Gotye is Australia’s most prolific artist of ARIA’s last decade

Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gotye achieved monumental success in 2011 with his single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’.

Now he’s been named ARIA’s Australian Artist Of The Decade, with his smash hit, featuring NZ singer Kimbra, finishing at #1 on the End Of Decade Australian Singles Chart.

The track hit #1 on the weekly ARIA Singles Chart in its year of release, and spent 50 weeks in total on the chart. It’s also only the fifth Aussie single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (2011), and saw him win five ARIA Awards.

Incredibly, it’s Gotye’s only ARIA charting single ever; a testament to its local and global impact. It ends the decade at 14x Platinum in sales.

The single helped Gotye’s third album Making Mirrors end the 2010s at #3 on the ARIA End Of Decade Australian Albums Chart, the highest any album recorded in the last decade.

“Sincere thanks to everyone who has listened to and supported my music over the years,” said Gotye of his achievement.

“In some ways it feels like ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ and Making Mirrors came out more than a decade ago.

And for anyone who’s wondering – yes, the follow-up album will be released in the next decade. Probably.”

Gotye’s decade-long success was just one of several findings from the release of ARIA’s End Of Decade Charts, which include all the music Aussies consumed across all formats (CDs, streaming, downloads, vinyl).

“Gotye set the tone and trend for Australian music this decade, as our industry became increasingly global,” said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.

“Gotye’s music climbed charts all around the world and created a lasting impact and legacy that inspired a new generation of Aussie acts to take on the world.”

Rounding out the podium places on the End Of Decade Aussie Singles Chart were Vance Joy’s 2013 breakout single ‘Riptide’ and Guy Sebastian’s ‘Battle Scars’ (2012) featuring Lupe Fiasco.

‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ also finished at #2 on the overall End Of Decade Singles Chart.

Unstoppable Ed

With every sale, download and stream counted, the ARIA Chart International Artist Of The Decade could only have been Ed Sheeran.

‘Shape Of You’ held the record for most weeks spent at #1 in the history of the ARIA Singles Chart, until in late 2019 he was toppled by Tones And I.

The track finishes top of the ARIA End Of Decade Singles Chart, which also features ‘Thinking Out Loud’ (#6) and ‘Perfect’ (#8) in the Top 10.

“Ed Sheeran is no stranger to our shores, as he went from playing small bars in Melbourne and Sydney at the beginning of the decade to selling out stadiums around the country by the end,” said Rosen.

“He is an incredible musician and artist who left an indelible mark on this decade.”

Sheeran has two albums (X at #4 and ÷ at #5) in the Top 50 ARIA End Of Decade Albums Chart, but was bested by Adele whose 21 is the #1 album of the last ten years.

The record is 17x Platinum in Australia, while she also holds the #3 spot with 25 (10x Platinum).

Meanwhile, INXS take out the honour of the top Australian Album Of The Decade for The Very Best Of INXS.

“We left Perth as tenacious young men looking to play our music to the world, and we did so with passion, honour, and pride for our country and families,” said the band.

“The announcement of being the biggest selling Australian artist of the last decade is overwhelming, and we are truly humbled, thank you.

“Our hearts go out to all Australian’s who rallied around us this last decade, and our hope and prayers are with all Australian’s presently caught up in these raging and horrific fires.”

Dan Rosen praised INXS; ” They still capture our imaginations, four decades into their career. They are proof that great music never dates.”

2019 In Focus

With a record-breaking 22 weeks at #1 with ‘Dance Monkey’, Tones And I is unsurprisingly ARIA’s Australian Artist of 2019.

“Thank you Australia, 2019 is a year I will never forget,” she said.

‘Dance Monkey’ was only second to Lil Nas X’s viral single ‘Old Town Road’ on the ARIA 2019 Singles Chart.

“Even being in the ARIA Charts is a huge achievement and the fact that my country has supported me and kept me at number one is very humbling.

“Now let’s get ready for 2020.”

The gong for ARIA Chart International Artist of 2019 goes to Billie Eilish, whose ‘bad guy’ finishes at #3 on the yearly chart.

Her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go was #1 on the ARIA 2019 Album Chart.

Dan Rosen said; “In a year dominated by new voices, none rang louder than Billie Eilish.

“Her debut album will be remembered as only the beginning of an artist who is set to continue her success in the next decade.”