Triple J Change Hottest 100 Date

Youth broadcaster triple j have just announced they'll be changing the date of their annual Hottest 100 in 2018. 

Next year's countdown will now take place on Saturday 27 Jan, with the Hottest 200 to take place the following day. 

Dubbed the Hottest 100 Weekend, the countdown will now take place on the fourth weekend of each Jan.

There has been debate surrounding the event for the past few years, with calls to move the countdown from 26 Jan to a more inclusive date.

The date change comes after triple j sparked conversation around the date of their annual Hottest 100 countdown, after launching a survey in August asking their listeners if they agree with the 26 Jan date.

The survey came off the back of discussions with a wide-range of stakeholders including ABC staff, Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, artists and the triple j audience.

Of the survey results, 60% of people said they supported moving the date, 39% said they didn't support the date moving and 1% had no opinion.

"triple j is making this move after hearing directly from you. Heaps of you took part in our online survey as part of our review of the date of the Hottest 100," say triple j in a statement.

"You told us how much you love the countdown and most of you are up for a new day. We all agreed that the Hottest 100 shouldn’t be part of a debate about the day it’s on. The only debate should be about the songs."

"Triple J will be freed up to celebrate Australia Day as its own event too. We have some new programming planned for 26 January (more on that later)."

Voting for next year's Hottest 100 will open on 12 Dec and close on 22 Jan.