If you’re mad about the Hottest 100 winner, you’re too old for the Hottest 100

Australia, if you’re complaining about this one thing, you’re officially old.

As Drake said, if you’re reading this it’s too late. If you are angry about the Wiggles winning Triple j’ hottest you’re too old to be listening to the youth broadcaster.

The same people will probably be angry that this story started with a Drake reference.

The beloved children’s entertainers narrowly beat Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI’s catchy megahit Stay, which was strongly tipped to win in the lead-up to Saturday.

The Wiggles fused the Tame Impala hit with their uber-popular jingle Fruit Salad.

Both songs made history, with Elephant being the first Like A Version to clinch the top spot first, and it being Justin Bieber’s maiden appearance in the poll.

Sydney teen The Kid LAROI is also the highest-ranking Indigenous artist ever, with Thelma Plum previously holding the record at number 9 in 2020.

The win was lauded by those in Gen Z while older listeners were dismayed about the winner of the democratic vote.

In submissions to a Senate inquiry in 2008, the public broadcaster made clear its product was focused on young people.

“Triple j’s target audience is 18 to 24 year olds and the dig music services are aimed at audiences over 30. The remaining ABC Radio networks are aimed at audiences over 40,” it said.

Painful numbers? Target audience 18-24. Survey 5 2021 (2JJJ Sydney) 18-24 8.0% share, 25-39 12.4% share, 40-54 6.5% share. In Sydney, more people in their 40s and early 50s listen to Triple J than to Smooth FM. https://t.co/TOfkLniEI4

— NickdMiller (@NickdMiller) August 31, 2021

However, The Age arts editor Nick Miller found that most of the people listening to the youth broadcaster were older than that.

“Painful numbers? Target audience 18-24. Survey 5 2021 (2JJJ Sydney) 18-24 8.0% share, 25-39 12.4% share, 40-54 6.5% share. In Sydney, more people in their 40s and early 50s listen to Triple J than to Smooth FM,” he posted on Twitter.

These numbers rang true with those aged over 30 making it clear they were upset on the youth broadcaster’s Facebook.

“So glad I was a teenager in the 90s – we were spoiled for amazing music, etc. It’s been downhill since then, unfortunately,” wrote Kieren Moore on a post announcing the winner.

We're so absolutely chuffed! Number 1 in @triplej's #Hottest100 in 2021! A big thank you to everyone who voted for us. We loved singing "Elephant" by @tameimpala and we're so glad you all loved it too! 💛💜💙❤🐘🎸 #TheWigglespic.twitter.com/4tAF6GvCgY

— The Wiggles (@TheWiggles) January 22, 2022

“I‘m officially too old for triple j hottest 100 when the top song is the wiggles and the announcer says “yolo”. K, thnx, bye,” Jess Rowe added.

“Wow a children’s band singing a cover song winning the hottest 100, is that really what triple j has become now. I wonder how it can get any worse,” Barry Holme said.

Predictably, triple j’s younger audience defended the decision that was voted for by thousands of people across Australia.

“Lmao imagine being like 40 and mad at who won the hottest 100,” Hannah Knight wrote.

“Imagine being mad that the wiggles are on the radio. I think you lot need a minute in the naughty corner,” Kaine Stocks added.