Almost One Third of Triple J’s Hottest 100 Artists Are BIGSOUND Alumni
triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2025 aired on Saturday 24 January 2026, and while the top spot went to a Brit (Olivia Dean – Man I Need), over 50% of artists featured were Australian with close to one in three being a part of BIGSOUNDs star studded alumni.
Seasoned BIGSOUND goers are well aware of the role the Southern Hemisphere’s largest music gathering plays in launching Australia’s next gen contemporary artists. BUT if you’re new around here, the soundtrack of BIGSOUND has included early career defining moments from the likes of Playlunch, Spacey Jane, Ocean Alley, G Flip, Ball Park Music, The Dreggs, Beddy Rays, The Terrys, Confidence Man, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers AND number two spot taker Keli Holiday.
From chart-topping indie staples to genre-defining pop and punk acts, BIGSOUND alumni were represented across Australia’s hottest list, with alumni spanning more than a decade of the festival’s history ranking from number 98 to number 2.
Of the 15 BIGSOUND alumni featured, several artists appeared multiple times in the countdown taking BIGSOUNDs total strike rate to 29/100 - highlighting not just breakout success but sustained impact. Spacey Jane, for example, featured with five tracks, while Ocean Alley, G Flip, and Keli Holiday also secured multiple entries.
BIGSOUND has built a reputation as Australia’s most important platform for emerging and export ready music talent, connecting artists with industry, media and audiences at a critical point in their development. As the festival heads into its 25th year in 2026, the 2025 Hottest 100 serves as a reminder of the long-term cultural and commercial influence of our little-ol’ Festival in Fortitude Valley on the global music landscape.
BIGSOUND doesn’t just spotlight the future of Australian music - it builds it.
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