KEY POINTS:
New Zealand band Fat Freddy's Drop looks set to claim the title of highest selling album for the year, after being knocked off the top spot last year by Englishman James Blunt.
The band's debut album Based on a True Story came second to Blunt's Back to Bedlam in 2005.
Final results for 2006 won't be available until January, but as December draws to a close the two top-selling albums remain the same - in reverse order.
Based on a True Story was released in May 2005 and went platinum seven times over, selling more than 105,000 copies.
Two other New Zealand acts have made into the Top 20 for album sales so far this year.
The Black Seeds' second release Into The Dojo is in 13th place, while Bic Runga's Birds, which scored the album of the year gong at the 2006 Tui music awards, is at 17th.
The biggest local single of the year was Bathe In The River, performed by Wellington singer Hollie Smith, with the Mount Raskill Preservation Society.
The song was released as part of the soundtrack of award-winning local film No. 2, and also earned its composer Don McGlashan his second Apra Silver Scroll award.
The sales figures are released by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand, and are for across-the-counter sales to consumers.
- NZPA
