ARIA charts turn 30

It was this day back in 1983 that ARIA released its very first chart.

In that first list of the best songs and albums of the week we saw Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ as the #1 single and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ as the #1 album.

ARIA have published a whole bunch of stats to celebrate the occasion.

ARIA Chairman Denis Handlin AM, who was one of the leading board members who started the Chart in 1983, said:

“The ARIA Charts were created for artists, record companies, publishers, songwriters, retailers and fans to know what is going on with music sales right across the country. Over the years as the market has diversified, ARIA has developed a wide range of charts from the National Singles and Albums Charts to country, dance, urban, digital streaming and other genres as a part of its industry information services.

On behalf of the ARIA Board and members, our thanks go to the retailers and digital service providers that contribute their sales information and to the ARIA Chart team for their dedication in compiling the weekly charts.

The history of the singles and albums captured by the ARIA Charts not only represents brilliant recorded music but also the soundtrack to our lives. “

The stats :-

Youngest chart-toppers

Singles: Gabrielle Cilmi – Sweet About Me (2008. 16 years, 6 months, 4 days)
Albums: Miley Cyrus – Breakout (2008. 15 years, 9 months, 23 days)

Oldest chart-toppers

Singles: Cher – Believe (1999. 52 years, 8 months)
Albums: Bob Dylan – Modern Times (2006. 65 years, 3 months)

527 #1 Albums
214: USA
149: Australia
83: UK
24: Canada
20: Ireland
1: New Zealand, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden
27: Other

440 #1 Singles
219: USA
92: Australia
57: UK
13: Canada
8: Ireland, Sweden
6: Germany, Barbados
4: Jamaica
3: France, Colombia, Denmark, Spain
2: Italy, New Zealand
1: British Virgin Islands, South Korea, Austria, Finland, India, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia
2: Other

Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart

Coolio: Gangsta’s Paradise – 13 weeks (1995/96)
Eminem: Lose Yourself – 12 weeks (2002/03)
Bryan Adams: Everything I Do (I Do It For You) – 11 weeks (1991)
Space Girls: Wannabe – 11 weeks (1996/1997)
Whitney Houston: I Will Always Love You – 10 weeks (1992/93)
Sandi Thom: I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair) – 10 weeks (2006)
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennet & GoonRock: Party Rock Anthem – 10 weeks (2011)

Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms – 34 weeks (1985/86)
Adele: 21 – 31 weeks (2011/12)
Delta Goodrem: Innocent Eyes – 29 weeks (2003/04)
John Farnham: Whispering Jack – 25 weeks (1986/87)
Shania Twain : Come On Over – 20 weeks (1999)

Australian Releases – Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart

Austen Tayshus: Australiana – 8 weeks (1983)
Savage Garden: Truly Madly Deeply – 8 weeks (1997)
Gotye Feat. Kimbra: Somebody That I Used To Know – 8 weeks (2011)
John Farnham: You’re The Voice – 7 weeks (1986)
Pseudo Echo: Funkytown – 7 weeks (1986/87)
Kylie Minogue: Locomotion – 7 weeks (1987)

Australian Releases – Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart

Delta Goodrem: Innocent Eyes – 29 weeks (2003/04)
John Farnham: Whispering Jack – 25 weeks (1986/87)
Savage Garden: Savage Garden – 19 weeks (1997)
Icehouse: Man Of Colours – 11 weeks (1987)
Australian Cast: Jesus Christ Superstar – 10 weeks (1992)
Crowded House: Recurring Dream – 10 weeks (1996/97)

Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart

Madonna – 38 weeks
Kylie Minogue – 30 weeks
Black Eyed Peas – 30 weeks
Rihanna – 29 weeks
Eminem – 27 weeks

Most #1 Singles

Madonna – 10
Kylie Minogue – 10
Black Eyed Peas – 8
Delta Goodrem – 8
Eminem – 7
P!nk – 7

Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart

John Farnham – 47 weeks
Dire Straits – 35 weeks
Adele – 32 weeks
Jimmy Barnes – 31 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 31 weeks

Most #1 Albums

U2 – 11
Madonna – 10
Jimmy Barnes – 9
Bon Jovi – 9
John Farnham – 8

See more stats at ARIA here.