The internet really had its say for the music scene this year as we have plenty of memes and songs that otherwise wouldn't have had a prayer in finding success earlier in the decade appearing on this list.
There were no signs of JT's music career slowing down over in NZ when he dropped his second solo album, true it wasn't a chart topper like it was over here and throughout the rest of the world, however that didn't really matter considering the singles were as popular there as they were internationally, and that the album lasted equally as long on the charts.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Sexyback #1
My love #1
What goes around comes around #3
Lovestoned #17
Summer love #15
Unlike here in Australia where this needed to be a hit twice for Duffy to become a best seller, it was an instant success over in NZ thanks to the lead single becoming a massive success upon its initial release over there likely due to its inclusion on the Sex in the city theatrical film. Sadly, this didn't do Duffy any favours going into the 2010's given how Adele stole her crown as the queen of throwback soul music.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Mercy #4
Warwick avenue #15
Opshop are a NZ Britpop band who scored a massive hit with their second album thanks to the singles becoming a massive success for them in their homeland. Their next album was also a massive hit for the band at the start of the 2010's, however they haven't released any new material since due to them going on hiatus in 2013.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Maybe #3
One day #4
This had a similar trajectory to its popularity over in NZ than it did here in Australia, namely that it was a decent success upon its initial release only to then become a massive success once it became a critical darling over in America. Given how much the kiwis loved throwback albums from female artists this decade, it was twice as successful over there than it was over here for the troubled singer.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Rehab #12
Unlike in Australia where I'm not dead remains her biggest album, in NZ, that honour goes to P!nk's fifth album which managed to be almost as successful over there as it was over here by having its singles be hits as opposed to the singles on her previous album. Admittedly the only album she found more success with over there was her second album from way earlier in the decade.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
So what #1
Sober #7
Please don't leave me #19
Bad influence #12
Funhouse #15
Given how these guys already had a massive hit with their previous album over in NZ (and a mainstream hit at that unlike a sleeper hit here in Australia) it only makes sense that this album would also be massive over there months prior to when it took off in their native America. Unfortunately, rock music was just as unpopular in NZ throughout the 2010's as it was worldwide which makes this their final successful album there as well.
Peak position #1x9
Hit singles
Sex on fire #2
Use somebody #5
Revelry #19
Notion #25
Much like here in Australia, this third album from Rihanna only became a massive success in NZ once the deluxe edition dropped a year after its original release. Granted the album was decently successful upon its initial release in both countries, however it was only due to the deluxe edition that it managed to convince audiences that Rihanna was a household name and not just a singles artist.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Umbrella #1
Shut up and drive #12
Hate that I love you #6
Don't stop the music #3
Take a bow #2 (deluxe edition)
Disturbia #1 (deluxe edition)
Rehab #12
Much like in Australia, this also had immediate success over in NZ despite it failing to crossover to her native America initially, I guess the kiwis were also ready for a new queen of pop given how her album Hard candy failed to become a success over there months prior to when this was first released.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Just dance #3
Poker face #1
Eh eh #9
Lovegame #12
Paparazzi #5
Tiki Taane was the lead singer of the NZ EDM group Salmonella Dub, naturally he would find success as a solo artist once the hits began to dry up for the band even though this was only a success due to the runaway success of one of its singles which wound up becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade over there. He did release a second album once this became a massive success, however that proved to be a huge flop.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Always on my mind #1
I guess congratulations are in order for Chris Brown given how he managed to release an album in NZ that was more popular than any album from his (then) girlfriend Rihanna throughout her career, admittedly this was back when he was seen as a positive role model in the RNB scene as each of the songs on here manage to become massive hits worldwide for him back in the day.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Wall to wall #15
Kiss kiss #1
With you #1
Forever #1 (deluxe edition)
Take you down #7
Superhuman #15 (deluxe edition)
Even though the kiwis were more interested in Timbaland's project as a lead artist initially, it appears we Aussies proved to be more intrigued by this album in the long run as it was much more successful here than it was over there for the producer/rapper. That said, there was little chance this was going to fail over there given how he was the most in demand producer of the decade.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Give it to me #2
The way I are #2
Apologize #1
Scream #9
Even though the singing in the film adaptation of the Broadway play Mamma Mia was widely criticised by critics and audiences alike (particularly that from Pierce Brosnan) it appears that didn't prevent the soundtrack from being a massive success for the film given how it was equally as successful in NZ as it was in Australia upon the films release.
Peak position #1x6
This was another instant success for Coldplay in NZ like it was throughout the rest of the world, it was a predictable hit for the band given how inescapable their previous three albums were upon its initial release. They may have had to adjust their sound going into the new decade which caused fans to accuse them of selling out, however doing so allowed them to find further success in the 2010's which was unusual for a rock band.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Violet hill #5
Viva la Vida #18
Much like their previous two albums, this third album was more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, proving how much more the kiwis loved these guys over us Aussies back in the day. Unlike their previous two albums, the singles were also more successful from this album for the band, although I get the feeling that's more due to the kiwis fully incorporating digital sales onto their charts by this point.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
What I've done #9
Bleed it out #7
Shadow of the day #13
Leave out all the rest #38
It's a bit surprising that these two didn't have any success here in Australia, mainly because I've heard Americans talk about them (mainly due to the success of their show) which means they would've had the advantage of their music being played on TV as well as endorsements from making it big internationally. Naturally they were huge in their homeland given how this was around the time their show premiered.
Peak position #1x1
This had a bit of a slow start to its success over in NZ as opposed to the rest of the world where it was an instant success for Beyonce, although the trade-off was that she found far more success over there with its singles than she did internationally which was a given for her catalogue over there as the kiwis seemed to consider her more of a singles artist throughout her career.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
If I were a boy #2
Single ladies #2
Halo #2
Diva #26
Ego #11
Sweet dreams #1
This found the exact amount of success in NZ as it did in Australia, right down to the peak positions of the album and singles which I think is the only album to achieve this feat in both countries. Naturally this meant that Leona Lewis had the same amount of appeal in both countries with this album, an appeal that went away once she released her third album later in the decade.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Bleeding love #1
Better in time #6
Disney were on a roll when they released Miley Cyrus's first album that wasn't affiliated with her character on their lucrative series Hannah Montana, like their other products this decade, it proved to be much more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia despite the singles themselves failing to reach the dizzying heights they achieved here back in the day over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
See you again #11
7 things #24
This proved to be more of a success for Disney in NZ than it was here in Australia, I think it's safe to say that the kiwis were more impressed with what the company had to offer at the time given how everything they released this decade (particularly from the second half) proved to be more successful there than it was here.
Peak position #3
This was the only successful album to come from NZ EDM and hip hop group Kora, admittedly they did have a strange sound to them given how they combined two genres that seemed like opposing forces given how we Aussies and kiwis didn't allow them to become a success simultaneously throughout the 90's, however they seemed to pull it off for this one album which became a massive success despite its low placement on this list.
Peak position #1x1
Given how Matchbox 20 didn't have as much success in NZ as they did here in Australia, it only makes sense that this greatest hits package wasn't quite the success it was over there as it was over here for the band. That said, it did become a massive hit for the band, which goes to show that there was a decent fanbase over there for the band even if it was pitiful compared to their fanbase down under.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
How far we've come #11
While this was only a modest success at best here in Australia for Kings of Leon, it was more of a concrete success over in NZ likely due to the band heavily benefitting from the kiwis incorporating their digital sales onto their main charts which is something we Aussies didn't do until later in the decade. As such, this was able to have a more respectable ranking on this list.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
On call #26
Fans #23
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia given how their nostalgia circuit was much more potent over there than ours was over here during the last stretch of the decade, then again, this was a comeback album for AC/DC in every sense of the word given how popularity they would remain throughout the following decade.
Peak position #1x1
I guess Disturbed were equally as successful in NZ as they were here in Australia given how this album managed to be a massive hit for them this year in both countries, indeed their 2015 comeback was also a massive success over there like it was here (impressive for a rock band) even without the success of their cover of "The sound of silence" over there.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Inside the fire #18
It goes without saying that this would be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia given how T.I already had moderate success over there prior to going in a more mainstream direction that he did on this album. That said, this would be where his winning streak would come to an end given how he struggled to transition his success into the 2010's likely due to his criminal activity.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Whatever you like #1
Live your life #2
Dead and gone #2
Much like in Australia, this comeback album from the Eagles had so much hype to it in NZ that its success was inevitable over there given how much love the band received from the kiwis back in their heyday. I'm sure if they made another album after this, it would've also been a smash hit throughout the world for them.
Peak position #1x2
Given how popular Santana was over in NZ this decade in addition to this year period being surprisingly good for what I consider to be music for older audiences (you have to admit that's the case) there's little surprise that this greatest hits package would also be a success over there for Santana just like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Into the night #24
You may have noticed that there's been a noticeable improvement with entries on this list that feel a bit leftfield of what was popular throughout the 00's, I'm guessing this was because physical sales was still rather strong in NZ during this point in time as opposed to them being rather weak here in Australia. This would explain why this victory album from Paul Potts managed to be much bigger over there than it was here.
Peak position #1x6
The remaining four members of Westlife embarked on a tour during the early months of the year in NZ, the tour was named after their greatest hits package from earlier in the decade which meant that it was a massive success for the former boy band over there and (obviously) nowhere else in the world.
Peak position #1x1
These guys had an amazing run throughout the decade in their homeland even though they failed to translate that success internationally (shame really) so it makes sense that a greatest hits package detailing how far they had come in ten years would be a massive success for the band when it was released.
Peak position #1x2
I guess the kiwis were hoping for a reunion from Led Zeppelin as this greatest hits package managed to be a massive success for them this year as opposed to it being a modest success at best here in Australia upon its initial release. Alas there's still no signs of the band getting back together over forty years after they called it quits in 1980.
Peak position #1x7
This wasn't quite as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, or more accurately, it had stiffer competition over there with all of the entries we've looked at so far on this list given how the Foo fighters were not quite as legendary as some of the legends on this list but were also among the older artists compared to a lot of the newer names on this list.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
The pretender #9
Long road to ruin #21
This was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis didn't find Timbaland "presenting" these guys to be as gimmicky as we Aussies did (I still don't get the point of that to this day.) Indeed, the band would overall find more success over there due to their second album spawning a huge hit for them over there that didn't even chart over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Apologize #1
Stop and stare #11
Just like here in Australia, this also managed to become a success all over again in NZ thanks to the success of Mamma Mia from earlier on this list, there's honestly not much else I can say for this entry that wouldn't come off as redundant, so I won't.
Peak position #9
There was no escaping the High school musical phenomenon during the second half of the decade (trust me, I was there) so it makes sense that the third instalment managed to spawn a successful soundtrack worldwide given that it was released to theatres as opposed to the first two films being Disney channel originals. If you think Disney has only become corporate driven in recent years, I can assure you they've been like this for a while now.
Peak position #1x1
This is an album that would qualify for my comeback list had I based that list on comebacks over in NZ rather than Australia, after all, Britney has had a very rocky decade since her second album given how everything she released between Oops I did it again and this album was a massive failure for her over there save for "Toxic" and "Piece of me." This winning streak sadly didn't last for her going into the new decade.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Womanizer #9
Circus #4
If u seek Amy #17
It looked like James Blunt saw equal success with his second album in NZ like he did here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis considered him to be an album artist even though the lead single from the album was more of a hit over there than it was over here likely due to the assistance of digital sales. His popularity would continue into the 2010's over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
1973 #9
One of the more popular shows to come out of NZ this decade was Outrageous fortune, a crime show about a family who decides to go straight after leading a life of crime with hijinks ensuing from there. I do remember this show being massively popular here in Australia back in the day, so it's little wonder it was a critical darling in its homeland and that it spawned a hugely successful soundtrack as well.
Peak position #1x1
You might think that this recharted on the tenth anniversary of its initial release over in NZ, however the real reason this became a success this year was because of a popular ad campaign for Cadbury chocolates where "In the air tonight" played over what was a gorilla playing drums which amused the kiwis enough to make the song a chart topper over there almost three decades after its release.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
In the air tonight #1
This was a collaboration album between Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and unknown folk singer Alison Krauss that was originally released the previous year to deafening silence likely due to him being considered too old for the mainstream (despite massive success that the Eagles were receiving at the time) and her being a no name in the music industry. Naturally the kiwis eventually saw the brilliance of this album and made it a hit over there.
Peak position #3
This was a success twice in the decade in NZ, the first time was upon its initial release where it confirmed the Black Seeds to be one of the hottest new bands from their local music scene whilst the second was a year after it fell off their charts likely due to a successful tour which encouraged their fellow kiwis that hadn't already to check out what all the fuss was about.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Cool me down #26
From what I can gather, Billy T James was a NZ comedian who had died in 1991 despite only releasing two albums in his catalogue throughout the 80's. Apparently, there was a lot of nostalgia for his work during the last stretch of the 00's as this greatest hits package containing his best work managed to become a massive hit for him posthumously.
Peak position #1x6
Following the disappointment that was their 2005 effort Love is the new hate, Shihad went back to the drawing board for their next album which resulted in this effort which helped them regain some of the popularity they lost from their time as Pacifier from the start of the decade. It would be their final successful album as they would be unfortunate victims of the rock purge of the 2010's.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
One will hear the other #21
Vampires #31
Here's the other big album that Anika Moa had in her homeland before she retired from music to become a TV presenter, this is actually a huge comeback for her given how her second album from 2005 bombed over there and threatened to leave her as a one album wonder in her homeland.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Dreams in my head #16
This was another album whose success in NZ was inevitable given how Metallica had then recently joined the nostalgia circuit with their original material which made this albums success all the more exciting for longtime fans as they felt it was finally a return to form after nearly two decades of them experimenting with their sound.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
The day that never comes #14
The success of this album in NZ was exactly the same as it was here in Australia, namely that while his popularity was on the decline, Jack Johnson was still among the biggest names in the mainstream during the last stretch of the decade in both countries.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
If I had eyes #27
Who'd thought that Neil Diamond would still be finding success with new material this far into his career? It appears the kiwis wanted to listen to new songs from the 70's crooner decades after he had a hit over there with his singles or even his other albums.
Peak position #1x2
Although they had more success with their singles from their first album over in NZ, this was the biggest album that the Veronicas had over in NZ likely due to it being their international breakthrough in the northern hemisphere thanks to the buzz that was sparked from their earlier release. I guess this being a massive hit over there came at the expense of it spawning more than one giant hit.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Untouched #9
This love #14
Take me on the floor #29
Given how Geoff Sewell was the NZ member from Amici Forever, it only seems natural that he would find massive success in his homeland with a solo album given how his presence was likely the reason why the British opera band managed to achieve so much success over there to begin with.
Peak position #2
Much like here in Australia, this was also the final successful album that the Killers had over in NZ as it managed to be a huge success over there during the final stretch of the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Human #17
The kiwis didn't seem to be as interested in this 25th anniversary release of one of the greatest albums of all time as we Aussies were, in fact I'm sort of cheating with this entry as according to RIANZ, this was what charted when MJ passed away as opposed to the original version so I'm combining the two chart runs onto this entries placement on this list.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Wanna be starting something 2008 #4
The step-up franchise had almost the exact same trajectory of success in NZ as it did here in Australia, that being the first entry's soundtrack was a flop with the second entry being more successful due to spawning one of the biggest hits of the decade with its lead single.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Low #1
We looked at the Australian edition of this album, time now to look at the NZ edition which had the exact same chart trajectory over there as the Australian version had over here in that it bombed upon its initial release and became a success this year due to MJ's passing.
Peak position #6
Given that their earlier entry on this list became a surprise success this year (likely due to a successful tour over there) it only seems natural that the third album from the Black Seeds would be a huge success for them which is a given seeing as how reggae was still among the most popular genres in the music scene over there even this far into the decade.
Peak position #2
It appears the kiwis were a bit sceptical at first in allowing Miley Cyrus to become the next Hilary duff back in the day given how long this took to chart over there compared to over here where we Aussies were at least curious upon its initial release. That said, this was far more of a success once the kiwis were on board with making her a household name given how much bigger this was over there overall.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
See you again #11
This was the soundtrack to the Disney channel original film Camp rock, a film that was panned by critics for having a formulaic plot and horrible performances from the Jonas brothers and the up-and-coming Demi Lovato. I will say that the 00's was a terrible decade for Disney as they found themselves making horrible TV shows and movies that have similar issues to what they're currently making nowadays.
Peak position #5
This was a hit again in NZ four years after it became as such for Rod Stewart, the nostalgia circuit must have really been unavoidable this decade if this managed to become a success for him so many times over the decade.
Peak position #1x1
Herbs were indeed one of the biggest bands of the 80's in NZ, so it makes sense that they would release a greatest hits package around this time when 80's nostalgia was at its peak worldwide to help fans relive the glory days of their success.
Peak position #8
I feel this was only a success for Britney in NZ due to the strength of its second single, that's why I believe that her earlier entry on this list was her true comeback over in NZ even if this did revive her popularity with the kiwis after seven years of nothing (save for "Toxic" being a massive hit of course.)
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Gimme more #15
Piece of me #4
Break the ice #24
Radar #32
Rob Guest was one of the most popular entertainers from NZ who managed to score a minor hit in 1978 with "Hanging on," he tragically passed away this year which led to his fellow kiwis paying their respects to his work by making this greatest hits package a huge success for him posthumously.
Peak position #5
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, that is to say, the kiwis were finally able to embrace the band's image like we Aussies did albeit just for this one album as their subsequent material wasn't popular in the 2010's due to rock music in general finding little success in the mainstream.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Psychosocial #35
This managed to become a surprise success this year for Bob Marley, I'm guessing it was just to it randomly becoming popular over the years across the world given how there hasn't been any major updates to his career postmortem since the start of the decade with his duet's album.
Peak position #5
I guess the kiwis had enough love for Enya during the Christmas season of 2008 to allow her holiday album to become a success over there like it did over here, it remains her final successful album anywhere in the world.
Peak position #8
I guess the kiwis were more impressed with the novelty of members of the clergy singing opera classics than we Aussies were given how this was far more of a success over there than it was over here, although it could be more due to the lack of competition the classical music scene had over there as there were fewer successful albums from the genre to make it big.
Peak position #2
This is a bit of an odd entry as this was released nine years after the death of Dusty Springfield, it was a moderate success in NZ likely due to nostalgia the kiwis had for her back catalogue even if she didn't find much success over there (at least according to the Listener charts.)
Peak position #8
Given how this was a massive hit for Gabrielle Cilmi here in Australia as well as in the UK (for some reason) it makes sense that the kiwis would also make it a success for her even if it set her up for a career that ultimately led nowhere in the long run. Indeed, her second album didn't even chart anywhere in the world outside of her homeland.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Sweet about me #6
Andre Bocelli had a good run in the mainstream while it lasted, as such it makes sense he would find success with a greatest hits package just as his popularity was coming to an end in favour for the likes of Andre Rieu and Paul Potts worldwide.
Peak position #4
This is the second greatest hits package to come from Prince Tui Teka posthumously this decade, I guess this was a success due to the nostalgia circuit being strong enough to keep his memory alive this decade much more so than in his lifetime.
Peak position #2
Given how Police managed to put their differences aside this year long enough for a reunion tour, it makes sense that this greatest hits package would be a success for them even if this was the third greatest hits album they released since their final album from fifteen years prior. I'm guessing this is why it was a hit in NZ and not in Australia given how nostalgia was working at the time.
Peak position #4
This was a flop for Bon Jovi upon its initial release in NZ the previous year, it was given a second chance this year due to a successful tour they gave to promote the album which allowed it to be their first big album over there since their reunion from the start of the decade.
Peak position #2
Even though he scored a string of hits over in NZ throughout the decade, this was the only album that Ne-yo had any success with over there likely due to it being a minor success here in Australia (too minor to appear on the Australian side of my site.) Much like other juggernauts of the 00's, he struggled to transition towards the 2010's commercially.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Closer #3
Miss independent #4
Mad #5
As far as I can tell, the only hit that Joe Cocker has had in NZ is with "Up where we belong" back in early 1983. Heck he now has more greatest hits albums on this side of my site than he does studio albums and likely would have even more had NZ tracked album stats prior to 1975.
Peak position #9
I guess the kiwis were more hyped for this comeback album than we Aussies were given how much bigger it was over there compared to over here, they were of course disappointed as the album failed to reach the dizzying heights of success their 90's material achieved, to say nothing of their 80's output.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Chinese democracy #27
I guess this managed to be popular enough here in Australia to convince the kiwis to make it a success several months after it was a chart topper down under, it had a shorter chart run due to being marketed as a Christmas release over there as opposed to being a typical live album over here.
Peak position #3
Even though he didn't find much success outside of his first two albums from earlier in the decade in NZ, it appears the kiwis had enough fondness for those albums to allow this greatest hits package from Josh Groban to be a success in time for Christmas where it wasn't the case here in Australia.
Peak position #8
Unlike here in Australia where Andre's earlier entry on this list was his introduction to us Aussies, this was the first the kiwis saw of the violinist which means it was this covers album that helped him become a household name over there.
Peak position #5
It's a bit weird that we have a greatest hits album from Dolly Parton given how her only other appearance on this side of my site is her duet with Kenny Rogers from 1983 as well as her collaboration with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris from 1987. Even so, it appears the kiwis had enough nostalgic love for her back catalogue to make this a success this year.
Peak position #8
It looked like this was going to be a massive flop for Ladyhawke in her homeland, even after the endorsement it received from Triple J here in Australia, there were no signs of this crossing over to the mainstream from her niche audience in both countries. It finally got a massive boost in popularity when the big hit "My delirium" became a sudden success months after its release over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Paris is burning #40
My delirium #9
Magic #31
Much like the rest of the world, this was more of a sleeper hit in NZ despite it entering the charts fairly high upon its initial release. Their popularity would completely fade over there going into the 2010's as opposed to here in Australia where they had some mileage with us Aussies.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gotta be somebody #24
We haven't looked at these guys in a while, have we? Here we are with their album they released for free on the internet the previous year which of course meant it didn't begin to chart until this year where their label finally allowed it to be an official release.
Peak position #2
Following the success of their album Black holes and revelations, Muse decided to release this live album (which shares its name with a research facility regarding the world environment) which was a decent success over in NZ despite it failing to chart here in Australia.
Peak position #2
We have another entry from Sony's lucrative Essential series, this time it's from Ozzy Osbourne who originally released this in 2003 to deafening silence but for some reason found massive success with it in NZ five years later.
Peak position #8
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