triple j Unearthed have revealed the initiative’s 100 Best Discoveries as a supplementary list to the recent Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs. The countdown was shared on Unearthed’s digital radio station throughout the week, with the winner being revealed last night (July 31st) as Missy Higgins. Higgins, who came fourth in the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs with her 2004 hit ‘Scar’ and also placed 52nd with ‘The Special Two’, was famously entered into triple j Unearthed by her sister, without her knowledge, back in 2001. The now ARIA Hall-Of-Famer was only 17 years old at the time. Higgins’ entry, her debut single ‘All For Believing’, ended up winning that year’s competition.
Coming in at number two were Sydney electronica trio RÜFÜS DU SOL, who first uploaded music to Unearthed in 2011 and have gone on to become one of the most in-demand touring acts in electronic music. The band will return to Australia in November 2025 for their first-ever national arena tour. In third place were Gang Of Youths, who uploaded their debut single ‘Evangelists’ in 2013 and also went on to arena tours, multiple ARIA Awards and platinum-selling success as a band.
Missy Higgins – ‘All For Believing’
The data for the 100 Best Unearthed Discoveries countdown was collated from the 2.6 million votes cast for the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs. The list tallied the votes put towards artists that have either uploaded music to the triple j Unearthed website, which has had an online presence since 2006, or were part of Unearthed’s initial formation as a yearly competition – such as Higgins, Grinspoon (the original Unearthed winners circa 1995, #10) and Killing Heidi (1996 competition winners, #13). Interestingly, only the top 14 artists were in the Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs.
View the full list below.
triple j Unearthed’s 100 Best Discoveries
100. Last Dinosaurs
99. Dear Seattle
98. The Kite String Tangle
97. Emma Louise
96. Bad//Dreems
95. Sycco
94. Adam Newling
93. Emily Wurramara
92. Luca Brasi
91. E^ST
90. Birdz
89. The Vanns
88. Alpine
87. Busby Marou
86. MAY-A
85. Meg Washington
84. Northeast Party House
83. The Buoys
82. Miami Horror
81. Sly Withers
80. WAAX
79. Montaigne
78. Sampa the Great
77. SAFIA
76. Alex the Astronaut
75. Stand Atlantic
74. Big Scary
73. Ziggy Ramo
72. The Terrys
71. Northlane
70. Teenage Dads
69. Client Liaison
68. Pacific Avenue
67. Gretta Ray
66. Trophy Eyes
65. DZ Deathrays
64. Cloud Control
63. Luude
62. Confidence Man
61. Stella Donnelly
60. Genesis Owusu
59. Slowly Slowly
58. Alex Lahey
57. Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers
56. Little Red
55. Dune Rats
54. Tones And I
53. Julia Jacklin
52. Beddy Rays
51. The Rions
50. Ziggy Alberts
49. Polaris
48. Allday
47. Hockey Dad
46. Meg Mac
45. Holy Holy
44. Peach PRC
43. Methyl Ethel
42. The Jezabels
41. Baker Boy
40. Seth Sentry
39. Tash Sultana
38. The Jungle Giants
37. Ruby Fields
36. King Stingray
35. Middle Kids
34. Skegss
33. The Preatures
32. Cub Sport
31. The Smith Street Band
30. The Kid LAROI
29. San Cisco
28. Chase Atlantic
27. The Middle East
26. The Rubens
25. Courtney Barnett
24. Royel Otis
23. Mallrat
22. Art vs Science
21. Troye Sivan
20. Angie McMahon
19. The Chats
18. Amy Shark
17. Boy & Bear
16. Lime Cordiale
15. G Flip
14. Peking Duk
13. Killing Heidi
12. Thelma Plum
11. Matt Corby
10. Grinspoon
9. Sticky Fingers
8. Vance Joy
7. Ocean Alley
6. Ball Park Music
5. Flume
4. Spacey Jane
3. Gang of Youths
2. RÜFÜS DU SOL
1. Missy Higgins
Further Reading
Grinspoon Announce 30th Anniversary Tour With Bad//Dreems
Night At The Barracks And The Parkland 2025: Missy Higgins, Cut Copy, Icehouse + More
G Flip Announces 2026 ‘Dream Ride’ Aussie Album Tour With The Beaches
