British Pop Star Olivia Dean Claims Victory in Australia's Premier Music Poll
British pop sensation Olivia Dean has achieved a remarkable international milestone, winning the number one position in Australia's largest music poll, Triple J's Hottest 100, with her single 'Man I Need'. The breezy neo-soul track, which spent over nine weeks at the summit of the Aria singles chart, was widely predicted to triumph in the 2025 vote that attracted more than 2 million votes from music fans across the globe.
Australian Artists Stage Impressive Comeback in 2025 Countdown
While Dean's victory came as little surprise to industry observers, the standout narrative from this year's countdown was the resurgent performance of Australian artists. Following a disappointing showing in 2024 that featured just 29 songs from Australian acts—the lowest result since 1996—this year's tally saw 53 songs with Australian artists as the main credited act making the prestigious list.
This remarkable turnaround was evident early in the broadcast, with the 2024 total being surpassed around the halfway point of this year's countdown. The increased local representation may have been bolstered by a new voting feature that allowed participants to search specifically for Australian artists when casting their ballots.
Top Performers and Notable Rankings
Dean finished ahead of Australian artist Keli Holiday, whose TikTok-fuelled earworm 'Dancing2' claimed the number two position. The top five was completed by an eclectic mix of international and local talent:
- Olivia Dean - 'Man I Need'
- Keli Holiday - 'Dancing2'
- Tame Impala - 'Dracula'
- Playlunch - 'Keith' (with strong language warning)
- Raye - 'Where Is My Husband!'
Fremantle band Spacey Jane emerged as the most successful Australian artist in the countdown, securing an impressive six entries. They were followed closely by Sydney six-piece Ocean Alley with five entries, while Tame Impala, Ninajirachi and Royel Otis each claimed four spots on the list.
Genre Trends and Platform Influences
In a pop era increasingly dominated by solo artists, one notable theme was the strong showing of Australian indie-rock and indie-pop bands. Acts like Spacey Jane, Royel Otis, Ocean Alley and The Rions demonstrated the continued vitality of the band format within the Australian music scene.
Electronic and dance music also enjoyed substantial representation throughout the countdown, ranging from internationally renowned acts such as Kettama and Fred Again... to major Australian club draws Fisher and Dom Dolla. DJ and producer Ninajirachi led the tally for Australian electronic talent with four entries.
By contrast, heavy music and metal were almost entirely absent from this year's list, with only masked UK hard rockers Sleep Token making an appearance at number 95 with their track 'Caramel'.
The influence of social media platforms was unmistakable, with TikTok virality playing a clear role in shaping the countdown. International acts including Addison Rae, Doechii, Raye and Olivia Dean maintain enormous popularity on the platform, while Australian artist Peach PRC—boasting 2.2 million TikTok followers—placed at number 82 with 'Miss Erotica'.
Broadcast Highlights and Charitable Impact
The Hottest 100 broadcast featured numerous memorable moments that captured the spirit of the Australian music community. Tame Impala's Kevin Parker participated from a barbecue while wearing a Ninajirachi t-shirt gifted by Australian DJ Nina Las Vegas, later spontaneously joining Spacey Jane's Zoom call after the band placed at number 6 with 'Whateverrrr'.
British singer Lily Allen called in from a holiday in Mexico to express amazement at her recent career resurgence, with 'Pussy Palace' and 'West End Girl' reaching numbers 38 and 88 respectively.
Beyond the musical celebrations, the event generated significant social impact, with Triple J raising over $500,000 for charity partner We Are Mobilise, an organisation dedicated to supporting Australians experiencing homelessness.
Industry Context and Future Prospects
The strong showing of Australian artists in the Hottest 100 aligns with broader industry trends. In December, Triple J reported that 55% of music played on the station in 2025 was by Australian artists, comfortably exceeding the mandated 40% quota. Furthermore, 19 of the station's top 30 most-played artists for the year were Australian.
Having clearly cultivated an adoring fan base in Australia, Olivia Dean will celebrate her Hottest 100 victory with an arena-sized headline tour in October—with shows selling out long before the countdown results were even announced, underscoring her immense popularity down under.
