Triple J has refused to confirm whether the station has disqualified Hottest 100 votes for Taylor Swift after a former presenter said a fast-food advertisement had cruelled the campaign to have her included.

Angela Catterns told the ABC TV show The Drum that Swift was out of contention "because a fast food chain became involved in the whole process". Yesterday KFC endorsed Swift for the annual Australia Day countdown. Triple J's rules for the countdown state the station "reserves the right to remove artists from the list who have benefited from competitions or commercial campaigns that incentivise fans to vote for them".

KFC's post gets very close to doing exactly that by running a picture of the pop star with the campaign hashtag #tay4hottest100 emblazoned on top next to an offer to receive a gift voucher when you mention your favourite song by her.

But a station spokesperson declined to confirm or deny Catterns' claim.

If Swift is not disqualified, it seems certain views will remain mixed on her place in the countdown – which seems assured given the amount of discussion generated by the campaign. Australian artists in line for a prized place in the countdown, which has increasingly had an Australian flavour in recent years, seemed divided on whether Swift had a place in the countdown.

"Who cares – [she makes] great songs, everyone needs to chill out!" says Megan Washington. "The Hottest 100 is a snapshot of the zeitgeist and there's no denying Taylor Swift is firmly in the zeitgeist.

"I see absolutely no problem with that being reflected [in the] Hottest 100."

Flight Facilities posted a long statement about it on Twitter, stating their admiration for Swift, but included the lines: "everyone throws their arms up when Taylor Swift isn't recognised on Triple J, but where are the outraged people demanding successful independent acts like Chet Faker or The Preatures get played on commercial radio? ... for now the 2014 Hottest 100 could do with one more triple j-nurtured indie song and not a sleekly-designed 5x platinum single voted in (mostly) for the purpose of pissing people off."

Paddy Cornwall, bassist with Sticky Fingers, a band which has a strong chance of its best ever place with Gold Snafu, is also in favour of Swift in the countdown. Although Cornwall's support is perhaps not as unequivocal as Washington's.

"If on Australia Day, Taylor Swift is number one in the Hottest 100 it would be f---ing hilarious. I'd burst out laughing, it'd be a cringeworthy moment. There a lot worse things in this world to be worried about and so if that does happen lets all have a laugh with our mates like youre supposed to do on that day.

"Besides, it's far from the first time a crappy song would have won the Hottest 100."

The Preatures' Twitter post carried several passionate posts stating their support for Swift's music but maintaining they didn't think the Hottest 100 was the right recognition for her. "Whether or not Taylor should be played on triple j is a different debate. There's no doubt she is loved by listeners. But she wasn't discovered or fostered by triple j like most of the major acts they play are. I don't buy into that cultural elitist bullshit and people who say I am just aren't listening to what I'm saying."

But she wasn't discovered or fostered by triple j like most of the major acts they play are — The Preatures (@ThePreatures) January 19, 2015

Peking Duk, among the favourites to top the poll with their song High, sounded relaxed about being 'Swifted', although weren't convinced about the motivations of some who voted for her. "We try not to think about [who might top the poll] 'cause we know Taylor Swift is gonna win," Adam Hyde told Pedestrian TV. "If she does [take the top spot], good on her. I kinda hope she does," Reuben Styles added.

But he also said: "There's trolls that are voting because it's funny and that's the part where it gets a bit like 'awww, c'mon."

"I've got love for T.Swift, so in the end, it's all good," Hyde said. The duo then introduce a member of their entourage who, on camera, attempts to show a tattoo dedicated to Swift on his bottom.

Amanda Palmer, who is touring Australia, posted an Instagram picture indicating her support for Swift: "dear triple j - one (1) absentee ballot Taylor Swift, Amanda F---ing Palmer [sic]"

@Caitlin_Welsh @pappy90 @MarkDiStef @ThePreatures Wasn't going to weigh in on the whole thing but here goes... pic.twitter.com/O8mRJJTeT3 — Flight Facilities (@flightfac) January 19, 2015

@ThePreatures The real shame would be if Shake It Off pushed an up and coming act just outside the 100. — Flight Facilities (@flightfac) January 19, 2015

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