2015 was a stellar year for Australian music. We saw the rise of new talents like Courtney Barnett, the continued ascension of established favourites like Tame Impala, and we were treated to a whole heap of buzz-worthy up-and-comers.

Not only did these artists sell out shows and break through overseas, they also garnered widespread critical acclaim, further cementing Australia’s glowing reputation in the international music scene in just about any genre you can name.

Over on the charts, our homegrown musos weren’t doing too shabbily either. ARIA have now released their end-of-year figures for 2015, revealing a healthy contingent of Australian bands and artists in both the top singles and top albums countdowns.

In 2015, Australian artists managed to deliver 14 of the top 100 singles and 35 of the top 100 albums, down just slightly from 2014’s 18 of the top 100 singles and 36 of the top 100 albums, which was nine more than the past two years.

“It’s been a fantastic year on the ARIA Charts, where we’ve been introduced to a crop of new artists, both local and international,” said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen. “This is a great achievement for our local industry and shows how Australian music fans have embraced our local artists.”

35 local releases charted in the top 100 albums, with an incredible 19 Aussie releases in the top 50, one up from 2014. The best-selling Australian album came courtesy of country star Lee Kernaghan with Spirit Of the Anzacs at Number 8.

Other Aussies that made it into the top 100 albums chart include hit-making golden girl Sia (#14), Hottest 100-topping songwriter Vance Joy (#16), hip-hop favourites Hilltop Hoods (#25), psychedelic masters Tame Impala (#28), and electronic crooner Chet Faker (#34).

Sitting at the top of the chart, however, was UK juggernaut Adele. Her multi-platinum smash 25 earned itself the title of Australia’s highest selling album of 2015 after spending a mere six weeks in the chart.

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Looking over at the list of top 10 singles, we don’t see any Aussies, unfortunately, with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ inescapable ‘Uptown Funk’ topping the list, followed by releases from Omi, Wiz Khalifa, Hozier, and Adele rounding out the top five.

If nothing else, ARIA’s 2015 end-of-year charts prove that there is a strong market for Australian music at home. When given the proper airplay and promotion, artists like Vance Joy and Sia not only scale charts in their homeland but abroad as well.

One need only take a look at the success of triple j, which plays mostly homegrown artists, as proof of the market desire for Australian music. More than half of the songs features in last year’s annual Hottest 100 were Australian, proving audiences respond when exposed to Aussie music.

ARIA’s Top 10 Singles Of 2015

1. Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars ‘Uptown Funk’

2. Omi ‘Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)’

3. Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth ‘See You Again’

4. Hozier ‘Take Me To Church’

5. Adele ‘Hello’

6. Major Lazer Featuring MØ & DJ Snake ‘Lean On’

7. Ellie Goulding ‘Love Me Like You Do’

8. Walk The Moon ‘Shut Up & Dance’

9. Justin Bieber ‘What Do You Mean?’

10. Rihanna, Paul McCartney & Kanye West ‘FourFiveSeconds’

ARIA’s Top 10 Albums Of 2015

1. Adele ‘25’

2. Ed Sheeran ‘X’

3. Taylor Swift ‘1989’

4. Justin Bieber ‘Purpose’

5. Meghan Trainor ‘Title’

6. Sam Smith ‘In The Lonely Hour’

7. Michael Buble ‘Christmas’

8. Lee Kernaghan ‘Spirit Of The Anzacs’

9. One Direction ‘Made In The A.M.’

10. Florence + The Machine ‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’

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