iHeartRadio Podcast Awards

The iHeartRadio Podcast Awards is a podcast awards show that celebrates podcasts heard throughout the year across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia's digital music platform. Founded by iHeartRadio in 2019, the event recognizes the most popular podcasters and podcasts over the past year. Winners are chosen in a few categories by judges, but the majority of categories are voted on by fans through the iHeart Podcast Awards website and social media. The inaugural event was held on January 18, 2019, at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles.[1]

iHeartRadio Podcast Award
Current: 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards
Awarded forPerformance on podcast platforms, popularity among fans, and recognition in the podcasting industry, recognizing podcasters and podcast providers
CountryUnited States
First awarded2019
Websitehttps://www.iheart.com/podcast-awards/
Television/radio coverage
NetworkiHeartRadio (2019–2021)
LiveXLive (2020)
Most recent iHeartRadio Music Award winners
← 2019 January 17, 2020 2021 →
Award Podcast of the Year Best Branded Podcast
Winner The Dropout
(produced by ABC NewsZABC)
Songland
(produced by NBC)
Award Best Overall Host – Male Best Overall Host – Female
Winner Aaron Mahnke
(host of Lore)
Nora McInerny
(host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking)

Previous Podcast of the Year

"Slowburn"

Podcast of the Year

"The Dropout"

Overview

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Fans vote on their favorite podcasts through the iHeart Podcast Awards website and social media over the course of a couple of months leading up to the ceremony. A panel of judges who are blue-ribbon podcast industry leaders determines the podcast winners of several of the categories.[2][3][4]

List of ceremonies

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Year Date Venue Host city Host(s) Podcast of the Year winner Broadcaster Ref.
2019 January 18, 2019 iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles Lenard McKelvey

Holly Frey

Bobby Bones

Mario Lopez[5]

Slow Burn produced by Slate Magazine and hosted by Leon Neyfakh iHeartRadio [6][7]
2020 January 17, 2020 iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles Will Ferrell The Dropout produced by ABC News and hosted by Rebecca Jarvis LiveXLive

iHeartRadio

[8]
2021 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD [9]

Award categories

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The categories cover an array of genres, including fiction, religion and spirituality, music, and political podcasts. Categories voted on by judges are indicated with a double dagger (‡).

Current award categories

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  • Best Podcast of the Year (2019–present) ‡
  • Best Comedy Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Crime Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Music Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best News Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Sports & Recreation Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Overall Host – Male (2020–present)
  • Best Overall Host – Female (2020–present)
  • Best Business & Finance Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Pop Culture Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Food Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best History Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Kids & Family Podcast (2019–present)
  • Best Fiction Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Science Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Technology Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Ad Read (2020–present)
  • Best Political Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best TV & Film Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Spanish Language Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Travel Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Green Podcast (2020–present)
  • Best Branded Podcast (2019–present) ‡

Past award categories

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  • Best Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast (2019)
  • Best Entertainment & TV Podcast (2019)
  • Best Curiosity (2019)
  • Best Health & Fitness Podcast (2019)
  • Best LGBTQ Podcast (2019)
  • Most Bingeable (2019)
  • Best Multi-Cultural Podcast (2019)
  • Best Scripted Podcast (2019)
  • Best Sports Podcast (2019)
  • Best Science & Tech Podcast (2019)
  • Breakout Podcast (2019) ‡

Special awards

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Podcast Innovator Award

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Podcast Pioneer Award

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Social Impact Award

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Multiple wins and nominations

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Most wins (as of 2020)

Rank 1st – 3rd
Podcast Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Reply All The Breakfast Club
Total 2

Most nominations (as of 2020)

Rank 1st 2nd – 6th 7th & 8th
Podcast Revisionist History The Daily The Joe Rogan Experience Atlanta Monster Slow Burn Stuff You Should Know Dirty John The Ron Burgundy Podcast
Total 5 4 3

Performance

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Year Performers (chronologically)
2019 N/A
2020 Gavin DeGraw
2021 TBD

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "iHeartMedia Announces First Podcast Awards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 22, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Nominees Include Shows Featuring T.I., Rick Rubin". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Conan O'Brien, Will Ferrell nominated for iHeartRadio Podcast Awards". UPI. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Spangler, Todd (December 8, 2020). "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2021 Nominees Unveiled". Variety. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Watch the Live Stream iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. January 18, 2019. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2019 Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. January 18, 2019. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2019 Winners". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2020 Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2021: See The Full List Of Nominees". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "NPR to Receive Inaugural iHeartRadio Podcast Pioneer Award at iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Presented By Capital One® on January 18". www.businesswire.com. November 13, 2018. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
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