4th Annual Event Celebrating the Best in Podcasting Adds Two New Categories ‘Podcast to Watch’ and ‘Best International Podcast’
Podcast of the Year Nominees include “Code Switch,” “Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend,” “Crime Junkie,” “Louder Than a Riot,” “Office Ladies,” “SmartLess,” “Stuff You Should Know,” “The Daily,” “The Midnight Miracle” and “You're Wrong About”
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced the live return of the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards and the 2022 nominees. The Awards ceremony will take place on January 13, 2022, at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles and will honor the very best in podcasting throughout 2021, celebrating the most innovative talent and content creators in the industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast industry saw a record number of podcasts being created and listened to, continuing to push the industry forward with more than 160 million people having listened to a podcast this year alone.
Each year, podcast fans themselves decide the winner of the coveted Podcast of the Year award by socially voting on Twitter. This year’s nominees include “Code Switch,” “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” “Crime Junkie,” “Louder Than a Riot,” “Office Ladies,” “SmartLess,” “Stuff You Should Know,” “The Daily,” “The Midnight Miracle” and “You’re Wrong About.” Voting will begin December 13 and run through January 2, 2022. More information can be found at iHeart.com/podcast-awards.
Nominees in other categories include podcasts from all creators, distributors and platforms with a judging panel composed of blue-ribbon podcast industry leaders, creatives and visionaries who will determine the winners across categories including entertainment, comedy, crime, news, sports, food, business and more, including two new categories Podcasts to Watch and Best International Podcast.
“We are excited to be back live for year four of the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards to recognize all the amazing content and talent that the podcasting medium has produced this past year,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group. “Podcast listening has continued to soar across the U.S., seeing a nearly 60% increase in monthly listeners since our first awards show was announced in 2018, filling this industry with more diversity and innovation than ever before. We look forward to honoring these major advancements in-person during the 2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards this January.”
Since nominees were unable to attend the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in person given the limitations on live events during the pandemic, the third annual event went virtual and featured an array of celebrity presenters, guests and nominees recorded from multiple locations. Appearances included Will Ferrell, Hillary Clinton, Laverne Cox, Gwen Stefani, Aaron Mahnke, Questlove, Dan Patrick, Charlamagne Tha God, Roy Wood Jr., and many more, with comedic skits from the ladies of Obama’s Other Daughters, made up of Maame-Yaa Aforo, Ashley Holston, Shakira Ja'nai Paye and Yazmin Monet Watkins, hosts of “You Down?” as well as Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, hosts of “Las Culturistas.”
Several winners from last year’s iHeartRadio Podcast Awards have again gained nominations in their respective categories including “Office Ladies” for Podcast of the Year; “The Read” for Best Comedy Podcast; “Crime Junkie” for Best Crime Podcast; “Pod Save America” for Best News Podcast; “All The Smoke” for Best Sports Podcast; Conan O’Brien for Best Overall Host – Male; Nicole Byer for Best Overall Host – Female; “Pop Culture Happy Hour” for Best Pop Culture Podcast; “Therapy for Black Girls” for Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast; and more.
The full 2022 category nominees (in alphabetical order) are:
Podcast of the Year (Socially Voted Category)
Best Comedy Podcast
Best Crime Podcast
Best Music Podcast
Best News Podcast
Best Sports Podcast
Best Overall Host – Male
Best Overall Host – Female
Best Business & Finance Podcast
Best Pop Culture Podcast
Best Food Podcast
Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast
Best History Podcast
Best Kids & Family Podcast
Best Fiction Podcast
Best Science Podcast
Best Technology Podcast
Best Ad Read
Best Political Podcast
Best TV & Film Podcast
Best Spanish Language Podcast
Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast
Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast
Best Travel Podcast
Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast
The Best Green Podcast
Best Branded Podcast
NEW! Podcast To Watch
NEW! Best International Podcast
The 2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards is part of iHeartMedia’s roster of nationally recognized events including the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the nationwide iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Concert Tour, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, iHeartCountry Festival, iHeartRadio ALTer Ego and iHeartRadio Wango Tango.
Executive producers for the 2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards are John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Conal Byrne for iHeartMedia, and Deviants Media Studio founder Ivan Dudynsky and show runner Jayson Belt. More information including guest hosts, celebrity appearances, Icon Awards, streaming details and more will be announced in the coming months.
Click HERE to download the official 2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards logo.
About iHeartMedia iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 250 million people each month. It is number one in both broadcast and digital streaming radio as well as podcasting and audio ad tech and includes three business segments: The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group; the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group; and the Audio and Media Services Group. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
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iHeartMedia Jenn PowersJennPowers@iheartmedia.com iHeartMedia Angel AristoneAngelAristone@iheartmedia.com
Source: iHeartMedia