ARN’s iHeart Kicks Off As Australia’s #1 Podcast Network

ARN’s iHeart has started 2025 with a bang, securing its place as Australia’s outright #1 Podcast Network. According to the December Podcast Ranker results released today, iHeart has been crowned both the #1 Podcast Publisher and #1 Sales Representation Podcast Network.

This remarkable achievement marks iHeart’s 56th consecutive ranker as Australia’s leading Podcast Publisher. Adding to its success, iHeart also leads as the #1 Sales Representation Podcast Network with 6.4 million monthly listeners and 21.7 million downloads, offering advertisers unparalleled access to Australia’s most engaged audiences.

iHeart’s success has been bolstered by the network’s recent partnership with BBC Studios, one of the world’s largest audio producers. The collaboration has further enhanced iHeart’s offering, providing advertisers access to 900,000 Australians who engage with BBC’s premium podcast lineup.

Appearing in the Podcast Ranker for the first time in December are BBC’s renowned titles with seven podcasts in the Top 200 showcasing the breadth of the BBC offering across news, knowledge, comedy, sport and investigative titles. They are led by BBC Global News Podcast at #33 with 170,686 listeners. Other standout shows debuting in the top 200 include The Infinite Monkey Cage at #86, You’re Dead to Me at #131, World of Secrets at #136, Football Daily at #143, the Documentary Podcast at #169 and Desert Island Discs at #196.

Louise la Grange, SVP, BBC Audio, Digital News and Streaming BBC Studios, said: “I’m delighted to see a range of BBC podcasts debut on Triton’s podcast ranker, demonstrating that Australian audiences are embracing our rich mix of audio offerings and incorporating them into their regular listening habits, from the informative BBC Global News Podcast to fascinating and insightful titles like The Infinite Monkey Cage and World of Secrets.”

Overall, iHeart recorded 45 titles in the top 200, with highlights including Casefile True Crime at #2 (#1 True Crime Podcast), Life Uncut at #9 (#1 Relationship Podcast), Stuff You Should Know at #22 (#1 Knowledge) and The Kyle & Jackie O Show at #39 overall during their show break (#1 radio show).

Corey Layton, ARN’s Head of Digital Audio said: “Kicking off 2025 as Australia’s #1 Podcast Network reflects the strength of iHeart’s offering and the trust listeners and advertisers place in us. Our partnership with BBC Studios, combined with our diverse podcast slate and innovative  approach, ensure we remain the go-to destination for premium audio content.

With BBC podcasts now included in the Podcast Ranker, it’s fantastic to see their world-class titles formerly recognized for their strong connection with Australian audiences. We’re thrilled to continue delivering exceptional results and connecting audiences and advertisers with the podcasts they love.”

iHeart Australia’s #1 Podcast Publisher For 50th Time

ARN’s iHeart has achieved a monumental milestone once again securing the top spot as Australia’s #1 podcast publisher, marking an incredible 50 consecutive #1’s according to the Australian Podcast Ranker for June 2024. This golden achievement reinforces iHeart’s excellence and audience engagement in Australian podcasting.

With an impressive 6.5 million listeners and an astounding 20.3  million downloads this month alone, iHeart’s podcasts are the nations go-to source for entertainment and information.

In the Top 10 of this record-breaking ranker are Audioboom’s Casefile, which was the number #1 True Crime Podcast (#2 overall), The Imperfects which was #8 overall (#1 Health & Wellness Podcast), The Kyle & Jackie O Show held its title as the #1 on-demand radio (#9 overall), Life Uncut with Brittany Hockey and Laura Byrne came in #10 overall (#1 relationship podcast).

The celebrations continue with Stuff You Should Know the #1 Knowledge (#13 overall), She’s On The Money hosted by Victoria Devine, which jumped 4 places to #33 (#1 finance podcast), No Such Thing As A Fish which ranked #40 and On Purpose With Jay Shetty which came in at #44.

Some notable debuts include Malevolent Mischief: True Stories of Horror at #59, Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns at #61, and Find And Tell iHeart’s Original Co-producion with Blakcast debuting at #102.

These phenomenal results highlight the extraordinary diversity and ever-expanding offering within iHeart’s podcast slate as iHeart continues to set the gold standard to seek out and support content Australians want to engage with.

ARN’s Head of Digital Audio, Corey Layton, said: “Achieving the #1 Podcast Publisher status for the 50th consecutive ranker is a monumental feat an a testament to the dedication and innovation of our amazing partners and team. As I know all too well, it’s not the size that counts, but the level of engagement and passion Australians and brands continue to show for our incredible line-up.”

Australia’s Audio Oscars: Australian Podcast Awards Returns For 2023

The nation’s most prestigious podcast ceremony, The Australian Podcast Awards (APAs) powered by iHeart, returns for 2023 – celebrating the very best of the Australian podcast industry – while spotlighting rising talent that has gained acclaim over the past year.

The 2023 Australian Podcast Awards promises to be bigger and better than ever with a total of 30 award categories from Best New Podcast to Podcast of the Year and every genre-based category in between.

Over 45 judges listened to 700 submissions in 2022, awarding gold to 28 top podcasts across categories from True Crime to Comedy and Sex & Relationships.

The news of the 2023 Australian Podcast Awards comes as Australia retains its title against the U.S. as the world’s biggest podcast listening nation, and the industry continues to produce a record-number of break-through podcasts.

Jennie Meynell, Business Lead, Australian Podcast Awards, said:

“Australia is home to some of the world’s best podcast production. To bring the industry’s most recognized and prestigious podcasting awards back for its seventh year is a huge honour. 

“The 2023 Australian Podcast Awards promises to uncover and champion the best talent oaf the Australian podcasting industry. We welcome podcasts big and small to enter and look forward to another year of break-through podcasting content.”

Corey Layton, Head of Digital Audio and ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia, said: “We love the annual gathering of the Australian Podcast Industry to celebrate the magic of our thriving medium and are proud to once again lead the recognition of those who are doing it best.”

The Australian Podcast Awards launched in 2016 as a way to showcase the amazing podcast talent and content Australia has to offer. Now in its seventh year, the Awards continues to recognize the industry’s most innovative and emerging podcast content across its varied categories. 

2022 winners included The Last Outlaws (iHeart Podcast of The Year). An acclaimed trilogy series that details the lives and circumstances of Australia’s last bushrangers, Jimmy and Joe Governor, who were declared outlaws and wanted dead or alive. Outlaws is an intimate portrait of two Aboriginal men, as well as an exploration of the society that would become a Federated Australia. 

While the Listeners Choice category was awarded to Life Uncut, after receiving over 65,000 votes in a public poll. Smart, wild and always entertaining, Life Uncut is an unfiltered chat on all things love and dating with Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne.

Submissions for the Australian Podcast Awards are now open, find out more at australianpodcastawards.com. Nominees will be selected by a judging panel of industry experts before the category winners are announced in November.