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Triple J Should “Cool Down And Play The Music”, Says The Australian

In a not entirely unexpected response to recent debate surrounding the date of triple j‘s Hottest 100 countdown, The Australian has published a white-privilege-soaked editorial suggesting that the broadcaster should stop concerning itself with trivial things like whether hosting the Hottest 100 on Australia Day is offensive to Indigenous Australians.

Yesterday, Triple j released a statement addressing a number of issues surrounding the problematic nature of holding their annual countdown on 26th January, explaining why they have decided to keep the Hottest 100 on that date, at least for the time being.

Today, in an editorial piece titled ‘Triple J Should Beat Its Drum’ (which doesn’t name an author), The Australian suggests that by bothering to put together a cohesive response to the push for a Hottest 100 date change, triple j fundamentally “misunderstands the very nature of the day”.

“[Australia Day] is a day to raise the flag, propose a toast or give a nod to the freedoms, rights, benefits and responsibilities we are privileged to share and enjoy, whatever our backgrounds,” the article reads.

The piece goes on to suggest that rather than get involved in an issue which has created healthy debate, triple j should take a more passive approach and not forget that it’s really just there to give us something to bop our heads to.

After all, as The Australian naively suggests, Australia Day “celebrates all that unites our motley crew. Triple J ought to cool down and play the music”.

If The Australian‘s support for triple j‘s decision to keep the Hottest 100 on Australia Day represents one side of the debate, then Indigenous activist Nakkiah Lui has already assumed a position as the voice of the opposition.

Speaking with triple j content director Ollie Wards and ‘Hack’ presenter Tom Tilley on triple j yesterday evening, she said the choice by the station to “celebrate Australian music on a day when people are excluded and discriminated against based on their values, and on their culture and their race” was “a decision that is heavily biased”.

She went on to ask Wards, “I don’t understand what you think ABC will lose if you change the date… I don’t actually understand why we’re embedding so much value in having this date and investing in perspectives, when it’s just a day to celebrate music.”

Finally, she responded to Ward’s suggestion that the countdown has been “intrinsically linked” with Australia Day by calling it a “cop out” argument.

“On one hand you’re saying it’s not political, on the other you’re saying it’s neither here nor there, and it’s just kinda serendipitous,” she said.

“The Hottest 100 isn’t about that day, it just happens to be on that day,” Wards said, before stating that moving the date or keeping the date would both be “political moves” on triple j‘s part.

Read triple j‘s full statement regarding its plan for the Hottest 100 right here.

Gallery: 15 Things The 2015 Triple J Hottest 100 Taught Us About Ourselves

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