Michael Ward

WA singer-songwriter Michael Ward has won the 2025 HOMEGROWN HUNDRED by a country mile, blitzing the field with his gritty country rock banger No Regrets.

Thanks to his extensive touring schedule, Michael has earned himself fans throughout Australia, which saw votes for No Regrets pour in from across the country, with voters praising the energy of his live shows.

Michael Ward

Raised on the salty coastal swamplands of Stratham in regional WA, Michael has spent decades performing live music around Australia.

In fact, he was in the middle of a show when he found out No Regrets had topped the countdown!

"The song is about accepting that I can’t change the past and I don’t have to let it define who I am now," he said.

Brisbane duo Sonic Keys and Aria Cook placed second with their harmony-filled ballad Angels, while cult favourite Keith from Melbourne bogan-funk band Playlunch took out the number three spot – one spot higher than their triple j Hottest 100 appearance last week.

Sonic Keys and Aria Cook

In a truly nationwide countdown, the top 20 songs included artists from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

The countdown saw a wide variety of genres represented, from metal to country to pop, as well as artists of all ages and at varying career stages. It was reflective of the wide-ranging tastes of Australian music-lovers, and a fantastic showcase of all the things Australian music has to offer.

Check out the full 100 songs on the 2025 HOMEGROWN HUNDRED playlist.