Awards
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Lady Gaga was honored with the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night (March 17), and her acceptance speech celebrated the notion that “the most powerful innovation is your authenticity.”
She was presented the award by Doechii, who said the superstar helped the “Denial Is a River” rapper embrace her “weird” side, adding, “Gaga was and always is new, fresh and different. Not only is that OK, but it’s ideal.”
After taking the stage, the “Abracadabra” pop star continued that sentiment, honoring the beauty of weirdness and human differences in every aspect, from age and race to sexual orientation and physical expression. “Winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” she began. “On the one hand, I feel like I’ve been doing this forever. On the other hand, I know I’m just getting started. Even though the world might consider a woman in her late 30s old for a pop star — which is insane — I promise that I’m just getting warmed up.”
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She also discussed her “controversial” career moments that defined her career and made her who she is, from her LGBTQ+ anthem “Born This Way” to arriving at the 2011 Grammy Awards in an egg. “If I learned anything in the three decades I’ve been at this, it’s that the most powerful innovation is your authenticity,” she told the cheering crowd. “Every time I was the only woman in the room, the loudest voice was inside my own head telling me not to compromise. Listening to that voice always showed me exactly where I belonged.”
Gaga also acknowledged the community that inspired her, including artists David Bowie, Elton John, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Cher and her late friend and collaborator Tony Bennett, “who taught me to embrace the classics but never be bound by them.” She also honored the “fiercely brilliant Italian-American women” in her lineage “who reinvented their destinies with nothing but strength and dreams and determination.”
“Those women, my ancestors, they’re the greatest innovators I’ve ever known,” she continued, before ultimately thanking her fans, the affectionately called Little Monsters. “Thank you for always seeing me so clearly from The Fame to Mayhem. Because you saw me, I learned to see myself. To the LGBTQ+ community, you taught me bravery before the world was able to listen. You have changed the world for the better, and your courage fuels mine every single day,” she shared.
Gaga concluded her heartfelt speech by telling the crowd, “To every artist that’s ever been told they’re different, complicated or too much, please never change. Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another copy. It desperately needs your original.”
Watch Gaga’s full acceptance speech at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards here.
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards took over the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Monday night (March 17), celebrating the most-played artists and songs throughout the past year. Leading the pack with nominations this year are Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen with 10 nods each. Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and Sabrina Carpenter follow with nine nominations each. All five are up for artist of the […]
Anne Murray, who has received more Juno Awards than anyone else in history, will pick up one more at the 2025 ceremony — the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the National Arts Centre. Murray will become just the second recipient of that award, following Pierre Juneau, a Canadian film and broadcast executive, who received the award in 1989. Juneau, for whom the Juno Awards were named, died in 2012 at age 89.
Murray will be present at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, March 30, to receive the award, which is her second career-spanning honor at the Junos. She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
This year’s award brings Murray’s Juno collection to 26. She is followed on the Juno leaderboard by The Weeknd (22), Bryan Adams (21), Celine Dion (20), Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (19), The Tragically Hip (17), and Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette (15 each).
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Murray, 79, received her first Juno Award — top female vocalist — at the second Junos ceremony in 1971. Murray’s collection of Junos includes back-to-back awards for both album of the year and single of the year for 1980-81. She took the album awards with New Kind of Feeling and Anne Murray’s Greatest Hits, and the single prizes with “I Just Fall in Love Again” and “Could I Have This Dance” (the latter from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack).
In addition, Murray hosted the Junos in 1996.
Murray was one of the top pop/country crossover artists of the 1970s and ’80s. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 once (with “You Needed Me” in 1978) and the Hot Country Songs 10 times. She won a Grammy for best female pop vocal performance with “You Needed Me” and for best female country vocal performance three times, with “Love Song,” “Could I Have This Dance” and “A Little Good News.” She is one of just four women to win Grammys in both pop and country solo vocal performance categories. She followed Olivia Newton-John and Linda Ronstadt in accomplishing the feat, and preceded k.d. lang.
Murray made the top 10 on the Hot 100 with her first charted hit. “Snowbird” reached No. 8 in September 1970.
In 1984, she won both album of the year and single of the year at the CMA Awards. She won for “A Little Good News” and the album of the same name. She won vocal duo of the year the following year in tandem with the late Dave Loggins (who was a second cousin to Kenny Loggins). In addition, she co-hosted the CMA Awards three times.
Murray is a Companion of the Order of Canada — the highest honor that can be awarded to a Canadian civilian. She has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, and in 2008 received the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Murray has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Nashville’s Walkway of Stars.
Murray has also received three American Music Awards and three Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
Boi-1da and Sum 41 are also set to receive special honors during this year’s Juno Awards. Boi-1da will receive the International Achievement Award (to be presented by Jessie Reyez). Sum 41 will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (with Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte doing the honors).
Bublé is set to host this year’s Juno Awards, which will broadcast and stream live across Canada on Sunday, March 30, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally on the CBC’s website and CBC Music’s YouTube page. The show will be produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company).
Well, that was fast. Just two weeks after Conan O’Brien hosted the Oscars for the first time, the Motion Picture Academy announced that he will be back to host the 2026 show. O’Brien is the first first-time host to host again the following year since Jimmy Kimmel in 2017-18.
“The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien said with characteristic dry wit. (The best actor winner set a new record for the longest acceptance speech – it clocked in at 5:36 – in Oscar history.)
It can’t be a coincidence that the Oscars chose to make the announcement on St. Patrick’s Day. O’Brien was famously raised in an Irish Catholic family. The host announcement is much earlier in the year than normal, a strong vote of confidence in the new host. Last year, the Academy announced O’Brien as host on Nov. 15. O’Brien’s success as an Oscars host makes up for his bumpy, eight-month run as host of another legendary franchise, The Tonight Show, in 2009-10.
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O’Brien, 61, has won five Primetime Emmys. He is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on March 23.
Last week, the Golden Globes made a similarly early announcement that they are bringing back first-time host Nikki Glaser to host their 2026 show.
The 2025 Oscars, held on March 2, delivered a five-year high in both total viewers (19.69 million) and adults 18-49 (4.54 rating) and ranked as the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast in both total viewers and adults for the 2024-25 season. The show earned 104.2 million total social interactions, ranking as the No. 1 most social TV program for the season to date, outperforming both The Grammy Awards (102.2 million interactions) and The Super Bowl (62.4 million) this season for the first time on record.
The 2026 Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. It’s the third year in a row that the telecast will start at 4 p.m. on the West Coast – in an effort to make it so that East Coast viewers can find out who wins the biggest awards before they go to bed. (This year’s show ended at 10:50 p.m. ET, making that goal a reality for all but the earliest risers.)
The show has aired on ABC every year since 1976, when that network took over from NBC, which had aired it in the five previous years. The Academy’s current deal with ABC, signed in 2016, allows it to televise the show through 2028, which will be the year of the show’s 100th anniversary.
An Academy statement did not mention Hulu, which livestreamed the show this year for the first time. Technical glitches marred the livestream.
The show will again be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Theater in Hollywood, its home base for every year but one since 2002. (The best-forgotten 2021 pandemic show was held at the Union Station in downtown L.A.)
Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will return as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year. They first served in that capacity in 2024, when Kimmel hosted. They each won Primetime Emmys for outstanding variety special (live) for that show. Kapoor had previously won for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) for his work on Adele: One Night Only.
“We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars,” Kapoor and Mullan said in a joint statement. “We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire team as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.”
Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a second time. Sweeney will also serve as a writer. Sweeney has won three Primetime Emmys for previous productions with O’Brien. Ross has won one.
“We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars!” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang in a joint statement. “This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host – skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced 2025’s Children’s and Family Emmy Awards winners during a ceremony at Television City in Los Angeles on Saturday night (March 15).
Hosted by Looney Tunes voice actor Eric Bauza, the third annual Children’s and Family Emmy Awards honored the “pinnacle of creativity and innovation in children’s entertainment,” NATAS says.
During Saturday’s main ceremony, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Velveteen Rabbit, Orion and the Dark and Sesame Street projects each took home two awards.
Percy Jackson won best young teen series as well as directing for a single-camera live-action series for “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” in a tie with “The Big City” episode of A Real Bug’s Life; The Velveteen Rabbit won best fiction special, and star Phoenix Laroche won younger performer in a preschool, children’s or young teen program; Orion and the Dark won best animated special, and voice actor Jacob Tremblay won younger voice performer in a preschool, children’s or young teen program; Sesame Workshop’s Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack won best short form live-action program, and Sesame Street‘s Leslie Carrara-Rudolph won outstanding puppetry performer.
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More awards will be announced in a separate creative arts ceremony.
Outside of competitive categories, Fran Brill (performer and puppeteer, Sesame Street and The Muppet Show) received the lifetime achievement award from The Muppets‘ Dave Goelz.
Additionally, honors for individual achievement in animation were given to Merry Little Batman‘s Philip Vose (background designer), Elena Najar (animation supervisor) and Guillaume Fesquet (art director); Orion and the Dark‘s Miho Tomimasu and Lauren Zurcher (visual development artists); Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire‘s Lesego Vorster (character designer); and Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin’s David Lux (storyboard artist).
Billboard Family has the winners list from the 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards below. More categories will be presented in a separate creative arts ceremony, and this list will be updated with the winners in those categories after the event.
Preschool Series
Blue’s Clues & You! (WINNER)Nickelodeon
Donkey HodiePBS Kids
Lovely Little FarmApple TV+
Sesame StreetMax
Children’s or Family Viewing Series
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (WINNER)Apple TV+
La Fuerza de Creer: Dulce SazónUnivision
JaneApple TV+
Malory TowerBYUtv
Raven’s HomeDisney Channel
Young Teen Series
GoosebumpsDisney+
HeartstopperNetflix
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (WINNER)Disney+
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Fiction Special
Monster High 2Nickelodeon
The Naughty NineDisney Channel
The Slumber PartyDisney Channel
The Velveteen Rabbit (WINNER)Apple TV+
World’s BestDisney+
Non-Fiction Program
All-Round ChampionBYUtv
Elmo & Tango Holiday HelpersMax
Kids Baking ChampionshipFood Network
A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School (WINNER)HBO | Max
Preschool Animated Series
Frog and ToadApple TV+
Interrupting ChickenApple TV+
Rosie’s RulesPBS Kids
StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
The Tiny Chef Show (WINNER)Nickelodeon
Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series
CURSES!Apple TV+
HildaNetflix
IwájúDisney+
KiffDisney Channel
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (WINNER)Disney+
Summer Camp IslandCartoon Network
Animated Special
Merry Little BatmanAmazon Prime Video
Orion and the Dark (WINNER)Netflix
Peter and the WolfMax
Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind MarcieApple TV+
The Tiger’s ApprenticeParamount+
Tiny Chef’s Marvelous Mish Mesh SpecialNickelodeon
Short Form Live-Action Program
Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack (WINNER)Sesame Workshop
GIRLS’ VOICES NOW: The Beauty in Being DifferentGirls’ Voices NowHere TV
Healthy Minds Thriving KidsChild Mind Institute
Kid GlovesKid Gloves Show
Short Form Animated Program
How Not to DrawDisney Channel
I Am GrootDisney+
Once Upon a Studio (WINNER)Disney+
Take Care with PeanutsSnoopy – Official Channel
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse:Steamboat SillyDisney+
Interactive Media
Cousin Hodie PlaydateDonkey HodiePBS Kids
Cyberchase: Cyber Sound QuestPBS Kids
Daniel Tiger’s NeighborhoodPBS Kids
Molly of DenaliPBS Kids
Stu’s Super Stunts!PBS Kids
Lead Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Lola Blue as Addie DarrowA Kind of Spark BYUtv
Ella Bright as Darrell RiversMalory TowersBYUtv
Justin Long as Mr. BrattGoosebumpsDisney+
Raven-Symoné as Raven BaxterRaven’s Home Disney Channel
Christian Slater as Mulgarath (WINNER)The Spiderwick Chronicles Roku Channel
Supporting Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Adam Copeland as AresPercy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
Amanda Lawrence as Matron Shipley (WINNER)Malory Towers BYUtv
Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol / Mrs. ClausThe Santa Clauses Disney+
Sarah Rafferty as Katherine WalterMy Life with the Walter Boys Netflix
Lance Reddick as ZeusPercy Jackson and the Olympians Disney+
Eric Stonestreet as Magnus Antas / The Mad SantaThe Santa Clauses Disney+
Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Pyper Braun as Natasha WilliamsErin & AaronNickelodeon
Noah Cottrell as Simon GraceThe Spiderwick Chronicles Roku Channel
Mykal-Michelle Harris as Alice BaxterRaven’s Home Disney Channel
Alaya High as Lay LayThat Girl Lay Lay Nickelodeon
Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth ChasePercy Jackson and the Olympians Disney+
Phoenix Laroche as William (WINNER)The Velveteen Rabbit Apple TV+
Puppetry Performer
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby & Tango (WINNER)Sesame StreetMax
Eric Jacobson as Bert, Oscar the Grouch & GroverSesame StreetMax
Donna Kimball as Mokey, Storyteller & CotterpinFraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Apple TV+
Karen Prell as Red & Icy JoeFraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Apple TV+
David Rudman as Cookie Monster & Baby BearSesame Street Max
Voice Performer in a Preschool Program
Kimiko Glenn as Baby SharkBaby Shark’s Big Show!Nickelodeon
Bobby Moynihan as Bobby BootsPupstruction Disney Junior
Cree Summer as Lizard & DeeDeeSpirit RangersNetflix
Fred Tatasciore as Bang, BlimBlam the Barbarian, King Hydrogen, Alabama Smith & The Lone DrifterStoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
Kari Wahlgren as Granny Caterina, Ms. Poochytail & Magda (WINNER)SuperkittiesDisney Junior
Voice Performer in a Children’s or Young Teen Program
Eric Bauza as Daffy Duck & Bugs Bunny (WINNER)Teen Titans Go!Cartoon Network
Bob Bergen as Porky PigLooney Tunes CartoonsMax
Ben Feldman as Tylor TuskmonMonsters at WorkDisney+
William Shatner as KeldorMasters of the Universe: RevolutionNetflix
Paul Walter Hauser as DarkOrion and the DarkNetflix
Younger Voice Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Lucia Cunningham as Jessica WilliamsJessica’s Big Little WorldCartoon Network
Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola MartinsIwájúDisney+
Terrence Little Gardenhigh as PatFright KreweHulu I Peacock
Arianna McDonald as MarcieSnoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind MarcieApple TV+
Jacob Tremblay as Orion (WINNER)Orion and the DarkNetflix
Children’s Personality
AwkwafinaA Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
Gavin FridayPeter and the WolfMax
Duff GoldmanKids Baking ChampionshipFood Network
Ian McShaneOne PieceNetflix
Meryl Streep (WINNER)Storyline OnlineStorylineOnline.net
Writing for a Preschool or Children’s Series
“The Big City”A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
“Brave Bessie by Brave Gabrielle”Sesame StreetMax
“Can They Be Friends?”Sesame StreetMax
“I’m Pogey“Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockApple TV+
“This for That”Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockApple TV+
Writing for a Young Teen Series
“Admissions”High School Musical: The Musical: The SeriesDisney+
“The Field Guide to Jared Grace”The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
“I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
“Perfect”HeartstopperNetflix
“Say Cheese and Die!”GoosebumpsDisney+
Writing for a Preschool Animated Series
“Glow Toy”Jessica’s Big Little WorldCartoon Network
“I am Grandmaster Flash”Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumPBS Kids
“Not a Mascot”Molly of DenaliPBS Kids
“Taxes”StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
“Tornado”StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
Writing for a Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series
“Abducted”My Dad the Bounty HunterNetflix
“Dancing With Myself” (WINNER)Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney+
“Heart of the Forest”Craig of the CreekCartoon Network
“The Fairy Isle”HildaNetflix
“I Wanna Dance With My Buddy”Hailey’s On It!Disney Channel
Directing for a Single Camera Live-Action
“The Big City” (WINNER – TIE)A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
“I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” (WINNER – TIE)Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
“Panthera Leo”JaneApple TV+
“Say Cheese and Die!”GoosebumpsDisney+
“Welcome to Spiderwick”The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Directing for a Multiple Camera Live-Action
“Gown to the Wire”Raven’s HomeDisney Channel
“Pickleball”All-Round ChampionBYUtv
“The Sign Language ABCs”Sesame StreetMax
Directing for a Preschool Animated Series
“Fractions”StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
“Ganga”Ghee HappyGhee Happy Studio
“Glass”StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
“I Am Grandmaster Flash”Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumPBS Kids
“Xutash Harvest”Spirit RangersNetflix
Directing for an Animated Series
“Descent Into Fear“Monsters at WorkDisney+
“The Fairy Isle”HildaNetflix
“Kole”IwájúDisney+
“The Molecular Level”Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney+
“Moremi”Kizazi Moto: Generation FireDisney+
Voice Directing for an Animated Series
Daniel Tiger’s NeighborhoodPBS Kids
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney+
Monsters at WorkDisney+
Star Wars: Young Jedi AdventuresDisney+
Young LoveHBO | Max
Music Direction and Composition for a Live-Action Program
The Naughty NineDisney Channel
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High SchoolHBO | Max
The Velveteen RabbitApple TV+
Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program
Frog and ToadApple TV+
Gremlins: Secrets of The MogwaiMax
Looney Tunes CartoonsMax
Orion and the DarkNetflix
Star Wars: Young Jedi AdventuresDisney+
Original Song for a Preschool Program
“Find the Area”StoryBots: Answer Time Netflix
“Keep Swimming Through”Baby Shark’s Big Movie!Nickelodeon
“Let Your Wish Carry You Away”Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Disney Junior
“That’s Why We Love Nature”Sesame Street Max
“The Tornado Song”StoryBots: Answer Time Netflix
Original Song for a Children’s or Young Teen Program
“Kiss Your Friend”Hailey’s On It!Disney Channel
“My Sails Are Set”One PieceNetflix
“Radishes vs. Strawberries”Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Apple TV+
“Speak Out”High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Disney+
“Things”Kiff Disney Channel
Show Open
The Fairly OddParents: A New WishNickelodeon
HildaNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
Peter and the WolfMax
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Cinematography for a Single-Camera Live-Action Program
Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockApple TV+
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Editing for a Single-Camera Live-Action Program
Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockApple TV+
GoosebumpsDisney+
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly HighSchoolHBO | Max
The Velveteen RabbitApple TV+
Editing for a Multiple-Camera Live-Action Program
All-Round ChampionBYUtv
Erin & AaronNickelodeon
Sesame StreetMax
The Thundermans ReturnNickelodeon
Editing for a Preschool Animated Program
Frog and ToadApple TV+
Star Wars: Young Jedi AdventuresDisney+
StoryBots: Answer TimeNetflix
StoryBots: Super Silly Stories with BoNetflix
The Tiny Chef ShowNickelodeon
Editing for an Animated Program
HildaNetflix
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurDisney+
Merry Little BatmanAmazon Prime Video
Orion and the DarkNetflix
Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, FranklinApple TV+
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat SillyThe Wonderful World of Mickey MouseDisney+
Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live-Action Program
GoosebumpsDisney+
JaneApple TV+
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High SchoolHBO | Max
The Velveteen RabbitApple TV+
Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program
Baby Shark’s Big Movie!Paramount+
Santiago of the SeasNICK Jr.
Star Wars: Young Jedi AdventuresDisney+
Shape IslandThe Winter BluesApple TV+
Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumPBS Kids
Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for an Animated Program
I Am GrootDisney+
Jurassic World: Chaos TheoryNetflix
Mech CadetsNetflix
Monsters at WorkDisney+
Orion and the DarkNetflix
Transformers: EarthSparkNickelodeon
Lighting, Camera and Technical Arts
Malory TowersBYUtv
A Real Bug’s LifeNational Geographic
Ruby and the WellBYUtv
Sesame StreetMax
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Visual Effects for a Live-Action Program
Fraggle Rock: Back to the RockApple TV+
GoosebumpsDisney+
The Naughty NineDisney Channel
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Casting for a Live-Action Program
HeartstopperNetflix
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
Pretty Freekin ScaryDisney+
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Casting for an Animated Program
Gremlins: Secrets of The MogwaiMax
Jurassic World: Chaos TheoryNetflix
Monsters at WorkDisney+
Orion and the DarkNetflix
Rock Paper ScissorsNickelodeon
Spirit RangersNetflix
Supa Team 4Netflix
Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design for a Single-Camera Program
Malory TowersBYUtv
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
The Santa ClausesDisney+
The Spiderwick ChroniclesRoku Channel
Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design for a Multiple-Camera Program
Bunk’dDisney Channel
Sesame StreetMax
The Villains of Valley ViewDisney+
Costume Design/Styling
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Puppet Design entry)Apple TV+
Malory TowersBYUtv
Monster High 2Nickelodeon
One PieceNetflix
Sesame Street (Puppet Design entry)Max
The Velveteen RabbitApple TV+
Hairstyling and Makeup
GoosebumpsDisney+
Monster High 2Nickelodeon
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
The Really Loud HouseNickelodeon
The Santa ClausesDisney+
Stunt Coordination for a Live-Action Program
GoosebumpsDisney+
One PieceNetflix
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansDisney+
The Really Loud HouseNickelodeon
The Villains of Valley ViewDisney Channel
Choreography
High School Musical: The Musical: The SeriesDisney+
Monster High 2Nickelodeon
World’s BestDisney+
The details and entries for all 62 categories in the inaugural Music Awards Japan, set for May 21 and 22 in Kyoto, have been announced. Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) has been named the Symbol of Music Awards Japan 2025, the act that personifies the spirit of this year’s MAJ.
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About 3,000 entries were announced, with 256 songs up for Song of the Year, 167 artists in Artist of the Year, 171 albums in Album of the Year, 61 artists in New Artist of the Year, 100 songs in Top Global Hit from Japan and 24 songs in Best Song Asia.
Voting is currently underway among artists and creatives nominated for an award, plus media-related and other music industry professionals from Japan and overseas. The nominees will be announced on Thursday, April 17, and the award winners will be revealed at the ceremony set for May 21 and 22. All of the entries can be viewed on the official MAJ website, and Spotify is currently celebrating the entries with its “museum” playlist. Fans can check out playlists for each category on various streaming platforms including d Hits, Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music.
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Atarashii Gakko! took to the stage at the event in Tokyo announcing this year’s entries. The four-member group is slated to perform at the music event called matsuri ’25: Japanese Music Experience Los Angeles on Mar. 16 with Ado and YOASOBI, an event by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) that organizes MAJ.
In addition to the main categories mentioned above, MAJ has a total of 62 categories including: International Special Awards — awarded to songs that have won an award for Best Song or an equivalent prize in music awards in six countries — linked to award events in South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam; the award for Largest Live Audience honoring Japanese artists who attracted the largest crowds in shows; and the Honorary Award in Music Technology, which celebrates Japanese music-tech professionals who have contributed to the music industry on a global scale.
Fans can participate in the selection process for the following five categories: through Spotify’s voting function for the Best of Listeners’ Choice awards for Domestic Song and lnternational Song powered by the streaming platform; the Special Award: Karaoke for J-pop and Enka / Kayōkyoku powered by DAM & JOYSOUND honoring songs sung the most at karaoke; and for the Special Award: USEN Request Oshi-Katsu Request Artist of the Year powered by USEN honoring the song requested the most on the USEN Oshi-Katsu Request Ranking.
Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) has been named the Symbol of Music Awards Japan 2025, the act symbolizing the guiding principle that MAJ aims to achieve. The trio consisting of Haruomi Hosono and the late musicians Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi formed in 1978, sparking a techno-pop craze in Japan and successfully touring internationally. The group was chosen as this year’s Symbol for the way they transcend borders and eras, showing a future that the MAJ strives to aim for. A YMO tribute concert will take place at the Kyoto International Conference Center on May 20, with performing artists and other details announced later.
International Special Awards: This category was established by CEIPA, the organizer of MAJ, in collaboration with music awards and their organizers in six countries: South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It recognizes songs that have won the award for Best Song or an equivalent prize at music awards in the six countries. The top executives of the music awards in each country, or those nominated by the top executives, will participate in MAJ as overseas voting members. The category aims to connect the countries of the Pacific Rim through music, such as by realizing collaborations between artists from various countries through the collaborations between music awards.
Largest Live Audience: This award honors the artist who attracted the largest number of people to their shows. Based on the research data of the Live Entertainment Research Committee — a group of organizations and companies that surveys the size of the domestic live entertainment market, instances of overseas expansion, etc., and compiles an annual report — the artist who attracted the largest number of people to their live performances in Japan in 2024 will be awarded. This award celebrates the activities of artists who have energized the live music scene that has been on the road to recovery since the end of the pandemic.
Best Radio-Break Song: Radio DJs/personalities, directors and producers from 99 radio stations across Japan, who are at the forefront of the music scene and in direct contact with listeners, will vote as special radio voting members. This category will select songs with innovative appeal that update the music scene through a professional perspective, based on the music airplay data compiled by radiko.
Overseas Voting Members (partial list):Lucian Grainge (Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group)Rob Stringer (Chairman, Sony Music Group)Robert Kyncl (CEO, Warner Music Group)Lyor Cohen (YouTube & Google Global Head of Music)Annette Barrett (President, IMPF)Hannah Karp (Editorial Director, Billboard)Ellen Lu (Vice President of Regional Festivals at Goldenvoice)Alex Norström (Co-President and Chief Business Officer at Spotify)
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