Tate McRae is officially the new queen of the ARIA Charts as her latest album, So Close To What, strikes gold with its debut, landing at No. 1. Published on February 28th, 2025, this marks the Canadian singer-songwriter's first time topping the main chart, showcasing her growing influence on the Australian music scene.
McRae's album So Close To What follows her previous two top 10 entries: I Used to Think I Could Fly, which peaked at No. 10 in 2022, and Think Later, which reached No. 2 last year. Notably, her single “Greedy” almost clinched the top spot when it peaked at No. 2. Such performances highlight McRae's rapid rise and connect her to her dedicated Australian fanbase.
McRae's ties to Australia run deep, not just through her music but also through her personal life; she is dating Australian musician The Kid Laroi. Together, they created the track “I Know Love,” which debuted at No. 17 on the ARIA Singles Chart. With Laroi’s contribution, this marks his 11th top 20 hit, celebrating their collaborative success.
Following her successful national tour across five cities, including Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney, McRae's album is already reaping the rewards. Three of its tracks are making waves on the ARIA Singles Chart, with “Sports Car” driving up from No. 25 to No. 9, “It’s OK I’m OK” re-entering at No. 37, and “2 Hands” bouncing to No. 40.
McRae is not alone at the top; she leads a strong all-North American and all-female top four on the ARIA Albums Chart. Following her inaugural No. 1 debut, Sabrina Carpenter's Short N’ Sweet drops from No. 1 to No. 2, Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard And Soft climbs from No. 4 to No. 3, and SZA's SOS edges up from No. 5 to No. 4.
While McRae dazzles, Newcastle indie rock band Rum Jungle makes waves too, debuting at No. 9 with their album Recency Bias. Supported by popular Australian radio station triple j, their entry signifies the thriving local music scene. Sam Fender, the English singer-songwriter, also breaks through the top 20 with his third studio album, People Watching, hitting No. 17, marking his career-best chart position down under.
Close on Fender's heels is Australian singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts, whose sixth album, New Love, lands at No. 18, following his previous chart success which peaked at No. 9 with Laps Around The Sun back in 2018. Together, Rum Jungle and Alberts are the only Australian artists to make it to the latest ARIA Top 50, underscoring the competitive environment for local musicians.
On the ARIA Singles Chart, Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” climbs back to the top, rising from No. 3 to No. 1. Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther” remains steady at No. 2, and Lola Young’s previous leader, “Messy,” completes the top 3, dipping slightly from No. 4 to No. 3. Interestingly, apart from Laroi’s collaboration with McRae, the singles chart is otherwise weak for Australian artists, reflecting the need for local talent to dominate.
Overall, Tate McRae's once elusive ARIA success marks not just personal achievement but also significant recognition for the North American female artists currently reshaping the Australian music industry. With her powerful voice and engaging melodies, McRae continues to charm audiences, and with talented collaborations like Laroi, the future looks promising for both her and other Australian artists striving to make their mark.