Triple J Reveals Top 50 Most-played Artists In 2018

18 December 2018 | 7:27 pm | Staff Writer

Local talent dominates again.

More Middle Kids More Middle Kids

It’s been a good year for Aussie music, as reflected in triple j’s most-played artists of 2018 list.

The youth broadcaster has unveiled its top 50 most-played acts this year, with local legends and J Awards Australian Album of the Year winners Middle Kids taking out #1 among a list that boasts 72% homegrown talent, up from 62% last year.

58% of the list is comprised of male artists, with triple j noting “2018 proved to be another strong year for solo female artists and bands with women in prominent roles” as Courtney Barnett, Amy Shark, Jack River, Odette, Camp Cope, Tired Lion, Tash Sultana and more make the cut.

The highest international placement came from The Wombats at #3, which isn’t surprising given the release of their latest album and accompanying tour dates.

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10% of artists were from the UK, while US acts made up 10% of the list.

The figures were tagged with a disclaimer that pointed out that artists who scored a Feature Album slot “obviously” received more plays, as did those who released music earlier in the year.

Here’s the full list:

  1. Middle Kids
  2. DMA'S
  3. The Wombats
  4. BROCKHAMPTON
  5. Ocean Alley
  6. Courtney Barnett
  7. Chvrches
  8. Hockey Dad
  9. The Presets
  10. Amy Shark
  11. Jack River
  12. Vance Joy
  13. Anderson .Paak
  14. The Rubens
  15. Skegss
  16. Drake
  17. Odette
  18. Trophy Eyes
  19. Peking Duk
  20. Ball Park Music
  21. Superorganism
  22. Confidence Man
  23. Gang of Youths
  24. Alison Wonderland
  25. Tash Sultana
  26. Camp Cope
  27. RÜFÜS DU SOL
  28. Eves Karydas
  29. Flight Facilities
  30. Cosmo's Midnight
  31. Thundamentals
  32. Arctic Monkeys
  33. What So Not
  34. City Calm Down
  35. Wolf Alice
  36. Post Malone
  37. Tia Gostelow
  38. Yungblud
  39. Khalid
  40. Angie McMahon
  41. Fisher
  42. Mallrat
  43. Tired Lion
  44. Mansionair
  45. Golden Features
  46. King Princess
  47. Florence + The Machine
  48. DZ Deathrays
  49. SAFIA