Australia’s top radio and podcast talent has been crowned at the inaugural Australian Audio Awards on Thursday night at Carriageworks in Sydney.
Delivered in partnership with trade publications Radio Today and Radioinfo, the awards recognise excellence across Australia’s radio and podcasting industry, celebrating the best audio content, talent and production.
The ABC was the night’s biggest winner, taking home 11 awards across both radio and podcast categories, including major market breakfast, multiple music and non-commercial programming titles, and a strong showing in podcasts, alongside the People’s Choice award for radio.
Outlets including Tapt Media, GSL Media, AIIMS Group, i98FM, Guardian Australia and News Corp were among those to pick up multiple awards across categories.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bianca Dye and Mitch Churi hosted the evening
In the breakfast categories, GSL Media’s Mark and AB for Breakfast on 92.7 Mix FM took out the medium market title, while the ABC’s Breakfast with Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller on 891 ABC Adelaide won in the large market, highlighting strength across both regional and metropolitan radio.
In news, i98FM’s Ashleigh Wright and 3AW’s Eddie Summerfield were recognised for Best News Presenter/Reporter, taking out the medium and large market awards respectively.
In podcasting, Beyond Hysterical by Bitter Pill Studios won the independent news and current affairs category, while Guardian Australia’s Full Story took out the major award.
For the People’s Choice awards, the ABC’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs took out the radio category, while Mamamia’s Mamamia Out Loud won the podcast vote.
The awards were devised in the wake of the Australian Commercial Radio Awards being permanently scrapped, with industry body Commercial Radio and Audio citing rising costs and a shift in focus toward long-term sustainability and strategic initiatives as the reason.
Check out the full list of winners below.
Independent podcasting company Acast was the headline partner for the evening
Best Breakfast Show – Medium
Mark & AB for Breakfast – GSL Media for 92.7 Mix FM
Best Breakfast Show – Large
Breakfast with Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller – ABC for 891 ABC Adelaide
Best Local Show – Small
Darragh O’Dea in the afternoon – 917 The Wave
Best Local Show – Medium
Elly & Taz – GSL Media for 91.9 Sea FM
Best Local Show – Large
Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard – 2GB – Tapt Media
Best Networked Show
Chris Smith Across Australia – Super Radio Network for 2SM
Best Newcomer On Air – Small
Erin Govers – Power FM Bega Bay
Tim Burrowes, the publisher and co-founder of Mumbrella
Best Newcomer On Air – Medium
Cheralyn Darcey – 2HD Newcastle, The Super Radio Network for the Nightline with Cheralyn Darcey
Best Newcomer On Air – Large
Keegan Brown – Triple M Adelaide
Best Newcomer Off Air
Jess Hoggard – i98FM
Best Audio Producer – Medium
Dan King – K rock 95.5 & bay 93.9
Best Audio Producer – Large
Riley Mullins – 2GB – Tapt Media
Best News Presenter/Reporter – Medium
Ashleigh Wright – i98FM, WIN Corporation
As you can (kinda) see here, the room was packed
Best News Presenter/ Reporter – Large
Eddie Summerfield – Radio 3AW Melbourne
Best Salesperson or Team
Shayne Topper – i98FM
Best Australian Music Show/Music Programmer – Small
Live Music Bendigo – Central Victorian Community Broadcasters Inc. (Phoenix FM Bendigo)
Best Australian Music Show/Music Programmer – Medium
Chris Holland – K rock 95.5 for Great Ocean Odes
Best Australian Music Show/Music Programmer – Large
Anika Luna – ABC for Home & Hosed
Best Non-Commercial Program – Small
Shoot the Breeze – Wildhorse FM Community Radio
Best Non-Commercial Program – Medium
Regional Queensland Drive – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Best Non-Commercial Program – Large
Drive with Abby & Tyrone – ABC for triple j
Best Specialist Program – Small
Narratives Library National Edition – The Narratives Library with 2BAYFM 99.9
Best Specialist Program – Medium
Todd and Sami’s Autism Awareness Week – GSL Media for 92.7 Mix FM
Best Specialist Program – Large
Breaking News – Terror at Bondi – Sydney’s 2GB with 3AW, 4BC & 6PR – Tapt Media
Best Commercial: Station Produced
“Geelonging” – bay 93.9 (Geelong Broadcasters) with Purple Wax for Whitford Property
Best Commercial: Agency/Brand Produced
Frank’s RedHot – dentsu Qld with McCormick Foods & LiSTNR Brisbane for McCormick Foods – Frank’s Redhot
Best Station Promotion – Medium
Skyfire 2025 – amplifyCBR
Best Station Promotion – Large
Hottest 100 of Australian Songs – ABC for triple j
Best New Podcast – Independent
MAFS Funny – AIIMS Group Creator Hub with Joshua Fox
Best New Podcast – Major
Gardening Australia Junior – ABC Kids listen
Best Podcast Host/Presenter – Independent
Joshua Fox – AIIMS Group Creator Hub for MAFS Funny
Best Podcast Host/Presenter – Major
Marc Fennell – ABC for No One Saw It Coming
Best Podcast Producer – Independent
Kim Gascoigne – Dash Made and the Red Heart Campaign, Australian Femicide Watch for She Matters
Best Podcast Producer – Major
Rhys Gunter – News Corp Australia for Dear Rachelle
Best Branded Podcast – Independent
Big Sky Country – Bush Heritage Australia
Best Branded Poscast – Major
Hold the Moment – Dementia Australia with Deadset Studios
Best Children’s Entertainment Podcast – Independent
Hat Business – Fun Stories for Kids – Audio Cowboy
Best Childrens’s Entertainment Podcast – Major
Bluey Listen Along – ABC Kids listen
Best Comedy Podcast – Independent
Toni and Ryan Podcast – Toni and Ryan
Best Comedy Podcast – Major
Comedy Karma – SBS Audio
Best Crime Podcast – Independent
One Minute Remaining – Stories from the inmates – Mashed Pumpkin Productions
Best Crime Podcast – Major
Dear Rachelle – News Corp Australia with True Crime Australia
Best Health & Wellness Podcast – Independent
Soberly Speaking by Julia Rangiheuea – Soberly Speaking
Best Health & Wellness Podcast – Major
All in the Mind – ABC with ABC Radio National
Best Interview Podcast – Independent
What It Was Like – Superreal
Best Interview Podcast – Major
Take 5 – ABC for Double J
Take 5 won Best Interview Podcast for the ABC and Triple J
Best Investigative Journalism Podcast – Independent
Democracy After Disaster – Kate Lawrence, Story Ground
Best Investigative Journalism Podcast – Major
Gina: Power, privelege and influence – Guardian Australia
Best Money & Business Podcast – Independent
Agency Podcast – Rivyl Media
Best Money & Business Podcast – Major
The Bloomberg Australia Podcast – Bloomberg News
Best News & Current Affairs Podcast – Independent
Beyond Hysterical – Bitter Pill Studios
Best News & Current Affairs Podcast – Major
Full Story – Guardian Australia
Best Society & Culture Podcast – Independent
Them Yarns – Carly Wallace, Aaron Nagas & Courage Kahanaui
Best Society & Culture Podcast – Major
Shameless – Shameless Media
Best Sport Podcast – Independent
Unscripted – AIIMS Group with Josh Mansour
Best Sport Podcast – Major
Stories of Origin – 9Podcasts with Matty White & Mathew Thompson
People’s Choice Award – Radio
Hottest 100 of Australian Songs – ABC for triple j
People’s Choice Award – Podcast
Mamamia Out Loud – Mamamia