This weekend, yet another name will be etched onto the storied list of Hottest 100 winners as triple j prepares to crown the best song from the past year. This fan-voted countdown has become emblematic not just of musical excellence but also of cultural significance, bridging homegrown and international acts. Among the contenders for this year's top honors is Chappell Roan, whose hit "Good Luck, Babe!" has emerged as the fan favorite.
The Hottest 100, originally dubbed the Hot 100, dates back to 1989 when it arose from the creative mind of triple j staffer Lawrie Zion. Inspired by critics' lists such as “The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time,” Zion introduced the countdown to celebrate listeners' favorite music. A challenge at the time? The station had only one computer to handle thousands of mailed-in votes!
What began as listeners submitting ten songs through postal votes has now evolved significantly. After its inception, Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” not only became the first winner but also claimed victory for the following year. By 1993, the format shifted to focus solely on the best songs of the previous twelve months, establishing the foundation for the countdown we recognize today.
Fast forward to 2024, and the Hottest 100's cultural relevance faces new challenges amid the rapid evolution of music consumption, with streaming services altering how listeners interact with their favorite songs. Zion acknowledges this uncertainty: "I don’t get the sense it has impacted the relevancy of the Hottest 100. It’s still got an important legacy but the future is tricky.”
While triple j's audience celebrates songs sprinkled with nostalgia, there’s been growing concern about the influx of international artists, overshadowing the local scene. A stark illustration of this is the recent ARIA year-end charts, which saw merely five out of 100 songs represented by Australian artists. Yet Zion reminds fans, “People forget the first three winners of the Hottest 100 were Denis Leary, the Cranberries and Oasis, all overseas acts.”
This international influence raises debates across the music community as Australians reminisce about the countdowns of the 1990s—an era marked by homegrown heavyweights like Powderfinger and Spiderbait. The fading dominance of these beloved acts has drawn mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.
Artists who once topped charts like Alex Lloyd continue to reflect on the tangible rewards of the Hottest 100. Lloyd recalls how his 2001 classic "Amazing" not only won acclaim from fans but turned radio stations' heads, making it the most-played track of the subsequent year. "I bought a house shortly after," he recalls, hinting at the life-changing potential of the countdown.
For younger bands, the Hottest 100 offers differing forms of success. Elliott Margin from The Rubens reminisces about how their triumph with "Hoops" propelled them to new heights, allowing them to immediately upscale their touring venues due to skyrocketing demand. “The day after winning, our booking agent had to frantically change the venue size for all cities,” he recalls.
Mitch Galbraith from Ocean Alley echoes this sentiment, relating how winning has facilitated paths beyond Australian borders. With their own plans to penetrate the international market, he acknowledges, “Coming up in Australia, the Hottest 100 is a direct path to getting noticed.”
The countdown’s evolution hasn’t only been musical—it’s also been political. The traditional date of Australia Day became contentious, prompting triple j to reevaluate the timing of the countdown. Following audience votes, the event was moved to the fourth weekend of January, illustrating listener sentiments on cultural representation.
The 2018 countdown remains particularly memorable for Galbraith, who humorously recounts celebrating their victory with extended festivities. With these changes have come lively conversations around what it means to be Australian and how the countdown intertwines with national identity.
Today's digital age sees the Hottest 100 not just as an annual event, but as part of the fabric of Australian music culture—a legacy spanning generations. It continues to serve as both forum and battleground for what music means to listeners, and its ability to unite diverse voices.”
Through the waves of change, Zion remains optimistic about the essence of the countdown. "The DNA of the Hottest 100 will never change," he asserts, encapsulating the spirit of shared musical experience. While tomorrow’s songs will certainly flow from diverse influences, the human desire to celebrate and analyze our musical choices will undoubtedly persist.”