Calls for Triple J's Hottest 100 to be axed from the station and handed to Kyle and Jackie O: 'Billie Eilish doesn't need the support of Aussie taxpayers'
Lee says that the top-rated KIIS FM breakfast radio program, hosted by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, is a better fit for the array of international acts that appear on the annual countdown.
Calling for an Australian-only Hottest 100 to become the standard, Lee, 46, told the Sydney Morning Herald that he felt commercial radio was a better space for the chart.
'Triple J should give the Hottest 100 to Kyle and Jackie O, let commercial radio run it nationally as a pop mainstream phenomenon and Triple J's business should be the Australian Hottest 100,' he said.
'I reckon the Hottest 100 every year should only be eligible to vote for Australian songs. There's enough platforms around the world for international music.'
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Lee further elaborated on social media, writing on Instagram: 'I'm not suggesting handing them the keys to the kingdom. What I'm saying is let commercial radio handle servicing multi-national major labels - that's their job.
'Triple J is taxpayer funded and I think those funds would be better used almost exclusively supporting Australian artists and culture. Billie Eilish doesn't need the support of the Aussie taxpayer.'
The Catch My Disease singer added that Triple J was 'instrumental' in shaping his career as a young Australian artist, and his comments come from his passion for the Aussie music industry.
Lee had plenty of support in the comments underneath his Instagram post, including from fellow Aussie indie artist Ella Hooper.
'It's a brilliant conversation you've started. Personally think it's needed and would be a real shot in the arm for Australian music,' she wrote.
One of Lee's followers commented: 'I'd listen again if the Hottest 100 was only Australian songs.'
Someone else chimed in: 'As a musician in a small Aussie band, all I can say to you is thank you! Thank you for sticking up for smaller artists will don't have the reach of voice you do.'
'So true. Every time I see a name like Beyoncé on the rotation list a part of my soul dies,' another person added.
Others disagreed, with someone writing, 'Absolutely nothing should be handed to Kyle and Jackie O.'
It comes as Triple J has extended an almighty olive branch to the Australian public, after back-to-back Hottest 100 wins by American artists sounded the death knell of the song contest's popularity.
On June 17 voting officially opened for the new poll, 'The Hottest 100 of Australian Songs'.
The new countdown will take place on July 26 and has strict rules in place to ensure it honours Triple J's 50 years on air milestone, and the 'support local' ethos of the national song contest which began in 1989.
Eligible songs must have been released by January 19, 2025, and they must feature at least 50 per cent Australian artists.
The announcement came after US singer Chappell Roan claimed the win in 2025 with her Sapphic earworm Good Luck Babe!
In third place was US pop star Billie Eilish with her hit Birds of a Feather while UK singer Lola Young claimed number four with her viral track Messy.
Just 29 songs of the top 100 songs came from Australian acts in 2025, with Melbourne DJ Dom Dolla charting highly and Amyl and the Sniffers gaining multiple entries.
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