Humble winner: Kendrick Lamar's hit single tops the Hottest 100

After Triple J tallied a record 2.38 million votes, the American rapper narrowly pipped Gang of Youths and Angus and Julia Stone, who ended the day in second and third place respectively. Gang of Youths dominated this year's countdown, with four songs in the Hottest 100 and three in the top 10.

Gang of Youths' pianist and principal songwriter Dave Leaupepe told Triple J that he had no idea the band's latest album, Go Farther In Lightness, would be so popular.

"We thought it would be universally panned and we would be marched out the back and shot," he joked. "This is so weird. Thank you, thank you. We're a little bit overwhelmed."

This countdown was the first in two decades that the Hottest 100 hadn't coincided with Australia Day (save for the 2004 Hottest 100, which was held on January 25). The station kicked off its biggest day of the year with an acknowledgement of Australia's first peoples, pointing out that many were listening for the first time.

The new format sparked outrage among some listeners and conservatives politicians, who accused the youth broadcaster of taking a stance on the debate surrounding whether or not Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26 out of respect for Indigenous Australians.

An overwhelming majority of Triple J listeners supported the change and - despite some calling for a boycott - around 130,000 more votes were cast in this year's countdown compared to last year.

The ABC has remained tight-lipped about the timing of next year's countdown. Under the new format, the Hottest 100 is to be broadcast on the final Saturday each January. However, in 2019 January 26 falls on a Saturday.

Content director Ollie Wards previously told Fairfax Media an announcement will be made soon.

"The way the weekend falls does change, which is out of everyone's control," he said. "We'll review how it all goes and make an announcement about the 2019 dates in the near future. We don't want the Hottest 100 to be part of the big political debate happening now."

The top 10 songs in this year's Hottest 100 countdown

1. Humble by Kendrick Lamar

2. Let Me Down Easy by Gang of Youths

3. Chateau by Angus and Julia Stone

4. Ubu by Methyl Ethel

5. The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows by Gang of Youths

6. Green Light by Lorde

7. Go Bang by Pnau

8. Sally by the Fundamentals

9. Lay It On Me by Vance Joy

10. What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? by Gang of Youths