Australia’s domestic acts posted their best performance in more than a decade in 2004, according to year-end statistics released Dec. 27 by the Australian Record Industry Assn.
Four Aussie acts appear in the top five of the year-end albums chart, and nine in the top 20. Ten of the 24 Aussie releases in the top 100 were debuts, including the top three albums.
These figures mark the best local showing since 1992, when the top three albums for the year were by domestic acts. In 2003, only four local releases were in the Top 20.
The debut from rock band Jet,”Get Born” (EMI), which has shipped nearly 3 million units globally and 500,000 Down Under, according to EMI Music Australia, was the top selling album of 2004.
At No. 2 was another debut, “That’s What I’m Talking About” (Sony BMG), by 2003 “Australian Idol” runner-up Shannon Noll. At No. 3 was Pete Murray’s “Feeler” (SBE), and roots band the John Butler Trio’s “Sunrise Over Sea” (Jarrah/MGM) came in at No. 5.
The singles chart was topped by Shannon Noll’s debut single “What About Me.”
Two other singles by Australian acts were in the top 10: alt-rock band Spiderbait’s “Black Betty” (Universal), at No. 3, and hip-hop act Joel Turner & the Modern Day Poets’ “These Days” (MGM), at No. 8.
