Chappell Roan has significantly established her presence in the Australian music scene, with her breakout single ?Good Luck, Babe!? soaring to the top of triple j?s Hottest 100 poll for 2024. This remarkable achievement not only highlights Roan’s growing popularity but also reflects her ability to resonate with audiences, making her a standout figure in contemporary pop music. As she continues to captivate listeners both locally and internationally, her success story serves as an inspiration for aspiring artists everywhere.
On the evening of Saturday, Jan. 25, Chappell Roan was celebrated as the winning artist of the triple j Hottest 100 countdown. This momentous occasion marked her as only the third solo female artist to achieve such a feat, following the likes of Billie Eilish in 2019 and Doja Cat in 2023. Roan?s ?Good Luck, Babe!? not only topped the countdown but also set a new record for the most votes ever cast for a song in the number one position. This historic achievement underscores the growing recognition and influence of female artists in the music industry, paving the way for future generations.
The overwhelming success of ?Good Luck, Babe!? was anticipated given its massive appeal. Roan’s hit has resonated globally, earning her six nominations at this year’s prestigious Grammy Awards. These nominations include distinguished categories such as Best Pop Solo Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, alongside the highly sought-after Best New Artist award. The track has not only reached the pinnacle of Billboard?s Pop Airplay chart but also achieved a remarkable No. 4 position on the Hot 100. In her home country of Australia, the single mirrors this success by currently holding the No. 12 spot, reflecting its popularity on the ARIA End of Year chart.
Following Roan?s impressive triumph, the spotlight turned to Royel Otis, who secured the silver medal with their captivating cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor?s ?Murder on the Dancefloor.? This performance was part of triple j?s Like a Version series, significantly enhancing the Sydney duo’s visibility within the music industry. Their rendition not only made waves in Australia, reaching No. 35 on the charts but also topped Billboard?s Alternative Airplay chart, marking a historic milestone as the first Like a Version cover to achieve such an honor.
Billie Eilish claimed the third position with her track ?Birds of a Feather,? adding another accolade to her impressive career. Eilish, alongside fellow pop sensation Charli XCX, both set a new record with eight appearances in the countdown, including their collaborative effort in Charli XCX?s ?Guess? remix, which landed at No. 6. This remarkable feat comes only a year after G Flip broke the previous record with seven songs, surpassing the longstanding record held by Wolfmother since 2005 and matched by Spacey Jane in 2022.
Eilish’s exceptional performance reinforces her status as the artist with the most historical appearances in the annual triple j Hottest 100 poll, boasting a total of 25 songs featured since her debut in 2017. This achievement places her ahead of the renowned Hilltop Hoods, who previously held the record with 24 entries from 2003 to 2023. Eilish?s consistent presence in the countdown exemplifies her enduring popularity and influence in the music landscape.
The top five countdown was completed by Lola Young with her track ?Messy? at No. 4, followed by Gracie Abrams with ?That?s So True? at No. 5. Billie Eilish and Charli XCX?s collaboration ?Guess? landed at No. 6. The remainder of this year’s top ten features Dom Dolla?s ?Girls,? Kendrick Lamar?s ?Not Like Us,? G Flip?s Like a Version cover of Taylor Swift?s ?Cruel Summer,? and the track ?leavemealone? by Fred again.. and Baby Keem, showcasing a diverse range of talent.
Despite her prominent presence in the music industry, Taylor Swift made her debut appearance in the countdown this year as a featured artist on Gracie Abrams? ?Us.? at No. 71. This marks a remarkable turn of events, considering Swift was previously barred from the countdown in 2014 due to a BuzzFeed-led campaign aimed at placing ?Shake it Off? in the poll, which was supported by KFC. The station declared it ?not legit for other media to try and troll the poll.? For context, it was later revealed that ?Shake it Off? would have secured the No. 12 position had it not been dropped, leading to unconfirmed speculations about a ban on Swift from future countdowns.
The 2024 edition of triple j?s Hottest 100 left many Australian music enthusiasts with a sense of disappointment, as it featured the lowest number of homegrown artists in nearly three decades. With only 29 Australian artists represented in the complete list of songs, this year?s countdown marks the poorest showing for Australian talent since 1996. The only earlier editions with fewer local artists were the inaugural poll in 1993 and its follow-up in 1994, which included just 24 and 26 Australian acts, respectively.
This year?s countdown was shaped by nearly 2.5 million votes from the dedicated listeners of triple j. This represents an increase from last year?s tally of 2.335 million votes, although it remains significantly lower than the record-breaking 3.21 million votes cast in 2019. The dedicated participation of listeners highlights the continued engagement and enthusiasm surrounding the annual countdown, despite the fluctuations in representation.
Overall, the weekend witnessed 26 artists making their triple j Hottest 100 debuts, including talented newcomers such as Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Doechii, BABYMETAL, and Tommy Richman. This influx of new talent reflects the evolving landscape of the music industry and the continual emergence of fresh voices ready to make their mark.
