Triple J has moved the Hottest 100 countdown away from Australia Day to avoid being “part of a debate” about the day.
In a statement triple J explained, “You told us how much you love the countdown and most of you are up for a new day. We all agreed that the Hottest 100 shouldn’t be part of a debate about the day it’s on. The only debate should be about the songs.”
The next date for triple J’s Hottest 100 will be the fourth weekend in January.
“triple j will be freed up to celebrate Australia Day as its own event too. We have some new programming planned for 26 January (more on that later)”.
The Hottest 100 has not always been on Australia Day. The very first Hottest 100 was broadcast on 5 March 1989. It was 1998 when the first Australia Day countdown happened.
“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,” the triple j statement explains.
“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”.
Separating The Hottest 100 and Australia Day won’t last long. In 2019 Australia Day will fall on the Satuday of the fourth weekend in January.
Hottest 100 key dates:
Tues 12 Dec 2017: Voting opens
Mon 22 Jan 2018: Voting closes
Fri 26 Jan 2018: Australia Day
Sat 27 Jan 2018: Hottest 100
Sun 28 Jan 2018: Hottest 200
