Podcasts have gotten so popular, they are getting their own awards show!
“iHeartMedia will host its inaugural iHeartRadio Podcast Awards on Jan. 18. The 90-minute ceremony will take place at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles, and will be the first live awards show for podcasting where listeners will decide on the winners.”
“The show will award winners in 22 categories, 17 of which will be voted on by fans. A blue-ribbon panel of podcast industry figures will determine the winners in five top categories, including podcast of the year, breakout podcast, best branded podcast, best social impact from podcast/host and the podcast innovator award.”
“Podcasting has roared onto the audio scene, creating the most excitement since the advent of streaming music services. The iHeartRadio Podcast Awards will provide a forum to celebrate the high-caliber, creative content that has made podcasting a major new audio category — and that truly reflects America’s favorite podcasts, voted by the listeners themselves.” This is expected to be a transformative, annual event that will continue “encouraging everyone in the podcasting industry to push the envelope and inspire even more creators in this space.”
“In recent years iHeartMedia has made its own push into podcasts, offering more than 20,000 shows to users of its iHeartRadio app. Its podcast network hosts more than 750 original shows from its local stations… iHeart says that the awards will honor podcasts from all creators, distributors, and platforms, not just those developed within its own podcast network. ”
This kind of large-scale recognition is incredible for podcasts of all shapes and sizes. This booming media has an incredible future. The positives of podcasting from an educational and social standpoint are so encouraging. What a wonderful way to celebrate a medium that is capable of enacting such progressive communication, sharing, education, and change.
*Quotes taken from this Hollywood Reporter publication
