Australia Day: Whingers of Oz are changing tune over January 26 playlists
LEFT-WING Aussie rockers have been accused of hypocrisy after Triple M revealed not a single musician had complained about its Australia Day “Ozzest 100” — despite the fact the list is likely to include many bands boycotting a similar January 26 playlist organised by conservative politicians.
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LEFT-WING Aussie rockers have been accused of hypocrisy after Triple M yesterday revealed not a single musician had complained about its Australia Day “Ozzest 100” — despite the fact the list is likely to include many bands boycotting a similar January 26 playlist organised by conservative politicians.
The Triple M playlist and the one compiled by Senator Cory Bernardi on streaming service Spotify were created in reaction to Triple J’s decision to move its annual countdown of the year’s best songs from January 26 because of the heated debate over celebrating Australia Day on the date marking British colonisation in 1788.
Industry legends including Jimmy Barnes, Iva Davies from Icehouse, Savage Garden’s Darren Hayes and the Hilltop Hoods rallied against the Australian Conservatives 100.
‘We do not endorse this playlist’: Spotify hits back at Cory Bernardi
Hayes said he supported “the decision by radio station Triple J to move the date of its annual Hottest 100 Australia Day countdown out of respect for indigenous Australians”.
“This is a political party using Spotify and the works of artists as the content from which to advertise a very specific political stance,” Hayes railed online.
READ MORE: Mark Latham says ‘leave Australia Day alone’
Yet Southern Cross Austereo said its all-Australian playlist had not attracted any demands from artists to not be included in it.
Why would you listen to anything @corybernardi says, especially about music?
— Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) January 18, 2018
“At Triple M we believe that music brings us all together and we will be playing Australian music on January 26,” a Southern Cross Austereo spokeswoman said.
Senator Bernardi accused the artists of double standards.
“I’d be surprised if any of these snowflakes complain about radio play, it’s more about beating up on conservatives than making a statement about Australia Day,” he said.
Are you guys cool with the far right Australian Conservatives using our music to promote their agenda? Because I'm not. What say you @kylieminogue @JimmyBarnes @anuchristine @pgarrett @INXS @bernardfanning @paulkelly @tinaarena @Lisa_Veronica @TheVeronicas @Jessicaveronica https://t.co/fBmVisypLz
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) January 17, 2018
“They love people playing their music because they get paid for it — they get the best of both worlds by complaining about people like me and then still having their music played.”
Senator Bernardi said he was pleased Triple M was going ahead with its countdown on Australia Day.
“Hopefully they will have shared some of our songs,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned the more people that are celebrating Australian music whether by my playlist or via radio station playlists the greater the celebration of Australia Day will be.”
When contacted yesterday, representatives for Barnes, Davis and The Hilltop Hoods said the artists were not available for comment. Hayes could not be reached for comment.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield backed Triple M’s decision to go ahead with the playlist after reports the ABC Board declined his request to reverse Triple J’s decision to shift the Hottest 100 from January 26.