South Africa’s global sensation Tyla made history at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, held March 17 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, by claiming the coveted World Artist of the Year title.
The 22-year-old pop star triumphed over heavyweight nominees Burna Boy, Central Cee, Tems, and YG Marley, further cementing her meteoric rise as a groundbreaking African artist.
Tyla—who has become a cultural ambassador for South Africa—was notably absent from social media following her win, but her victory resonated worldwide. The award adds to her growing collection of accolades, including a Grammy for Best African Music Performance, two BET Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and her record-breaking single Water, which became the first song by a solo African artist (without features) to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.
“Tyla was named World Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards,” read the official announcement, accompanied by a photo of the star (Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images).
Though she did not attend the ceremony, the singer was recently in Italy for a Mercedes-Benz event, where she performed for fans. Earlier in March, she also turned heads at Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week, seated beside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour—a testament to her burgeoning influence in both music and fashion.
While Tyla was nominated in two additional categories—R&B Song of the Year for ‘Water‘ and Dance Song of the Year for its Marshmello remix—the honors went to Muni Long’s ‘Made for Me‘ and Charli XCX’s ‘360‘, respectively. Still, her World Artist win underscores her unparalleled impact on the global stage.
Other major winners
The iHeartRadio Awards celebrated a mix of established icons and rising stars. Taylor Swift dominated with nine awards, including Artist of the Year, though only one was presented on-air.
Benson Boone’s ‘Beautiful Things‘ earned Song of the Year, while Billie Eilish’s ‘Hit Me Hard’ and Soft won Album of the Year. Breakthrough artist Gracie Abrams thanked mentors like Swift and Olivia Rodrigo in her speech, and SZA set a new record as a three-time R&B Artist of the Year winner.
Honorary awards highlighted legends: Lady Gaga (Innovator Award), Mariah Carey (Icon Award), and Nelly, who received the Landmark Award for Country Grammar’s 25th anniversary. Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour‘ was dubbed “Tour of the Century,” despite the century’s early timeline.
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A Global milestone for African music
Tyla’s win marks a pivotal moment for African artists in mainstream Western awards. Since Water surged on TikTok and global charts in 2023, she has become a symbol of Africa’s thriving pop potential. “She’s redefining what it means to be a global artist,” remarked one industry analyst. “Her sound transcends borders, and this award proves it.”
As the iHeartRadio Awards wrapped, fans eagerly await Tyla’s next move. With rumors of a debut album and collaborations brewing, the South African star shows no signs of slowing down.
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards aired live on FOX and iHeartRadio stations. Executive producers included Joel Gallen (Tenth Planet) and iHeartMedia’s John Sykes, Tom Poleman, and Bart Peters.
For the full winners list, visit iheart.com.
