Triple J Hottest 100 - History

History

The poll had been conducted by DoubleJay in Sydney starting in the 1980s, before Triple J became a national broadcaster. It was originally called the Hot 100 and ran on New Year's Day. The Brisbane independent radio Station 4ZZZ had run a survey under the same name and on the same day since 1977 and owned the rights to the name Hot 100. Triple J was legally required to change the name of its annual survey.

The poll attracts over half a million votes every year (increasing constantly from 500,000 in 2004 to 1.26 million in 2011). Triple J and other sources claims that it is the world's largest music poll. It began as a write-in poll; it then progressed to phone in, then they started listing the songs for the year so it could be done automatically via SMS and web voting. In 2003, it was only possible to vote on the Triple J web site; registration was required and limited to 10 votes. In 2004 this was expanded to 10 internet votes, and 10 SMS votes.

A compilation double-CD featuring a selection of the songs in the countdown is released a few months after the count; the first CD is still available for sale as of 2012. Since 2002, a DVD featuring video clips for some of the songs is also released. These releases form a popular and effective source of income for the station.

During the poll's first few years (1989 to 1991), the eligible songs were not restricted to a particular year. The winner in the first two years (1989 and 1990) was "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division, and 1991's favourite song was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (which was actually released that year). After a hiatus in 1992 caused by the organiser's realisations that Nirvana and Joy Division would top the poll yet again, the poll returned in 1993, but was limited to songs released in that year.

In the 20 years since its inception, the band who has featured the most are the Foo Fighters, with 21 songs between the 1995 and 2011 countdowns, and one song featuring in the 2009 All Time countdown. Powderfinger are right behind the Foo Fighters with 20 tracks, including two wins. Powderfinger's frontman, Bernard Fanning, has taken out the top spot on three occasions, three times with Powderfinger in 1999 and 2000 and once as a solo artist in 2005.

Dave Grohl has appeared 31 times throughout the countdown including the top spot on two occasions (1991, 2002). Although, 13 of these appearances are from the Hottest 100 Of All Time countdowns. He has appeared 4 times with Nirvana, 22 with Foo Fighters, 5 with Queens of The Stone Age and once with Them Crooked Vultures. In fact, Grohl has appeared in most countdowns run by Triple J, only excluding those in 1989, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2010.

Robert Smith of The Cure has appeared 34 times throughout the countdown's lifetime. However, 28 of these were in the All Time countdowns. 5 more entires came from countdowns between 1993 and 1997, to date, a final appearance was through a collaboration with Crystal Castles in 2010.

As of the 2011 list, only two bands have managed to have all of their released songs make it into the Hottest 100. The bands are - Stardust, who only ever released one song. And Flight Facilities, who have had both of their singles - (Crave You & Foreign Language) make it into the 2010 and 2011 charts respectively.