The 2026 Media Guild Awards are about recognizing some of the best content professionals in our industry. These awards are submitted by the public and Media Guild members then finalists are reviewed by audio industry pros and Media Guild members and voted by audio industry pros and Media Guild Members.
WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED:
Best Radio/Music App:
TuneIn https://tunein.com
WINNER! iHeart https://iheart.com
Radio.net https://radio.net
Best Online Radio Station
SomaFM https://somafm.com
KCRW https://kcrw.com
WINNER! DI.fm https://di.fm
Best Independent Audio Podcast:
The Joe Rogan Experience https://www.joerogan.com
Pod Save America https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-save-america/id1192761536
WINNER! The Daily https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily
Best Independent Vodcast Show:
WINNER! The Don Lemon Show https://www.youtube.com/@TheDonLemonShow
Red Leather Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@RedLeatherPodcast
Adam Conover https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdamConover
Best Small Online Radio Station Nominees:
WINNER! Retro Charts Radio https://retrochartsradio.co.uk/
Indie X FM https://indiexfm.com/
The Zone https://www.thezonedublin.org/
Best Independent Radio DJ
DJ David Morales https://djdavidmorales.com
David Hohme https://www.hohme.com/
WINNER! Arthur Smith https://radiosoul100fm.com/founders/
Many of the nominees may not be known by Media Guild members and industry professionals. So we created links for those nominees so voters can get to know them.
Open Nomination begin January 28th, 2026 and ends on April 24, 2026. (completed)
Industry professionals vote begins May 4th, 2026 and ends on May 29th, 2026 (now open)
Votes will be counted and winners will be announced on June 10th, 2026
You can submit one nominee consideration per category.
official nominees will be voted by Media Guild members and industry professionals only.
OFFICIAL NOMINEE VOTING HAS STARTED. VOTE LINK BELOW:
CONGRATULATIONS TO 2026 WINNERS!
All participants understand that "Nominee Consideration" votes are for consideration only and not an official nominee. "Nominee Considerations must use the "Nominee Consideration" emblems only and cannot claim "Official Nominee" or "Nominee".
Official nominee selections will be based on an algorithm of a combination of public vote submission totals, industry votes and Media Guild member vote submissions. From those results; Media Guild staff will review the top ten's websites, social profiles, professional history, reviews and other online information. They will select the top five. This is process that will conclude April 24 2026. The top three in each category will be official nominees for 2026 and announced on May 4, 2026.
Those top three in each category will be voted on by audio industry professionals and Media Guild Members only, for official "Best of" awards. Each of the top five finalists will need to have a website and web links that highlights their talent for industry professionals and Media Guild members to review for voting. This will be a voting process to give voters time to review and select their choice. The deadline for this process will be May 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
Official nominees are allowed to advertise, promote and market themselves as "Official Nominee" and request votes from industry professionals and Media Guild members. It's basically like campaigning. This is to allow nominees to introduce themselves and promote their work to audio industry professionals and Media Guild members who may not know them.
For 'audio industry professionals' (non Media Guild members) voters, the official ballot will have a space requesting what industry you're in and a link for verification. Audio industry professionals are considered, but not limited to; broadcasters, audio engineers, DJs, radio station owners/staff, air personalities, podcasters, vodcasters, recording artists, recording studio owners/staff, voiceover artists, producers/promoters, etc.
Winners will be posted on the Media Guild website for the entire year of that particular voting season.
The winners will be based on the most votes from Media Guild members in each categories. If there is a tie in any category, there will be a runoff vote for Media Guild members to vote on that will last two weeks.
This is a digital/virtual award. There is no on-location awards event, dinner, trophies, certificates or prizes. This is an industry online award that includes an official Media Guild verifiable digital certificate, digital emblems and online promo material that winners can use for social media, websites, printing material, advertising and material. It includes an authentic digital verification process that winner's customers, clients or employers can use to confirm the award status.
Included in the winning awards status is a national press release blast that includes the background of the awards program, about Media Guild and all the winner's names and categories.
Anyone participating in this awards program understands and agrees that all results are final. Since there is no physical award or dollar amount awarded, there is no monetary value to this awards program and as such no participant, voter, nominee or anyone involved in the awards program can claim a loss for any reason. This includes loss of money, time or value.
Any other questions about Media Guild Awards, you can contact us with your questions.