Triple J’s Intense Review Of The ‘Hottest 100’ Date Will Last Most Of 2017

Back in September we exclusively broke the yarn that stated Triple J was in “serious talks” to move their flagship Hottest 100 broadcast away from the increasingly contentious date of January 26, which comes amid a growing cultural push to either change the date of Australia Day, or alter its tone to better reflect the somber significance the day holds for our nation’s Indigenous people.
At the time, the government youth broadcaster confirmed that while this year’s countdown will still take place on January 26th, the date for future broadcasts was “under review,” and would undergo a long consultation process with Indigenous communities, artists, and their audience. Their statement on the issue read as follows:

“Are we changing the date of triple j’s Hottest 100? Short answer: For now… No. In 2017, the Hottest 100 will be on January 26. triple j’s Hottest 100 is a countdown of your favourite songs of the past year on a public holiday in January. It’s intended as a celebration of the year’s best music that everybody can enjoy. We’ve been aware of, and have been a part of, the discussions around 26 January for some time. triple j is heavily involved in the growing dialogue around Indigenous recognition and perspectives on 26 January. This is really important to us. We will continue to talk to Indigenous communities, artists and our audience about the date for the Hottest 100 in future years. In short: it’s under review.”


With January 26th being tomorrow, Triple J has today provided an update on how that review is progressing, confirming that it is underway, and will continue throughout the first half of 2017.

The J’s are not only communicating with the ABC’s Bonner Committee, the broadcaster’s primary advisory body on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, but with a range of Indigenous community and support groups, Indigenous media organisations, Indigenous artists, and language groups, as well as the National Australia Day Council.
After this consultation process is completed, Triple J will then be turning to you, the listener, with the station set to open up public feedback on the issue later in the year.
The update, coming straight from Triple J this morning, reads a little something like this:

“In September last year, triple j announced that the date for the Hottest 100 was under review.

Ahead of counting down your favourite songs of 2016 tomorrow, we wanted to update you on where we’re at with reviewing the date of the Hottest 100.

The review is still in progress and consultation will continue throughout the first half of 2017.

triple j has been and will continue to consult a variety of groups on the differing perspectives of 26 January. We’re consulting with the ABC Bonner Committee, who are the ABC’s primary advisory body on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, content, and communities.

There’s also discussions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media, language groups, and many of the Indigenous artist featured on triple j.

We’re also working through an extensive list of contacts from around the country, including Reconciliation Australia, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Recognise, and the National Australia Day Council

You’ll get a chance to have your say too. Later this year, listeners will also have the opportunity to share their thoughts with triple j. We’ll then update everyone on the date of future Hottest 100s during the second half of 2017.”

Triple J’s investigative program Hack will broadcast a half-hour special tomorrow morning at 8:15am that promises to “[explore] the differing points of view around 26 January.

The Hottest 100 has again partnered with AIME (the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) for the 2016 countdown. The station revealed today that listeners have raised over $105,000 for the organisation, which helps to close the gap in educational outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Hottest 100 countdown is scheduled to begin on Triple J from 12pm tomorrow AEDST.
Source: Triple J.

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