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Triple j’s Hottest 100: Will solo Artists Reign Supreme and Records Fall in 2025?
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The annual Triple j Hottest 100 is more than just a music poll; it’s a cultural institution, a snapshot of evolving tastes, and a celebration of new music. With 32 years of data to analyze, intriguing patterns are emerging that offer clues about what to expect when the countdown for 2025 is unveiled this weekend.
The decline of the Band?
A recent observation from a Gen Z colleague – that bands are simply “not cool” anymore – has resonated with broader trends. Spotify data confirms this sentiment, revealing only five bands within the top 50 most-streamed acts of all time. This shift is supported by recent commentary suggesting the customary band structure is losing its appeal, yielding ground to solo artists.
For the purposes of this analysis, a “band” is defined as any act with more than one member – the “White Stripes Rule,” as it were. Peking Duk, with its two members, qualifies as a band, while a collaboration between charli XCX and Billie Eilish is considered two solo artists.
Historically, the Hottest 100 was dominated by bands.Between 1993 and 2004, roughly 80 songs featuring bands appeared in each annual countdown. However, a gradual decline began in the mid-2000s, falling to just 52 band-inclusive entries by 2015. The last time the countdown featured over 50 songs involving a band was in 2016, with 58 appearances, fueled by collaborations between Australian artists. Though, the 2024 hottest 100 saw a dramatic drop to just 29 Australian appearances – the lowest as 1996, a significant decrease from the 54 appearances in 2023.
It remains unclear whether this represents a return to the 1990s, when US acts were more prevalent, or a one-off anomaly. In anticipation, triple j has added a dedicated Australian tab to the voting page and tagged all Australian songs for easy identification.
Streaks, Leaderboards, and Longevity: Records on the Line
Billie Eilish currently holds the longest active streak in the Hottest 100, appearing in the past eight countdowns since her debut in 2017 with “Bellyache” at #38. However, with no songs on this year’s voting shortlist, her reign is likely to end.
Four acts are poised to challenge for the “active streak” crown: Bring Me The Horizon, Fisher, G Flip, and Lime Cordiale, all of whom have appeared in the countdown every year since 2018. While Bring me The Horizon lacks a song in the voting guide this year,the other three contenders do,making them strong candidates to inherit the title.
Currently,Billie Eilish shares the top spot on the Hottest 100 leaderboard with Hilltop Hoods,both boasting 25 appearances over the years. A debate exists regarding the counting of featured appearances – specifically,whether Eilish’s guest spot on Charli XCX’s “Guess” in 2024 should equate to Hilltop Hoods’ featured role on Thundamentals’ “21 Grams” in 2017. Regardless, with Eilish’s likely absence this year, Hilltop Hoods have a clear opportunity to claim outright leadership, with four songs on the voting list.
Though, they face stiff competition from G Flip and flume, both with 22 entries and five songs in the voting guide. It’s possible a new act could rise to the top of the leaderboard.
a battle for Hottest 100 longevity is brewing. Kylie Minogue and Damon Albarn both have careers spanning 30 years in the countdown – Minogue with appearances in 1994 and 2023,and Albarn thru Blur in 1993 and Gorillaz in 2022. Paul Kelly, with an appearance in the 1993 countdown, could extend his career to 33 years if he appears in 2025. Albarn has a chance to surpass Minogue, with Gorillaz having two songs on the shortlist. However,Kelly’s recent Like A Version cover of Minogue’s “Did It Again” has thrown a wrench into the equation,setting up a compelling showdown – Albarn versus Kelly,with a little help from Kylie
