The prestigious New York Festivals® 2025 Radio Awards is now open for entries, marking yet another year of celebrating exceptional storytelling in the world of broadcast audio. Since its inception in 1957, the New York Festivals (NYF) has been a beacon for innovation and excellence in the audio content industry, showcasing talent from around the globe across various genres and platforms.
New Categories for 2025: Reflecting the Evolving Audio Landscape
This year, the NYF is excited to introduce several new categories that reflect the dynamic and ever-changing nature of audio storytelling. As Rose Anderson, EVP and Executive Director of New York Festivals, noted, “We are thrilled to announce the debut of multiple new categories for fiction and nonfiction that resonate with today’s audiences and encourage them to stay engaged with compelling content.” These additions join the existing categories such as Sound Art, Audio Books, Podcasts, and Social Justice, further diversifying the competition.
Innovative New Categories: Highlighting Talent and Creativity
In 2025, the Radio Awards have expanded to include seven new categories that underscore the wide-ranging talent and creativity driving the industry:
- Pop Culture Documentary: Celebrates creative radio documentaries that capture the essence of current trends in popular culture.
- Anthology Program: Shines a spotlight on curated audio collections that engage listeners with diverse themes and content.
- Digital Anthology: A subcategory focusing on digital media’s role in bringing together a variety of audio selections.
- Anthology Podcasts: Honors expansive works that feature unique voices unified by a common theme or purpose.
- Audiobooks: Transports listeners to new worlds, with a special focus on the technical production teams that bring these stories to life.
- Audio Book Technical Production Team: Celebrates the innovative contributions of teams that enhance the audiobook experience.
- On Air Talent: New categories recognize the captivating talents of top-tier audio professionals, including:
- Program Host
- Sports Anchor/Analyst
Partnering with The National Press Club: Honoring Excellence in Journalism
Since 2023, NYF has partnered with The National Press Club, the world’s leading professional organization for journalists, to honor the highest-scoring news programs across various categories. For 2024, the Investigative Journalism Podcast category awarded “Murder in Boston: The Untold Story of the Charles and Carol Stuart Shooting,” produced by The Boston Globe and presented by The Boston Globe and HBO Documentary Films. This recognition reflects the NYF’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in journalism and audio storytelling.
2024 Radio Grand Award Winners: A Showcase of Excellence
The 2024 competition saw outstanding entries from across the globe, with the NYF Radio Grand Awards going to:
- The Beatles’ Legacy: Red and Blue by Howlett Media Productions Ltd. (Music)
- Hamlet Noir from Almost Tangible (Drama)
- Bloodlines by CBC Podcasts, BBC Asian Network, BBC Sounds (Narrative/Documentary Podcast)
These winners were celebrated at the 2024 Storytellers Gala, a virtual event that highlighted global audio achievements, featured award winners’ acceptance speeches, and provided insights into the work of some of the most respected figures in radio storytelling.
Global Participation and Judging Criteria
NYF’s Radio Awards continue to attract entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers in over 30 countries. The competition is dedicated to honoring the achievements of the global audio storytelling community. Entries are evaluated by an international Grand Jury composed of industry leaders from six continents. This esteemed panel, which includes producers, directors, writers, and other creative professionals, assesses submissions based on production values, creativity, content presentation, direction, writing, achievement of purpose, and audience suitability.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 Storytellers Gala and Submission Deadline
The 2025 Radio Awards winners will be announced during the 2025 Storytellers Gala in April. The event promises to be a showcase of the world’s most innovative and compelling audio content, with winners gaining recognition in the Radio Awards winners gallery.
Entrants are encouraged to submit their work by the January 31, 2025, deadline to be part of this prestigious competition.
