NZ albums of 2019

This second album from Six60 simply refused to leave the NZ charts until very recently when RIANZ finally put a cap on their main charts to entries that are over eighteen months old, if they didn't do that then the first dozen or so entries would chart for the rest of time over there.

Peak position #1x3

Hit singles

Special #1

So high #10

White lines #5

This is another example of an album that needed to be disqualified from RIANZ's main charts in order to finally stop charting over there, it only comes in second place due to being released more recently than the top spot otherwise this easily would've been the biggest album of the decade over there.

Peak position #1x36

Hit singles

Shape of you #1

Castle on the hill #2

Drive #4

Galway girl #3

How would you feel #6

Supermarket flowers #16

Perfect #1

Happier #11

This also recharted several times on the NZ charts like it did over here in Australia, again it's finally been barred from charting over there due to new rules RIANZ introduced to prevent these albums from forever clogging their charts.

Peak position #1x13

Hit singles

Sing #1

Don't #6

Thinking out loud #1

Make it rain #23

Bloodstream #2

Photograph #8

This E.P from Six60 was so popular that it too only stopped charting due to it being disqualified from doing so from this year onwards, this is quite impressive due to it not even being a full album as we're thankfully running out of entries that had this feat on this list.

Peak position #2

Hit singles

Don't give it up #4

Rivers #32

Closer #14

Rolling stone #20

Vibes #9

Up there #37

Although this appears slightly lower on this list, I can assure you this album proved to be equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia due to the kiwis also being well aware of Billie Eilish once it dropped.

Peak position #1x10

Hit singles

When the party's over #3

Bury a friend #2

Wish you were gay #2

All the good girls go to hell #9

Bad guy #1

I love you #39

My strange addiction #21

Xanny #22

Everything I wanted #2

Even though the kiwis had the same love for the Queen biopic as we Aussies did, this is the only entry on this list to be affiliated with Bohemian rhapsody as they didn't seem too interested in checking out their back catalogue following the release of the film over there like we Aussies did.

Peak position #2

You'd think this album would be significantly more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, alas it was only slightly more successful due to the singles finding more success over there than they did over here.

Peak position #1x6

Hit singles

Rockstar #1

Candy paint #6

Psycho #2

Better now #1

Paranoid #6

While this wasn't as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, at least the success of Elton John's biopic did encourage the kiwis to check out his back catalogue which is more than I can say for Queen's biopic and their catalogue.

Peak position #2

Well at least I can say this debut album from Post Malone did find more success in NZ than it did here in Australia, although the way it found success over there was identical to how it became a hit over here.

Peak position #3

Hit singles

Congratulations #21

I fall apart #1

I guess the kiwis weren't as impressed with the Greatest showman as we Aussies were, this is especially the case given how the covers album failed to make a second appearance on this list in addition to this being slightly lower on here than it was on the Australian equivalent.

Peak position #1x4

Hit singles

This is me #13

The kiwis were really hip to the rising popularity of Billie Eilish, true she still needed her appearance on the 13 reasons why soundtrack to find that success over there, however it was more immediate there than it was over here.

Peak position #3

Well at least we cleared all of Ed's entries outside of the top twenty, still the fact this is this high up should tell you how inescapable his popularity was in the southern hemisphere throughout the decade.

Peak position #1x5

Hit singles

I don't care #2

Cross me #6

Beautiful people #2

Best part of me #13

South of the border #14

Remember the name #10

Antisocial #9

I guess Post Malone's popularity came more from his singles in NZ than his album as I'm surprised this wasn't more popular over there than it was over here much like his earlier entry on this list.

Peak position #1x7

Hit singles

Sunflower #1

Wow #1

Goodbyes #4

Circles #1

Hollywood's bleeding #18

This is the album which began the chart monopoly that Six60 has had until very recently due to a change in chart format that RIANZ implemented, indeed it would easily be at the top of this list had I included every instance of it reappearing on the charts and not just its initial run.

Peak position #1x2

Hit singles

Don't forget your roots #2

Only to be with you #5

Forever #11

In the clear #12

I'm honestly more surprised this album was a hit at all here in Australia than they fact that it was only slightly more successful in NZ, again the bulk of its popularity came from the tragic passing of the rising star.

Peak position #1x1

Hit singles (pre death)

Sad #4

Changes #33

Moonlight #25

Hit singles (post death)

Sad #3

Changes #11

Moonlight #8

Streaming had been fully incorporated to the Australian charts by the time Drake released this album, as such, it proved to be as popular here as it was in NZ and the rest of the world thanks to those services.

Peak position #1x3

Hit singles

God's plan #1

Nice for what #1

I'm upset #13

Emotionless #27

In my feelings #1

Nonstop #8

Don't matter to me #6

I think this album being less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia was more due to the kiwis completely doing away with digital sales as that's where the bulk of its success here came from.

Peak position #1x16

Hit singles

Shallow #1

Always remember us this way #14

There's little surprise that this was more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia given how Cardi B dominated the streaming services when this album first came out, although we have to wait and see if she can repeat this feat with her next album.

Peak position #2

Hit singles

Bodak yellow #24

I like it #7

Be careful #39

Well, this isn't a controversial entry at all, in all seriousness, XXXtentacion was a troubled individual who nonetheless appealed to a wide audience and deserved far better than what he got in his short lifetime.

Peak position #2

Hit singles

Jocelyn flores #12

It's no surprise this was more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia given how Khalid is an RNB artist who thrived on streaming services; indeed, we'll have to wait and see if his next album will live up to the hype this set up for him in both countries.

Peak position #2

Hit singles

Better #4

Talk #1

My bad #10

Outta my head #20

While all of Eminem's entries this decade will reappear on this list, I should point out that this is the only entry of his to find equal amounts of success in NZ as it did here in Australia this decade which should tell you that the kiwis weren't as impressed with his output as we Aussies were.

Peak position #1x5

Hit singles

Greatest #12

The ringer #2

Lucky you #3

Killshot #6

Well this was far less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm not sure why given how this used the same strategy as Ariana Grande's earlier entry and was released around the same time as that album.

Peak position #1x1

Hit singles

ME! #3

You need to calm down #5

The archer #28

Lover #3

The man #15

I'm shocked this wasn't among the biggest albums of the decade in NZ, mainly because this was prior to Travis Scott being a punching bag in the music industry as well as it doing gang busters on streaming services upon its initial release.

Peak position #1x1

Hit singles

Sicko mode #7

Stargazing #9

I guess the controversy behind this album (well more specifically the singles) was enough for this to be considerably more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia for Ariana Grande during the final stretch of the decade.

Peak position #1x7

Hit singles

Thank u next #1

Imagine #16

7 rings #1

Bloodline #28

Break up with your girlfriend I'm bored #1

NASA #30

Needy #11

I guess the kiwis didn't find as much love for this album from Taylor Swift as we Aussies did back in the day, although it still retains a fanbase to this day regardless of its bad reputation on the internet.

Peak position #1x2

Hit singles

Look what you made me do #1

Ready for it #9

Gorgeous #19

Call it what you want #34

Delicate #33

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest this was slightly more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia for Ariana Grande, this is despite the fact the lead single didn't get to number one over there like it did over here.

Peak position #1x2

Hit singles

No tears left to cry #4

God is a woman #5

Breathin #11

This failed to appear on the Australian equivalent of this list due to being too much of a sleeper hit for George Ezra here, I would say it was due to streaming pushing it aside except that it was more of a hit over in NZ where streaming is the main way of a song or album finding success in their mainstream.

Peak position #7

Hit singles

Shotgun #1

This missed out on appearing on the Australian side of my site due to it being too much of a sleeper hit to qualify for the list, however it was more mainstream over in NZ for the troubled RNB singer hence why it's on this list.

Peak position #3

Hit singles

Undecided #15

No guidance #5

Don't check on me #13

I'm a bit surprised this was only slightly less popular in NZ for Shawn Mendes than it was here in Australia, mainly because after his initial breakthrough from Vine, the kiwis didn't seem to have much love for his singles throughout the decade.

Peak position #2

Hit singles

In my blood #13

Lost in Japan #32

Youth #22

From what I can gather, this was a highly successful compilation album released at the end of the decade in NZ that was assembled by a radio station.

Peak position #2

This is an interesting compilation album where some of the biggest names in NZ music rerecorded their biggest hits into Marois in order to pay respect to the traditional owners of the country, naturally is was a massive success over there as the decade was coming to an end.

Peak position #1x1

It's interesting that this was still a massive success for P!nk in NZ given how the lead single was only barely a sleeper hit over there, who knows how big her next album will be (whenever she gets around to releasing it that is.)

Peak position #1x2

Hit singles

Walk me home #16

Well, I've painted a target on my back by mentioning these guys on my site, indeed they were moderately successful in NZ just as the decade was coming to an end and even mildly successful here in Australia with this release.

Peak position #1x1

Hit singles

Boy with luv #12

This was the only successful album Juice wrld had during his short lifetime, I would say it rebounded on the charts when he died given how it was released the same year that happened, however it didn't rebound high enough for it to affect its placement on this list.

Peak position #4

Hit singles

Robbery #33

Australian albums of 2019

I’ve decided to rank each album that appeared on the ARIA top 50 for this year based on how well they did on my albums of the 2010’s list from last year, although I should point out that I’ve included albums on this list that were a hit earlier in the decade to show just how reductive the year end lists and indeed the ARIA charts had become throughout the decade here in Australia.

This is the most successful album of all time not just in Australia but worldwide, at least it's never-ending chart run will have you believe that due to its refusal to die on the charts.

Peak position #1x27

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Shape of you #1

Castle on the hill #2

Drive #5

Galway girl #2

How would you feel #2

Supermarket flowers #19

Perfect #1

Happier #16

This is one of the most recent albums that will appear on this list, suffice to say that Billie's popularity exploded worldwide once news of her debut album reached the mainstream outside her diehard fanbase.

Peak position #1x8

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

You should see me in a crown #16

When the party's over #7

Bury a friend #3

Wish you were gay #5

All the good girls go to hell #8

Bad guy #1

I love you #20

My strange addiction #12

Xanny #10

Everything I wanted #2

One of the biggest mistakes I made on my old site was listing every time this second album from Ed Sheeran recharted here in Australia, suffice to say, I won't be making that mistake again and will only be including its success upon its initial release on this ranking.

Peak position #1x8

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Sing #1

Don't #4

Thinking out loud #1

Make it rain #26

Bloodstream #7

Photograph #9

This will forever be Taylor Swift's magnum opus, mainly because it's the point where she transitioned from a country pop star into a pop diva among the likes of Katy Perry and Rihanna in addition to retaining the critical acclaim that she achieved from her earlier work.

Peak position #1x9

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Shake it off #1

Out of the woods #19

Welcome to new York #23

Blank space #1

Style #8

Bad blood #1

Wildest dreams #3

New romantics #35

The Greatest showman is a film that divides audiences to this day, it's either seen as nonsense made for the Twitter crowd or a heartfelt story meant to highlight the struggles of the minorities exploited for the Barnum's circus which admittedly is a strong telling thanks to the performances from the cast.

Peak position #1x8

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

This is me #10

This is one of those albums that refuses to die on the album charts, heck it's still in the top twenty as we speak now that country music seems to be dominating streaming services (as of this writing.) It was initially a flop for the country singer; however, it quickly grew a fanbase as more and more country fans discovered streaming services in recent times.

Peak position #7

(#2 digital, #6 physical)

There was no escaping Post Malone during the second half of the decade, so much so that his second album proved to be more successful for the rapper/singer than many well-established artists of the decade which of course confirmed him as a household name with its success.

Peak position #1x2

(#2 digital, #6 physical)

Hit singles

Rockstar #1

Candy paint #19

Psycho #1

Better now #2

Paranoid #10

Ball for me #14

Spoil my night #19

This was initially released in 2017 to deafening silence worldwide, although it was given a second chance two years later when it served as the unofficial soundtrack to Elton John's biopic Rocketman (despite the official soundtrack being a massive flop upon the film's release.)

Peak position #3

(#4 digital, #3 physical)

This is one of the more recent entries on this list, naturally there was no stopping Post Malone in the mainstream when he released his third album given that it and many of the singles were a massive success for him exiting the decade.

Peak position #1x6

(#1 digital, #4 physical)

Hit singles

Sunflower #1

Wow #2

Goodbyes #5

Circles #2

Hollywood's bleeding #19

While the film does have its critics for historical accuracy (and OK the editing is bizarre in some scenes) the biopic for Queen was rightfully a critical and commercial success upon its initial release and kickstarted the trend of telling fictionalised events of the rise (and in some cases falls) of popular musicians of yesteryear.

Peak position #1x4

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

We're not even out of the top twenty yet and we've already looked at all four of Ed Sheeran's albums he released this decade, this was his least successful due to it being his duet's album which polarised his fans and the general audience at the time of its release.

Peak position #1x5

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

I don't care #1

Cross me #5

Beautiful people #4

Best part of me #17

South of the border #12

Remember the name #15

Antisocial #11

If I were to redo my comebacks list, this would be a shoe in for the list as Lady Gaga's career was just about dead when she starred in the fourth adaptation of A star is born to critical and commercial success thanks to her love for the source material.

Peak position #1x11

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Shallow #1

Always remember us this way #12

I'll never love again #15

One of the reasons why I won't look over the 2020's on this site is because of how Taylor Swift dominates the music scene, between her venture towards indie music and her rereleasing all of her older albums as "Taylor's" versions, it would get monotonous for me to talk about.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

ME! #2

You need to calm down #3

The archer #19

Lover #3

The man #17

This was a flop upon its initial release, mainly because it only came out due to the band finally calling it quits in 2011 after a long and tumultuous career. It became a massive hit here three years later when their biopic became a success on Australia TV.

Peak position #1x7

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Never tear us apart (reissue) #11

This is another album to be critically panned that was nonetheless a success worldwide this decade, such was the popularity of Taylor Swift that her fans would make this a hit for her over many other bands and artists of the day.

Peak position #1x2

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Look what you made me do #1

Ready for it #3

Gorgeous #9

Call it what you want #16

End game #36

Delicate #28

This was initially a flop for Post Malone when it first came out, likely due to audiences not wanting to give the man who broke through with "White Iverson" any success in the music industry. It became a success for him thanks to a live performance of one of the tracks on the album going viral for him.

Peak position #5

(#8 digital, #9 physical)

Hit singles

Congratulations #30

I fall apart #2

I won't comment on how this album managed to become a success worldwide, what I will say is that despite how successful this album was, few if anyone will tell you that it's a good album due to everyone feeling it's a bunch of filler tracks.

Peak position #1x3

(#1 digital, #8 physical)

Hit singles

God's plan #1

Nice for what #1

I'm upset #17

Emotionless #12

In my feelings #1

Nonstop #5

Don't matter to me #3

There was a lot of hype going into this debut album for Dean Lewis, so naturally its success was inevitable for him even if he was an Australian artist on an indie label fighting against all of the big-name artists during the height of streaming.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Waves #12

Be alright #1

7 minutes #10

Stay awake #26

This was originally released in 2017 to deafening silence for Billie Eilish, mainly because it was an E.P that came from a tiny indie label during the height of the streaming age. It finally saw the light of success when she appeared on the 13 reasons why soundtrack with Khalid of all people a year after this first came out.

Peak position #6

(#9 digital)

This is to date Khalid's final album to date (I wonder what's taking him so long to make a third album) it was a more pop friendly album compared to his debut likely to allow him to find success in his native America which this of course did.

Peak position #2

(#2 digital, #5 physical)

Hit singles

Better #4

Talk #4

My bad #14

Outta my head #20

This was an album that Eminem released after the critical disaster that was Revival (which is still to come on this list) it proved to be more of a critical success for him enough to restore his popularity for the second time in his career.

Peak position #1x4

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Greatest #15

Kamikaze #13

The ringer #5

Lucky you #4

Killshot #11

This was an album that Ariana Grande rush released following the success of her album Sweetener (which is still to come on this list) it's an album that seems to be provocative by design given how it lit up the internet in a polarising way upon its initial release.

Peak position #1x5

(#1 digital, #3 physical)

Hit singles

Thank u next #1

Imagine #15

7 rings #1

Bloodline #11

Break up with your girlfriend I'm bored #2

NASA #16

Needy #13

This is the third time that this album became a success for Queen, mainly because of the success of Bohemian rhapsody which did a fantastic job in introducing their back catalogue to a new generation of fans.

Peak position #3

(#2 digital, #2 physical)

This was released to deafening silence in 2000, likely because the world felt there was no need for a third edition of this series of Queen albums given how the second edition came out mere months prior to Freddie's untimely death. It finally became a success thanks to the success of their biopic from earlier on this list.

Peak position #4

(#4 digital, #7 physical)

You'd think with the success of this E.P from Tones and I that her debut album would be a massive success for her when she finally released it in 2021, alas it wasn't as Australian artists haven't been well supported since the turn of the decade.

Peak position #3

(#2 digital, #4 physical)

Hit singles

Johnny run away #12

Dance monkey #1

Never seen the rain #7

This is an album that was mired in controversy since its initial release, it was a modest success upon its initial release but was spiked in popularity when the rapper tragically passed away shortly after its release where it's stuck to the bottom half of the album charts ever since.

Peak position #2

(#5 digital)

Hit singles (pre death)

Sad #9

Changes #47

Hit singles (post death)

Sad #4

Changes #15

This will be the only album to appear on this list from Shawn Mendes, Illuminate was a hit but too much of a sleeper hit to make the cut whilst his other albums were a complete flop here in Australia.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

In my blood #9

Lost in Japan #27

Youth #19

While her popularity is finally beginning to dwindle here in Australia, it's clear that we Aussies still have plenty of love for P!nk given how her most recent album (as of this writing) is among the most popular of the decade down under.

Peak position #1x3

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Walk me home #12

Hurts 2b human #48

This is an album that was extremely lucky to have any amount of success when it did given how Amy Shark was an indie artist who definitely wasn't capable of competing with streaming services when she released her debut album, this might have been one of the biggest of the whole decade had it not been pushed aside for the likes of Drake and Ed Sheeran from earlier on this list.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Adore #3

I said hi #6

Mess her up #29

This will be the only album that will ever be a success for Travis Scott, mainly because of a disastrous event that is named after this album that I won't talk about but has since rightfully gotten this guy cancelled in the music industry.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital)

Hit singles

Sicko mode #6

Stargazing #10

This was meant to be a comeback album for Ariana Grande, not that her previous album was a flop but rather it was mired in controversy due to her displaying public behaviour that was highly contentious throughout the decade. It was a massive hit for her; however, she still felt the need to rush release a follow-up that was far more successful as we've seen on this list.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #3 physical)

Hit singles

No tears left to cry #1

God is a woman #5

Breathin #8

This was a greatest hits album that became a success multiple times this decade, again we're only looking at how well it did initially given how much nostalgic love there's been for the band and its lead singer Jimmy Barnes.

Peak position #2

(#1 digital, #2 physical)

This is to date the Hilltop Hoods most recent album; it was a big success upon its initial release which is impressive given how it had to deal with all of the streaming services that pushed away any album that wasn't from the big names promoted on Spotify and those other services.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

Hit singles

Clark Griswold #48

Leave me lonely #11

Exit sign #16

This remains Cardi B's only studio album in her catalogue, although she has been fairly controversial since her breakthrough with the lead single for a multitude of different reasons. Let's just say that her comparisons to Nicki Minaj was the least of her problems which is why she struggles for mainstream relevancy nowadays (as of this writing.)

Peak position #5

(#4 digital)

Hit singles

Bodak yellow #33

I like it #14

This is one of the more recent entries on this list, this is due to album sales conveniently being at an all time low coming out of the decade due to streaming pushing aside any incentive for audiences to buy music going into the 2020's. Not bad for an Australian soul group considering how that demographic usually struggles for mainstream success here.

Peak position #2

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

By far the most recent entry on this list, this managed to sneak into the ARIA top 50 for 2019 which is something rare for an album released past October of that year. I guess we Aussies really wanted to allow Robbie Williams to finally make a Christmas album in his catalogue when he did.

Peak position #1x1

(#2 digital)

It appears that Jimmy Barnes can still find modest success here in Australia as recently as 2019 given how his (at the time of writing) most recent album managed to make the cut for this list of mine.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)

I'm not entirely sure how this entry from Slipknot managed to become a success by the end of the decade, I guess it was due to the lead singer's appearance in a video that I'm sure will send shivers down the spine of any fan of Pink Floyd.

Peak position #1x1

(#1 digital, #1 physical)