2017 was a terrible year for Australian artists in Australia with not one song or album making the ARIA Top 10.
The Top 10 albums of 2017 were dominated by Ed Sheeran, Pink and Taylor Swift. That 2011 Buble Christmas album sold more than any Australian album in Australia last year, as did Adele’s 2015 ‘25’.
Three soundtracks, ‘Moana’, ‘Trolls’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2’ were also each more popular than every Australian release.
As for singles, Brit Baron Ed Sheeran had four songs in the Australian Top 10 while not one Australian artist made the list.
The biggest selling Australian song of 2017, PNAU’s ‘Chameleon’, didn’t surface until no 32.
The biggest selling Australian album of 2017 was Paul Kelly’s ‘Life Is Good’ at no. 14.
The problem with the Australian chart is the addition of streaming figures in with sales figures. A good chunk of streaming is generated from Spotify and Apple playlists generated outside of Australia. With ARIA including streaming figures it is weighting the Australian chart towards international releases.
The other issue is that streaming trends come from long-tail figures. Listening habits are based on familarity. Familiarity takes time to cook. Treating a long term trend (stream) in the same manner you treat a instant impact (sale) throws the dynamic of the chart out of whack. Todays chart basically mixes Apple with Oranges and no longer reflects the previous weeks habits.
The current ARIA formula is a disaster for Australian acts. It will only get worse in 2018.
Top 10 Albums of 2017
1. Ed Sheeran ‘÷’
2. P!nk ‘Beautiful Trauma’
3. Taylor Swift ‘Reputation’
4. Adele ‘25’
5. Soundtrack ‘Moana’
6. Soundtrack ‘Trolls’
7. Ed Sheeran ‘X’
8. Michael Bublé ‘Christmas’
9. Soundtrack ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2’
10. Kendrick Lamar ‘Damn.’
Top 10 Singles of 2017
1. Ed Sheeran ‘Shape Of You’
2. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber ‘Despacito’
3. Ed Sheeran ‘Castle On The Hill’
4. Ed Sheeran ‘Perfect’
5. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay ‘Something Just Like This’
6. Imagine Dragons ‘Thunder’
7. Ed Sheeran ‘Galway Girl’
8. Kendrick Lamar & Skrillex ‘Humble.’
9. Macklemore Feat. Skylar Grey ‘Glorious’
10. Shawn Mendes ‘There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back’
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