Taylor’s in town

It’s touchdown for Taylor Swift and the ARIA Charts are ablaze: Midnights returns to the #1 spot for a 15th non-consecutive week on top, while another 6 albums sit in the top 10 of the Albums Chart.

To celebrate her arrival in Australia, Taylor breaks the record for most albums in the top 10 at one time (and has the entire top five). The previous record was six, held by… Taylor Swift. 

The highest new entry of the weeks belongs to Aussie duo Royel Otis, who step onto the chart at #10 with Pratts & Pain. Sydney-based Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic reached #43 last year with the EP Sofa Kings. 

Sydney rock band Middle Kids are new at #20 with Faith Crisis Part 1. It’s their third studio album: Lost Friends hit #10 in 2018 and Today We’re The Greatest peaked at #5 in 2021. 

On the Singles Chart, Taylor’s Cruel Summer reaches the summit for the first time, almost five years after it first appeared. The track, from her 2019 album Lover, originally peaked at #22 here. It hit the charts again last year when Taylor included it in her current tour setlist. 

Cruel Summer is her 11th chart topper here, putting her in a tie with Madonna as the artist with the third most #1 singles in Australia. The Beatles are on top with 26 chart-toppers, followed by Elvis Presley with 14. 

Beyonce’s country-infused Texas Hold ‘Em roars from #38 to #3. It’s Queen Bey’s first top 10 hit here since Cuff It reached #8 in 2022. Before this, she had had 15 top 10 solo or duet hits: 03 Bonnie & Clyde (with Jay-Z) in 2002; Crazy In Love and Baby Boy in 2003; Naughty Girl in 2004; Irreplaceable in 2006 (her only #1); Beautiful Liar (with Shakira) in 2007; If I Were A Boy and Single Ladies in 2008; Halo and Sweet Dreams in 2009; Telephone (with Lady Gaga) in 2010; Run The World (Girls) in 2011; Walk On Water (with Eminem) in 2017; and Break My Soul and Cuff It in 2022. She also had nine top 10 hits as a member of Destiny’s Child, including the #1 hit Say My Name in 2000. 

Rounding things out, Dua Lipa’s new track Training Season lands at #12 in its first week. It’s the  second track from her upcoming third album, which is slated for release later this year.