Lorde, Kylie and Troye lead a regional celebration

Rolling Stone’s Australia/New Zealand edition has unveiled a list of the 300 “Best Songs of the 21st Century So Far” from artists across the two countries, in a project highlighted by Variety. The ranking spans global superstars such as Lorde, Kylie Minogue and The Kid LAROI alongside cult favorites, metal outfits and indie bands who helped shape the region’s sound over the past 25 years. Editors say the aim is not only to crown obvious hits but to recognise tracks that changed careers, built scenes or became part of local cultural memory.

The list emphasizes the breadth of music coming from Australia and Aotearoa: from pop and R&B to rock, punk, hip-hop and experimental electronic. It also reflects how regional artists have found global audiences via streaming and social media, with some songs breaking first on local radio before becoming viral anthems abroad. For fans, the countdown doubles as a listening roadmap and a snapshot of how the region has navigated shifting trends—from CD-era charts to playlists and TikTok snippets. The full rankings and commentary are hosted on Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s site, inviting readers to revisit old favorites and argue over omissions.

Why this matters beyond Australasia

For the global music industry, the project underscores how “peripheral” markets now drive trends far beyond their borders. New Zealand’s Lorde helped reset mainstream pop with minimalist, moody hits, while Australian acts from Parkway Drive to Amyl and the Sniffers have expanded the reach of heavy music and punk. In South Asia, including Bangladesh, young listeners increasingly discover these artists through algorithmic recommendations and fan communities rather than traditional channels. Lists like this one shape which songs get rediscovered, playlisted and covered by new generations of musicians.

Variety notes that the editorial team approached the list as a celebration rather than a definitive canon, stressing that it is meant to spark conversation rather than close it. Still, inclusion can boost streaming numbers, tour prospects and festival bookings for mid-tier acts trying to break out of the local circuit. As 21st-century pop becomes ever more globalised, regional projects like this help anchor artists in a sense of place—reminding audiences that some of the era’s most memorable songs were written far from Los Angeles or London.