Taylor Swift fans have voiced outrage against Triple J after the radio station disqualified Swift's hit 'Shake It Off' from its Hottest 100 countdown, citing that the song had never been played on the station. However, it has since emerged that Sia's 'Chandelier', which placed ninth in the poll, also never aired on Triple J prior to the countdown.
The controversy began when 'Shake It Off' secured enough votes for the 12th spot but was removed following a social media campaign by BuzzFeed Australia. Triple J listed its reasons on a website, TripleJFeed, including that Swift had never been played on the station. Critics accused the station of cultural elitism and sexism, arguing that the disqualification criteria were inconsistently applied.
Triple J station manager Chris Scaddan explained that while 'Chandelier' was not on rotation, Sia had won the 2014 J Award for best music video, and the station had supported her music for over 15 years. He noted that a cover of 'Chandelier' by Montaigne had been played, similar to a cover of 'Shake It Off' by Milky Chance.
The revelation has intensified the debate, with Swift's supporters questioning the fairness of the decision. The Hottest 100 countdown, held on Australia Day, remains a subject of discussion among music fans.
