May 19, 2004
Popping the tops!
Mid-way through New Zealand Music Month local musicians have hit a new high note with Kiwis heading three of the five
Official New Zealand Music Charts.
NZ Idol winner Ben Lummis this week goes straight to number one on the singles chart with Can’t Take That Away. And the
Adeaze album Always and for Real reaches top spot from number two after only two weeks in the chart.
The Official New Zealand Music Charts also sees Rhian Sheehan’s second album Tiny Blue Biosphere hit number one in the
Heatseekers chart. This lists the top 10 best-selling albums that are eligible for, but have yet to enter, the Top 40
Album Chart.
Apart from holding the number one positions in their respective categories, Ben Lummis and the Adeaze R duo Nainz and Viiz Tupa’i share a connection.
The brothers Tupa’i are ‘pre-fame’ friends with Ben and they all attended the Excel School of Performing Arts in
Auckland.
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand says the milestone is much more than noteworthy.
“We have recently revamped the charts to better reflect the tastes of Kiwi music fans,” says RIANZ CEO Terence
O’Neill-Joyce. “To have three out of the five charts in local hands is great news and highly appropriate during New
Zealand Music Month.
“Once again it’s a tribute to the tastes of fans who are acknowledging the growth in New Zealand music and of course
reflects the depth of musical talent we have here in this country.”
The Official New Zealand Music Chart is made up of five individual charts including; Top 40 Singles, Top 40 Albums, Top
10 compilations, Top 10 Music DVDs and Top 10 Heatseekers.
The Official Top 40 Album Chart and is based on retail sales figures from around the country while the Top 40 Singles
Chart is based on a 50:50 split between singles sales figures and radio play information.
About RIANZ: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing
major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to
protect the rights and interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry. It administers the
anti-piracy brand BRN designed to educate New Zealanders about the damage piracy does to the livelihoods of those who work in the music
industry. Currently RIANZ has 47 full and affiliate members.
RIANZ is the New Zealand International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) national agency for encoding on all audio and
audio-visual recordings and ensures copyright owners of sound recordings and recording artists are properly paid. RIANZ
also administers the RAP fund – a scheme designed to support New Zealand artists and producers by ensuring licence fees
collected are pass on to Rap fund participants. Over 300 artists and producers participate in the scheme. RIANZ is also
responsible for producing the annual New Zealand Music Awards and the production and distribution of Music credit
vouchers for retail stores nation-wide.
ENDS