As in previous years, a CD featuring 39 (not necessarily the top 39) songs was released.

For the first time, a DVD, containing film clips of songs from the Hottest 100 was also released.

SMS voting was removed for the 2003 poll but was reinstated in the 2004 event When the announcers got to the number one track, they announced that rapper Nelly's song "Hot in Herre" had won the Hottest 100, after playing half of the song, they declared that it had been a joke, broke the CD on air, and began playing Queens of the Stone Age's "No One Knows".

The band Salmon Hater came in at number 26 with their song "6.66" after Triple J morning show hosts Adam Spencer and Wil Anderson made an effort to rig the event, telling listeners to vote for the otherwise unlikely candidate.

The double CD titled triple j – Hottest 100: Vol 10 Various Artists was released 3 March 2003.