triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown will not air on Australia Day

triple j will air its annual Hottest 100 countdown on Saturday 27 January 2018, instead of the Australia Day public holiday on January 26th.

Almost 65,000 people voted in the radio station’s nationwide survey, which was prompted by debate over the appropriateness of holding the countdown on a day Indigenous people and supporters find offensive.​

The survey followed a period of consultation with Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians, groups and other community leaders and representative bodies about the implications of holding the music countdown on Australia Day.

‘The Hottest 100 has been held on a few different dates in the past so it’s not the first time it’s moved around,’ the station has said.

‘The first ever countdown was held on 5 March, 1989 and the countdown didn’t regularly match up with 26 January until 1998.

‘In fact, the 2004 countdown was on 25 January. So, the date of the countdown has moved around and though the Hottest 100 has mostly been held on Australia Day, it’s not about Australia Day.’

The station said of the move ‘It’s fair to say there’s been increasing debate around 26 January and there are a lot of perspectives on what it means to different Australians. As the public broadcaster representing all Australians, triple j and the ABC doesn’t take a view in the discussions.

‘However, in recent years the Hottest 100 has become a symbol in the debate about Australia Day. The Hottest 100 wasn’t created as an Australia Day celebration.

‘It was created to celebrate your favourite songs of the past year. It should be an event that everyone can enjoy together – for both the musicians whose songs make it in and for everyone listening in Australia and around the world. This is really important to us.’

You can read more about it here.​

Tags: |