The iHeartRadio Music Awards is an American music awards show that celebrates music heard throughout the year across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia's digital music platform. Founded by iHeartRadio in 2014, the event recognizes the most popular artists and music over the previous year. Winners are chosen per cumulative performance data, while the public is able to vote in several categories.
The inaugural event was held on May 1, 2014, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Its first two years were broadcast live on NBC; from 2016 to 2018, it was simulcast on TBS, TNT and TruTV. Since the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards, the ceremony has aired on Fox. The trophy is manufactured by the New York firm Society Awards.
Taylor Swift is the most awarded artist in the history of the iHeartRadio Music Awards, having won 41 awards between 2015 and 2026.
Overview The nominations are based on results from the iHeartRadio Chart. It includes listener feedback and performance data, according to airplay; digital streaming data from the iHeartRadio platform, including sales, social, online video data and tags from BigChampagne and Shazam. The iHeartRadio Countdown, the two-hour weekly program, highlights the top 20 contemporary hit radio songs in the iHeartRadio Chart. The latter is supplied and compiled by Mediabase. In addition, every public-voting category (nine in 2018), includes social hashtags as the primary voting mechanism.
List of ceremonies Year Date Venue Host city Host Song of the Year winner Broadcaster 2014 May 1 Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles "Stay" – Rihanna featuring Mikky EkkoNBC 2015 March 29 Jamie Foxx "Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift 2016 April 3 The Forum Inglewood Jason Derulo "Hello" – AdeleTBSTNT TruTV 2017 March 5 Ryan Seacrest "Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Justin Timberlake 2018 March 11 DJ Khaled & Hailey Baldwin "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran 2019 March 14 Microsoft Theater Los Angeles T-Pain "The Middle" — Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Fox 2020 September 4–7 Virtual; various locations across the United States "Truth Hurts" — Lizzo Untelevised, but was broadcast exclusively via audio means through iHeartRadio CHR stations and the app "iHeartRadio-Music-Awards" iHeartMedia to Reveal Winners of the 2020 "iHeartRadio Music Awards". 2021 May 27 Dolby TheatreLos Angeles Usher "Blinding Lights" – The WeekndFox 2022 March 22 Shrine Auditorium LL Cool J "Levitating" – Dua Lipa 2023 March 27Dolby Theatre Lenny Kravitz"Anti-Hero" – Taylor Swift 2024 April 1 Ludacris "Kill Bill" – SZA 2025 March 17 LL Cool J "Beautiful Things" – Benson Boone 2026 March 26Ludacris“Ordinary” - Alex Warren
Award categories The categories cover an array of genres, including pop, alternative rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and regional Mexican music. Public-voting categories through social media are indicated with a double dagger ().
Current award categories Song of the Year (2014–present) Artist of the Year (2014–2015, 2023–present) Best Collaboration (2014–present) Duo/Group of the Year (2016–2024, 2026–present) Pop Song of the Year (2025-present) Pop Artist of the Year (2024-present) Best New Pop Artist (2017–present) Alternative Rock Song of the Year (2014–present) Alternative Rock Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist (2017–present) Rock Song of the Year (2016–present) Rock Artist of the Year (2016–present) Country Song of the Year (2014–present) Country Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New Country Artist (2017–present) Dance Song of the Year (2015–present) Dance Artist of the Year (2016–present) Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2016–present) Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New Hip-Hop Artist (2017–present) R&B Song of the Year (2016–present) R&B Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New R&B Artist (2017–present) Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year (2016–present) Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New Latin Pop/Urban Artist (2017–present) Regional Mexican Song of the Year (2016–present) Regional Mexican Artist of the Year (2016–present) Best New Regional Mexican Artist (2025-present) K-Pop Artist of the Year (2024–present) K-Pop Song of the Year (2025-present) Best New K-Pop Artist (2024–present) Producer of the Year (2017–present) Songwriter of the Year (2019-present) World Artist of the Year (2025-present) Best Lyrics (2014–present) Best Music Video (2017–present) Favorite On Screen (2025-present) Favorite Tour Photographer (2019-present) Favorite Tour Style (2025-present) Favorite Tour Tradition (2025-present) Favorite Surprise Guest (2025-present) Favorite Broadway Debut (2025-present) Favorite Soundtrack (2025-present) Favorite K-Pop Collab (2026-present) Favorite Debut Album (2026-present) Favorite TikTok Dance (2026-present)
Past award categories Best Song from a Movie (2016–2017) Best Underground Alternative Band (2017) Regional Mexican Album of the Year (2017) Album of the Year (2016) Biggest Triple Threat (2016) Most Meme-able Moment (2016) Hip-Hop/R&B Song of the Year (2014–2015) EDM Song of the Year (2014) Renegade (2015) Instagram Award (2014) Best Boy Band (2018) Best Remix (2018)
Special awards iHeartRadio Innovator Award The honor is presented to artists for their contribution to popular culture. 2014: Pharrell Williams 2015: Justin Timberlake 2016: U2 2017: Bruno Mars 2018: Chance the Rapper 2019: Alicia Keys 2023: Taylor Swift 2024: Beyoncé 2025: Lady Gaga 2026: Miley Cyrus
iHeartRadio Icon Award 2018: Bon Jovi 2021: Elton John 2022: Jennifer Lopez 2023: Pink 2024: Cher 2025: Mariah Carey 2026: John Mellencamp
iHeartRadio Landmark Award 2024: Green Day, TLC 2025: Nelly 2026: Ludacris
Artist of the Decade 2019: Garth Brooks
Fangirls Award 2018: Camila Cabello 2019: Halsey
Young Influencer 2014: Ariana Grande
Trailblazer Award
2022: Megan Thee Stallion
Tour of the Century
2025: Taylor Swift
Multiple wins and nominations Most wins (as of 2026) Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th ArtistTaylor SwiftDrakeBTS, Bruno MarsTwenty One PilotsThe Chainsmokers Total 41 13 12 11 10
Most nominations (as of 2026) Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th ArtistTaylor SwiftDrake Justin BieberAriana GrandeBad Bunny Total 75 52 42 39 31
Performances + Year Performers (chronologically) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
See also iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards iHeartRadio Music Festival
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