John Butler says illegal downloads of his latest record Grand National cut his album sales by 40 per cent, but that didn't stop it rocketing to number one on the charts.
The roots singer was among 12 Australian artists who topped the ARIA charts in 2007 with singles, albums or music DVDs.
Their achievements were recognised at the ARIA Number One Chart Awards in Sydney on Thursday.
Butler, who is one of Australia's most successful independent artists, told reporters selling albums was much harder these days because of the increase in illegal downloading.
"We sell about 40 per cent less albums than we did three or four years ago because of downloading," he said.
"This album has done better than SOS - Sunrise Over Sea - as far as everything is concerned, but it's almost sold less because of the downloads."
Butler said Grand National was leaked on to the internet about one month before it was released.
"I'm still stoked that we can go triple platinum," he said.
"It's actually quite amazing in this day and age that it can do that."
A total of 12 Australian bands managed to reach the top spot last year, with rock and pop music well represented.
Pop princess Kylie Minogue scored two number ones for her album X and single 2 Hearts.
Silverchair added to their haul of awards with two more for their album Young Modern and the single Straight Lines.
Not to be left out, touring partners Powderfinger also earned an award for the success of their album Dream Days At The Hotel Existence.
Racking up their first number ones were two groups of musical siblings, Evermore and The Veronicas.
Brisbane twins Lisa and Jess Origliasso, aka The Veronicas, said they were excited to have finally hit number one with the first single off their second album, Hook Me Up.
"I think we've been number two and never quite got up to that number one spot," the girls said.
"(We were like) whatever, our first album was in the top ten for a year, that's better than a lot of people. We don't care about being number one.
"And then when they called us and said we'd gone to number one we were like `yeah!', and we were really excited.
"We were like,' oh we do care about winning. We're winners now."'
Australian Idol graduate Damien Leith picked up gongs for two albums - Where We Land and The Winner's Journey, which just made it into the qualifying period.
Delta Goodrem collected awards for her album Delta and the single In This Life, and entertained industry figures with a performance of her new single Believe Again.
Goodrem will spend much of 2008 in America as she releases her album there, but said she wouldn't be relocating to the US.
"I intend to spend a lot of time there but still Australia is home," she said.
Australian music legends AC/DC and Crowded House were also among the artists recognised at the awards event in Sydney.
The ARIA Number One Chart Awards differ from the annual ARIA music awards in that they are based solely on retail sales between January 1 and December 31, 2007.
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