“Get over yourself, Darren Hayes,” said a conservative federal senator to an Australian pop music icon, because that’s apparently where we’re at now.

Wednesday’s tussle between Cory Bernardi and one half of Savage Garden took place on the frontline of the culture wars – Twitter – after Bernardi announced he wanted to DJ Australia Day.

Hilltop Hoods took up sweary arms to stand with Hayes, and by Thursday afternoon Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes and the music platform Spotify had also weighed in.

Still annoyed that the radio station Triple J responded to a majority of its polled listeners and moved its Hottest 100 annual countdown, Bernardi has created his own.

On Radio National on Thursday morning Bernardi confusingly denied the playlist was politicised or associated with politics, perhaps for copyright reasons – despite it being named the #AC100 and promoted by his Australian Conservatives party.

Men at Work, Cold Chisel, Kate Ceberano, Slim Dusty, Shannon Noll. The list contains all the greats. Presumably a younger staffer chipped in with some of the newer entries.

The problem is some of the featured artists want no part of it, and have threatened copyright action to say so.

“Hi Cory Bernardi and Australian Conservatives,” Hayes said. “I do not want to be associated with you, your party or your views. Remove my music from this stunt or expect contact from my publisher.”

Hi @CoryBernadi and @AuConservatives. I do not want to be associated with you, your party or your views. Remove my music from this stunt or expect contact from my publisher @SonyATV https://t.co/fBmVisypLz — Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) January 17, 2018

Bernardi soon responded, clearly wanting to ensure the 1997 classic To the Moon and Back would stay on the list.

Get over yourself @darrenhayes. Music is for everyone. https://t.co/zZyYFd9nC1 — Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) January 17, 2018

Hayes reached out to some of the other artists.



The Aussie hip-hop band the Hilltop Hoods also made their feelings known about their song, 1955, being included:

“Go fuck yourself Cory Bernardi.”

Bernardi said the anger from Hayes – who the senator wasn’t sure still lived in the country – was “the type of intolerant censorship we have warned about for such a long time”.

Responding to the Hilltop Hoods, he said he liked their music but didn’t have to like their politics.

On Thursday afternoon the Aussie rockband Powderfinger told Guardian Australia it too wanted to be excluded from the #AC100 narrative.

“Powderfinger do not support the Australian Conservatives party or Senator Cory Bernardi’s Australia Day #AC100 countdown,” the band said.

“Like fellow musicians Darren Hayes and the Hilltop Hoods, we do not endorse our inclusion in Cory Bernardi’s playlist and would like our music removed. We are not trying to censor Mr Bernardi and his party, we are merely participating in a healthy debate that befits and strengthens our democracy.”

Other artists were yet to respond but David Campbell said he would “hazard a guess” his dad, Jimmy Barnes, wouldn’t be too keen on Khe Sanh being in there.

A few hours later Barnes confirmed it.

Why would you listen to anything @corybernardi says, especially about music? — Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) January 18, 2018

Spotify, which is currently hosting the playlist, also distanced itself.

“Spotify has actively supported marriage, gender and Indigenous equality initiatives over the last five years and believes in a diverse and multicultural Australia,” the company told Guardian Australia.

“We want to make clear we do not endorse this playlist, nor do we have any official ties to the Australian Conservatives party nor any other political party.”

The Australian Conservatives also opened the definitely-not-politicised poll to the public – and received the responses you’d expect.