iHeartMedia Announces Return of ‘The iHeartPodcast Awards’ with Live Event in Partnership with SXSW on March 11, 2024

The in-person ceremony honors podcasting excellence across 29 categories including fan-voted Podcast of the Year Award

The event will video stream in partnership with YouTube

NEW YORK & AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, has joined forces with South by Southwest (SXSW) to announce the return of the iHeartPodcast Awards, which will take place live and in-person during the SXSW Conference and Festivals in Austin, TX. The event will be held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, March 11 at 8 p.m. CT and will honor the best and most innovative industry podcasts and creators of 2023. The ceremony will broadcast live on select iHeartMedia Radio Stations nationwide, through the iHeartRadio app and via a video stream in partnership with YouTube on iHeartRadio’s YouTube Channel. The event will additionally be available on demand following the initial live stream.

Nominees across 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 in categories including comedy, crime, news, pop culture, sports, food, business and more. In addition to the panel-judged category awards, one award, the coveted Podcast of the Year, will have a fan voting component.

The 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards will also feature Icon Awards, which will pay tribute to creators, organizations and podcasts that have made groundbreaking industry contributions.

“Each year we look forward to celebrating the podcast industry’s most groundbreaking and innovative voices as the medium continues to evolve and explode,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group. “Over the past few years, SXSW has become a dynamic and effective setting for us to host many of our interactive podcast panels, discussions and experiences. There's no better location to bring this celebratory industry event back, live and in person, than Austin at South by Southwest.”

"This partnership showcases our commitment to celebrating creative people across the diverse world of podcasting and beyond,” said Jann Baskett, SXSW Co-President and Chief Brand Officer. "We’re thrilled to join forces with iHeartMedia to bring the iHeartPodcast Awards to Austin and amplify the incredible talent shaping the future of this dynamic medium."

Previous iHeartPodcast Awards shows have featured an array of celebrity presenters and guests. Appearances included Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Dua Lipa, Martha Stewart, Questlove, Mayim Bialik, Will Ferrell, Malcolm Gladwell, Draymond Green, Bethenny Frankel, Conan O’Brien, Angela Yee and many more. Visit the recap for additional information around the 2023 iHeartPodcast awards.

More information including category nominees, guest hosts, celebrity appearances and more will be announced in the coming months.

The 2024 iHeartPodcast 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 and iHeartRadio ALTer Ego.

About iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 90% of Americans every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have more consumer reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the reach of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled reach of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined and has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

About SXSW

SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2024 will take place March 8–16 in Austin. Learn more at sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.