The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards took place on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, spotlighting the year's most significant achievements within the music industry. Celebrated artists gathered to honor musical milestones, with hip-hop legend LL Cool J serving as the enthusiastic host. He declared, "It's going to be a night to celebrate big energy, iconic moments, and special collaborations you won't want to miss."
This year's awards ceremony recognized Taylor Swift as Artist of the Year, marking another high point for the already exceptional musician. Swift led the nominations with ten total nods, and her 'Eras Tour' received the prestigious title of Tour of the Century, adding to her accolades.
Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas, opened the show with their performance of "Wildflower" from Eilish's acclaimed album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which went on to win Album of the Year. Later, Eilish accepted her award with gratitude, highlighting the impact of the recognition on her musical career.
Other winners on the night included Benson Boone, whose track "Beautiful Things" was named Song of the Year, and Sabrina Carpenter, who took home awards for Pop Song of the Year and Pop Artist of the Year for her single "Espresso." Carpenter's heartfelt speech underscored the importance of community and creativity she received from her fellow artists and fans.
The night also featured standout performances from Bad Bunny, who energized the audience with his crowd-pleasing number "EoO," as well as Gracie Abrams, who performed her emotional single "That’s So True" after being awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year. During her acceptance speech, Abrams expressed, “I would not be here if it were not for the support, loyalty, creativity, and true goodness of the fans. So just thank you so much. You guys are my whole heart.”
Beyond the impressive awards and performances, the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards also focused on social responsibility. This year, the event paid tribute to Los Angeles, encouraging donations to FireaidLA.org amid the challenging aftermath of wildfires affecting the community. Contributions gathered from the evening would be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, targeting immediate relief efforts and long-term preventative strategies.
Artists were honored not only for their music but for their philanthropic engagement, making the night both celebratory and meaningful. Major honors included Lady Gaga receiving the Innovator Award, Mariah Carey being acknowledged with the Icon Award, and Nelly obtaining the Landmark Award for his contributions to the music industry over the decades. These awards highlighted the resilience and cultural significance of the artists involved.
With musical performances from stars like GloRilla, Muni Long, and Tori Kelly – who joined forces for a tribute to Mariah Carey – the awards demonstrated the unity of the music community, coming together to celebrate achievements and support each other as well as society at large.
The night concluded with the specific reinforcement of musical artistry's power, with Taylor Swift standing out multiple times, winning awards for Best Music Video and Favorite Tour Style, among others. Swift’s recognition as Artist of the Year echoed her substantial influence within the industry.
Overall, the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards fused music, celebration, and compassion. With moments of joy, reflection, and charity threaded throughout the evening, the event offered not only recognition for artists' hard work and talent but also the opportunity to give back to those affected by recent hardships. The contributions and celebrations showcased the collective spirit of artists hoping to uplift and inspire through their music.
