Editing Triple J Hottest 100 (section)

====2015: Taylor Swift controversy====
[[File:Taylor Swift at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards 4.png|thumb|252x252px|[[Taylor Swift]]'s hit 2015 single "[[Shake It Off]]" was notably banned from that year's [[Triple J Hottest 100, 2015|Hottest 100]].]]
Following a 13 January 2015 article on [[BuzzFeed]], the "#Tay4Hottest100" [[hashtag]] campaign began during the voting period for the Hottest 100 poll for 2014 to promote [[Taylor Swift]]'s hit single "[[Shake It Off]]". According to those critical of the campaign, the Hottest 100 is reserved for non-mainstream artists who were "discovered or fostered by Triple J" and provides valuable exposure for artists in the outer circles of the music industry.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Peter Vincent|title=Triple J Hottest 100: Has Taylor Swift been dumped from contention due to KFC ad?|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/triple-j-hottest-100-has-taylor-swift-been-dumped-from-contention-due-to-kfc-ad-20150120-12u1gi.html|access-date=23 January 2015|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Sarah Smith|title=Flight Facilities weigh in on Taylor Swift Hottest 100 furore|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/59825/Flight_Facilities_weigh_in_on_Taylor_Swift_Hottest_100_furore|website=inthemix|publisher=inthemix Pty Ltd|access-date=23 January 2015|date=20 January 2015}}</ref>

The campaign led to discussion<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/search?search=taylor%20swift%20hottest%20100&any=on|title=NEWS {{!}} radioinfo|website=www.radioinfo.com.au|access-date=2017-12-23}}</ref> about the broader cultural implications of the controversy generated by Swift. The ''[[Guardian Australia|Guardian]]''{{'}}s Elle Hunt wrote: "... the virulent response to #Tay4Hottest100 has revealed the persistence of a dichotomy I'd thought we'd thrown out long ago: that of high art versus low."<ref>{{cite news|author1=Elle Hunt|title=#Tay4Hottest100: Taylor Swift campaign shows it's time for Triple J to shake off cultural elitism|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/19/tay4hottest100-taylor-swift-campaign-shows-its-time-for-triple-j-to-shake-off-cultural-elitism|access-date=21 January 2015|work=The Guardian|date=19 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Mark Di Stefano|title=Why Isn't Everyone Voting For "Shake It Off" In The Hottest 100?|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/tay-4-hottest100#.gmLzd8y1p|website=BuzzFeed|publisher=BuzzFeed, Inc|access-date=21 January 2015|date=13 January 2015}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]'' on 23 January 2015, [[Charles Darwin University]] academic Gemma Blackwood concluded:

<blockquote>
The cultural and economic meanings attached to the celebrity-sign of "Taylor Swift" seems antithetical to Triple J's self-representation as a place for exciting new music, with a supposed focus on emerging Australian talent. This perhaps explains why Swift is excluded from the playlist when other "mainstream" American artists and chart toppers ... are still played on the station heavily: the alignment and transfer of values of what is considered "cool" and "hip" between the station and its chosen artists ... It raises the question: what responsibility does a national youth broadcaster have in the shaping and the adapting of young musical interests?<ref name="Gem">{{cite news|author1=Gemma Blackwood|title=Taylor Swift, Triple J and what the youth market really wants to hear|url=http://theconversation.com/taylor-swift-triple-j-and-what-the-youth-market-really-wants-to-hear-36643|access-date=1 February 2015|work=The Conversation|date=23 January 2015}}</ref></blockquote>

Station manager Chris Scaddan told the media that the Swift campaign was within the rules of the poll, later instructing Triple J employees not to comment to "media, friends, family" about the campaign, as "it will all become clear when we get to the countdown next Monday." The station said: "we don't comment on voting campaigns whilst Hottest 100 voting is open. It draws attention to them and may influence the results of the poll."<ref>{{cite web|author1=Joe Harris|title=The Guardian Says Triple J Are "Sexist" For Ignoring Taylor Swift, & That's Just Dumb|url=http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/432757/guardian-triple-j-sexist-taylor-swift.htm|website=Tone Deaf|access-date=21 January 2015|date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Marketing website Mumbrella suggested on 20 January that a Facebook post by [[KFC]] incorporating the "#Tay4Hottest100" hashtag was against the Hottest 100 rules and could see Swift disqualified.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Christensen|first1=Nic|title=KFC Facebook post may have disqualified Taylor Swift campaign from Triple J Hottest 100 list|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/abc-coy-taylor-swifts-hottest-100-eligibility-kfc-tries-jump-tay4hottest100-bandwagon-271943|website=Mumbrella|access-date=22 January 2015|date=20 January 2015}}</ref> The ''Guardian'' submitted a freedom of information request to the ABC in regard to the station's response to the campaign.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Elle Hunt|title=Taylor Swift fans have spoken – but will Triple J's Hottest 100 listen?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/20/taylor-swift-fans-have-spoken-but-will-triple-js-hottest-100-listen|access-date=21 January 2015|work=The Guardian|date=20 January 2015}}</ref>

After journalist Peter Vincent reported that the Swift campaign had "swallowed" the Hottest 100 for 2014, citing research from the [[University of Queensland]] that showed that over 7,341 Hottest 100 posts in a 30-day period leading up to the poll results related to Swift, "Shake It Off" was eventually disqualified by the radio station in an announcement on 26 January 2015. The official announcement read: "it became pretty clear, pretty quick that a lot of people just wanted to prod some 'hipsters' for the [[LOL|lulz]]", acknowledging that the station "had a heap of fun" with the campaign, while also acknowledging Swift is "smart", "cool" and "successful". The song would have placed in 12th position if it had been allowed to compete.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-01-26 |title=Triple J bans Taylor Swift from Hottest 100 |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-26/taylor-swift-banned-from-2015-hottest-100/6046156 |access-date=2023-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Peter Vincent |date=23 January 2015 |title=Taylor Swift campaign has swallowed Triple J Hottest 100 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-campaign-has-swallowed-triple-j-hottest-100-20150123-12wfs1.html |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>

On the inside cover of the ''Triple J Hottest 100 Volume 22'' CD, bold capital initials spell out "TAYLOR SWIFT BAN".<ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Triple J's Hottest 100 Volume 22 |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/2929786-Various-Triple-Js-Hottest-100-Volume-22 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-15}}</ref>