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Forum - Other Charts: New Zealand - Chart Beat 2023

Chart Beat - 2 January, 2023

Brenda Lee breaks the record in the singles chart for the longest time to reach number one. In a week that sees 18 of the top 20 as Christmas songs, the 71 year old takes Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree from 1958 to the top. In June Kate Bush broke the record for longest time for a single to reach number one. Lee breaks that record, although she didn’t chart with it until 2018. From release to number one it’s been 64 years. It’s also a record this week for most Christmas songs on one chart - 30.
Paul McCartney debuts at #25 with Wonderful Christmastime. The song came out in 1979, peaking in the UK at #6, but until this week it has never charted here. It was recorded at the same time he recorded his album McCartney II. It’s been seven years since McCartney charted a single. That one was FourFiveSeconds with Rihanna and Kanye West.
Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry is new at #32. It first came out in 1958 but failed to chart on the then Lever Hit Parade. Berry reported that he wrote the song himself, but then discovered that the name Rudolph was trademarked by Johnny Marks. Marks sued and consequently was given songwriting credit although he "had nothing to do with the song." Only in America!!! The last time Berry charted was his controversial single My Ding-A-Ling which peaked at #19 in 1972
The Beach Boys round off this weeks new singles at #39 with Little Saint Nick. The 1963 single also failed to chart on the Lever Hit Parade but went to #30 in America. The idea for the song was partly inspired by record producer Phil Spector’s plans to record a Christmas album. The Beach Boys last charted with Kokomo in 1988 at #5.
Pity we don't have kiwis chart Christmas songs. What about Bill And Boyd (Santa Never Made It Into Darwin) or Hauraki Good Guys (Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas).
It wouldn’t be a Christmas without Mr Bublé. This week he takes Christmas back to the top of the album chart for a sixth time.
Ariana Grande has the only new album entry with the Christmas Kisses EP at #30. Released in 2013, it is a collection of two covers of classic Christmas songs and two originals.
Next weeks singles chart will be messy with at least 30 new or re-entries.
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Chart Beat - 9 January 2023

...and so to the great reset. All 30 festive tracks leave the singles chart this week giving us 28 re-entries and two new songs. That's the most the chart has seen as it looks more like a Hot40 chart.
Stephen Sanchez joins Em Beihold for the highest new single at #27. Until I Found You is a first for the American singer songwriter and second for Beihold who took Numb Little Bug to #31 last year. Sanchez takes the song from his Easy On My Eyes EP.
Newcomer Libianca opens her account at #30 with People. She appeared on The Voice Season 21 and is a 20 year old from Minneapolis.
And that's it. No new albums this week although the four re-entries replace the Christmas albums.
Chart Beat - 16 January, 2023

Five new singles this week with 37-year-old Miguel leading the pack. To date, the American singer and actor has listed two albums but this is the first time he has crossed over to the singles chart. Sure Thing (new at #8) actually came out in 2011. Last year we had 12 back catalogue singles enter the Top 40 (not counting the 30 others for Christmas). Sure Thing originally peaked at #36 in the US but is back courtesy of TikTok.
American DJ Skrillex last charted in 2015. He breaks the drought with help from two Brits, Fred Again… and Flowdan, for his fifth Top 40 single. Rumble at #21 is the first single from his upcoming album.
Houston based band Hotel Ugly open their account at #31 with Shut Up My Mom's Calling. So far the song has gained 53 million + streams. Brothers Mike and Chris Fiscella first started making songs during the pandemic in their parents closet.
SZA continues to hold the number one spot with Kill Bill as her next single Low enters the chart at #38. This one is hit single #8.
Australian Dean Lewis opened his account in 2018 with the #3 hit Be Alright. Since then, nothing - until now. Hit number two How Do I Say Goodbye? debuts at #40 and is a heartfelt song written for his father who was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Thankfully, that has now gone into remission.
There are no new albums this week.
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Chart Beat - 23 January 2023

There have been three songs in the chart called Flowers. The Emotions (1978), Lauren Spencer-Smith (2022) and now the 17th hit single for Miley Cyrus. The track debuts at #1 and is taken from her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation and includes part of the Gloria Gaynor hit I Will Survive from 1978.
SZA continues to lift tracks from her album SOS and place them in the singles chart. Snooze new at #27, is the sixth.
American rapper and singer Coi Leray is 25 year old Coi Collins. She opens her account with Players at #34 which heavily borrows from the Grandmaster Flash hit single The Message from 1982. It continues the trend so far this year of very short songs. Clocking in at only 2:19 it takes the average length this year to 2:46 which is the shortest average since 1967.
Before we leave the singles chart, L.A.B. take Mr Reggae to 30 weeks. That's the 200th single to reach 30 since the chart began in 1975.
No new albums again this week but another reaches the 300 week mark. The first self titled Six60 album was released in 2011 and this week becomes the third album to reach this milestone. It took 2271 charts for the first album to do this and that was also from Six60. Expect a few more milestones over the next few weeks.
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January has been a really bad year for celebrity deaths. We have already lost Fred White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Lisa Marie Presley, Robbie Bachman, (BTO), Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters), Jeff Beck, Renée Geyer, and this past week David Crosby and our own Larry Morris. Rock in peace guys!!!
Chart Beat - 30 January, 2023

American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter makes her singles debut at #31 with Nonesense. The 23 year old made her acting debut on TV crime show Law And Order and starred in the Disney series Girl Meets World. She first appeared in our charts with emails i can't send last year which was her fifth album.
54-year-old Dutch DJ Tiësto is back with single #3 at #39. 10:35 features Tate McRae and is taken from his upcoming seventh album Drive.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Elton John and Ed Sheeran hit stages across New Zealand this week. As a result tracks and albums from their back catalogue re-enter the charts or get large rises up the ranks.
Only one new album this week. American rapper Trippie Redd places his seventh hit album at #40. Mansion Muzik features the usual guest appearances across the 76 minute, 25 track disc.
WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? from Billie Eilish joins the list of current milestones by reaching 200 weeks. The album currently sits at #33.
Chart Beat - 6 February, 2023

Waitangi Weekend gives us two new singles and four albums.
18 year old Charlton Howard (The Kid LAROI) places his seventh hit single firmly at #17. Love Again is the lead single from the Australian's upcoming albumThe First Time, and mourns what once was a past love.
Nigerian born Rema (aka Divine Ikubor) opens his account at #40 with a remix of Calm Down from last year. Released back in August, the remix includes Selena Gomez and lands at #40.
Englishman Sam Smith charted his 2014 album In The Lonely Hour in the end of year chart but missed out in an entry in the weekly chart. This week, his fourth album Gloria becomes the highest new entry of the week. New at #2, it debuted at the top in the UK, Australia and Ireland and was recorded between Los Angeles, London and Jamaica.
Lil Yachty is next with his fifth album. Let's Start Here. starts at #11 and is his second hit album here. The American claims the album is a non-rap album, calling it like a psychedelic alternative project.
The Bootleg Series from Bob Dylan started way back in 1991. This week Vol. 17: Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 gives him a 40th album entry and places him at the top of the pile for most albums to chart here.
Albanian-American Ava Max is back with her second long player. In 2020 she took Heaven & Hell to #20; now her second Diamonds And Dancefloors debuts at #36. To date the peak performance of the album is #6 in Scotland.
Rumours is the latest entry to reach a milestone. Now at 300 weeks, the Fleetwood Mac album came out in 1977 and re-entered the chart in 2019 where it took up permanent residence. Single Dreams from the album is doing the same and been back in the chart since 2020.
Chart Beat - 13 February, 2023

Two new artists cover the new singles this week.
22-year old PinkPantheress was born in Bath, England to a Kenyan mother and English father. She had seven minor hit singles in the UK from the last two years but number eight peaked at #8. That song, Boy's A Liar, debuts here at #10 and is taken from her EP Take Me Home.
South Korean girl group NewJeans open their account at #34 with OMG. The quintet formed last year releasing an EP in August.
Very predictable album chart this week with no new entries, anything new either leaving or taking a dive and anything old going back up. The entire top 10 are number one albums and clock up a total of 1399 weeks. Ed Sheeran continues to please though. Due to concerts (and I suspect the old random high school concert) he now has three albums in the Top 10 with a fourth re-entering the chart at #34.
Chart Beat - 20 February, 2023

David Burke (aka d4vd) sounds very like a Gary Glitter ballad from the 70's with his second hit single. The American places Here With Me at #40 and to date, has most success with the song in Singapore, peaking at #7.
No other singles debut this week but Ed Sheeran is at it again with two re-entries. Perfect (#27) and Shape Of You (#36) help give him four aged singles totalling 280 weeks. His album + also returns giving him five albums and 927 charting weeks.
Paramore are back with a new album at #3. It's been six years since we last saw them in the chart with After Laughter. This Is Why features the same line up as the last and began it's life in 2020.
Justin Bieber is the latest artist to reach 100 weeks with his album Justice. There are two albums sitting on 99 weeks , with several others bubbling under 200 weeks. Over on the NZ Albums chart, L.A.B. II reaches 200 weeks.
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Chart Beat - 27 February, 2023

Rapper Superstar Pride (not the shoe) has this weeks highest new single. Containing a sample from Faith Evans' 1996 Soon As I Get You Home (which reached #21 in the US but failed to chart here), Painting Pictures debuts at #9. Incidentally, his real name is Cadarrius Pride.
Switching genre's but staying in America, Morgan Wallen gains his first hit single. The country singer songwriter took his album Dangerous: The Double Album to #27 in 2021, but now with a new album, Last Night opens at #31. The track topped the US Hot Country Songs chart.
23 year old Lizzy McAlpine opens her account at #33 with ceilings. The American first released a single in 2018 but this is her first chart entry anywhere. The track is taken from the album Five Seconds Flat which was released in April last year.
Making four new singles from American is Pink with Trustfall . New at #36, it is her 34th hit single and taken from the album of the same name, which debut's at the top to become her seventh number one album.
Skrillex lists his fifth album entry at #8. Quest For Fire is the first of two albums the American is releasing this month with Don't Get Too Close out the following day.
Jonas Brothers list The Family Business at #38. This is actually not an album but a playlist of songs in preparation for the new one in May
In 2001 Shihad changed their name to Pacifier due to their name being similar to jihad. They were trying to break into the US market at a difficult time for the country. With a new name, self titled album Pacifier topped our chart. This week, titled The Pacifier Album, that disc is back at #3, on vinyl and with a restored band name.
Interesting chart fact to finish. We have never had an entry finish it's run at 99, 199 or 299 weeks. Until now. Ed Sheeran has two albums drop off the chart with + finishing at 198 weeks and No. 6 Collaborations Project at 99. Eminem is spared the disappointment taking The Eminem Show to 100 weeks. Teeks also makes 100 weeks with Something To Feel on the NZ Album chart.
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Chart Beat - 6 March, 2023

The Weeknd has this weeks lead new single with a remix of Die For You from his 2016 album Starboy. Ariana Grande recorded the song whilst she was filming a film version of the musical Wicked. This is the fourth time the pair have worked together. Die For You is new at #4.
Australian drill and rap group Onefour are next with Comma's at #30. It's the first single for the quintet, but they have had nine minor hits across the ditch. Their EP Against The Odds from 2020 peaked here at #8 on the album chart.
Niall Horan is back with hit single #3. New at #34, Heaven is the lead single from his new album The Show. The song is about the pressure people have to hit milestones by a certain age.
ARIZONATEARS and Lil Uzi Vert show how to have a hit using only one note at #38.
Watch This (Pluggnb Remix) originally from Mr Vert came out a year ago with the remix 32 seconds shorter. It still took four people to write.
It's taken 22 years since they first came on the scene but virtual band Gorillaz finally have a number one. Cracker Island is their eighth album which began it's life in 2021. It also debuted at the top in England.
Adam Lambert is back after eight years with High Drama at #16. His last, Velvet from 2020, failed to chart here and only managed a #89 peak in his homeland.
Yeat last charted with EP Lyfë last year, now the American rapper has AftërLyfe. New at #17, this is his third album but second entry here.
Staying with American rap, Don Toliver lists his third NZ hit at #28. Love Sick marks the lowest he has peaked in the chart, unless the album rises.
$uicideboy$ and Shakewell combine for EP Shameless $uicide at #39, and American singer songwriter Gracie Abrams lists Good Riddance at #40.
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This week, Don't Forget Your Roots from Six60 becomes the latest entry to reach a milestone. First charting in 2011, their second single reaches 300 weeks on the NZ Singles Chart.
Chart Beat - 13 March, 2023

No new singles this, week but Harrrymania hits the chart after his Auckland concert on Tuesday. Six of Harry Styles back catalogue singles re-enter the top 40. Those songs are: Late Night Talking, Watermelon Sugar, Satelite, Matilda, Music For A Sushi Restaurant and Adore you. His first self-titled album from 2017 also re-enters whilst his latest, Harry's House re-enters the top spot.
If it wasn't for Harry, Morgan Wallen may have had the number one. His new album One Thing At A Time opens it's account at #2 whilst lead single Last Night makes a big move to #8. His Dangerous album also re-enters. The new album is a big one sporting 36 tracks over 111 minutes. He may well get to number one next week after his concert here on Wednesday.
Ruel is next at #10 with 4th Wall. This is the British-Australian singers third album entry but first album with the other entries being EP's. It's also the highest the 20-year-old has been in the chart.
The Veils are back for a fifth time with And Out Of The Void Came Love at #13. It's been seven years since their last album and, according to singer Finn Andrews, intended to be listened to in two sittings with a short break in the middle.
British rapper slowthai rounds off this weeks newbies with Ugly at #30.
Chart Beat - 20 March, 2023

This years new singles have been very short. Of the 29 new entries, 18 of them have been under 3 minutes and only one over 3, giving us an average length of 2:58. You have to go back to 1968 to find the average length lower. This weeks only new single clocks in at 2:43. River is the follow up single to Miley Cyrus' #1 Flowers which currently sits at #2. New at #30, it's her 18th hit single and comes from her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation, which tops the chart this week on entry to become her second number one album. It began as a much sadder song but evolved into more of a dance number.
English post-punk duo Sleaford Mods have the other new album. Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn formed in Nottingham, England back in 2007. UK GRIM, new at #28, is actually their twefth studio album but first to chart here. To date it's also their biggest in their homeland with a #3 peak.
The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
reached the top for 2 weeks in 2006 and was one of the biggest albums that year. This week it returns to the chart at #37.
3 Feet High And Rising by De La Soul reached #28 back in 1989 and is also back, both albums due to their release on vinyl. Last month we saw the death of David Jolicoeur on 12 February from De La Soul so maybe this re-issue is very poignant.
Lewis Capaldi makes it to 200 weeks with Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent and is the latest to enjoy chart milestones.
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I had a look at nationalities in the singles chart and my estimate was correct - we are very heavily influenced by Americans. Over half the chart belongs to the US of A with England in second place. Here's that list (NOTE - a duet counts for .5 each artist):
America (23.5)
England (8)
New Zealand (3)
Australia (1.5)
Canada (1)
Germany (1)
Netherlands (1)
Nigeria (0.5)
France (0.5)
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Chart Beat - 27 March 2023

Taylor Swift has the lead new single this week with All The Girls You've Loved Before at #13. The song is a previously unreleased song from her seventh studio album Lover which was released in 2019. It's her 63rd hit single.
South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty open their account at #29 with Cupid. Formed last year, the quartet get their name from "50 ideal vs 50 reality" meaning 50% chance of reality and 50% dream.
Morgan Wallen follows on the success of his debut single with a second at #37. You Proof is about drinking away the memory of a previous lover and released to honour his 29th birthday. His album One Thing At A Time makes it to #1, one week after I predicted.
Irishman Hozier has been absent from the chart since 2015. He is known for his #2 hit Take Me To Church. Now he's back with Eat Your Young at #38 which is taken from the new EP with the same name.
Auckland psychedelic rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra have the first of two new albums. V (new at #7) gives them a new high tide mark of all five charting albums. Whilst the album wasn't announced until last month, there have been several songs leaked back as far as June 2021.
U2 are no strangers to the charts. Songs Of Surrender is an album of re-recorded songs over four discs; one for each member of the band; giving 40 tracks over 165 minutes. It's their 19th album since 1981's Boy, and debuts at #8.
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Last week we had a look at nationalities in the singles; this week it's the album chart.(NOTE - a duet counts for .5 each artist):
America (21)
England (8.5)
New Zealand (5)
Canada (2.5)
Scotland (1)
Trinidad (1)
Ireland (1)
Chart Beat - 3 April, 2023

Give it another month and we will see a new Ed Sheeran album. - is an album, he says, he has been putting off for too long. The lead single from that album debuts this week at #11. Eyes Closed is his 47th hit single and apparently a tribute to his former music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards who died last year from a drug overdose.
Jimin has the other new single. Born Park Ji-min, he is more known as a member of South Korean boyband BTS. Now solo, his debut single Like Crazy at #36 comes from his debut EP Face which enters the chart at #8.
The ninth album from Lana Del Rey is this weeks highest new entry. Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd debuts at the top to become her second number one. The length of the album is longer than the title with over 77 minutes over the 16 tracks.
Luke Combs comes in just behind at #2 with Getting' Old. It's the American country singers first album to chart here despite it being his fourth.
It's been five years since Fall Out Boy charted but now album number 8 is here. New at #9, So Much (For) Stardust reunited the band with producer Neal Avron who worked with them back in 2008.
Daisy Jones & The Six is a mini series based on the novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid. The album that showcases the music is Aurora which enters the chart at #27.
American rapper JPEDMAFIA (aka Barrington Hendricks) and rapper Danny Brown join forces for Scaring The Hoes at #32; and the 12th album from Brit's Depeche Mode is new at #38. Memento Mori is only 50 minutes long but a CD or Record purchase of the album is gonna cost you an arm and a leg.
It's been 11 years since Dark Side Of The Moon from Pink Floyd charted here but it's back thanks to a 50th anniversary edition. In the states its now 976 weeks old and was the longest charting album here for most of it's life. Now at 298 weeks it sits at #5 on the longevity list.
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New entry numbers are well down on the first quarter compared to last year and kiwi's are once again failing to chart. Here's those figues with last year in brackets:
SINGLES TOP 40: 33 (34)
NZ SINGLES TOP 20: 4 (7)
ALBUMS TOP 40: 24 (34)
NZ ALBUMS TOP 20: 9 (19)
There were no new kiwi singles entering the Top 40 in the first quarter compared to two last year. In the albums Top 40 there were two new kiwi albums compared to 8 last year.
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Chart Beat - 10 April, 2023 EASTER

The sixth hit single for rapper Tyler, The Creator is one of three new entry singles in the Easter chart. The track is taken from the Estate Sale version of his Call Me If You Get Lost album from two years ago. Dogtooth is new at #35.
Luke Combs is next with Fast Car at #39. Tracy Chapman originally released the song in 1988 peaking at 21. Wyclef Jean roped in Paul Simon in 2008 for a remake peaking at #29. Jonas Blue also had a go in 2016, being the most successful version with a #2 peak. This version appears on Combs' new album Gettin Old.
JISOO (born Kim Ji-soo) is the third South Korean in three weeks to debut with a single. The 28-year-old is a member of girl group Blackpink. Flower debuts at #40.
American singer songwriter Melanie Martinez has her first taste at the penthouse suite by debuting her third album Portals at the top. The New Yorker first charted here in 2015 but her second K-12 from 2019 took her to #8.
American indie supergroup boygenius also have a high entry. Formed in 2018, the record is their first long player following two unsuccessul EP's. The trio has received rave reviews for the album in the press.
Chart Beat - 17 April. 2023

The chart continues to evict new entries whilst holding onto old hits. This week we have five singles over 80 weeks old; one of them a re-entry for Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi from 2019.
Drake has the highest new entry single with Search & Rescue at #11. He uses his usual loops to sample a dialogue about the divorce of Kanye West.
Labrinth is next with Never Felt So Alone. New at #24, the track comes from his upcoming album Ends & Begins, due 28 April.
Newcomer Bakar from London, England, opens his account with Hell N Back. The #38 entry was actually released in 2019, peaking at #35 in the UK.
Russ lists Nasty at #39 with the shortest song to hit the chart this year. The one note drones on for 1:56.
Last week the Top 2 albums were new entries. This week they both take a dive to #18 and #28 as NF takes the crown. Hope is the American rappers fifth long player and, of his three NZ hit albums, his first number one.
Canadian Daniel Caesar has the other new album. Never Enough is the third album from the R&B singer and was released two days after his 28th birthday. It debuts at #15.
Pink Floyd finally make it to 300 weeks this week with Dark Side Of The Moon. They were sitting on 297 for 11 years. That's now five albums 300 weeks or more since the chart began.
Linkin Park get the vinyl 20th Anniversary treatment for Meteora causing a #6 re-entry. The 2003 album peaked at the top for three weeks on entry.
Chart Beat - 18 April, 2023

For some time now the weekly Top 40 has been a victim of the digital age. Singles and albums chart well past their use by date causing new entries to suffer. This week that all changes. Now albums and singles more than 18 months old move to a new set of Catalogue Charts. Six long running singles totalling 601 weeks leave as the chart resets.
Chicago raised David Kushner is back with his biggest single to date. Miserable Man peaked at #11 last year; now Daylight enjoys a #5 debut.
Post Malone adds a new single at #15. Upcoming compilation The Diamond Collection hosts new single Chemical as it's lead single.
Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj combine for Princess Diana at #32. It appears on Ice Spices' debut EP Like..? which is new at #33 on the Album Chart.
Lewis Capaldi lists his fifth hit single at #34. Wish You The Best is the fourth single from his upcoming second studio album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent.
Over on the album chart we have 18 re-entries and three newbies replacing 17 long running albums totalling 3184 weeks. There are a few older albums still in the Top 40 but under new chart rules, these re-issued discs can re-chart up to 10 weeks
Metallica open at the top with 72 Seasons. Their eleventh album is a generous 12 track, 77 minutes of metal and seventh number one in a row.
Sydneys 046 Collective open their account with Rhythm & Gutta at #23. The hip hop quartet consist of two Brothers Kymza Ronza, cousin ET and best mate Jizza.
Chart Beat - 1 May, 2023

American David Kushner gains the charts 746th number one single after a #5 debut last week. To date only Netherlands has given Daylight the number one treatment, however there are several other charts where he is currently sitting at #2.
The Weeknd has one of two new singles. His 26th hit single Double Fantasy, new at #11, is named after John Lennon and Yoko Ono's album of the same name and taken from the upcoming television series The Idol.
Tyler, The Creator places See You Again at #22. The track was actually released in 2017 and taken from his album Flower Boy.
Huge week in the album chart with 8 new entries, partly due to Record Store Day.
South Korean rapper Agust D last charted here for one week at #10 in 2020. This week the 30 year old improves his high tide mark with D-Day at #7.
Dutch DJ Tiësto also make an improvement. His 2014 album A Town Called Paradise was his only other charting album until now, peaking at #39. New at #9, Drive is the 54 year olds seventh long player.
Lower down the chart, Taylor Swift presents
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. New at #24 and released in 2020, it is a limited edition, over two hour live album. It's been 25 years since English duo Everything But The Girl charted. Now their first album in 24 years debuts at #27. Fuse is Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt's ninth hit album.
Maoli are Country-Reggae Group from Hawaii. Their debut album Maoli Music Overload is new at #29
South Korea has been responsible for alot of our new music in the past month. The second this week is boy band Seventeen . EP
FML at #35 is a small part of their catalogue which covers four albums and 13 EP's.
Dr Dre charted his second and third album but never his first. A 30th Anniversary Edition of The Chronic from 1992 finally enters the chart at #39.
Pearl Jam gives us the final new album at #40. Give Way: Live was recorded in Melbourne in 1998 and is their 19th charter.
Due to new chart rules announced last week, The Essential Foo Fighters re-enters the chart after one week in the new catalogue chart. Under the new rules, an entries chart histort of peak and weeks gets added to the tally. That makes this disc 26 weeks old, not 25.
Chart Beat - 8 May, 2023

After just one week, David Kushner gives up his crown for South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty. Cupid is the first South Korean number one single since PSY gave us Gangnam Style in 2012. That song stayed at the top for a total of six weeks.
Rapper Icandy has been stirring up a storm with her latest offensive single. Keep Dat Ni**a, is new at #36.
American Kali Uchis has the second new single. New at #38, Moonlight is the 28 year old's second hit after the #35 peak of telepatia from 2021. Moonlight comes from her new album Red Moon in Venus.
Metro Boomin and Future list Too Many Nights at #39. This one is the latest single from Metro's album Heroes & Villains.
Multi-instrumentalist Moses Mackay comes from Auckland of Samoan decent and is an actor, musician, baritone, and media personality. His debut album Grace flies to the top of this weeks chart. You may recognise him as one third of Sol3 Mio. Between touring and song writing, Moses was a breakfast radio host on FLAVA and was The Bachelor 2021 for TVNZ.
The National last charted here in 2019. First Two Pages Of Frankenstein is their ninth studio album, which debuts at #4, and comes after writer Matt Berninger had a writing block.
Album number 3 from Jack Harlow calls in at #8. Jackman. is titled after the rappers first name.
Album #4 from Aucklanders Tiny Ruins debuts at #9. Ceremony is the highest they have been in the chart since they first appeared in 2011.
I started off in South Korea, lets finish there. LE SSERAFIM is the latest SK act to appear in our charts. Unforgiven, new at @28, is the first album from the five-piece girl group. The group's name, Le Sserafim, is an anagram of the phrase "I'm Fearless".
Next week - Ed Sheeran!!!
Chart Beat - 15 May, 2023

As predicted last week, this week it's all about Ed Sheeran. Now age 32, the Englishman places his sixth number one album in a row into our charts. That places him fourth equal with Pink. Above him is Eminem (8), Taylor Swift (9) and U2 (13). He also lists three new singles taking his total to 49 with Boat (#23), Curtains (#25), and Salt Water (#36).
Staying with singles, Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon (aka Doechii) opens her account at #32 with What It Is. The 24 year-old American rapper first came on the scene in 2016 but this is her first mainstream hit.
The current UK number one is our final new single. Debuting at #37, Miracle from Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding is the third time the pair have come together.
Four other new albums enter the chart.
Post Malone first came on the scene in 2016. Since then he has 21 hit singles so it must be time for a compilation. The Diamond Collection is just that disc, debuting at #4. This album, though, is only a disapointing nine tracks over 32 minutes.
Christchurch band Playthings were only together from 1981 - 1982 but they did manage a double sided single in 1981. Coloured / Sit Down (Stand Up) peaked at #41 for Jay Clarkson, Dave Toland, Nicky Carter and Janine Saundercock. On May 6 the post-punk rockers had a reunion to celebrate the release of a self-titled 6 track 12” 45rpm EP on green vinyl, which debuts at #11
Fred Again.. and Brian Eno join forces for Secret Life at #26. It's Fred's second hit album but Eno's 8th. Eno was renowned for his ambient albums in the 70's/80's and was a member of Roxy Music. He also worked with a multitude of artists including Genesis and David Bowie.
Finally, Lord Echo gives us Rarities 2010 - 2020: Japanese Tour Singles at #40. It's the kiwi multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and DJ's first visit to our charts.
Chart Beat - 22 May, 2023

Chart #2400 gives us five new singles and a new record. Only two of the five singles manage to run over three minutes. That gives us the shortest song average since 1968.
Durk Banks (aka Lil Durk) has the highest with All My Life at #11. Clocking in at 3:43, it's the lonest of the new entries and comes from his upcoming eighth studio album Almost Healed.
Sticking with the common American rap name Lil is Lil Mabu at #23. Born Matthew DeLuca in New York, Mathematical Disrespect at #23 is his first NZ hit. It's only 1:28 long.
American rapper Kali has the third at #29. Area Codes is Kaliya Ross' first hit. Running at 2:19, the song is popular on TikTok.
Billie Eilish is new with record breaking hotline (edit) at #33. The song runs for exactly one minute and becomes the shortest song to hit the chart. Before this that honour belonged to Hanz Zimmer with Spider Pig from 2007 which ran for 1:04. Hotline Bling was a #14 hit for Drake in 2015. Eilish covered the track as B side to Party Favour on a pink 7" single for Record Store Day in 2018. This is an edited version of that song.
Ed Sheeran has the fifth new single with Life Goes On at #36. It's the fifth single from his new album - and runs for 3:30.
Nicolaas Douwma (aka Sub Focus) lists his second album at #8. Evolve is actually the 41 year old's fourth long player. His last was Portals which peaked at #26 in 2020.
Jonas Brothers gave us Family Business in February; now they give us a second for 2023. The Album is their sixth overall.
Lovejoy is next with EP Wake Up & It's Over. New at #25, it follows from 2021's Pebble Brain and second EP this year: From Studio 4 from last month so far failing to chart.
Fred Again.. rounds off this weeks newbies with USB at #35. This one came about as the artist randomly gave a fan a USB after a concert. That USB contained 30 edits and was uploaded so other fans could enjoy.
The fourth album from Daft Punk enjoys it's 10th Anniversary Edition with a #11 re-entry to the chart. Random Access Memories from 2013 album peaked at the top for two weeks.
Chart Beat - 29 May 2023

Lana Del Rey leads the bunch of newbies with Say Yes To Heaven at #10. The track is an outtake from sessions for her third studio album, Ultraviolence from 2014 which has gone viral on TikTok.
Beyoncé has an interesting new single at #25. America Has A Problem comes from her album Renaissance and lyrically has nothing to do with the problem in America. Instead, it is all about drugs.
Post Malone is next with Mourning. New at #31, the track follows Chemicals into the Top 40 with both tracks appearing on his new album Austin.
American rapper Toosii opens his account at #39 with Favorite Song. Born Nau'Jour Grainger, this is his 23rd single from 2018 but first to chart anywhere.
Lewis Capaldi moves into the penthouse on entry with Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. It's been four years since his last album, but the wait gives the Scot his first number one.
KAYTRAMINÉ is new at #9. The self titled album comes from duo American rapper Aminé (who charted here in 2020) and Haitian-Canadian record producer Kaytranada.
British metallers Sleep Token debut here with third album Take Me Back To Eden. New at #12, the album serves as the final part of a trilogy which began in 2019.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 is next at #14. It's the first in the series to miss out in a top 10 position should it fail to go higher.
Kiwis Blindfolded And Led To The Woods formed in 2010 from the dissolving band Sacrament. The Christchurch bands' first album Rejecting Obliteration is new at #32.
Shubhneet Singh (aka Shubh) is another rapper but this one comes from India. Still Rollin', new at #40, is his debut album.
Goodbye And Good Riddance enjoys the 5th Anniversary Edition for Juice WRLD and a #23 re-entry, whilst legendary album Space Waltz from Alastair Riddell finally enjoys being Remastered. It peaked at #15 in 1975 but this week re-enters the 40 at #13
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We lost a legend of four decades of rock n roll this week. Tina Turner passed away, age 83. In her prime she charted 22 singles (one with Ike) between 1973 and 1997 with over 175 weeks; and 9 albums across 256 weeks. She will be sadly missed. Her compilation Simply The Best re-enters the chart at #29 with a couple of singles in the Catalogue Chart.
Chart Beat 5 June 2023

Taylor Swift has the most success with new entries in this weeks singles chart. Her album Midnight returns to the top with the Lavender Edition and three extra tracks. Hits Different, lifted from that version, enters the singles list at #14 extending her lead for most singles charted to 63. Karma returns to the chart at #9 as well as a 3:50 extended (is that really extended?) Snow On The Beach at #12.
Dance The Night is new at #28 for Dua Lipa and completes this weeks new singles. The track comes from the new Barbie movie about dancing throughout the night despite enduring sadness.
American rapper Lil Durk has the highest new album at #13. Almost Healed is his 8th long player and has 36 producers, 40 writers and 9 collaborations.
Matchbox Twenty last charted way back in 2012. Where The Light Goes, new at #26, is their first album since then. They came to a conclusion in 2020 they had no desire to record a new album but with a tour cancelled due to Covid, decided to go back in the studio.
d4dv lists his debut album Petals To Thorns at #27. It follows his #21 hit Romantic Homicide into the chart.
The soundtrack to The Little Mermaid with tracks by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken makes its debut at #34. The movie is an American fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall.
Kiwi compilation Proud makes its album debut at #38. Originally released on CD and cassette in 1994, and briefly available again in 2000, Proud has been unavailable in its physical form for the past 23 years. It topped the compilation chart for 4 weeks in 1994 but with that charts demise, makes its debut on the album chart. It is now available as a double LP set on red and yellow vinyl.
Finally, Tina Turner’s compile All The Best from 2004 continues her legacy with a #3 re-entry. That gives it a new peak, ten notches up from its last chart run

Written in Oxford
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Chart Beat 12 June 2023

Dave and Central Cee enter the singles chart at the top with Sprinter. This is Central Cee’s second number one and comes from his collaborative EP Split Decision.
Metro Boomin, combine forces for three singles. Am I Dreaming at #25, Calling at #34 and Annihilate at #35, with a truck load of supporters are new singles from the new Spider Man movie soundtrack which debuts at #2.
Another collaboration comes in at #29. The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Madonna enter with Popular. The song comes from the soundtrack to the new TV drama The Idol.
But Here We Are makes a grand entrance at the top of the album chart for Foo Fighters. Their 11th album is the first since the death of long term drummer Taylor Hawkins with Dave Grohl playing drums. It’s their sixth NZ number one.
South Korean boy band Stray Kids are new at #9 with 5-STAR. This is the octet’s first NZ hit album but fourth overall.
Bob Dylan continues to add to his album tally with the soundtrack to Shadow Kingdom at #19. His 40th album is his first with new material since 2020’s Rough And Roudy Ways.
American metallers Avenged Sevenfold are back with Life Is But A Dream. New at #29, this is their first album since 2016 and follows a dispute with their record company.
As I write this I’m sitting in a Wellington bar waiting to see Pink Floyd Experience. It seems fitting, then, that Roger Waters debuts with The Lockdown Sessions at #33. The album was actually released in December and comprises recordings he made in the covid 19 lockdown.
Finally, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds score their fourth album. Council Skies is new at #39.

Written in Wellington
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Chart Beat - 19 June 2023

Newcomer JKING opens his account at #2 with Cinderella. Born in Sydney of Samoan decent, you can file this music under reggae.
Metro Boomin had a huge week last week with three new singles. This week he gains one more. Self Love at #29 also comes from the new Spider Man movie.
American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan is next with Dial Drunk. New at #35, the track comes from the 26 year old's third album Stick Season (which debuts at #6), and is his second NZ hit single. His first was Hurt Somebody which was a duet with Julia Michaels from 2018 that peaked at #29.
Vietnamese singer thuy (born Thuy Thi Thu Tran) rounds off the new singles with Girls Like Me Don't Cry at #39. It comes from her 2022 EP with the same name.
Album number three from Niall Horan calls in at the penthouse on debut. His first two albums peaked in the top five but The Show is his first time at the top as a solo artist. The Irishman also had three number one albums with One Direction.
Archy Marshall (known by his stage name King Krule ) is new to our charts at #2. Space Heavy is the English singers fifth album since 2013. This one was largely written during comutes between Liverpool and London.
Canadian rapper Gurinder Gill is next at #34. Hard Choices is his first full length album. It follws two EP's: Not By Chance and Hidden Gems.
Janelle Monáe last charted in 2018; now her third hit album (and fourth overal) debuts here. The Age Of Pleasure follows lead single Lipstick Lover which is yet to chart on any mainstream charts globally.
Chart Beat - 26 June 2023

Doja Cat has the sole new single this week at #14. Attention is a 90's inspired rap and touted as the opening track to her to be announced new album.
Album #8 from rockers Queens Of The Stone Age opens at the top of the chart. The last time they charted was in 2017 when Villains topped the chart for a week. In Times New Roman… marks the conclusion of the band's trilogy of albums that began with Like Clockwork from 2013.
Australian blues rockers The Teskey Brothers first released an album in 2017. Now their third becomes our first. The Winding Way is new at #11.
Gunna lists his fifth hit album at #12. A Gift & A Curse was produced by half the population of America (lol) and boasts 15 tracks over 45 minutes.
Troy Kingi lists Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygertron at #17. It continues his 10 10 10 goal to have 10 albums in ten genres in ten years. This one actually came out in 2017 and failed to make the Top 40 until now. It did peak at #14 on the NZ Albums chart.
South Korean boy band ATEEZ are the latest K-Pop act to chart. THE WORLD EP.2: Outlaw is their 11th EP along with three studio albums.
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This chart takes us to the half way mark in 2023. To compare, here's a list of new entries across the main charts with last years figure in brackets:
SINGLES 77 (73)
ALBUMS 88 (85)
NZ SINGLES 21 (14)
NZ ALBUMS 40 (39)
There has still been no new kiwi singles in the Top 40 this year compared to 2 at the same time last year. Kiwi albums are not much better. So far there have been 7 new albums enter the chart compared to 8 last year.
Chart Beat 3 July 2023

Sergio Kitchens (aka Gunna) crosses over from the Hot40 chart with Fukumean at #28. The 2 minute 5 second track is taken from his latest album A Gift And A Curse.
In 1996 Aqua took Barbie Girl all the way to number one with makers Mattel kicking and screaming. Now Trinidad rapper Nicki Minaj brings us Barbie World, new at #29. The song samples the original and is included in the soundtrack for the new Barbie movie.
Taylor Swift hype this week places her Midnights album back at the top despite leaving New Zealand off her world tour.
Business Is Business from Young Thug is one of just two new albums this week. New at #7, it is the Americans third studio album and first since his arrest, and released while he was still in jail.
English singer Maisie Peters has the other new album at #9. The Good Witch is her second album but first to chart here.

Written in New York
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Chart Beat 10 July 2023

vampire from Olivia Rodrigo goes straight to the top of this weeks singles chart. The track is the opening single from her second album Guts, due out 8 September. It also debuted at the top in Australia and Ireland.
Lil Uzi Vert also opens at the top with his new album Pink Tape. Flooded The Face from that album debuts at #35
Burna Boy has the final new single at #36. Sittin’ On Top Of The World is a non album single.
Three more new albums appear in the bottom half of the chart.
Saroor from Indian singer and rapper Arjan Dhillon opens at #24. He first came on the scene in 2018 on the soundtrack to the film Afsar but got his first big break in 2020. Saroor is his fourth album but first to chart here.
English rockers Nothing But Thieves debut at #25 with Dead Club City. This is their fourth album but biggest to date giving them a first UK number one.
No Thank You from Little Simz is the final new album, opening at #40. Born Simbiaru Ajikawo, it is the British Nigerian’s fourth album , her first released in 2015.

Written in Düsseldorf, Germany
Chart Beat 17 July 2023

A new version of Taylor swift’s album Speak Now goes straight to the top of the album chart along with 14 tracks into the Top 40. The rules were recently relaxed allowing for more than four new entries per week from the same artist. That places I Can See You (#4), Back To December (#10), Mine (#11), Enchanted (#15), Sparks Fly (#22), Speak Now (#26), Dear John (#27), Mean (#28), Castles Crumbling (#30), The Story Of Us (#32), Electric Touch (#35), When Emma Falls In Love (#37), Foolish One (#39) and Haunted (#40) into the top 40 giving her 17 tracks in the Singles Chart. In one swipe of the pen that breaks the statistic for most singles in the chart in one year, set by Ed Sheeran. The album Speak Now originally topped the chart in 2010 and is her third reimagined album.
NewJeans have the other new single at #25. Super Shy is the second hit single from the South Korean girl group and peaks six notches higher than the first.
Also new on the album chart; Sunburn from American Dominic Fike comes in at #9. His second long player, contains songs about heartbreak and regret, addiction, sex and jealousy.
PJ Harvey first charted here in 1995. Now her tenth album I Inside The Old Year Dying debuts at #13. It’s the 53 year olds first album of new material since 2016.
The Singles: Echoes From The Edge Of Heaven from duo Wham! proved the old music is still alive at #22. George Michael and Andrew Ridgely were popular between 1982 and 1986 with 10 hit singles. This compilation contains 16 tracks.
Finally, ARIKI from Rei is new at #37. It’s the Wellingtonians first album in the Top 40.

Written in Bratislava, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria
Chart Beat 24 July 2023

Jung Kook lands this weeks number 2 on entry. Seven is the BTS members first New Zealand single and has two versions; a clean version and a sexually explicit one.
Billie Eilish is back with What Was I Made For at #6. It’s a big improvement on her last one minute track, this one going over three and a half minutes. The song is from the current Barbie movie
Troye Sivan debuts with Rush at #22. This one comes from the Australians upcoming third album Something To Give Each Other.
Numbers 31-40 are all re-entries as the chart corrects itself after the Taylor Swift take over last week.
Canadian Lauren Spencer-Smith has the highest new album with Mirror at #14. Her first album was inspired by the singers recent break up.
Lil Tjay opens his album 222 at #16. It’s the American rappers third album and is named due to his being shot seven times on June 22, 2022.
King Von opens his account at #30 with Grandson. Born Dayvon Bennett, it’s the rappers third long player, however he was shot multiple times back in November 2020.

Written in Singapore.
Chart Beat - 31 July, 2023

Clocking in at 1:57, Charlie XSX lists yet another track from the Barbie movie. Speed Drive, new at #24, is the Brits third hit single here and first since 2014.
Staying with Barbie is Ryan Gosling. I'm Just Ken debuts at #25 and is also from the movie. The flick itself has been breaking box office records this past week so it's no surprise it shows up in the Top 40. This one is a first for the Canadian actor who plays Ken in the movie. No surprises then that the soundtrack debuts at number one this week.
Travis Scott lists K-Pop at #27. His ninth hit single, it comes from his new album Utopia and ropes in Bad Bunny and The Weeknd.
Staying with K-Pop, South Korean girl group NewJeans list their third single at #36. The video for ETA was shot entirely on the iPhone 14 Pro. Their 2nd EP: Get Up also debuts, at #3 in the album chart.
Brit Pop band Blur debut their ninth studio album at #7. Their eighth hit album since 1994 is the band's shortest album and first with a runtime under 50 minutes.
The album chart finishes with re-entries from Ice Spice, Lizzo, The 046, sleep Token and a fifth anniversary edition of Juice WLD's Goodbye And Good Riddance.
Chart Beat - 7 August 2023

And this weeks chart comes to you coutesy of Travis Scott. The 32-year old American places his fourth studio album at the top along with 14 of the 19 tracks in the Singles chart. Meltdown(#4); Fe!n (#6); I Know ? (#10); Hyaena (#13); My Eyes (#14); Telekinesis (#16); Topia Twins (#17); Thank God (#20); Modern Jam (#23); Delresto (Echoes) (#30); Sirens (#34); Skitzo (#36); God's Country (#38) and Til Further Notice (#39) take his singles tally to 23. Usually when an artist does this most songs leave after only one week so expect the chart to correct itself next week.
Australian hip hop musician Anthony Roussos (aka Hooligan Hefs) has the other new single at #40. And We is the first time the New South Wales 26 year old has charted here.
Album #5 from Post Malone slots in at #3 on entry. He announced he played guitar on all 18 tracks adding it was a "fun experience". Austin is his fifth top three album.
Auckland five-piece No Cigar have been hanging around the bottom of the NZ Album chart for over a month but this week, take a dive into the Top 40. Bienvenido was released last September but has steadily been gaining traction since. They debut at $20.
Another slow moving kiwi is Heavy Chest. The Wellington trio released Pre Heat in 2017 but failed to chart. Now a 5th Anniversary Edition finally gives the disc it's #33 debut.
Staying local is Ringlets. Hailing from Auckland, the three piece place their self titled debut at #40.
This week we sadly lost Sinéad O'Connor at only 56 years old. The Dublin singer was huge from 1988 with nine Top 50 singles and seven albums. Her biggest album Do Not Want What I Haven't Got topped the chart for four weeks. That disc re-enters the chart at #34 after a 32 year absence
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Chart Beat - 14 August 2023

Kiwis are really struggling in the charts this year. The last time we had a new local song enter the singles chart was 19 December, that's despite some more new tracks entering the NZ Top 20. L.A.B. have been number one on that chart now 28 weeks, however Cassie Henderson has been number one on the RadioScope chart with Whatever for 4 weeks, and not entered any of the official charts. That chart is based on airplay. Let’s see if we can turn this around for the final four and a half months of the year. Can I recommend Blue Eyed Māori from Corrella, Still The One by DJ Noiz and Mikey Mayz, Always With You from Katchafire and Whole Again by SACHI from the NZ Top 20.
As predicted, Travis Scott drops most of last weeks new entries, losing 10 with two dropping like a stone and one slipping up three knotches
Sampling Dionne Warwick's 1964 hit Walk On By in a loop all the way through the song, gives Doja Cat the highest single of the week. Paint The Town Red, new at #3, is the second single from her upcoming new album. Incidentally, Walk On By peaked at #4 on the Lever Hit Parade.
English drum and bass duo Chase & Status have been charting in the UK since 2005 but never here; until now.Baddadan opens at #28.
Luke Combs folllows up his Fast Car single with The Kind Of Love We Make at #40. This one actually came out before Fast Car, and peaked in the US at #8 in 2022. The album it comes from (Growin' Up), re-enters at #25.
It's been a long time between drinks for Strawpeople but, after 19 years, they are back. Knucklebones is their 8th hit album, and almost entirely written by Paul Casserly and Fiona McDonald. A host of NZ heavyweights helps the album along with appearances from Matthias Jordan of Pluto, Nick Atkinson of Supergroove, drumming legend Chris O’Connor, Mark Hughes, even a cameo appearance from legendary former Dunedinite busker Luke Hurley. The disc debuts at #21.
Zach Bryan has the other new album. American Heartbreak, new at #40, is his third studio album and runs for an impressive 121 minutes.
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Chart Beat - 21 August, 2023

Amala Dlamini (aka Doja Cat)  scores her second number one single with Paint The Town Red. Her last chart topper was Kiss Me More from 2021
Three new singles venture into the NZ40. First up is bad idea right? from Olivia Rodrigo. New at #6, it's the second single from her next album due out next month.
English record producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and DJ Fred Again.. is back with his second single at #39. adore u has help from Nigerian artist  Obongjayar #39.
Staying in England is our third new single. Becky Hill also enjoys her second hit single as Disconnect debuts at #40. To date the track has peaked at #8 in her homeland.
British electronic band Jungle have one of only two new albums this week. Their self titled debut peaked at #34 back in 2014. Since then they have produced three other albums, the new one making an appearance her at #30. Volcano has peaked at #3 in England and has had four non charting singles: Candle Flame, Dominoes, I've Been in Love and Back on 74.
American rapper Trippie Red is back with A Love Letter To You 5 at #32. The mixtape is his seventh listing in the album chart.
Chart Beat - 28 August, 2023

Only one new single this week and it is strouded in controvercy. Billed as Oliver Anthony Music, Rich Men North Of Richmond debuts at #17 and is a protest song, having a go at "fat cats who would take advantage of the working man." The song debuts at number one in America, which is where he came from. Surly that doesn't happen here, right?
The third long player from Irishman Hozier becomes his biggest to date in Godzone. New at #2, he wrote Unreal Unearth during Covid and claims it was his way of making sense of it all.
Indian/Canadian singer and rapper Karan Aujla opens at #14 with Making Memories. He first appeared on the NZ charts back in 2021, peaking at #34 with BacTHAfu*UP. For this one he joined with Canadian producer Ikky.
Russ gives us hit #4 with Santiago at #24. This is the highest the American has been in our album charts.
NCT Dream are next with ISTJ: The 3rd Album at #30. As the title suggests, this is their third album but it's their first here. All three albums topped the South Korean charts. Incidentally, NCT stands for Neo Culture Technology.
American rapper Quavo lists his third at #31. Rocket Power is dedicated to rapper Takeoff who was shot and killed shortly after the release of collaboratory album Only Built For Infinity Links.
Aerosmith have the final new album. Greatest Hits, new at #38, is the bands third compilation and eighth album to chart here. For the record, they charted six singles with Livin' On The Edge from 1993 being their biggest peak at #11.
Two albums make an interesting comeback. The Buddhafinger from kiwis Tadpole peaked at #2 in 2000 and was their first album. A deluxe edition of Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads also returns with a #17 re-entry. That live album peaked at #2 in 1984.
Chart Beat - 4 September, 2023

It's been four months now under new chart rules. I thought I'd take a look to see what has changed. One week before the change there were three singles and four albums from kiwiland. We end six weeks today with no local flavour in the singles Top 40. There have been 26 new entries in the NZ Singles Top 20 compared to only 5 for the four months prior. Before the rules changed, both Top 40's were notorious for evicting new entries early on, whilst holding onto older entries. Now with the new 18 month rule, what has this changed? There were 17 one week singles and 19 albums four months before. After the change we have 36 singles and 40 albums lasting just the one week. So; no change there, although the singles tally is influenced by another rule change: that an artist can list as many new entries in one chart as they like, which happened twice.
Miley Cyrus has the highest new single. Used To Be Young at #12 is the fourth NZ hit from her album Endless Summer Vacation.
Zach Bryan is still enjoying success with Something In The Orange but second single I Remember Everything debuts 13 knotches below at #26. This one comes from his new self titled album, which debuts at the top.
Single Soon is the 18th single from Selena Gomez. New at #35, The track is apparently about "real things" she is working through.
Corrella score the first new local single since December. Blue Eyed Māori at 36, has been in the NZ Singles Top 20 since June and is their first Top 40 single.
American Teddy Swims (born Jaten Dimsdale) enters the chart for the first time at #37 with Lose Control. The 30-year old R&B, soul, country, and pop singer first released a single in 2019 but this is his first hit anywhere. It's taken from his debut album I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) due in a few weeks.
Nigerian Burna Boy places his seventh long player at #12. I Told Them is a first for NZ which includes his second single Sittin' On Top Of The World.
American singer/rapper Ashnikko (born Ashton Casey) lists her first album at #27. Weedkiller is supported by lead single, You Make Me Sick!
Auckland duo Foley open their account at #30 with Crowd Pleaser. It follows on from two Ep's from 2020 ands 2021.
Finally, three Herbs albums and a band from 1966 that has never charted enter the Albums Top 20. GRIM LTD list Shakin It Up At The Nicoberg at #15.
Chart Beat - 11 September, 2023

We have the first Top 20 kiwi song since May as Corrella move Blue Eyed Māori up 21 knotches to #36.
Only two new singles and two new albums and they all all British.
Newcomer Kenya Grace comes from England although she was born in South Africa. Her debut single Strangers, comes in at #5 and is currently at #20 in her homeland.
Sounding like something out of the 90's, we another song about sex. Prada is new at #36 from threesome cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe.
British rockers Slowdive have five studio albums, three compilations, five EP's, 11 singles and four music videos to their resumé, but, until this week, no NZ chart position. This week album #5 debuts at #10. Everything Is Alive is their first album in six years and their second since reforming.
To complete the theme, we have Royal Blood. The rock duo formed in Worthing, West Sussex in 2011 and peaked at #6 on three occasions from 2014 to 2019. Their fourth NZ hit, Back To The Water Below, debuts at #17 and is solely produced by themselves.
Next week we could see the first new Top 40 single from The Rolling Stones since 1995. With a new album due on 20 October, first single Angry debuts at #30 in the Hot40.
Chart Beat - 18 September, 2023

This weeks chart comes courtesy of the letter "O", Olivia Rodrigo that is. For the fifth time an artist takes over the singles chart with songs from a new album. That disc is Guts, and it debuts at the top of the album chart along with Get Him Back! (#5), all-american bitch (#7), the grudge (#10), making my bed (#13), lacy (#16), ballad of a homeschooled girl (#18), Logical (#21), love is embarrassing (#23), pretty isn't pretty (#28) and teenage dream (#34) in the singles chart giving the American 12 Top 40 singles, which is the entrire album. Only Ed Sheeran before her has achieved that. That gives the 20 year old two number one albums and 21 hit singles.
South African Tyla opens her account at #35 with Water. Born and raised in Johannesburg, the 21 year old first came on the scene in 2021 with Getting Late, but it was fifth single Water that was her first charting single, anywhere.
Kim Tae-hyung (known simply as V, also opens his account. The South Korean has achieved four singles on the Hot40 chart but Slow Dancing at #38 is her first proper hit. EP Layover also makes an appearance, at #3 on the Album chart.
Over we go now to Iceland and the debut album from Laufey. Laufey Jónsdóttir was born in Reykjavík; she was a finalist in Ísland Got Talent (2014) and semi-finalist on The Voice Of Iceland in 2015. Bewitched, new at #17, is her second album and first to chart here.
Aucklanders The Nomad are new at #29 with Infinite. The album is a compilation taken from seven albums since 1998.
Back in 1977 Fleetwood Mac took their biggest album to number one for nine weeks. That disc is still selling well and sits at #2 on this weeks Catalogue Albums chart. Now we have Rumours Live which debuts at #32. Recorded in August 1977, it's a two disc celebration of the bands best. I was hoping for a live disc of their last NZ tour with Neil Finn. No there's a nice thought.
Tempest you are very knowledgeable in your music. If you get a chance email me and we can chat music. Cheers Bridget.
My email is bridget_oconnor31@yahoo.com
Chart Beat 25 September, 2023

Greedy is the highest new single for Canadian Tate McRae, new at #3. She claims the song is a “new chapter” of music for her. To date, the short song has topped charts in Norway.
Staying in Canada, Drake is ready to drop his eighth album in a week. Slime You Out, new at #9, is from that album.
The album chart is much busier with six newbies.
Mitski is first out of the box with The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We at #5. Her seventh long player, was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles and includes a 17 person choir on several tracks.
Rod Wave is next with Nostalgia at #18. Born Rodarius Green. This is the 25 year olds fifth album but first to chart here. File this one under rap.
Tegan Chambers (aka Sleepy Hallow) debuts with Boy Meets World at #19. The 23 year old American rapper first charted in 2021 with Still Sleep peaking at #39.
Following on from his single Lose Control, American singer Teddy Swims opens his album account at #20. I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) is his debut album.
Moving down to #31, Madison Beer also lists a second album. Life Support from 2021 peaked at #33. Silence Between Songs does a little better.
Finally, Macey lists The Lovers at #40. Born in the UK but now residing in Cambridge, New Zealand, this is his first album. His real name is Harry Parsons.
Cool. Bridgy x
Chart Beat - 2 October, 2023

As Doja Cat stays at the top of the singles stack for a seventh week with Paint The Town Red, follow up single Agora Hills debuts at #26. It's the second single from new album Scarlet, which debuts at #2. Agora Hills is where she lived and practiced Hinduism for four years.
Mitski falls in just behind her with My Love Mine All Mine at #27. This is the 33-year-old's first hit single here and taken from her seventh long player The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.
It's been a long time between drinks for Whakatāne's best, L.A.B. After nearly a year they score their 11th hit single at #39.
Casanova is only the second new kiwi song to grace the Top 40 this year, and is taken from their forhcoming album L.A.B. VI.
The 16th hit album for Australian Kylie Minogue places her the highest in the chart since 2001. Tension, new at #5, marks a return to a disco oriented sound and was recorded at nine different studios.
Wellington's Bulletbelt open their account at #18 with Burn It Up. The five-piece thrash metal band are not for the faint hearted as they strike fear into Wellington audiences.
American rapper Lil Tecca lists his fourth hit album at #19. TEC boasts 16 tracks, most under three minutes, but has 32 producers.
Stephen Sanchez comes in at #20 with Angel Face. This is the 20 year old's first album and follows a "loose concept" of a fictional version of Sanchez named "The Troubadour Sanchez" rising to fame in 1958.
Zach Bryan has the final new album; an EP called Boys Of Faith at #25. The five track EP was born from a camping trip where he originally got the name them boys of faith.
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We are already at the third quarter mark. Here's a list of new entries across the main charts with last years total in brackets:
SINGLES: 148 (109)
ALBUMS: 138 (138)
NZ SINGLES: 33 (26)
NZ ALBUMS: 74 (68)
Chart Beat - 9 October, 2023

With the release of the new Ed Sheeran album, I thought he may have taken over the singles chart. Instead, we are left with just one new single.
South Korean Jung Kook lists his second hit single at #9. 3D is the second single from his upcoming album Golden due next month.
Back on 7 May 2012 kiwi hip hop group Home Brew debuted at the top, where they stayed just one week. Now 11 years, 5 months later they re-enter the chart giving them a second week at the top. That's 596 weeks to get back to number one. The record is alot higher and also a kiwi. Split Enz took 2029 weeks to get back to number one with True Colours. Now self titled Home Brew is back and on 180g vinyl.
And that kept Ed Sheeran off the top spot. Autumn Variations debuts at #2 and is second of his seven albums not to debut at the top. The album is the first to appear on his own record label, Gingerbread Man Record, with inspiration coming from Elgar, who composed Enigma Variations in 1899 where each of the 14 compositions were about a different one of his friends.
Aucklanders Leisure list their third album hit at #10. Leisurevision, new at #10, is their highest position to date.
Fat Freddy's Drop released Blackbird in 2013. That album also returns to the chart on vinyl and under the name Blackbird Returns. This new disc is remixed and re-worked, making it a new album. The original originally peaked at #1 for four weeks.
Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh has been putting albums out since 2002. Ghost may be his 15th but its first to chart here. Ghost debuts at #24.
Dope Lemon may sound like a new name on our charts but it's Angus Stone under a different name. He last charted in 2017 with Julia Stone. The 37 year old has been writing under this name since 2016. Kimosabè debuts at #29.
Jorja Smith debuts with Falling Or Flying at #33. This is the English singers second full length album.
One more album worth mentioning is Collection by Dinah Lee. The kiwi, now 80 years old, was huge in the early sixties in New Zealand with three albums, and six EP's. Her most known hit was Do the Blue Beat from 1964. The chart of the day was the Lever Hit Parade but sadly there is no mention of her charting. That makes her album here her first. Collection debuts at #17 on the NZ Album Chart.
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Chart Beat - 16 October, 2023

I don't like one of the new chart rules. Now an artist can release a new album on both the singles and album charts. That has now happened four times since the new rule came in. The latest artist to muscle their way in is Drake. The Canadian lists nine new singles this week placing him at fifth equal for the Most New Singles In One Week statistic with First Person Shooter (#5), IDGAF (#6), Virginia Beach (#7), Rich Baby Daddy (#14), Calling For You (#21), Daylight (#26), Fear Of Heights (#28), 8am In Charlotte (#31) and Amen (#33). Boasting 23 tracks over 83 minutes, his eighth album For All The Dogs debuts at #1, giving him a sixth album chart topper.
The second charting album for American Sufjan Stevens opens at #14. In 2015 Carrie & Lowell peaked at #27 making his new one, Javelin the bigger hit. This is the multi-instrumentalists tenth long player.
Soyth Korean boy band NCT 127 debut at #22 with Fact Check: The 5th Album. NCT stands for New Culture Technology.
For decades Pink Floyd held the record for most weeks charted: album. Dark Side Of The Moon currently sits at #5 on that list. Now totally reimagined Roger Waters places The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux at #24.
Dick Move is back with their second. Wet improves on the Auckland punk band's last disc, Chop! which peaked at #40 in 2020.
Chart Beat 23 October, 2023

Drake moves from 10 singles to four in another mass exodus of the chart.
One Of Your Girls by Troye Sivan is the only new single, with five re-entries as the chart corrects. New at #17, the track comes from his album Something To Give Each Other which debuts at #2. This is the 28 year old Australian’s third long player and first to top the charts across the ditch.
A Wellington metal band formed way back in 1986 when Matt Hyde began his first band, Microwave Babies. Now known as Beastwars, their sixth album debuts at #4. Tyranny Of Distance has a new guitarist, Christian Pearce, who join the band to replace Clayton Anderson.
Staying in Godzone, Aucklander Paige lists King Clown at #16. She first released an EP in 2020 and been gaining momentum even since. Always Growing managed a #34 peak. Her new album improves on that.
American rapper Offset falls in just behind with Set It Off at #17. In 2019 his first album Father Of 4 peaked at #19. This one is on a different label due to the label allegedly not giving him publishing rights for his music.
Back in kiwi land, Sweet Mix Kids debut with Stargazing at #18. The album has been charting for two months on the NZ Album Chart but only now managed to break into the mainstream chart. The duo consist of DJs Sandon Ihaia and Chris Scott.
Back to American rap for newcomer Kenyatta Frazier Jr. Known professionally as Ken Carson, A Great Chaos, new at #21, is the 23 year olds third album but first to chart here.
Tomorrow X Together (or TXT for short) are the latest South Korean boy band to visit our charts. The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, new at 39, is their fifth album but first here.
The Chills re-enter with an expanded edition of Brave Words at #25. The album came out in 1988 and managed a #24 peak. This is back for the first time in 35 years with bonus tracks. Had the NZ Album Chart been around in 1988, the disc would have topped that chart for three weeks.

Written in Te Anau.
Chart Beat - 30 October, 2023

The 752nd number one single finally pushes Doja Cat out of the penthouse after a ten week stay. Water is Tyla's first hit single which climbs one knotch to the top in its seventh week.
American Paul Russell has the first of two new singles. Lil Boo Thang, new at #33, clocks in at a measly one minute, 54 seconds and is the eighth single under two minutes this year. It uses a sample from The Emotions hit Best Of My Love which peaked at #9 in 1977.
The Kid LAROI, Jung Kook and Central Cee join forces for Too Much at #37. The track comes from Laroi's debut album The First Time out 10 November.
The last time The Rolling Stones were at the top of the album chart was way back in 2002 with Forty Licks. They havent charted a single since 1995. Their first album since 2005 takes them back to number one. Hackney Diamonds is their 26th studio album and the band's first following the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. Lead single Angry was released on 10" vinyl but can only manage a #16 position on the Hot40 chart.
Blink 182 are also back in the Top 5. One More Time is the American's ninth studio album. New at #5, it sees the band reflecting on their 21 year history.
Kiwi Ebony Lamb places her self titled debut at #24. Based in Wellington, Ebony has released three albums with her band Eb & Sparrow, two charting in 2014,15.
Dinah Lee has been hanging around the NZ Album Chart for a few weeks but now crosses over to the Album Chart. The album Collection makes it's debut at #27 and marks the first time she has been in a mainstream Album chart. Single Don't You Know, Yokomo? peaked at #9 on the Lever Hit Parade in 1964 but she is best known for the song Do The Blue Beat.
South Korean 13 member boy band Seventeen place their second EP this year at #38 (Seventeenth Heaven (EP) and Englishman Sampha his second at #40. Lahai is named after his paternal grandfather.
A 13th Anniversary Edition of Teenage Dream from Katy Perry re-enters the chart at #13 in it's 128th Album Chart week.
Looking ahead to Friday, we see the release of the new Beatles song Now And Then.
Chart Beat - 6 November, 2023

This week the Taylor Swift chart...ahem... I mean singles chart... has 19 new entries. For the fifth time since chart rules changed in April we see one artist take over the chart for one week. This time it's due to the re-recording of Taylor Swift's 2014 album 1989 which tops this weeks album chart. The new entries are Is It Over Now? (#1), Now That We Don't Talk (#2), Say Don't Go (#3), Slut! (#5), Style (#8), Suburban Legends (#9), Bad Blood (#10), Blank Space (#12), Welcome To New York (#14), Out Of The Woods (#16), All You Had To Do Was Stay (#22), New Romantics (#26), Shake It Off (#27), Clean (#28), I Wish You Would (#30), How You Get The Girl (31), I Know Places (#32), Wonderland (#36) and You Are In Love (#38). That gives her the top 3 (a new record for most songs to debut at the top), 7 songs in the top 10 (a new record), 19 new entries (a new record for most new songs to debut in one chart), 36 new hit singles this year (another new record) and 98 hit singles in total (holding onto the record for most singles for artist but largely due to monopolising the chart). This rule needs to change.
American R&B singer Brent Faiyaz places his second album in at #7. Larger Than Life is actually a mixtape.
Dimmer (aka Shayne Carter) places his fifth album at #30. Live At Hollywood is the first new album from the band in 14 years.
Englishman James Blunt lists Who We Used To Be at #40. This is his seventh full length album.
Finally, in the re-issue section is Nirvana. In 1993 they released In Utero. Now a 30th Anniversary Edition places the album back in the chart at #27. The album oroginally peaked at #3.
Next week - could we have the first Beatles single in the chart since 1995?
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Chart Beat - 13 November, 2023

Taylor Swift sets another record this weeks for most songs to leave the chart in a single week. As the 15 songs leave, the others drop to allow Tyla back at numero uno with Water.
It's been 29 years since we had a Beatles single in the chart and you have to go back to 1970 for their last number one; that single was Let It Be. Back in 1977 John Lennon recorded a home demo. In 1994 Yoko Ono gave Paul McCartney two cassettes containing several unreleased tracks. The remaining Beatles with help from Jeff Lynn set to work on the songs, releasing Free As A Bird in 1995 and Real Love in 1996. Neither song charted well here with Only Free As A Bird registering a chart entry (#26). One other song was deemed too difficult to finish. Fast forward to this year, and with help from our own Peter Jackson's AI technology and producer Giles Martin, Now And Then finally makes it's debut. Amazingly they were even able to include George Harrison in the mix from early attempts to record the song. Last week it opened in the UK chart at #42 on just 10 hours of sales. It topped the digital sales data chart in New Zealand this week but can only manage a #17 entry. I think that's in part due to physical sales not available here yet.
Jung Kook lands his fourth hit single at #25. Standing Next To You is taken from his debut album Golden which opens at #2.
Noah Kahan places his third hit single at #28. Stick Season only managed a #43 peak in the US but topped the Irish charts.
The third album from kiwi three-piece Mermaidens debuts at #8 to become their first top 10 album. Their last two only managed a single chart week in the bottom of the chart. The album is simply called Mermaidens.
Staying in Godzone, Infinity Ritual are back with EP II. New at #12, this is also an improvement with their first peaking at #17 in 2022.
American singer Caroline Polachek opens her account with her forth studio album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You at #31; Aucklander Christoph El Truento places Circle Of Friends at #33 and Fat Freddy's Drop vocalist Dallas Tamaira debuts at #34 with Levels (EP).
Chart Beat - 20 November, 2023

American rapper Jack Harlow scores his second number one single with Lovin On Me. Sampling the 1995 song Whatever (Bass Solique) by Cadillac Dale, the two minute song first went viral on TikTok.
Harlow had a hit with Dua Lipa so it's only approapriate the English singer lists the next new single. Houdini, new at #13, is the 28 year olds 17th hit here and comes from her not yet titled new upcoming album.
Last week Noah Kahan gave us the single Stick Season. As that song moves up to #21, new single Northern Attitude makes its debut at #39. Both tracks appear on his latest album Stick Season.
The Christmas release schedule is in full swing, giving us seven new albums.
Chris Brown first charted an album in 2006. Now his 11th studio album narrowly misses out in his second number one. 11:11 (new at #2), matches the peak of last years release. The title is based on 11 tracks released on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Chris Stapleton is next with Higher. New at #4, it's the highest the 45 year old has been on our charts.
Australian The Kid LAROI peaked at #2 with mixtape F*ck Love in 2020. Now his first album debuts at #7. The First Time started life with the working title Kids Are Growing Up 
Moving down to #11, Stray Kids debut with Rock-Star. This is the fourth album entry in two years for the South Koreans. Rock-Star. is a 26-minute EP.
English drum and base duo Chase & Status list 2 RUFF Vol. 1 at #17. To date, this mixtape has peaked at #4 in the UK.
English singer PinkPantheress is new at #30 with Heaven Knows. Her first entry was a mixtape so this makes it her debut album. It's an accumilation of songs she has made over the last two years.
Kiwi Erny Belle rounds off this weeks new albums. Not Your Cupid at #31, can be filed under alt-folk/country and Pacific pop
In 1973 The Beatles released two double compilation albums that went on to become their biggest greatest hits collection. They didn't chart here until 1976 due to there being no album chart, but 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 still managed a Top 5 in 1993. 2010 saw both those albums remastered with a four disc package of both albums peaking at #35. Now, they are back, again, with another remix and expanded to three discs each album, re-entering at #12 and #15. Disapointingly, single Now And Then leaves after just one week despite it's Top 5 peak around the world.
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Chart Beat - 27 November, 2023

All three new singles are bunched together in the middle of the chart.
First to come is Tate McRae. The Canadian now has three Top 40 singles. exes, new at #14, is the second from her upcoming album Think Later due 8 December.
One knotch down we find Olivia Rodrigo. Can't Catch Me Now at #15 is from the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (which debuts at #31) and to date had the highest peak at #9 in Ireland.
At #16 we have Ocean Alley. Confidence was actually released in 2018 and this week crosses over from the Catalogue Charts. The track can be found on the Australian's third album Chiaroscuro.
Kiwi Troy Kingi continues his 10:10:10 series with Time Wasters: Soundtrack To Current Day Meanderings new at #11. The seventh album since 2016 puts him almost back on track for 10 albums in 10 genres across 10 years. This one explores blues, roots, psychedelic funk and folk.
Dolly Parton first released an album way back in 1967. Rockstar is her 49th long player and places her firmly at #12. The album is a collaborative disc featuring various rock artists from Sting, Elton John, Peter Frampton and Debbie Harry just to name a few.
Sundae Painters may seem like a new act but they are a group consisting of members from The Bats, The Clean, Tall Dwarfs & Toy Love. With a cover pained by Hamish Kilgour the self titled disc is new at #21.
American indie rockers The National are back with album number 10. Laugh Track, new at #33, comes after a difficult period of writers block.
Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has the last new entry with Alone At Prom at #38. This is his fifth NZ hit album.
Over on the NZ albums chart Dave Dobbyn makes a first appearance of his 1993 album Lament For The Numb at #9. Had there been a NZ Albums chart back then, the album would have peaked at the top for two weeks.
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Chart Beat - 4 December, 2023

You always know it's Christmas when Mr Bublé and Miss Carey come back in the chart. Along with Wham and Brenda Lee we have four re-entry festive tracks.
Destin Route (aka JID) lists his second single at #21. Surround Sound is the only new single in this weeks Top 40, and was actually released in January 2022.
The Christmas release schedule slows down this week with only two new albums - and they are both kiwis.
The Phoenix Foundation released Horse Power back in 2003 but it failed to chart. Now a 20th Anniversary Edition is out and the disc finally makes it's debut, coming in at #14. That now places all six albums in the chart for the Wellington band.
DRAX Project place their second full length album at #33. Upside follows three EP's and one LP into the chart. Watch out for new single Luxury, that opens at #16 on the NZ Singles Chart.
Chart Beat - 11 December, 2023

There's no other time in the year to bring the theme song out. This week we have nine re-entry Christmas songs. Pity we never have a kiwi song hit the charts. Check out Lindon Puffin with I Hate Christmas (But I Love Christmas) or Gareth Curtis with When Mariah Sings for a couple of great examples.
We do have one new song. The 99th hit single (due to monopolosing the chart twice this year) from Taylor Swift debuts at #15. You're Losing Me was released after fans requested it's world wide release. It first appears on last years Midnights album as a bonus track.
Auckland rapper Nauti has the highest of three album new entries. The seven track EP Gotham features the single OWEE.
Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975 to embark on a solo career. It's been 23 years since he charted here, with New Blood from 2011 missing our charts. Now, finally, he can claim an 11th hit album I/O, new at #23, is his first album of new original material in over 21 years and is also his longest studio album, with both mixes each clocking in at over 68 minutes and the total project lasting over two hours.
Pentatonix are up last with The Greatest Christmas Hits at #33. We had A Pentatonix Christmas in 2016 but this one is a two disc compilation.
Chart Beat - 18 December, 2023

There have been 68 Christmas songs in the chart since 1957. This week we hold onto 11 of them. Despite it's popularity, Snoopy's Christmas from Royal Guardsmen has been absent since 2013. The song peaked at #1 for two weeks in 1967 and was a regular in the current chart in the 80's. It currently sits at #24 on my Christmas chart based on points
We have two new singles, one of them, a kiwi. Stan Walker places the second local song in the Top 40 for the year at #19. I AM is his 17th hit single and is taken from the American drama Origins.
Fred again.. slips in just underneath with leavemealone at #20. The song comes from the album USB and is his third hit single.
This year saw the re-entry of kiwis Home Brew. That album is back again this week at #34 whilst their long awaited second album enters the chart at number one. Run It Back gives the hip hop group a second chart topper. Six tracks off the album enter the NZ Singles Chart.
Nicki Minaj does something similar. She released her debut album Pink Friday back in 2010. This week, Pink Friday 2 enters the chart at #3. This is her fifth album.
Tate McRae lists her their album chart entry with Think Later at #4. She describes the album "one of the most stressful, exciting, nerve racking, and fun things [she has] ever gone through".
The Killers have been charting since 2004. This week, album number seven opens at #16. Rebel Diamonds is a concept album based on singer Brandon Flowers childhood.
The soundtrack to Trolls Band Together rounds off this weeks new long player. It debuts at #39.
Chart Beat - 25 December, 2023

Of the 68 Christmas songs charted since 1957, there have only been 12 kiwi songs. We haven’t had one in the chart since Jay Jay Harvey took Xmas Cake to #22 in 2014. It’s been a really bad year for kiwi singles with only two new singles entering the Top 40. The interim annual chart was published on Wednesday and it shows only one 2023 song in the NZ Singles Top 20, with 11 tracks between four and 37 years old. The annual NZ Album chart has no 2023 albums. Having only two new kiwi tracks in the singles chart this year gives us a new record, beating the four from 2016. There’s plenty of local talent out there; we just don’t support it.
And so to the Christmas number one. Jack Harvey remains at the top for a sixth week with Lovin’ On Me.
No new singles this week but there are six Christmas re-entries from Band Aid, Justin Bieber, Dean Martin, The Ronettes, John Lennon, and Ed Sheeran & Elton John taking the festive total to 18.
Introducing L.A.B. is the only new album. Coming in at #4, the disc is a compilation showcasing tracks from their first five albums. Their next has been delayed. Expect L.A.B VI in February.
In 1981 in response to the Springbok tour Riot III was born. The EP 1981! managed a #46 peak in the singles chart and is back this week at #5 on the NZ Album chart.
And that’s 2023. I want to wish all my readers a very merry but safe Christmas. See you in 2024 - next week.
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