Rock radio station Triple M has come under fire after announcing it would host its own version of the Hottest 100 on Australia Day.
Last month countdown of respect for Indigenous Australians.
Triple M's Ozzest countdown will focus on Australian songs and will be held on January 26th, a date which is controversial as many consider it to be the start of the European invasion of Australia and inappropriate as a day of national celebration.
“So, the taxpayer-funded FM has decided that there’ll be no soundtrack for Australia Day. Let’s face it, that’s usually full of hipsters or kids making music on a Mac,” the station said in a statement released yesterday.
“At Triple M we’re going to give you what you asked for. The perfect Australia Day soundtrack.”
There was a swift and angry reaction online after the news broke.
"Triple M’s decision is unnecessary, insensitive and disrespectful to First Nation Australians #ChangeTheDate," wrote Facebook commenter Dawn Walker.
Indigenous musician Briggs was also quick to call out the move.
In the past Triple M has won praise for interviewing Indigenous musicians like Dan Sultan and changing its logo to the Aboriginal flag on it's website in support for changing the date of Australia Day.
Triple M head of content Mike Fitzpatrick told the Herald Sun that the new countdown was only about supporting Australian music.
"At Triple M, we are avid supporters of Aussie music and like we do throughout the year and every Australia Day, we will celebrate Aussie artists!" he said.
The decision by Triple J last month to move its annual Hottest 100 countdown away from Australia Day was met with mixed reactions.
While many praised the move including well known Indigenous artists, there was condemnation from others like Communications Minister Mitch Fifield.
Last month Triple J announced in that the date of the countdown would move in 2018 to make it an event that all Australians would feel comfortable celebrating.
"It should be an event that everyone can enjoy together – for both the musicians whose songs make it in and for everyone listening in Australia and around the world. This is really important to us," the statement said.
