The well-known iHeartRadio Music Awards has added an unusual new category to its music awards this year. 2019 is the first time a photographer will be honored by the “Favorite Tour Photographer” prize.



Founded by iHeartRadio in 2014, the iHeartRadio Music Awards honors the most popular artists and music (and now photographers) in the industry over the past year based on data and/or public voting (depending on category). The award ceremony is broadcast on national prime time TV and is attended by music’s hottest names.

While music video directors have been honored at prestigious awards (including the Grammy Awards) for years, this is the first year still photographers will be honored at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

The nominees have been promoted by the awards in recent days in a call for public votes:

This is a thing?” writes Bon Jovi tour photographer David Bergman after learning of the category. “So happy to see tour photographers getting some mainstream recognition!”

You can vote for the photographer nominees by visiting the award website (unfortunately, there’s no gallery/portfolio displayed alongside each nominee, so voters will need to do their own research).

The winner will be announced during the iHeartRadio Music Awards ceremony on March 14, 2019, on FOX.

Perhaps iHeartRadio is kicking off a new trend and one day we’ll see a still photographer prize in all the top music awards.