Taylor Swift scores eighth ARIA #1 album with Fearless (Taylor's Version)

American superstar Taylor Swift takes out her eighth #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart as she debuts in the top spot this week with Fearless (Taylor's Version). The album is a re-recording of Swift’s second album, Fearless (#2 Mar. ’09) and is the first of six re-recorded albums Swift plans to release, in response to the master recordings of her back catalogue being sold.

It becomes Swift’s third #1 album in Australia in the last year after folklore (#1 Aug. ’20) and evermore (#1 Dec.’20) and makes her the first artist to have three different albums top the ARIA Charts in a twelve-month period. The 17 weeks between evermore first hitting #1 and the debut by Fearless (Taylor's Version) breaks the record for least number of weeks between different #1 albums that Swift previously set with the 20 weeks between her last two albums.

Swift’s eight #1 albums now places her second for the record for most ARIA #1 albums by a female solo artist, sitting behind Madonna, who has eleven. She also now sits one release behind Eminem for consecutive #1 studio albums, who has nine.

Richard Clapton scores his highest charting album ever in Australia as he issues the covers collection Music Is Love (1966-1970). The album features the ARIA Hall Of Fame member taking on tracks made famous by the likes of The Byrds, Neil Young, The Band, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful and more. Clapton’s last studio album to chart was Distant Thunder (#37 Jul. ’93). 

Ariana Grande’s Positions returns to the Top Ten, jumping from #23 to #5, following its issue on vinyl. As a result, Positions is #1 on this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart. It previously peaked at #2 when it was released in November 2020.

American hip hop collective Brockhampton return with Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. It’s the first of two new albums set for release by the group in 2021, which will be their final albums. The new release includes collaborations with Danny Brown, A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg and more. Brockhampton has previously hit the Top Ten with Iridescence (#6 Oct. ’18) and Ginger (#3 Sept. ’19).

The Wiggles jump back up the chart from #37 to #26 with We're All Fruit Salad!: The Wiggles' Greatest Hits. The Top Ten album’s move comes as the group kick off their 30th anniversary tour of Australia.

One Direction’s Made In The A.M. and Four have re-entered the chart at #29 and #42, respectively on the back of new vinyl releases.

Melbourne alt-country group Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes make their ARIA Top 50 debut with Nearest Misses (Live). The album captures performances by the band in the latter half of 2019. In 2014, the band won a Golden guitar for Alternative Country Album of the Year.