposed to here in Australia where it had to wait until the following year before it became a hit for her.
Peak position #6
You'd think this would be a massive success for Fur patrol given how it spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade as its lead single, alas it was only a sleeper hit for the band in their homeland as it stuck around due to it spawning a couple of other minor hits which stuck around on their charts due to strong airplay.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Lydia #1
Andrew #24
Spinning a line #40
This would've been a mere modest success for Atomic kitten in NZ given how it only became a huge hit for the trio due to the second single becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade over there, however it rebounded on their charts when the deluxe edition was released which contained their second chart topper over there as well as their native UK.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Right now #40
Whole again #1
Eternal flame #1
You are #13
I guess the kiwis weren't as big of fans of the 00's equivalent of Flashdance as we Aussies were given how much less popular it was over there compared to over here upon its initial release, although at least its theme song from P!nk managed to be a bigger hit over there even if it's more due to airplay as well as her debut album not being as successful over there as it was over here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
U make me sick #10
I think this was meant to be NZ's equivalent of the Main event concert that John Farnham, Olivia Newton John and Anthony Warlow gave back in 1998, I can't think of another reason why two 80's legends would collaborate with a (then) up and coming pop star if it wasn't for charity after all. Whatever the reason for this concert, it proved to be a massive success for the trio as did this live album.
Peak position #2
This was a huge success for the king of rock and roll this year in NZ, likely because the kiwis were already feeling nostalgia for his back catalogue even though they likely would've had it satisfied had they waited a year given how both the producers of Ocean's eleven and Disney would bring his music to the mainstream throughout the rest of the world.
Peak position #1x1
Given how much of an inescapable hit this was here in Australia, it only makes sense that this would be released in NZ as Powderfinger's debut album where it did extremely well as a sleeper hit. The real success of this album came when it spawned their first genuine hit in their career with the lead single given how "My happiness" was more of a sleeper hit over here despite having a high peak position.
Peak position #15
Hit singles
My happiness #7
My kinda scene #41
If you were confused as to how the lead single appeared so low on the singles list for this year on this side of my site, then you can rest assure that was due to the success of the album that put the duo on the map as it became a huge sleeper hit in NZ as opposed to it bombing here in Australia. The duo would of course go on to have massive success over there with Speakerboxx/The love below just like they did throughout the rest of the world due to its critical acclaim and inescapable singles.
Peak position #17
Hit singles
Ms Jackson #5
So fresh so clean #46
You'd think this spawning a hit for Travis in NZ would mean that it would've seen more success for the Scottish band over there than it did over here, alas it only proved to be equally as successful for them with the kiwis as it was with us Aussies back in the day. This means that it was the last they heard from them as they too gave up on them in favour of Coldplay from earlier on this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Sing #8
Side #20
It's a bit surprising to me that this album from U2 wasn't anywhere near as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia given how overplayed the lead single remains to this day throughout the world, indeed you'd think a band who saw so much more success in the 80's over there than they did over here would've thrived over there with this album given how people claim it's a return to their heyday in terms of its sound.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Beautiful day #7
Stuck in a moment you can't get out of #17
Elevation #35
The success of this album from Moby in NZ came about the same way it did internationally, that is, the singles were flogged on every commercial imaginable going into the new millennium which drove those who weren't a fan of the album insane back in the day. Still it did allow the techno musician to find success that had alluded him throughout the 90's.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Bodyrock #20
Why does my heart feel so bad #28
Porcelain #17
This was an instant success in NZ following the surprise success of Creed's debut album, although it did rebound on the charts a year after its release over there when they scored their Billboard chart topper which made them a household name everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
With arms wide open #10
It appears that the kiwis were quite invested in allowing Robbie Williams to cover swing classics from yesteryear just like we Aussies were, in fact this album had quite a lengthy run at number one over there likely due to the lead single being released on time as opposed to over here where it was delayed due to his previous album finally deciding to take off upon this album's initial release here.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Something stupid #1
It's only natural that this was more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia given how Pink Floyd in general seems to be more well loved by the kiwis than they are by us Aussies, indeed their comeback album from over a decade later was also more of a success over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1x1
Much like here in Australia, this was also one of the last successful albums that Andrea Bocelli had in NZ likely due to his popularity being taken away from him by the likes of Michael Bublé and other classical artists as the decade went on.
Peak position #2
Anika Moa is best known as a TV presenter nowadays; however, she began her career as a singer/songwriter who saw massive success with her debut album. She had another successful album later in the decade before she retired from music to pursue a TV career, said TV career has been far more lucrative for the LGBT performer than her music career ever was.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Youthful #5
Good in my head #22
Falling in love again #5
Mother #46
If you're wondering why this solo debut from Ronan Keating has a much lower placement on this list compared to how well it did on the Australian side of my site, that's because the deluxe edition of the album was a massive flop for it over there which means most of its success came from its initial release given how much hype that went into the album following his departure from Boyzone the previous year.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
When you say nothing at all #1
Life is a rollercoaster #2
The way you make me feel #8
Loving each day #9 (deluxe edition)
This was a Christmas album that Hayley Westenra released following the success of her earlier entry on this list, it was a decent success in her homeland and likely would've been even bigger had it not been pulled from shelves once the holiday season was over.
Peak position #4
Eddy Grant was indeed one of the biggest names of the 80's in NZ, as such it makes sense that his greatest hits package would be a huge success over there this year even if it came completely out of nowhere.
Peak position #2
Peak position #4
This also had a bit of a slow rise to its success in NZ like it did here in Australia, although at least here in Australia it was able to spawn a few minor hits as opposed to over there where each of the songs failed to even chart despite airplay being a factor in the NZ charts at the time of its release. Perhaps the kiwis felt that the singles were not worth listening to on their own and could only be enjoyed with the rest of the album.
Peak position #7
For a band that only has two songs that anyone outside of their diehard fanbase would've heard of, America has had quite a long shelf life in the nostalgia circuit given how this is yet another greatest hits album of theirs to be a success on this site of mine.
Peak position #2
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