The Sign Awards, the premier honor recognizing excellence in podcasting, is formally open for entries for its 4th annual season. Because the podcast {industry} continues to form tradition and conversations worldwide, The Sign Awards seeks to have fun the voices, tales, and improvements that outline this ever-evolving medium.
Podcasts are now not commenting from the skin — they’re the place tradition is created. From breaking information to private narratives that encourage change, the facility of audio storytelling has by no means been stronger. This 12 months, The Sign Awards expands its classes to additional acknowledge the creators, hosts, and productions that proceed to push the boundaries of the {industry}.
New additions to Sign’s classes embrace separate Greatest Host classes in Information and Politics, Tradition, and Documentary to mirror the abilities required of hosts in these genres to seize and transfer audiences. We’re opening extra avenues for fiction podcast, resembling Greatest Voice Appearing. Sign can be increasing classes for Video Podcasts to incorporate Greatest Modifying for a Video Podcast, Most Modern Video Podcast, in addition to new honors for Thought Management and Native Information.
“In 2024, we watched podcasts shift into a brand new place within the cultural consciousness,” stated Jemma Brown, Common Supervisor of The Sign Awards in a gap letter penned to creators. “Podcasts are the brand new linchpins of our info ecosystem — which implies the work that you simply do is extra important than ever.”
Creators are invited to submit their work in classes spanning Exhibits, Restricted Sequence & Specials, Particular person Episodes, and Branded Content material. Previous winners embrace industry-leading and chart-topping podcasts resembling Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis Dreyfus, Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, The P.c Happier, Design Issues, Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, and Conan O’Brian Wants A Good friend.
The Sign Awards are judged by an esteemed panel of consultants from throughout the podcasting panorama. Additions to the Judging Academy this 12 months embrace influential voices resembling Latif Nasser (Co-Host, Radiolab), Anna Sale (Host, Loss of life, Intercourse & Cash), Bailey Sarian (Host and Government Producer, Darkish Historical past), along with Marshall Lewy, (Chief Content material Officer, Wondery), Kate Navin (Head of Artistic Improvement, North America at Audiible), Steve McLendon (Product Lead, Podcasting at YouTube), Kati Fernandez (Senior Director, Head of Improvement, ESPN), Carrie Lieberman (Chief Working Officer, iHeartPodcasts), and Valentina Bojanini (Director of Audio Content material Technique, TED), in addition to {industry} leaders at NPR, CNN, Condé Nast, Vox Media and extra.
New this 12 months, The Sign Awards has partnered with industry-leading platforms and publishers together with YouTube, Dolby, TED, The CBC, On Air Fest, Good Tape and Sounds Worthwhile. These organizations be part of a rising cohort of aligned organizations amplifying the award’s honors which embrace Max by HBO, Podcast Motion, The Podglomerate and Pod Folks.
The Early Entry Deadline for The Sign Awards is Friday, Could ninth, 2025, providing entrants the chance to obtain most popular pricing. For extra info on classes, eligibility, and the right way to enter, go to www.signalaward.com.
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