ARIA Celebrates Thirty Years Of Chart History

Can you guys believe that exactly thirty years agao today, ARIA released its first ever chart? Yep, ARIA began when Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Michael Jackson's Thriller album reigned supreme.

In the time since, over 1500 weekly ARIA charts have been published, with 440 number one singles and 527 number one albums. Phew! Here's some more trivia for you - the longest running single in the top spot during this time goes to rapper Coolio with his '95 hit Gangster's Paradise, which reigned for 13 weeks. British rockers Dire Straits have the longest running number one album with their record Brothers In Arms holding the top spot for a whopping 34 weeks!

Of the three decade achievement, ARIA Chairman Denis Handlin said that the chart had become so much more than just a record of music statistics.

“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," he said.

"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.“

ARIA Chart Records

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

All Releases

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)
Spice 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)

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)

All Artists

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

Australian Artists

Most weeks at #1 - Singles Chart

Kylie Minogue – 30 weeks
Guy Sebastian – 15 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 12 weeks
Silverchair – 12 weeks
John Farnham – 11 weeks

Most #1 Singles

Kylie Minogue – 10
Delta Goodrem – 8
Guy Sebastian – 6
Silverchair – 3
Shannon Noll – 3

Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart

John Farnham – 47 weeks
Jimmy Barnes – 31 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 31 weeks
Savage garden – 25 weeks
The 12th Man – 19 weeks

Most #1 Albums

Jimmy Barnes – 9
John Farnham – 8
The 12th Man – 7
Crowded House – 5
Silverchair – 5
Powderfinger – 5