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Netizens have reacted to the iHeartRadio Awards announcing the nominees for Artist of the Year.
Scheduled to take place on March 17, the 12th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will not only honor the best artists of 2024 but also contribute to rebuilding the communities that have been destroyed by the ongoing California wildfires.
The award ceremony will celebrate the most played artists and songs on the iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2024, while also providing a glimpse of what fans can expect in 2025. Artists with the most nominations this year include Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, and Morgan Wallen.
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iHeartRadio Award's Artist of the Year is one of the most coveted honors at the ceremony. It was first awarded in 2014. Between 2016 to 2022, Artist of the Year was bifurcated into Male Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. However, the two categories were coalesced again in the iHeartRadio Awards 2023.
Over the years, there have been only three winners of the award— Rihanna (2014), Harry Styles (2023), and Taylor Swift (2015 and 2024). Among them, Taylor Swift is the only artist to have won it more than once.
The full list of nominees for Artist of the Year at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards is as follows, as per iheart.com, are:
- Billie Eilish
- Doja Cat
- Jelly Roll
- Kendrick Lamar
- Morgan Wallen
- Post Malone
- Sabrina Carpenter
- SZA
- Taylor Swift
- Teddy Swims
Netizens were quick to react on social media after the nominees for Artist of the Year were announced. X user @acpandy questioned the absence of Beyonce from the list. The user also asked whether her absence had any connection with the infamous 'Diddy's list.'
As per a Times of India report on January 22, 2025, Diddy's list is an assortment of Hollywood A-listers whose names have allegedly been connected to the "freak offs" once hosted by the presently incarcerated musician Sean "Diddy" Combs. The list allegedly includes the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Usher among others.
"No Beyonce? because of the Diddy's list?" wrote the user.
"All of these artists and no Ariana, Charli, Beyoncé, or Chappell? Jelly Roll did not do a single thing noteworthy this year. Teddy Swims is on track to be a one hit wonder," opined another.
"These nominees show how varied today's music is...," another netizen chimed in.
"Beyonce literally had a number 1 album, a number 1 song, number 1 performance and number 1 movie this year alone, not only should she be artist of the year but she’s literally human of the year??" a fan added.
Many fans on X supported Taylor Swift to clinch the award on March 17.
"Wow~~~~ I personally think Taylor Swift should get it. Sabrina Carpenter's impact was strong, but I still think she's not good enough," opined a fan on X.
"Yea... Taylor is going to win for sure," commented another.
"Gotta be Taylor imo. She is the biggest," declared another user on X.
"Sabrina should win this, but I just know Taylor will win this," a user announced.
Some other opinions on X are as follows:
"Mind you Ariana Grande was the only artist to chart multiple songs from her number 1 album at the top of the Hot100 if that’s not artist of the year what is it?" a user claimed.
"Someone in the music industry is paying to snub Ariana in everything cause she has more hits, streams, and sales than more than half of this list. They don’t want our girl to outshine others ijbol they know she would if they gave her the credit she deserves in BOTH industries," added another.
"This one will be a tough one to pick the winner," inferred a user on X.
Full list of nominees for the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards will feature an assortment of categories for honoring artists and creatives from various facets of the music industry. Here is a comprehensive list of all the nominees for various categories of the award show.
Song of the Year:
- A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey
- Agora Hills - Doja Cat
- Beautiful Things - Benson Boone
- Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
- Greedy - Tate McRae
- I Had Some Help - Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
- Lose Control - Teddy Swims
- Lovin On Me - Jack Harlow
- Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Too Sweet – Hozier
Pop Song of the Year:
- Agora Hills - Doja Cat
- Beautiful Things - Benson Boone
- Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
- Greedy - Tate McRae
- Too Sweet - Hozier
Read More: Recapping Kendrick Lamar’s historic 2024
Pop Artist of the Year:
- Billie Eilish
- Chappell Roan
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRe
- Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration:
- Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- Fortnight - Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- I Had Some Help - Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
- Like That - Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar
- Miles On It - Kane Brown and Marshmello
Read more: 10 biggest music records broken by Taylor Swift
Best New Artist (Pop):
- Benson Boone
- Chappell Roan
- Gracie Abrams
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Country Song of the Year:
- A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey
- Cowgirls - Morgan Wallen featuring ERNEST
- I Am Not Okay - Jelly Roll
- I Had Some Help - Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
- World On Fire - Nate Smith
Country Artist of the Year:
- Jelly Roll
- Kane Brown
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
Best New Artist (Country):
- Ashley Cooke
- Dasha
- George Birge
- Shaboozey
- Tucker Wetmore
Hip-Hop Song of the Year:
- Like That - Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar
- Lovin On Me - Jack Harlow
- Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Rich Baby Daddy - Drake featuring Sexyy Red and SZA
- TGIF - GloRilla
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:
- Drake
- Future
- GloRilla
- Kendrick Lamar
- Travis Scott
Read more: 7 Most popular Travis Scott songs of all time
Best New Artist (Hip-Hop):
- 310babii
- BigXthaPlug
- BossMan Dlow
- Cash Cobain
- Jordan Adetunji
R&B Song of the Year:
- ICU - Coco Jones
- Made For Me - Muni Long
- Sensational - Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay
- Water – Tyla
- WY@ - Brent Faiyaz
R&B Artist of the Year:
- Chris Brown
- Muni Long
- SZA
- Usher
- Victoria Monét
World Artist of the Year:
- Burna Boy
- Central Cee
- Tems
- Tyla
- YG Marley
Best New Artist (R&B):
- 4Batz
- Ambré
- Inayah
- Josh X
- Maeta
Alternative Song of the Year:
- Dilemma - Green Day
- Landmines - Sum 41
- Neon Pill - Cage The Elephant
- The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park
- Too Sweet - Hozier
Alternative Artist of the Year:
- Cage The Elephant
- Green Day
- Linkin Park
- Sum 41
- twenty one pilots
Best New Artist (Alt and Rock):
- Djo
- Fontaines D.C.
- Good Neighbours
- Myles Smith
- The Last Dinner Party
Rock Song of the Year:
- A Symptom of Being Human - Shinedown
- All My Life - Falling In Reverse and Jelly Roll
- Dark Matter - Pearl Jam
- Screaming Suicide - Metallica
- The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park
Rock Artist of the Year:
- Green Day
- Linkin Park
- Metallica
- Pearl Jam
- Shinedown
Read more: Green Day diss Elon Musk with altered American Idiot lyrics in South African concert
Dance Song of the Year:
- 360 - Charli XCX
- Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da) - Bebe Rexha
- I Don’t Wanna Wait - David Guetta and OneRepublic
- Make You Mine - Madison Beer
- Water – Tyla X Marshmello
Dance Artist of the Year:
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- Dua Lipa
- Kylie Minogue
- Tiësto
Latin Pop / Urban Song of the Year:
- Brickell - FEID X Yandel
- LA FALDA - Myke Towers
- Perro Negro - Bad Bunny featuring FEID
- Qlona - Karol G featuring Peso Pluma
- Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido - Karol G
Latin Pop / Urban Artist of the Year:
- Bad Bunny
- FEID
- Karol G
- Myke Towers
- Shakira
Best New Artist (Latin Pop / Urban):
- Christian Alicea
- Cris MJ
- Ela Taubert
- FloyyMenor
- Kapo
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
- Alch Si - Grupo Frontera and Carin León
- El Beneficio De La Duda - Grupo Firme
- FIRST LOVE - Oscar Ortiz and Edgardo Nuñez
- La Diabla - Xavi
- Tu Perfume - Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year:
- Grupo Frontera
- Intocable
- Los Ángeles Azules
- Peso Pluma
- Xavi
Best New Artist (Regional Mexican):
- Chino Pacas
- Iván Cornejo
- Luis R. Conriquez
- Tito Double P
- Xavi
K-pop Artist of the Year:
- aespa
- ATEEZ
- ENHYPEN
- Jimin
- Lisa
K-pop Song of the Year:
- Chk Chk Boom - Stray Kids
- Magnetic - ILLIT
- Supernova - aespa
- Who - Jimin
- XO (Only If You Say Yes) - ENHYPEN
Best New Artist (K-pop):
- BABYMONSTER
- BADVILLAIN
- ILLIT
- NCT WISH
- TWS
Producer of the Year:
- Julian Bunetta
- Jack Antonoff
- Evan Blair
- Mustard
- Dan Nigro
Read more: Timeline of Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff's friendship explored
Songwriter of the Year:
- Josh Coleman
- ERNEST
- Ashley Gorley
- Amy Allen
- Justin Tranter
Best Lyrics:
- Beautiful Things - Benson Boone
- BIRDS OF A FEATHER - Billie Eilish
- Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
- Exes - Tate McRae
- Fortnight - Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
- I Had Some Help - Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
- I Love You, I’m Sorry - Gracie Abrams
- Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Saturn - SZA
- we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - Ariana Grande
- Who - Jimin
Read more: 8 most popular Sabrina Carpenter songs of all time
Best Music Video:
- APT. – ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- Beautiful Things - Benson Boone
- Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
- Fortnight - Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- Houdini - Dua Lipa
- Houdini - Eminem
- I Had Some Help - Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
- LUNA - ATL Jacob X FEID
- Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter
- Rockstar - Lisa
Favorite Tour Style:
- Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft
- Chappell Roan - The Midwest Princess
- Charli XCX and Troye Sivan - Sweat
- GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion - Hot Girl Summer Tour
- Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday 2 Tour
- Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
- Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet
- Tate McRae - Think Later
- Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour
- Usher - Usher: Past Present Future
Read more: 7 most popular Usher songs of all time
Favorite Tour Photographer:
- Adam Degross - Post Malone
- Alfredo Flores - Sabrina Carpenter
- Baeth - Tate McRae
- Christian Tierney - Niall Horan
- David Bergman - Luke Combs
- Henry Hwu - Billie Eilish
- Lucienne Nghiem - Chappell Roan
- Miles Leavitt - Olivia Rodrigo
- Pooneh Ghana - Noah Kahan
- RAYSCORRUPTEDMIND - Travis Scott
- Sanjay Parikh - Shinedown
- Yasi - Kacey Musgraves
Favorite On Screen:
- Are You Sure?! (Jimin and Jungkook)
- Child Star (Demi Lovato)
- Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John)
- Gaga Chromatica Ball (Lady Gaga)
- I Am: Céline Dion (Céline Dion)
- Lainey Wilson: Bell Bottom Country (Lainey Wilson)
- Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words (Megan Thee Stallion)
- Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour (Olivia Rodrigo)
- Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE (KATSEYE)
- Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Bruce Springsteen)
- Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) (Taylor Swift)
- Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Bon Jovi)
Here are the nominees for categories that have been newly introduced this year.
Favorite Soundtrack:
- Back to Black
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die
- Bob Marley: One Love
- Challengers
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Descendants: The Rise of Red
- Emilia Pérez
- The Book of Clarence
- Twisters
- Wicked
Favorite Broadway Debut:
- Adam Lambert – Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
- Ariana Madix – Chicago
- Barbie Ferreira – Cult of Love
- Charli D'Amelio – & Juliet
- Grant Gustin – Water For Elephants
- Kit Connor – Romeo + Juliet
- Lola Tung – Hadestown
- Nicole Scherzinger – Sunset Blvd
- Rachel Zegler – Romeo + Juliet
- Robert Downey Jr. – McNeal
- Sebastián Yatra – Chicago
- Shailene Woodley – Cult of Love
Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge:
- GGUM - Yeonjun (TXT)
- MAESTRO - Seventeen
- Magnetic - ILLIT
- Smart - LE SSERAFIM
- Sticky - Kiss of Life
- Supernova - aespa
- Touch - KATSEYE
- UP - Karina (aespa)
- WORK - ATEEZ
- XO (Only If You Say Yes) - ENHYPEN
Favorite Surprise Guest:
- Charli XCX bringing out Lorde
- Coldplay bringing out Selena Gomez
- Future & Metro Boomin bringing out Travis Scott
- GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion bringing out Cardi B
- Jennifer Hudson bringing out Cher
- Kendrick Lamar bringing out Ken & Friends
- Luke Combs bringing out the Twisters Cast
- Morgan Wallen bringing out Travis Kelce & Patrick Mahomes
- Niall Horan bringing out Shawn Mendes
- Olivia Rodrigo bringing out Chappell Roan
- Peso Pluma bringing out Becky G
- Taylor Swift bringing out Travis Kelce
Read more: 5 things you didn't know about Olivia Rodrigo
Favorite Tour Tradition:
- Benson Boone - Backflips
- Chappell Roan - Teaching “HOT TO GO” dance
- Charli XCX + Troye Sivan – Apple Girl (dance)
- Morgan Wallen - Walk-out song
- Niall Horan - Heaven pose
- Nicki Minaj - Fans sing
- Olivia Rodrigo - Encore tank
- Sabrina Carpenter - Juno position
- Tate McRae - Soundcheck covers
- Taylor Swift - 22 Hat
- Taylor Swift - Surprise songs
- Usher - Feeding cherries
Additionally, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has been chosen as the Tour of the Century and the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award will be presented to Lady Gaga. For her overall influence in the industry as a singer, producer, and songwriter, Mariah Carey will be honored with the iHeart Icon Award.
This year's ceremony will also drive donations to FireAidLA.org to help the victims of the devastating LA wildfires. The donations made will be distributed under the supervision of the Annenberg Foundation.
