CHART WATCH

Chart Watch #2 for 2014 brings with it the first accreditation updates for the new year as the top spots on both singles and albums charts remain steady for the second week in succession.

SINGLES
Pharrell Williams has kicked off the new year in fine style; his single ‘Happy’ flying at the top of the ARIA singles chart for a second successive week and picking up its first certification according to ARIA – a shiny platinum one. Though Jason Derulo hasn’t picked up an accreditation in position No.2 just yet, expect him to do so within the next week or so as the labels slowly return to full power.
Magic! has, however; ‘Rude’ hitting double platinum this week – ditto John Legend’s ‘All Of Me’ in position four.
Rudimental’s ‘Free’ and Joel Fletcher’s ‘Swing’ pick up sales pace, both edging higher this week – Rudimental from No.10 to No.5 and Joel Fletcher from No.12 to No.6.
Pitbull and Ke$ha’s ‘Timber’ goes triple platinum, Guy Sebastian’s ‘Like A Drum’ shines with a double platinum gleam, while Ed Sheeran’s ‘I See Fire’ (No.15 to No.10) and London Grammar’s ‘Strong’ (No.22 to No.11) both improve.
The accreditations team at EMI is obviously back after the Christmas break, with Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ equalling Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ in an eighth platinum accreditation (560,000 copies). Lily Allen’s ‘Hard Out Here’ moved up from No.23 to No.17 (it’s now gold) and Beyoncé’s ‘XO’ jumps from No.35 to No.18.
Justice Crew’s ‘Everybody’ takes a dive though – it slides from No.13 to No.20 this week, but hits double platinum on its way down. The same goes for Taylor Henderson’s ‘Borrow My Heart’ (No.18 to No.24), now also double platinum.
There’s an improvement for Flume & Chet Faker’s collaboration ‘Drop The Game’ this week. The single not only picks up four places to No.26, but it’s certified gold for sales of 35,000 copies or more.
Tiesto’s ‘Red Lights’ and James Blunt’s ‘Heart To Heart’ both improve (No.44 to No.29 and No.41 to No.31 respectively).
James’ previous single ‘Bonfire Heart’ hits double platinum at No.34. Samantha Jade’s ‘Soldier’ goes gold at No.35.
Then it’s the Disney ‘Frozen’ soundtrack duo of Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel bulleting into the top 50 with their respective renditions of ‘Let It Go’. And really, they’re neck and neck in the sales race. At Nos.55 and 60 on debut last week, they’re just two spots from each other this week – at Nos.36 and 38 respectively.
The A Great Big World single ‘Say Something’ (with Christina Aguilera) and Bliss N Eso’s ‘My Life’ both hit the top 50 (Nos.45 and 46) and former ‘X Factor’ star Nathaniel has a double platinum hit on his hands with ‘You’.
Outside the top 50, there’s more love for the new Kid Ink single ‘Show Me’, which jumps 43 places to its highest chart placing yet – No.51.
The Will.I.Am single ‘Feelin’ Myself’ is up from No.71 to No.54 – just shy of its No.53 peak thus far, John Butler Trio’s ‘Only One’ re-enters the top 100 at No.62 and Kristen Bell’s ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman’ is unseasonably late (it’s from the soundtrack of Disney’s ‘Frozen’, so we’ll forgive her), but is the week’s highest debut at No.66. Her ‘For The First Time In Forever’ also charts, debuting at No.86.

ALBUMS
Beyoncé hit the top spot on the ARIA charts last week and she’s there again this week, with a fresh platinum accreditation to boot.
Katy Perry and Lorde hold in positions two and three, with London Grammar’s album soaring into the top ten to nestle right behind them at No.4 this week (up from No.34). The rest of the top ten remains relatively steady.
Disney’s ‘Frozen’ is a hit at the box office and its success there has translated to the music retail landscape too, with its soundtrack bulleting from a No.27 debut last week to No.11 this week. P!nk’s best-of also improves – to No.19, while Tina Arena’s ‘Reset’ falls from the top 20 for the first time since its release (not by far, however… No.21).
James Vincent McMorrow’s album ‘Post Tropical’ makes a summer splash. It’s the week’s highest new entry and places at No.25.
Bullets for the ‘Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’ soundtrack (No.47 to No.34) and Rudimental’s ‘Home’ (No.44 to No.35), along with Russell Morris’ ‘Sharkmouth’ (No.82 to No.40). Bastille’s ‘Bad Blood’ is headed in the other direction, however… down from No.29 to No.45.
Rüfüs’ ‘Atlas’ is back in the top half of the hundred, gaining 19 spots to No.46 this week, while Fleetwood Mac’s best-of rises seven positions to be back within the 50 at No.47.
More bullets outside the top 50 for the ‘Pitch Perfect’ soundtrack (No.89 to No.59) and Michael Jackson’s ‘#1s’, which re-emerges in the top 100, but Birdy’s ‘Fire Within’ drops 19 spots to No.70, Michael Jackson’s ‘Essential’ is down 15 to No.77 and Jai Waetford’s EP falls further to No.81.
The biggest falls within the top 100, however, are from Havana Brown’s ‘Flashing Lights’ (down 34 spots to No.90) and Justin Bieber’s ‘The Journals’, which plummets 42 spots to No.92 after just three weeks in.
Michael Bublé’s ‘Christmas’ (No.36) and Human Nature’s ‘The Christmas Album’ (No.38) are gone from the top 100 (last week’s positions in brackets).

For a full run down of the ARIA top 50s, head over to the new-look ARIA CHARTS WEBSITE, now each and every Saturday from 7:00pm AEST.