The votes are in. The speakers are blown. The group chats are still arguing. And after 2.1 million votes from across Australia and beyond, we have a winner: Olivia Dean has officially taken out Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2025 with her soul-stirring banger "Man I Need".
The votes are in. The speakers are blown. The group chats are still arguing. And after 2.1 million votes from across Australia and beyond, we have a winner: Olivia Dean has officially taken out Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2025 with her soul-stirring banger "Man I Need".
If you spent last Saturday glued to your radio, refreshing the countdown tracker, or defending your picks in increasingly heated WhatsApp debates — first of all, same. Second of all, what a day it was.
The British soul-pop sensation didn't just win. She dominated. With five songs across the countdown (tied with WA legends Spacey Jane for the most entries), Olivia Dean's takeover was complete. From "Lady Lady" landing at #62, all the way up to the crown, her journey through the countdown was the ultimate slow-burn success story — much like the track itself.
By The Numbers
- 2.1 million votes cast
- 54 Australian tracks in the countdown
- 26 debut artists
- 3 years in a row with women at #1
The Top 10
- Olivia Dean – Man I Need
- Keli Holiday – Dancing2
- Tame Impala – Dracula
- Playlunch – Keith
- RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!
- Spacey Jane – Whateverrrr
- Olivia Dean – Nice To Each Other
- sombr – 12 to 12
- Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys
- Ball Park Music – Please Don't Move To Melbourne
Aussie Music Had a Monster Year
Remember last year when everyone was doom-scrolling about Australian music only making up 29 tracks? The lowest since 1996? Yeah, well, 2025 said "hold my beer."
54 Australian songs made this year's countdown — that's more than half the list. Coming off the back of Triple J's 50th birthday celebrations, the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, and a sold-out One Night Stand, our homegrown heroes absolutely showed up.
The Hilltop Hoods Flex: Adelaide's finest have done it again. With three entries this year, the Hip Hop legends now hold the all-time record for most Hottest 100 appearances at 28 tracks since their 2003 debut. That's 15 consecutive years of charting. Absolute royalty.
The Playlunch Phenomenon
Can we talk about Playlunch for a second? These Melbourne upstarts went from Triple J Unearthed to landing at #4 with their self-described "bogan-funk" anthem "Keith". If you haven't heard it yet... well, you're about to have it stuck in your head for the next three months. You're welcome.
"It's kind of crazy, I feel like this song only just came into my life recently so for it to just be everywhere — it's changed my life."
— Olivia Dean, reacting to her #1 win
The Stats That Made Us Gasp
Historic Hat-Trick: Women have now taken out the #1 spot three years running — Doja Cat (2023), Chappell Roan (2024), and now Olivia Dean. The girls are absolutely girling.
Like A Version Flex: All FOUR Like A Version covers that charted were by Australian artists. Keli Holiday, Beddy Rays, The Dreggs, and Playlunch all brought the heat.
Billie Who? For the first time since 2016, Billie Eilish didn't make the countdown. Meanwhile, Fisher, G Flip, and Lime Cordiale extended their streak to EIGHT consecutive years of charting. Legends only.
First Timers: Bad Bunny became the first Puerto Rican artist ever to appear in the Hottest 100, and Laufey brought Iceland back to the countdown for the first time in 11 years. The world's biggest music democracy, indeed.
What's Next?
Still not over it? Same. The Hottest 200 is rolling out this week (Tuesday through Friday), with the full 200-101 replay happening Saturday, January 31st from 10am. And if you're really keen, Double J is taking us back 20 years with a replay of the Hottest 100 of 2005. Talk about a vibe.
All merch sales from this year's countdown are supporting homelessness charity We Are Mobilise — so if you're rocking that fresh Hottest 100 tee, you're doing good while looking good.
Final Thoughts
As Triple J's Nick Findlay put it: "It's no secret Olivia Dean has owned 2025." And honestly? We couldn't agree more. From the moment "Man I Need" dropped in August with its warm groove, intimate lyrics, and effortless cool, it felt inevitable.
Here's to another year of Australia's favourite tradition — the backyard barbies, the group listening parties, the heated debates about whether that song deserved to be higher, and the discovery of your new favourite artist buried at #73.
See you next year, legends. 🤙