The iHeartRadio Music Awards 2025 took place on March 17 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating the achievements of artists across multiple music genres. This year, Taylor Swift dominated the night, securing several awards, particularly those voted on by the public.
Swift's sweeping victories reflect not only her popularity but also her significant impact on contemporary music. According to various reports, she "not only led this year’s nominees but also swept the socially voted award titles." Her wins included the highly coveted Artist of the Year and the Pop Album of the Year for "The Tortured Poets Department."
The event, hosted by LL Cool J, featured performances from major artists including Billie Eilish, Nelly, Muni Long, and Gracie Abrams, contributing to the night’s energetic atmosphere. LL Cool J, returning after previously hosting and performing at the 2022 edition of the awards, was well-received, adding his own flair to the proceedings.
Alongside Swift, the night honored several other notable figures. Lady Gaga received the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award, celebrating her continuous influence on music and culture. Mariah Carey, the bestselling female artist of all time, was honored with the Icon Award, highlighting her incomparable contributions to music throughout her career. Nelly earned the Landmark Award, recognizing his impact on the music scene over multiple decades.
The awards involved various categories, with winners spanning different genres. Benson Boone won Song of the Year for "Beautiful Things," and Sabrina Carpenter took home the Pop Song of the Year for "Espresso." Billie Eilish was acknowledged with Album of the Year for her work "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT," showcasing the diverse talents present at the event.
Morgan Wallen showed his competitive spirit by receiving ten nominations and shared the Country Song of the Year with Post Malone for "I Had Some Help." The Country Album of the Year went to Post Malone for "F-1 Trillion," illustrating the crossover appeal of artists from different genres.
Other highlights included Kendrick Lamar winning the Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Not Like Us," with GloRilla securing the title of Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. Muni Long captured the R&B Song of the Year for "Made For Me," with SZA recognized as R&B Artist of the Year, reflecting the breadth of talent within the genre.
For those tuning in to the K-Pop category, ATEEZ was named K-pop Artist of the Year, with Jimin winning K-pop Song of the Year for "Who" and Stray Kids taking K-pop Album of the Year for "Ate." TXT’s Yeonjun also made waves by winning the Favourite K-pop Dance Challenge title with his performance of "GGUM," marking significant recognition for K-Pop acts on the international stage.
The event also included several socially voted categories, reflecting fan engagement and the growing influence of audience participation within the music industry. For example, Taylor Swift's surprise guest appearance with Travis Kelce won the Favourite Surprise Guest award, and she also claimed Favourite Tour Tradition for her unique approach to performances during "The Eras Tour."
The comprehensive winner's list featured many categories. Notably:
Song of the Year: "Beautiful Things" - Benson Boone; Pop Song of the Year: "Espresso" - Sabrina Carpenter; Album of the Year: "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT" - Billie Eilish; Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift.
Other winners included Jelly Roll for Country Artist of the Year, Bad Bunny ft FEID for Latin Pop / Urban Song of the Year with "Perro Negro," Green Day for Alternative Artist of the Year, and Shinedown for Rock Artist of the Year, reflecting the vast array of talent across all genres.
Overall, the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2025 was not just about acknowledging musical excellence; it emphasized social interaction and the ever-evolving nature of the music industry. With Taylor Swift's remarkable night and the honors bestowed upon iconic artists, it set the stage for future engagements and celebrations of music talent.