Following massive protests and thousands of complaints, triple j have moved the Hottest 100 countdown from Australia Day to the fourth weekend of January.
“It’s fair to say there’s been increasing debate around 26 January”, the station wrote in an explainer, “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.”
The station have shared a lot of interesting info about how the decision was made here, but regardless of how they got there, it’s a big, important decision.
The new 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
