Some context for overseas followers: In Australia we effectively have three government funded broadcasters (kinda like the BBC).
We have SBS - the multicultural broadcaster - which is best known for broadcasting free-to-air porn every night before the internet became a thing. We have the ABC, which is largely a mix of BBC re-runs for Boomers and kids TV shows like Bluey (yes that Bluey) and Round The Twist - a kids show where one of the characters wins a swimming competition by spinning his dick like a propellor.
And finally, we have the radio station Triple J - the ABC's little brother with the government remit of making anyone over the age of 30 very angry.
Triple J is best known for using its government funding to get up to the most ridiculous shit it can think of, including events such as Requestival, a day where they let the public decide their entire playlist during COVID, leading to the station to air tracks ranging from "Adam Sandler - Somebody Kill Me", "The Wii Channel Theme", and "Music From The Motion Picture Association Against Copyright Theft Advertisement 'You Wouldn't Steal A Car'".
When not being downright tomfoolish, Triple J is also known for having an almost olympic level track record for unearthing new musicians, having discovered and supported acts like Lorde, Gotye, The Kid Laroi, Tyler The Creator, and even Billie Eilish when they were still fledgling baby artists that nobody had heard of.
(They're also responsible for making Dance Monkey a thing though, so swings and roundabouts).
On top of these hyjinx, every year Triple J holds a national poll that is effectively the closest thing this country has to a state religion. Unlike the less important national votes we hold every four years to decide which tosspots will be running the country, Triple J's Hottest 100 is considered the peak of democracy in Australia, amassing millions of votes annualy to decide on the greatest song of the last 12 months.
(To prove we're not joking: even the Prime Minister posted his votes to Facebook this year, and somewhat over-optimistically tagged Billie Eilish)
Once all the votes are in, a vast majority of the country tunes-in to hear the results on an annual public holiday. (A vast majority of the country also get angry at the results - to the point that "You're kidding, shoulda been higher" has become something of a national catchphrase.)
Previous performers to place in the poll include:
Denis Leary's Asshole, voted #1 in 1993
Premier Dan Andrews, when his speech about not going out to buy beer during lockdowns was remixed into a club dance track and landed at #12 in 2020, and
The Wiggles covering Tame Impala, which was voted to #1 in 2021
In recent years there's been a lot of dismay because the introduction of Spotify has effectively killed the Australian music industry, meaning the Hottest 100 has been getting dominated by American musicians, as well as killing off traditional radio stations like Triple J.
This poll is one last fighting chance for us to see some Australians actually chart for a change.
So chuck your votes in and give some Aussie musos some love, whether that's fellow tumblerite Troye Sivan, Tom "Have You Checked Your Butthole" Cardy, or some small niche indie artist like AC/DC.
Good news for the Americans is you're all allowed to vote too. Just please don't fuck up this democracy as much as you've fucked up your own: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/countdown/hottest100
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
snowghoul
ellievsbear
origamiaround
theartofmadeline
