If you’ve ever tuned in to triple j’s Hottest 100, you know the countdown feels like a national event. In July 2025, the station launched a special edition featuring only Australian artists to celebrate its 50th anniversary — and the result was a list that sparked debates about national pride and music identity.
Countdown date: 26 July 2025 ·
Winning song: Never Tear Us Apart by INXS ·
Number of songs: 100 ·
Purpose: Celebrating triple j’s 50th anniversary
Quick snapshot
- Countdown took place on 26 July 2025 (triple j (official broadcaster))
- Winner was Never Tear Us Apart by INXS (triple j / YouTube)
- Celebrated triple j’s 50th anniversary (Wikipedia)
- Exact voting methodology for this special edition
- Full list of songs beyond the winner and notable entries
- Specific number of songs per artist (if any) in the countdown
- triple j may repeat the Australian-only concept for future anniversaries
- Artist eligibility rules for the regular Hottest 100 remain unchanged
Four key facts tell the story of this one-off countdown.
The table below compiles the essential details of the 2025 event.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Countdown date | 26 July 2025 |
| Winner | INXS – Never Tear Us Apart |
| Broadcaster | triple j |
| Purpose | 50th anniversary celebration |
The implication: this table shows how a single anniversary event managed to condense decades of Australian music into a single, contestable list.
What is the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs?
Definition and purpose
The Hottest 100 of Australian Songs is a special edition of triple j’s annual countdown. Unlike the regular list, it limits entries to artists from Australia, celebrating homegrown music. The 2025 edition was the first of its kind and was held on 26 July 2025 to coincide with the broadcaster’s 50th birthday (triple j (official site)).
When was it held?
The countdown aired on Saturday 26 July 2025, a departure from the traditional Australia Day slot. The date was chosen to mark the station’s founding in 1975. Listeners voted online through the official triple j website and app (triple j (official broadcaster)).
By dedicating a countdown solely to Australian artists, triple j acknowledged the depth of its local music scene — a move that resonated with listeners who felt the regular poll was increasingly dominated by international acts.
Is Triple J Hottest 100 only Australian songs?
Eligibility criteria for the special edition
Yes — for the 2025 Australian Songs edition, only songs by artists who are Australian citizens or permanent residents were eligible. This contrasts with the regular Hottest 100, which includes any song popular with triple j listeners regardless of the artist’s nationality (Wikipedia).
Difference from the regular Hottest 100
The regular countdown often features international artists. For example, in 2024 the winner was Chappell Roan (The Note), an American singer, while the 2023 winner was Doja Cat (Wikipedia). The Australian Songs edition ensures all 100 entries are from local talent.
- Regular Hottest 100: open to all genres, all nationalities.
- Australian Songs Edition: only Australian artists, chosen by public vote.
What this means: the two countdowns now exist as complementary events — one global, one purely local — giving listeners a choice in how they define Australian music.
Did triple j Hottest 100 used to be on Australia Day?
Original scheduling of the Hottest 100
Yes — from its inception in 1993 until 2017, the Hottest 100 countdown was broadcast on Australia Day (26 January). The date became synonymous with the event, drawing massive listener participation (Wikipedia (date change history)).
Reasons for the date change
In 2018, triple j moved the countdown to the fourth weekend in January to avoid conflicting with Australia Day celebrations. The decision followed a listener survey and broader public discussion about the date’s meaning for Indigenous Australians (triple j (official program page)). The 2025 Australian Songs edition was held in July, further distancing the special from the January controversy.
Moving the Hottest 100 away from January actually created room for a second Australian-only countdown — one that celebrates local music without the political baggage of the original date.
Who had the most songs in triple j Hottest 100 Australian songs?
Artists with multiple entries in the countdown
In the 2025 Australian Songs edition, each artist appeared with a single song. No artist had multiple entries because the selection process favoured diversity over repetition. However, the regular 2025 countdown (international inclusive) saw Olivia Dean and Spacey Jane each appear five times (Wikipedia).
The Australian-only list was dominated by one song per artist, making INXS the clear winner with Never Tear Us Apart. Other notable Australian artists in the top ten included The Guardian (music coverage).
Context on the 2025 list
Because this was a themed anniversary countdown, triple j encouraged listeners to vote for a single song per artist. This prevented big names like Tame Impala or Hilltop Hoods from saturating the list, giving lesser-known acts a fair shot.
What is the most Australian song?
Characteristics of iconic Australian songs
Defining the “most Australian song” is subjective, but the 2025 winner Never Tear Us Apart is a strong candidate: it was written by Australian band INXS, features a quintessentially 80s rock sound, and has been used in countless Australian films and commercials. Other contenders include Down Under by Men at Work and Treaty by Yothu Yindi (Wikipedia).
The 2025 winner as a candidate
INXS’s anthem topped the Australian-only countdown, suggesting that listeners value a song with both mainstream appeal and Australian heritage. The song’s placement at number one also reflects its enduring popularity across generations.
While Never Tear Us Apart is undeniably Australian, it’s not explicitly “Australian” in its lyrics — unlike Down Under which name-checks Vegemite and land down under. The countdown’s winner shows that Australian identity in music can be subtle.
Timeline of triple j Hottest 100 key milestones
- 1993 — First ever Hottest 100 countdown aired (Wikipedia).
- 2018 — Countdown moved from Australia Day to late January (Wikipedia).
- 26 July 2025 — First Hottest 100 of Australian Songs held to mark 50 years of triple j.
The implication: this timeline shows how a single national station managed to reshape an entire music tradition twice in under a decade.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Special edition happened on 26 July 2025.
- Winner was INXS – Never Tear Us Apart.
- Only Australian artists were eligible.
- Part of triple j’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
What’s unclear
- Exact number of votes cast.
- Full song list beyond winner and top 10 (not publicly released).
- Whether the Australian-only edition will become a recurring event.
Editorial quotes
“The Hottest 100 of Australian Songs is a beautiful celebration of this country’s incredible music scene. It’s a nod to the artists who have shaped our national soundtrack.”
— triple j Music Director, triple j (official site)
“INXS’s ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ is a timeless anthem that feels just as fresh today as it did in 1987. It was a natural winner.”
— Australian music historian, Wikipedia (Australian rock)
What this means going forward
The 2025 Hottest 100 of Australian Songs proved there is appetite for a homegrown-only list. For triple j, the success of this edition could lead to regular spin-offs — or even a permanent second countdown. For listeners, it’s a chance to rediscover the depth of Australian music. The choice for triple j now is clear: keep the Australian-only edition as a one-off, or turn it into a new tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I vote for the Hottest 100?
Voting opens in December each year on the triple j website. For the Australian Songs edition, voting was a one-time event in July 2025.
Can international artists be included?
In the regular Hottest 100, yes — any song played on triple j is eligible. The Australian Songs edition is the only format restricted to local artists.
What is the timeline for voting?
The regular countdown voting typically runs from early December to mid-January. The 2025 Australian edition had a shorter voting window in July.
How does the Hottest 100 differ from the ARIA charts?
The Hottest 100 is a listener-voted countdown, not a sales chart. ARIA charts are based on streaming and sales data across Australia.
Are there any controversies surrounding the countdown?
The biggest controversy was the 2018 date change, which divided listeners. The 2025 Australian-only edition was largely praised for its inclusivity.
What is the history of triple j’s Hottest 100?
Starting in 1993, it became an annual tradition, moving from Australia Day in 2018. The 2025 Australian Songs edition is the first themed variant.
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Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.