CHART WATCH

It was a battle royale over on the digital retailers’ charts this week between Ariana Grande’s new smash ‘Problem’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Sing’. Naturally, only one could come out on top at the end of the sales week. Who is it? And there’s a new No.1 on the albums charts (though not on debut)! Settle down please, it’s all right here in this week’s Chart Watch.

SINGLES
It’s British singer Ed Sheeran who claims the top spot on this week’s ARIA singles chart; his single ‘Sing’ becoming the first track to debut in the No.1 position here in Australia since Taylor Henderson’s ‘Borrow My Heart’ back in early November. And it does so rather convincingly, with Ariana’s single ‘Problem’ relegated to a No.4 debut; albeit on a few less days’ sales. Sheppard’s ‘Geronimo’ and Jason Derulo’s ‘Wiggle’ are at positions two and three respectively.
David Guetta’s new single ‘Bad’ improves 16 places this week, with Australia’s own Vassy finally achieving a little bit of home-town chart love (No.21 to No.5), but Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ slips back a little – from two to six.
New accreditations for both Rita Ora’s ‘I Will Never Let You Down’ (now gold) and Calvin Harris’ ‘Summer’ (now platinum) before a big rise for Iggy Azalea’s ‘Fancy’, which is now the singer’s first ever top ten hit here in Australia (No.9).
Justin Timberlake’s newly gold ‘Not A Bad Thing’ falls from the top ten this week; as does Jess Mauboy’s newly platinum ‘Never Be The Same Again’ (No.10 to No.13 and No.7 to No.14 respectively). Route 94’s ‘My Love’ also joins the gold certification party in position 18 and Pitbull’s ‘Wild Wild Love’ is now platinum at No.20.
An Australian promotional visit seems to have paid dividends for UK singer Sam Smith ahead of the release of his debut album ‘In The Lonely Hour’. His latest single ‘Stay With Me’ debuts at No.22 on the ARIA singles chart this week and has spent much of the past few days in the top ten on iTunes. Even previous single ‘Money On My Mind’ improves (No.61 to No.51).
Sammy Jade’s ‘Up!’ is… up (No.30 to No.24); so too Katy Perry’s ‘Birthday’ (No.34 to No.25), Passenger’s ‘Heart’s On Fire’ (No.38 to No.26) and thanks to some TV syncing (though it’s Demi Lovato’s version), Idina Menzel’s ‘Let It Go’ bullets from No.40 to No.27 (Demi’s version rises from No.86 to No.45).
It’s good news this week for Australia’s Glamberts, with Adam Lambert’s Avicii collaboration ‘Lay Me Down’ recording the biggest jump of the week (No.99 on debut to No.34). Milky Dance’s ‘Stolen Dance’ does the trick for dance label Neon, edging from No.60 to No.35.
Even Pharrell Williams’ new single ‘Marilyn Monroe’ joins the top 40 party. From its No.53 debut last week, it’s improved 13 and places at No.40 in its second week of top 100 action.
Also into the top 50 this week are DJ Snake’s ‘Turn Down For What’ (No.58 to No.43) and Lana Del Rey and Cedric Gervais’ ‘Young & Beautiful’ (No.87 to No.49). Coldplay’s ‘Midnight’, however, suffers a 25 place second week drop.
John Newman’s Logies performance has ‘Love Me Again’ back in chart action (No.55 on re-entry), The Amity Affliction’s ‘Pittsburgh’ stumbles in week No.3 (No.39 to No.63) and Jason Derulo’s Aussie visit does nothing for his single ‘Stupid Love’ (No.46 to No.66).
Allday’s ‘Right Now’ premieres at No.69, ANZAC Day sparks a run of sales for Redgum’s anthem ‘I Was Only 19’ (which re-enters the top 100 countdown at No.78), but it seems to be trouble for the new Lana Del Rey single. ‘West Coast’ was serviced to media a few weeks back and although it improved to No.44 on last week’s chart (its second week), it finds itself back in position No.82 this week.
Debuts for Krewella (‘Enjoy The Ride’ at No.84) and Iggy Azalea (‘Black Widow’ featuring Rita Ora at No.86) follow, but Chet Faker’s ‘1998’ drops from No.55 to No.90.
Iggy Azalea’s ‘Work’, Lorde’s ‘Team’ and Tina Arena’s ‘Only Lonely’ re-enter the top 100 (at Nos.97, 99 and 100 respectively). Lily Allen’s ‘Our Time’ is gone from the top 100 after being at No.69 last week.

ALBUMS
After 18 long weeks on the ARIA albums chart, it’s the ‘Frozen’ soundtrack that finally makes it into the No.1 spot on the ARIA albums chart this week. It’s been rolling around our top ten here in Australia since its debut in January and has spent just one week outside the top five since January 26.
Last week’s No.1 – Chet Faker’s ‘Built On Glass’ – tumbles to No.4, allowing Iggy Azalea’s long-awaited ‘The New Classic’ to debut at No.2 and UK boyband The Vamps’ album ‘Meet The Vamps’ to premiere at a highly respectable No.3.
National tours always pay dividends on the charts for artists – and Australians love their Bubes. Michael Bublé’s ‘To Be Loved’ bullets from No.75 to No.5 after his national tour kicked off late last week. MKTO is another band reaping the rewards for delivering a few live shows; their self-titled debut bullets from No.43 to No.8; ditto Jason Derulo, though his ‘Tattoos’ was already doing quite well after a recent re-package. It improves three to No.10.
Cliff Richard’s ‘The Fabulous Rock ‘N’ Roll Songbook’ is up five to No.11 and though new tune ‘Sing’ isn’t on it, there’s enough excitement surrounding Ed Sheeran’s new album ‘X’ to send his previous ‘+’ bulleting from No.36 to No.12.
A debut for Mark Vincent’s ‘Best So Far’ (No.17), a drop for Jess Mauboy’s ‘Beautiful’ (No.4 to No.18) and more debuts for Sol3 Mio’s self-titled set (No.20) and Pixie’s ‘Indie Cindy’ (No.21).
Dan Sultan’s ‘Blackbird’ drops 16 places to No.24, Damon Albarn’s ‘Everyday Robots’ premieres at No.26 and early Mother’s Day purchases (and some TV advertising) sees Andre Rieu’s ‘Magic Of The Musicals’ soar from No.63 to No.29.
There’s a debut at No.34 for Bethel Music’s ‘You Make Me Brave (Live)’, a 13 place jump for Disclosure’s ‘Settle’, a 27 place leap for Engelbert Humperdinck’s ‘Engelbert Calling’ (NO.67 to No.40), and it would seem that ‘Recess’ is over for Skrillex, with his new album plunging from No.15 to No.41.
The ‘Love Child’ soundtrack is up 21 (to No.45), OneRepublic’s ‘Native’ is down 23 (to No.49) and Celtic Thunder’s ‘My Land’ bullets from a No.77 debut to No.50.
Kylie’s Logies performance didn’t really help sales of her album ‘Kiss Me Once’. Though there’s been plenty of excitement about her being on ground over the last week, ‘The Voice’ premiering tomorrow night and an invite-only showcase (ours must’ve got lost in the mail), the album falls this week from No.27 to No.55.
Hugh Laurie’s tour has his latest album ‘Didn’t It Rain’ back in the top 100 countdown (No.57). The Wiggles’ best-of jumps from No.83 to No.58, but Bastille’s ‘Bad Blood’ has seemingly been tainted, suffering a 44 place plunge to No.61.
Robbie Williams’ ‘Swings Both Ways’ is down 23, David Hobson & Rachael Beck’s ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ debuts at No.64 and John Newman’s ‘Tribute’ re-enters at No.66.
How will Sony arrest the slide of John Legend’s album ‘Love In The Future’, which drops from No.35 to No.73 this week? No doubt the remix of ‘Made To Love’, serviced to media on Thursday morning, will help.
Jake Bugg’s ‘Shangri La’ drops 21, Devil You Know’s ‘The Beauty Of Destruction’ debuts at No.84, Brody Dalle’s ‘Diploid Love’ is in at No.89 and Todd Terje rounds out the top 100 debuts with ‘It’s Album Time’ at No.99.
Nickelback’s best-of is the week’s biggest fall. It was at No.11 on last week’s top 100, but has disappeared from this week’s chart altogether. Debuts last week from New Empire (No.28) and Bonjah (No.41) have also left the top 100.

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