Australian radio station Triple M has unveiled its Most Played Songs countdown, marking 45 years of broadcasting by tallying every track spun across the network since its launch — a data-driven snapshot of Australian radio history measured entirely by airplay.
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Topping the list is GANGgajang’s “Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia),” which emerged as the most-played song in the station’s history. The track leads a top ten dominated by Australian artists, with six local songs making the cut, including INXS’ “Don’t Change,” Paul Kelly and The Messengers’ “Dumb Things,” AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” Choirboys’ “Run To Paradise,” and The Screaming Jets’ “Better.”
International staples also appear near the top, with Van Halen’s “Jump,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” rounding out the upper tier of the list.
According to Triple M, the countdown differs from traditional listener polls by relying solely on broadcast data rather than voting or audience surveys. “This countdown isn’t a vote. It’s not a popularity contest. And it’s not built for debate. It’s the raw history of Triple M — measured entirely by airplay,” the station said in a statement.
The network described the list as a reflection of longevity and connection rather than trend cycles. “What emerged wasn’t just a countdown — it was a snapshot of history,” Triple M shared. “A living record of the songs Australians kept turning up, requesting, replaying, and returning to over nearly half a century.”
Beyond the top ten, the full list spans 600 songs and traces decades of rock and alternative staples familiar to long-time Triple M listeners. Tracks by Cold Chisel (“Khe Sanh”), Midnight Oil (“Beds Are Burning”), Nirvana (“Smells Like Teen Spirit”), and Red Hot Chili Peppers (“Under The Bridge”) feature alongside songs by Men At Work, Divinyls, Silverchair, Powderfinger, Fleetwood Mac, U2, R.E.M., Foo Fighters, Crowded House, Green Day, Metallica, and many others.
GANGgajang frontman Mark “Cal” Callaghan reacted with surprise to “Sounds Of Then” claiming the top spot, reflecting on the song’s origins. “What the heck!? That’s amazing,” he said. “It was a song that just came — out of the ether somewhere.”
Callaghan added that the moment felt full circle. “I’m house-sitting in Kirribilli, Sydney, and looking out the window at the same block of flats where, in 1982, I recorded the demo of ‘Sounds of Then’ on my first 8-track recorder. How about that?”
Triple M’s Most Played Songs list is available to view in full now.
