While we did start to see some international reality stars make it big in the southern hemisphere this year, there was still plenty of artists from the music industry that didn't feel the need to go through that process to make it big this year.
She already had a massive breakthrough with her debut album from the late 90's, so it's only natural that Bic Runga's second album would be even bigger this decade given how the kiwis had finally begun to look after their own music scene at the turn of the millennium. She would have another successful album later in the decade proving that her popularity was phenomenal but not something that would last forever.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
Get some sleep #3
Something good #4
Listening for the weather #14
This was the biggest album of the decade over in NZ, I guess the kiwis really wanted to listen to jazz throwbacks given how the likes of Amy Winehouse and Duffy would also receive much more success over there throughout the decade than what they achieved here in Australia.
Peak position #1x12
Hit singles
Don't know why #24
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
Well, there's little surprise that this was a massive success for Eminem over in NZ like it was throughout the rest of the world, it's release schedule over there was almost identical to what it was here in Australia, the only exception being that "Superman" was released around the same time as "Business" due to the kiwis being unable to decide on which song they wanted to support from the album.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Without me #1
Cleaning out my closet #5
Sing for the moment #5
Superman #42
Business #14
Well so much for denying the release of a single from the album in order to encourage its sales, not only was all four singles released over in NZ as opposed to only three of them here in Australia, the other three songs were also far more successful over there as well as the album itself, proving that tampering with an albums release will only discourage audiences from checking out what the artist has to offer.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Get the party started #1
Don't let me get me #1
Just like a pill #2
Family portrait #5
While this album's true success didn't come until the third single from the album became unavoidable on the radio in NZ just like it was internationally, its initial success was more palatable over there compared to what it achieved here in Australia which suggests that the kiwis still had a stronger alternative scene compared to us Aussies back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
In my place #24
Clocks #13
God put a smile on your face #35
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, I bring this up because Sony felt that by not releasing the third single here in Australia, it would drive up album sales for Avril Lavigne which clearly wasn't the case. For what it's worth, her next two albums saw more success over here than what they did over there even though Sony didn't tamper with their release schedule here when they came out.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Complicated #1
Sk8er boi #2
I'm with you #5
Mobile #26
It appears the kiwis also felt there was still plenty of room for Shakira during the last stretch of the Latin craze that happened from the late 00's to the midpoint of this decade, although this wasn't quite as successful an album for her over there as it was over here if only due to it not quite reaching the top spot over there. Still, having three massive hits spawn from a previously unknown pop star was impressive.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Whenever wherever #1
Underneath your clothes #2
Objection #8
The one #39
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
Unlike in Australia where this greatest hits album was a massive hit throughout its initial run on the charts, this became a hit twice in NZ as it quickly fell off their charts not long after its initial release only to return once Maurice Gibb tragically passed away a year later.
Peak position #1x2
This was one of two successful opera albums to come from Russel Watson over in NZ this decade, although this apparently needed an exclusive release over there given how it was that specific version to make it big over there and not the original version. Even so, it was a massive hit for the opera singer and likely opened up doors for the likes of Amici forever and Il Divo to crossover there later in the decade.
Peak position #1x3
I guess there's little surprise that this was a massive hit for Celine Dion in NZ, heck she never found much success with her singles throughout the 90's, so it failing to produce a hit for her worldwide wasn't much of a hinderance for its success over there like it was in most parts of the world. Although she's attempted to recapture the success she had with her entries on this site over the years, those attempts have sadly been futile.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
A new day has come #20
I'm alive #35
I guess the success of Nelly's debut album had little impact with how big his second album would turn out in the southern hemisphere, then again, I'm pretty sure this album's success came more from the singles than Nelly's skills as a rapper given how fondly remembered the two Billboard chart toppers from this album remain to this day and how most of his other songs have since fallen into obscurity.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Hot in herre #3
Dilemma #2
Work it #17
For whatever reason, this album from RHCP wasn't as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia, although that might be because Flea had become an Australian citizen which prompted us Aussies to make this more popular than it otherwise would've been had he not become an Australian. Their next album Stadium arcadium would restore their popularity to what it was at the start of the decade.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
By the way #13
The zephyr song #9
Can't stop #40
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
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
This was all set to be a flop for Incubus in NZ just like it was everywhere else in the world, I guess fans of their breakthrough album didn't appreciate them changing up their sound so soon after they gravitated towards their music (their last album sat on shelves for nearly two years unnoticed worldwide.) It was given a second chance over there due to the runaway success of one of its singles there.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Wish you were here #45
Are you in #5
I'm guessing the kiwis felt like they had to wait for quite a bit for the third album from Creed given how their sophomore album was an instant success upon its initial release two years prior and that their debut had become a success less than a year prior to its release over there. This would explain why their third album wasn't as big as those two albums given how their hype had died down slightly when it came out.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
My sacrifice #16
One last breath #29
Although he never had as much success with his singles in NZ as he did in Australia, Ja Rule can at least take comfort knowing that his international breakthrough album managed to be more popular over there than it was over here back in the day. Indeed, I'm surprised he wasn't more popular with the kiwis even though he was an east coast rapper, I guess the kiwis weren't impressed with the "thugs need love too" phenomenon.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Living it up #32
Always on time #2
While this did have a slow start to its success over in NZ the previous year, it appears the kiwis were eventually won over by this debut album from Blue as it became a massive success for them this year due to how popular each of the singles were over there. I guess in a way, there was a third round of the boy band wars given how popular they and Westlife were during the first half of the decade over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
All rise #1
Too close #1
If you come back #5
Fly by #9
Best in me #10
Pacifier is actually Shihad under a pseudonym who released their first album of the 21st century under this name to massive success in their homeland, they did this due to them sparking interest in America and their management convincing them that Shihad would be a bad name for them over there for whatever reason. They naturally didn't have any success over there, although they did achieve minor success down under.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Comfort me #34
Run #36
Bullitproof #48
Everything #36
For the third time, a greatest hits package from Little River band with the exact same name managed to become a massive success over in NZ, I'd say this was a tradition that they would begin each new decade with this phenomenon, except there was no such album in the 2010's to become a success over there.
Peak position #1x4
Even though he only scored one hit in his entire career as well as tragically passing away three years after said hit ("E ipo" from 1982 if you didn't know) Prince Tui Teka managed to achieve massive success posthumously with this greatest hits package going over most of his work that was overlooked during his lifetime in his homeland.
Peak position #2
Unlike in Australia where this was an instant success for Nickelback, the kiwis needed a bit of incentive to make this a success over there which they eventually got once the lead single finally topped the Billboard charts months after it was a massive hit here in Australia. I guess they tried to reject the band like most of the world did, but they gave up by the time All the right reasons came out.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
How you remind me #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
Much like here in Australia, it appears the debut album from Sophie Ellis Bextor only took off in NZ when its deluxe edition was released over there despite the lead single being somewhat of a success over there where it wasn't over here. I guess the album was overall as successful there as it was over here provided, we redistribute the success each single it spawned received.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Take me home #18
Murder on the dancefloor #2
Get over you #3
Music gets the best of me #25
This was initially a flop for Goodshirt upon its initial release the previous year, mainly because they were an indie band who didn't have much buzz to them as opposed to many of their fellow kiwis from the start of the decade. Their fortunes changed when one of the songs from the album became a huge success this year which prompted the locals to check out the rest of the album and thus, make it a hit for them.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Place to be #50
Sophie #1
Much like here in Australia, this would be the final successful album that Ronan Keating had that wasn't specifically catered to the mothers of our world, although it's worth noting that he managed to have more success with this album over here (even though it appears slightly higher on this list due to a lack of competition over there) as well as its singles before finding equal amounts of success with his later material.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
If tomorrow never comes #3
We've got tonight #46
Love won't work #23
The long goodbye #47
It appears the kiwis were more on board with celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the Rolling stones by making this album a success than we Aussies were back in the day, as such it has a much higher placement on this list compared to how well it did on the Australian side of this site.
Peak position #1x1
It appears the kiwis weren't as impressed with this second English album from Enrique Iglesias as we Aussies were given how it was merely a sleeper hit over there as opposed to a best seller over here. That said, the singles did fairly well even if the lead single had no appeal with the kiwis outside of its affiliation with 9/11.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hero #3
Escape #4
Don't turn off the lights #6
Maybe #29
Love to see you cry #26
Much like here in Australia, this breakthrough album from Groove Armada wasn't a hit upon its initial release over in NZ the previous year, it only becoming a success this year likely due to one of the songs becoming a runaway hit on the radio, although I don't remember anything other than "I see you baby" being played on the radio which isn't on the album. The main difference is that this was way more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Superstyling #43
My friend #21
This is one of two other album to come from Sony's lucrative Essential series, we already looked at MJ's entry on the Australian side of this site, so let's look at the biggest hit from the franchise that came during an artist's lifetime which I feel was the case for Neil Diamond due to it replacing his even more lucrative Hot august night album which I noticed was no longer charting in the 21st century anywhere in the world.
Peak position #5
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
There was no escaping the king of rock and roll this year anywhere in the world given how both Ocean's eleven and Disney's Lilo and Stitch managed to bring the legend back into the mainstream thanks to how much both films loved his catalogue, as such we have this greatest hits package becoming a massive hit in NZ like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
A little less conversation #1
This is another remix album to make it big in NZ this year, this time it's for Linkin Park's entry from earlier on this list which should make up for that failing to produce a huge hit over there like it did over here given how this album was a flop down under.
Peak position #8
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
Much like in Australia, this was the only other album that Moby found success within NZ, likely because of the derogatory shoutout that Eminem gave him at the time on "Without me" which encouraged the rappers' haters to check out what this guy had to offer to spite the rapper.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
We are all made of stars #37
Given how popular the "murder remixes" of both "I'm real" and "Ain't it funny" was at the time, J-Lo decided to commission an entire "remix" album where she gets a bunch of rappers to duet with her which proved to be a massive success in certain parts of the world this year. It wasn't a success here in Australia given how we Aussies didn't care much for these "remixes."
Peak position #3
I'm real #3
Ain't it funny #34
I'm gonna be alright #30
Although the 12th man did find moderate success in NZ with his albums throughout the 90's, it wasn't until this album of his that the kiwis finally got on board with his brand of humour the same way we Aussies did during his heyday. This led to him having moderate success later in the decade with his final album Boned which will be reappearing on this side of my site.
Peak position #2
You'd be surprised at how little success Josh Groban had outside of his native America this decade, I'm willing to bet the only reason why this debut of his became a hit in NZ was due to the kiwis love for classical music throughout the decade somehow being even stronger than the love we Aussies had.
Peak position #4
Here's the other artist to benefit from Sony's Essential series this year, it turns out to be someone that Neil Diamond collaborated with as Barbra Streisand had a massive hit with the pop crooner with "You don't bring me flowers" from 1978 (which came from her own greatest hits package funnily enough.)
Peak position #3
I'm not entirely sure if it was this greatest hits package that was a success over in NZ or if it was the breakthrough album from Nat King Cole that he released back in the 50's, I'm guessing it was this album because I doubt the kiwis were suddenly feeling nostalgic for the album in droves back in the day to make it a success whereas this album being a success due to this nostalgia would make more sense.
Peak position #2
There were no signs of Westlife slowing down over in NZ as their third album managed to be a massive success for them over there like their first two albums were, granted it spent most of its time in the lower half of their charts which is why this doesn't appear higher on this list, however there was no doubt that the kiwis didn't care that the boy band wars were over at this point in time.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Uptown girl #4
Queen of my heart #4
World of our own #6
Bop bop baby #21
Of all the Lulu albums I could've possibly featured on this site, I wasn't expecting to feature this duet's album of hers that only became a success when it did due to one of the tracks on here appearing on Ronan Keating's earlier entry on this list. Indeed, this proved to be a massive success in NZ for the Scottish singer, which somewhat makes sense given that she had a resurgence in popularity over there twenty years prior.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
We've got tonight #46
I guess the kiwis were bigger fans of the Chemical brothers than I thought as this album of theirs managed to be a massive success over there when it was a minor success at best here in Australia, then again, EDM in general was doing very well in NZ at the time whereas we Aussies had moved on to RNB and hip hop.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Star guitar #49
Although they didn't have many appearances on this site over the years, Herbs were indeed one of the more popular bands to make it big in their homeland which makes the success of this greatest hits package over there make sense to me.
Peak position #1x1
Although this was a minor hit in NZ upon its 1997 release, it apparently was given a second chance this year where it did considerably better for CCR's label over there despite it failing to repeat its success here in Australia around this time.
Peak position #4
Although she wasn't dropped from her label in NZ like she was in America, this is the first successful album that Kylie Minogue had over there since her second album from twelve years prior. Even then, this was definitely more of a sleeper hit as it rebounded on their charts whenever one of the singles were released, although only the third single was more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Can't get you out of my head #1
In your eyes #18
Love at first sight #9
Come into my world #20
While this managed to achieve a higher peak position for POD in NZ than it did here in Australia, it ultimately proved to merely be equally as successful for the band over there as it was over here due to them being a little too late to the nu metal party when this caught on.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Alive #42
Even though this debuted at number one over in NZ, this wound up being a sleeper hit for the Feelers as it's another album that only stuck around due to it rebounding on their charts whenever one of the singles was released. Indeed, their next album would follow a similar pattern later in the decade, making these guys more of a single’s band rather than an albums band.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Astronaut #6
Communicate #13
Fishing for Lisa #16
Anniversary #31
Well, there was little doubt that Eminem's soundtrack to his autobiographical film was going to be a massive success for him over in NZ given how it was released during the height of his popularity worldwide, its success was exactly the same there as it was here hence why I don't have much to add in this commentary.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Lose yourself #1
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
Unlike in Australia where this greatest hits album overlooking U2's 90's output was considerably less successful than their album looking over their 1980's output, in NZ both albums were equally as successful as each other despite the band clearly having more success in the 80's over there compared to the 90's.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Electrical storm #5
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
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
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
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
This was the debut album of NZ's answer to the likes of Limp Bizkit and 28 days, it had a slow start to its success likely due to the kiwis finding nu metal to be a niche genre reserved only for the likes of Linkin Park and Korn. It was given a second chance when it spawned a surprise hit with "Phlex" which allowed the album to become a massive success for the band over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Nil by mouth #38
Room to breathe #32
S.U.I.T #36
Phlex #3
Blank #42
Although we Aussies weren't that upset when these guys called it quits in 2000, it appears the kiwis were given how much more popular this was over there than it was over here which earns it a higher spot on this list. The band would of course reform later in the decade when they were able to put their differences aside for the sake of their fanbase.
Peak position #5
This has the same circuitous route to its success in NZ as it did here in Australia in that it required the success of its second single a year after its initial release to make it big over there, the difference of course is that said single managed to become a much bigger hit over there than it was over here likely due to how much radio airplay it received back in the day and that factoring into the NZ charts.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
No such thing #14
Your body is a wonderland #9
Why Georgia #23
This will be Disturbed's only new entry on this side of my site given how their popularity didn't explode until much later in the decade despite them initially coming from the nu metal crowd with this second album of theirs, indeed it appears the kiwis were more into the nu metal scene than we Aussies were if this managed to be more of a success over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1x1
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