List of best-selling albums in New Zealand

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An album is defined by Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ) as being a type of music release comprising at least five songs or a total playing time of over 25 minutes. [nb 1] Currently, Platinum certifications denote the shipment of 15,000 copies. When RMNZ (then known as the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand) introduced certifications in 1978, to reach Platinum status an album had to ship 20,000 copies. This was reduced to its current level in 1992. [2]

Contents

The best-selling albums in New Zealand, as judged by certifications, are ABBA's greatest hits album, The Best of ABBA (1975) and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms (1985); both have been certified 24-times Platinum. ABBA's album ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) is also one of New Zealand's best-selling albums. Pink Floyd and Ed Sheeran are the only other artists with two entries on the list. Hayley Westenra is the only artist of New Zealand origin with an album on this list.

Best-selling albums

RankAlbumArtistYear of releaseNumber of times
certified platinum		Shipments
1 The Best of ABBA ABBA 197524 [2] 360,000
Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 198524 [2] 360,000
3 Come On Over Shania Twain 199721 [3] 315,000
4 Legend Bob Marley and the Wailers 198420 [2] 300,000
5 Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf 197717 [2] 255,000
Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 198417 [4] 255,000
÷ Ed Sheeran 201717 [5] 225,000
7 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 199216 [3] [6] 240,000
The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd 197316 [2] 240,000
9 1 The Beatles 200015 [3] 225,000
11 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 199514 [2] 210,000
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds Jeff Wayne 197814 [2] 210,000
The Joshua Tree U2 198714 [2] 210,000
The Wall Pink Floyd 197914 [2] 210,000
15 21 Adele 201113 [7] 195,000
Rumours Fleetwood Mac 197713 [8] 195,000
Christmas Michael Bublé 201113 [9] 195,000
× Ed Sheeran 201413 [10] 195,000
18 Come Away with Me Norah Jones 200212 [2] 180,000
Falling into You Celine Dion 199612 [2] 180,000
The Phantom of the Opera Various Artists198712 [2] 180,000
Pure Hayley Westenra 200312 [3] 180,000
Thriller Michael Jackson 198212 [3] 180,000

Notes

  1. ↑ If a release contains multiple mixes of a single song, then only the longest track counts toward the 25-minute limit. If the playing time of different songs is less than 25 minutes and the total playing time of all tracks (including multiple mixes) is less than 40 minutes, then the release is defined as a single. In any case, if the total playing time is greater than 40 minutes, it is an album. [1]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Charts – Chart Rules" (PDF). Recorded Music NZ. August 2010. p. 9–10. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. p. 12. ISBN   978-1877443-00-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". RadioScope. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  9. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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