List of best-selling albums in New Zealand
An album is defined by Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ) as being a type of music release comprising at least five songs or a total playing time of over 25 minutes. Currently, Platinum certifications denote the shipment of 15,000 copies. When RMNZ (then known as the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand) introduced certifications in 1978, to reach Platinum status an album had to ship 20,000 copies. This was reduced to its current level in 1992.
The best-selling albums in New Zealand, as judged by certifications, are ABBA's greatest hits album, The Best of ABBA (1975) and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms (1985); both have been certified 24-times Platinum. ABBA's album ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) is also one of New Zealand's best-selling albums. Pink Floyd and Ed Sheeran are the only other artists with two entries on the list. Hayley Westenra is the only artist of New Zealand origin with an album on this list.
Best-selling albums
Rank | Album | Artist | Year of release | Number of times certified platinum |
Shipments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Best of ABBA | ABBA | 1975 | 24 | 360,000 |
Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 1985 | 24 | 360,000 | |
3 | Come On Over | Shania Twain | 1997 | 21 | 315,000 |
4 | Legend | Bob Marley and the Wailers | 1984 | 20 | 300,000 |
5 | Bat Out of Hell | Meat Loaf | 1977 | 17 | 255,000 |
Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 1984 | 17 | 255,000 | |
7 | ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits | ABBA | 1992 | 16 | 240,000 |
The Dark Side of the Moon | Pink Floyd | 1973 | 16 | 240,000 | |
9 | 1 | The Beatles | 2000 | 15 | 225,000 |
÷ | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | 15 | 225,000 | |
11 | Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | 1995 | 14 | 210,000 |
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds | Jeff Wayne | 1978 | 14 | 210,000 | |
The Joshua Tree | U2 | 1987 | 14 | 210,000 | |
The Wall | Pink Floyd | 1979 | 14 | 210,000 | |
15 | 21 | Adele | 2011 | 13 | 195,000 |
Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 1977 | 13 | 195,000 | |
× | Ed Sheeran | 2014 | 13 | 195,000 | |
18 | The immaculate collection | Madonna | 1990 | 12 | 180,000 |
Come Away with Me | Norah Jones | 2002 | 12 | 180,000 | |
Falling into You | Celine Dion | 1996 | 12 | 180,000 | |
The Phantom of the Opera | Various Artists | 1987 | 12 | 180,000 | |
Pure | Hayley Westenra | 2003 | 12 | 180,000 | |
Thriller | Michael Jackson | 1982 | 12 | 180,000 |