ABC radio’s Triple J has bowed to public pressure and moved its annual radio competition, the Hottest 100, to a day after its traditional airing date of January 26th.
There had been growing protests that the announcement on the 26th was offensive to Aboriginal people who saw Australia Day as a day of invasion.
An online poll on the Triple J website had 60 per cent of listeners voting in favour of changing the launch date of the song poll that will now take place on Saturday the 27th of January.
In a statement to media, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “Heaps of you took part in our online survey as part of our review of the date of the Hottest 100. 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 statement read.
The broadcaster also argued that the event hadn’t always happened on Australia Day. “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 statement added: “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.”
