As the countdown to Triple J’s 32nd annual Hottest 100 kicks into high gear, one question is on everyone’s mind: who will take the coveted top spot? While Australian indie heroes Royel Otis and Spacey Jane are strong contenders, it’s a new pop sensation that has emerged as the odds-on favorite – Chappell Roan, with her viral smash hit “Good Luck, Babe!”.
Pop Prodigy Poised for Glory
At just 23 years old, Missouri-born singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has taken the music world by storm with her debut single, a scathing, synth-heavy kiss-off to an ex-lover. “Good Luck, Babe!” went viral on TikTok and streaming platforms, resonating with heartbroken Gen Z listeners around the globe.
Now, that same song has skyrocketed to the top of prediction lists for Triple J’s Hottest 100, Australia’s most iconic music poll. Roan’s track appears in a whopping 27% of collected voting data according to Warm Tunas, the countdown’s go-to prediction site. If she clinches the win, she’ll be the first solo female artist to do so since Billie Eilish in 2019.
Aussie Acts Fighting for Airtime
But while Roan rides her wave of viral success, some are wondering: where are the Australian artists in this year’s top 10? Apart from indie rockers Royel Otis, with their sunny Like a Version cover of “Murder on the Dancefloor”, and Spacey Jane’s angsty anthem “One Bad Day”, homegrown acts are few and far between in the upper echelons of the predicted countdown.
It’s a trend that reflects the dominance of international stars on Australian airwaves and algorithms. Last year, only 52 Australian songs made the Hottest 100, the lowest number in a decade. On the ARIA charts, a mere 5 out of the top 100 tracks were local. Some point to the influence of streaming, others to a lingering cultural cringe.
Under 25s all around the world are used to consuming entertainment on demand, curated for them by algorithms which ensure they only see and hear stuff they probably already like.
Anonymous record label manager
Pop Reigns Supreme
One thing is certain: pop music is set to dominate this year’s countdown like never before. Alongside Roan and Royel Otis, artists like Charli xcx, Billie Eilish, Tove Lo, and even TikTok star Addison Rae are tipped to appear multiple times, mostly with tracks from 2024’s inescapable pop culture moment: Charli’s album Brat.
- Charli xcx – predicted to have 8 entries, including 2 top 10 hits
- Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” a likely top 10 contender
- Tove Lo – May score high with “Cave”, collab with DJ Dom Dolla
It’s a far cry from the alternative rock roots of Triple J’s early countdowns. But as the station fights to stay relevant with a new generation of listeners, embracing of-the-moment, viral pop may be the key to survival – even as it highlights the challenges facing Australian artists on the world stage.
All will be revealed when Triple J counts down the Hottest 100 this Saturday, January 25. Will Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” make history as a pop game-changer? Can Aussie acts prove their staying power? One thing’s for sure – the nation will be listening, arguing, and singing along until the last track standing.
