In a gala ceremony at Carriageworks Sydney, finalists and judges came together to celebrate the winners of the nation’s newest radio and podcast accolades, The Australia Audio Awards.
Developed last year by Mumbrella, Radioinfo and RadioToday, the awards recognise achievement across all of Australia’s audio sectors. In the radio section, for the first time ever, ABC, SBS, Commercial and Community stations were up against each other in 13 categories. In the podcasting section, big companies and independent creators contested 15 categories in Major and Independent sections.
Notable winners included: Breakfast presenters Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller from 891 ABC Adelaide, 2GB and the Tapt Media team for coverage of the Bondi Shootings, 2SM’s Chris Smith, 3AW’s Eddie Summerfield, triple j’s Abby and Tyrone, 2GB’s Clinton Maynard, triple j’s Anika Luna and a range of other capital city personalities.
In regional markets, 92.7 Mix FM’ Mark and AB won best breakfast, 2HD’s Cheralyn Darcey won best newcomer, i98’s Shayne Topper took out Best Sales, Regional Queensland Drive was the best non commercial show.
Skyfire Canberra was the best station promotion, dentsu Qld won best agency commercial, bay 93.9’s ‘Geelonging’ won the best station produced commercial. K rock 95.5 and community station Phoenix FM were recognised for their Australian Music Programs.
The Best Society and Podcast winner Major was Shameless Media and ‘Them Yarns’ won the Independent category.
Guardian Australia’s ‘Full Story’ won the Best News and Current Affairs Podcast Major category and Bitter Pill Studios won the Independent category. Bloomberg Australia won the Best Money and Business Podcast, Major and Rivyl Media won the Independent category.
News Corp’s Dear Rachelle and Independent production One Minute Remaining, won the Crime Podcast category. The Tony and Ryan Podcast and SBS Audio’s Comedy Karma took out the Best Comedy Podcast categories
The People’s Choice popular vote winners were triple j’s Hottest 100 and Mamamia Out Loud.
To support up and coming talent, the best newcomer categories were free to enter for those in their early careers.
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| 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 |
| Best Networked Show | Chris Smith Across Australia – Super Radio Network for 2SM |
| Best Newcomer On Air – Small | Erin Govers – Power FM Bega Bay |
| 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 |
| Best News Presenter/Reporter – Medium | Ashleigh Wright – i98FM, WIN Corporation |
| 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 Podcast – Major | Hold the Moment – Dementia Australia with Deadset Studios |
| Best Children’s Entertainment Podcast – Independent | Hat Business – Fun Stories for Kids – Audio Cowboy |
| Best Children’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 |
| Best Investigative Journalism Podcast – Independent | Democracy After Disaster – Kate Lawrence, Story Ground |
| Best Investigative Journalism Podcast – Major | Gina: Power, privilege 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 |
One hundred radio and podcast industry judges assessed the winners. Over 400 radio and podcast guests attended the awards.
Speaking at the event, radioinfo’s Steve Ahern said:
“By being here tonight, by entering, by supporting your colleagues, you’ve become part of the history and the evolution of this industry.
“You are now part of the history of radio, podcasting and audio in Australia. And I mean literally. Winners from tonight will have their work preserved by the National Film and Sound Archive in the vaults of Australia’s media history museum.
“Winners will also be recognised by Apple Podcasts with a highlights feature in coming weeks, and in our reports on Mumbrella, Radioinfo and RadioToday. And the highest scoring radio and podcast winners will be fast tracked for free entry into next year’s international New York Festival Audio Awards.”
Acknowledging James Valentine, John Laws and 26 other radio people who have passed away recently, Ahern said:
“So many have left us since the last time we got together for a big awards event. Those who went before us built this industry. Now we are all building its future.”
Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes said:
“I’d like to extend my gratitude to our dedicated jurors who have devoted their time and expertise to the whole judging process. We do everything we can to make these the fairest and most rigorous awards they can be.
“And just as important: A big thank you to our many partners for this event! Our headline partner – Acast, Our partners – Xtra Insights, MusicMaster, Audata, AFTRS and our audio partner – Abe’s Audio.“
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