Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has once again shared his picks for triple j’s annual Hottest 100 countdown, publishing a 2025 ballot that leans heavily into UK breakouts and Australian indie favourites while reinforcing his long-running reputation as “DJ Albo.”
Taking to social media on Thursday (Jan. 15), Albanese continued his now-annual tradition of publicly posting his Hottest 100 votes, a ritual that has become a fixture of the countdown discourse in recent years. His 2025 selections open with Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” setting the tone for a list that blends contemporary U.K pop and alternative acts with a strong showing from Australian artists.
Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” appears on the list, alongside Wolf Alice’s “Bloom Baby Bloom,” maintaining a strong U.K. indie presence. From there, Albanese pivots to homegrown acts, backing Australian alternative and pop artists that have long featured prominently in the countdown
Among the local selections are Hatchie’s “Sage,” Hilltop Hoods’ “Don’t Happy, Be Worry,” Kita Alexander’s “Press Pause” and Ocean Alley’s “Life In Love.” Spacey Jane’s “Through My Teeth” also earns a vote, continuing the Fremantle band’s consistent Hottest 100 run, while G Flip appears with “In Another Life.”
Albanese rounds out his ballot with Ruby Fields’ Like A Version cover of The Cure’s 1989 single “Lovesong,” one of the year’s most talked-about performances from the segment.
Some social media discussion has focused on the absence of Joy Division from Albanese’s list, following recent attention on the Prime Minister wearing the band’s Unknown Pleasures T-shirt. However, Joy Division were never eligible for the countdown, having released no new music within the voting period.
The Prime Minister’s 2025 picks continue a pattern of publicly aligning himself with contemporary alternative and pop music. In last year’s Hottest 100, Albanese backed artists including Amyl and The Sniffers, The Kid LAROI and Billie Eilish.
Voting for triple j’s Hottest 100 has since closed ahead of the countdown broadcast on Saturday, Jan. 24.
