As we wind down for the holiday season, Recorded Music New Zealand has revealed what music made Kiwis tick in 2016 with the release of the year’s Official NZ Top 40 Charts.
 
After skyrocketing to the top spot in 2015, Adele has demonstrated her staying power as 25 remains the bestselling album in New Zealand for the second year in a row.
 
2016 is the first year streaming figures were included in the Official NZ Album Charts and it provides insight into the shifting way people are listening to music. Justin Bieber’s fourth studio album Purpose was one of the most streamed albums in 2016 helping it reach #2 on the Albums Chart.
 
The most popular song of the year goes to Drake feat. Wizkid and Kayla for ‘One Dance’, which dominated the Singles Chart in 2016 holding the #1 spot for 13 weeks, the third longest streak ever.
 
Over the last 12 months there have been so many musical highs, however it’s important we recognise the lows. This year, we had several legendary artists leave us including David Bowie in January, Prince in April, Leonard Cohen in early November, and Kiwi legend Ray Columbus later in the month. This is reflected in the Top 40 Albums of 2016, where David Bowie features twice – at #4 for Nothing Has Changed and at #6 for his twenty-fifth and final album Blackstar.
 
Local legends Six60 and Sol3 Mio finished with the top local albums this year with Six60 (2) and On Another Note on the list at #11 and #12, respectively.
 
Kiwi sensations Broods charted at #21 with their sophomore album Conscious. It’s been an incredible year for the duo who recently took out five Tuis at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards.
 
Fellow Tui winner KINGS finished with the top local single in 2016, ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout It’. The track has been the top Kiwi single for 23 weeks in a row and counting.
Recorded Music Data Manager Paul Kennedy applauds all the singles and albums which contributed to a fantastic year in music in 2016.
 
“It’s great to look back on 2016 and see all the tracks and albums that Kiwis loved. It’s always fantastic to see local musicians in the end of year charts. We have such an impressive local music scene, and it’s great to recognise the work and talent we foster as a nation.”
 
Over the past two years there has been a significant change to the charts with the inclusion of streaming data in the results. Statistics from major on-demand streaming services – including Apple Music, Spotify and Google Play – as well as figures from independent online platform Bandcamp aim to reflect the new ways New Zealanders collectively consume albums and singles.

Best Charting Albums of 2016:

1.     25 – Adele (XL/Rhythm)

2.     Purpose – Justin Bieber (Def Jam/Universal)

3.     X: Wembley Edition – Ed Sheeran (Asylum/Warner)

4.     Nothing Has Changed: The Best Of – David Bowie (Parlophone/Warner)

5.     Christmas: Deluxe Special Edition – Michael Buble (Reprise/Warner)

6.     Blackstar – David Bowie            (Columbia/Sony Music)

7.     Views – Drake (Cash Money/Universal)

8.     Blurryface – Twenty One Pilots (Fueled By Ramen/Warner)

9.     Lemonade – Beyonce (Columbia/Sony Music)

10.  Nine Track Mind – Charlie Puth (Artist Partner Group/Warner)

11.  Six60 (2) – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

12.  On Another Note – Sol3 Mio (Universal)

13.  Suicide Squad OST – Various (Atlantic/Warner)

14.  A Head Full Of Dreams: Tour Edition – Coldplay (Parlophone/Warner)

15.  Meant To Be – The Koi Boys (Universal)

16.  E Ipo: The Very Best Of – Prince Tui Teka (Sony Music)

17.  ANTI – Rihanna (Roc Nation/Universal)

18.  In The Lonely Hour: Drowning Shadows Edition – Sam Smith (Capitol/Universal)

19.  1989 – Taylor Swift (Big Machine/Universal)

20.  You Want It Darker – Leonard Cohen (Columbia/Sony Music)

21.  Conscious – Broods (Dryden Street/Universal)

22.  The Getaway – Red Hot Chili Peppers (WEA/Warner)

23.  The Hits/The B-Sides – Prince (NPG/Warner)

24.  Immortalized – Disturbed (Reprise/Warner)

25.  Hardwired…To Self-Destruct – Metallica            (Blackened/Universal)

26.  This Is Acting – Sia (Inertia/Rhythm)

27.  24K Magic – Bruno Mars (Atlantic/Warner)

28.  Blue And Lonesome – Rolling Stones (Promotone BV/Universal)

29.  Blonde – Frank Ocean (Boys Don't Cry)

30.  The Very Best Of – Prince (NPG/Warner)

31.  21 – Adele (XL/Rhythm)

32.  Day Breaks – Norah Jones (Blue Note/Universal)

33.  The Wonder Of You: Elvis With The RPO – Elvis Presley (RCA/Sony Music)

34.  Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd (Republic/Universal)

35.  Sol3 Mio – Sol3 Mio (Universal)

36.  Nobody But Me – Michael Buble (Reprise/Warner)

37.  Greatest Hits – Guns N Roses (Universal)

38.  A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead (XL/Rhythm)

39.  Be Like The River – Devilskin (Devilskin/Rhythm/DRM)

40.  Made In The A.M. – One Direction (Simco/Sony Music)

41.  Title: Special Edition – Meghan Trainor (Epic/Sony Music)

42.  Delirium – Ellie Goulding (Polydor/Universal)

43.  Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande (Republic/Universal)

44.  Legend: Remastered – Bob Marley And The Wailers (Island Def Jam/Universal)

45.  Blue Neighbourhood: Suburbia Edition – Troye Sivan (EMI/Universal)

46.  Greatest Hits – Tracy Chapman (Elektra/Warner)

47.  25 Years: The Chain Box Set – Fleetwood Mac (WEA/Warner)

48.  Lukas Graham – Lukas Graham (WEA/Warner)

49.  Skin – Flume (Future Classic/Universal)

50.  Bays – Fat Freddy's Drop (The Drop/Rhythm/DRM)

Best Charting Singles of 2016:

1.     One Dance – Drake feat. Wizkid And Kyla (Cash Money/Universal)

2.     7 Years – Lukas Graham (WEA/Warner)

3.     Love Yourself – Justin Bieber (Def Jam/Universal)

4.     Never Be Like You – Flume feat. Kai (Future Classic/Universal)

5.     Closer – The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (Disruptor/Sony Music)

6.     Don't Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya (Disruptor/Sony Music)

7.     Sorry – Justin Bieber (Def Jam/Universal)

8.     Cheap Thrills – Sia (Inertia/Rhythm)

9.     Fast Car – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota (Virgin/Universal)

10.  This Is What You Came For – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna (Columbia/Sony Music)

11.  Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots (Fueled By Ramen/Warner)

12.  I Took A Pill In Ibiza – Mike Posner (Island/Universal)

13.  Cold Water – Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber And M0 (Mad Decent/Warner)

14.  All My Friends – Snakehips feat. Tinashe And Chance The Rapper (Sony Music)

15.  Can't Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake (RCA/Sony Music)

16.  Work From Home – Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla Sign (Simco/Sony Music)

17.  Faded – Alan Walker (Sony Music)

18.  Work – Rihanna feat. Drake (Roc Nation/Universal¬)

19.  Pillowtalk – ZAYN (RCA/Sony Music)

20.  Lush Life – Zara Larsson (Sony Music)

21.  Say It – Flume feat. Tove Lo (Future Classic/Universal)

22.  Roses – The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes (Disruptor/Sony Music)

23.  Let Me Love You – DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber (Interscope/Universal)

24.  Heathens – Twenty One Pilots (Atlantic/Warner)

25.  Panda – Desiigner (Def Jam/Universal)

26.  Middle – DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine (Interscope/Universal)

27.  Hello – Adele (XL/Rhythm)

28.  Too Good – Drake feat. Rihanna (Cash Money/Universal)

29.  What Do You Mean? – Justin Bieber (Def Jam/Universal)

30.  Cake By The Ocean – DNCE (Republic/Universal)

31.  Send My Love (To Your New Lover) – Adele (XL/Rhythm)

32.  Me, Myself And I – G-Eazy x Bebe Rexha (RCA/Sony Music)

33.  Don't Worry ‘Bout It – Kings (ArchAngel/Warner)

34.  Gold – Kiiara (Atlantic/Warner)

35.  Starboy – The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk (Republic/Universal)

36.  Light It Up – Major Lazer feat. Nyla (Because/Warner)

37.  We Don't Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez (ArtistPartnerGroup/Warner)

38.  I Hate U I Love U – Gnash feat. Olivia O'Brien (Gnash/Warner)

39.  Needed Me – Rihanna (Roc Nation/Universal)

40.  Ride – Twenty One Pilots (Fueled By Ramen/Warner)

41.  Wild Things – Alessia Cara (Def Jam/Universal)

42.  Never Forget You – Zara Larsson And MNEK (Epic/Sony Music)

43.  Hands To Myself – Selena Gomes (Interscope/Universal)

44.  Ocean Drive – Duke Dumont (Virgin/Universal)

45.  Side To Side – Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj (Republic/Universal)

46.  Say You Won't Let Go – James Arthur (Columbia/Sony Music)

47.  Stitches – Shawn Mendes (Island/Universal)

48.  Sugar – Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates (Tonspiel/Warner)

49.  Starving – Hailee Steinfeld And Grey feat. Zedd (Republic/Universal)

50.  Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes (Island/Universal)

Best Charting New Zealand Albums of 2016:

1.     Six60 (2) – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

2.     On Another Note – Sol3 Mio (Universal)

3.     Meant To Be – The Koi Boys (Universal)

4.     E Ipo: The Very Best Of – Prince Tui Teka (Sony Music)

5.     Conscious – Broods (Dryden Street/Universal)

6.     Sol3 Mio – Sol3 Mio (Universal)

7.     Be Like The River – Devilskin (Devilskin/Rhythm/DRM)

8.     Bays – Fat Freddy's Drop (The Drop/Rhythm/DRM)

9.     Songs For Bubbas 2 – Anika Moa (Diamond & Kowhai/Rhythm/DRM)

10.  Poi E: The Story Of Our Song – Various (Sony Music)

11.  Stir It Up: Aotearoa's Tribute To Bob Marley – Various (Universal)

12.  Evergreen – Broods (Dryden Street/Universal)

13.  Songs For Bubbas 1 – Anika Moa (Diamond & Kowhai/Rhythm/DRM)

14.  Pure Heroine – Lorde (Universal)

15.  Six60 (1) – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

16.  Water Or Gold – Hollie Smith (Soundsmith/Warner)

17.  Harmony House – Dave Dobbyn (Red Trolley/Border/DRM)

18.  Brown Girl – Aaradhna (FMG/Universal)

19.  Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams (Marlon Williams/Universal)

20.  We Rise – Devilskin (Devilskin/Rhythm/DRM)

Best Charting New Zealand Singles of 2016:

1.     Don't Worry ‘Bout It – Kings (ArchAngel/Warner)

2.     Free – Broods (Dryden Street/Universal)

3.     Magnets – Disclosure feat. Lorde (Island/Universal)

4.     White Lines – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

5.     Purple – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

6.     Special – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

7.     So High – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

8.     Oh My My – nomad (nomad/DRM)

9.     Stay Together – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

10.  Mother's Eyes – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

11.  Freaks – Timmy Trumpet And Savage (Hussle/MOS/Universal)

12.  Don't Forget Your Roots – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

13.  Only To Be – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

14.  Stars – Shapeshifter (A.R.T./Universal)

15.  Royals – Lorde (Universal)

16.  Kind Of Love – MAALA (Sony Music)

17.  Wandering Eye – Fat Freddy's Drop (The Drop/Rhythm/DRM)

18.  Forever – Six60 (Massive/Universal)

19.  Heartlines – Broods (Dryden Street/Universal)

20.  Inside Out – Avalanche City (WEA/Warner)

 
New Zealand Albums That Reached #1 in 2016
Aaradhna – Brown Girl
Anika Moa – Songs for Bubbas 2
Broods – Conscious
Devilskin – Be Like The River
Hollie Smith – Water or Gold
The Koi Boys – Meant To Be
Prince Tui Teka – E Ipo: The Very Best Of
Sol3 Mio – On Another Note