The Golden Globes have been slammed for adding a new podcast category.
For decades, the Golden Globe Awards have recognised professional artists and their work in the best of films and television.
But now, the organisation behind the event announced that the event is stepping into the world of podcasts.
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Starting in 2026, the Globes will present a Best Podcast category, putting audio creators in the same spotlight as film and TV stars.
Six nominees will be selected among the 25 most-listened-to podcasts that have 'made a significant impact over the past year, celebrating the creativity and influence of creators worldwide.' The first winner will be crowned at the 83rd Golden Globes, which will air on CBS, stream on Paramount+ and be hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.
According to industry reports, the global audience for audio and video podcasts is expected to hit over 600 million by 2026.
“As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognise new forms of storytelling,” said Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes organisation. “Podcasts have emerged as a profound medium for sharing narratives and building communities across global borders and generations. By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasts, we aim to honour our heritage categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.”
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While the official nominees haven’t been announced yet, fans are already calling out those they expect to dominate the category. With 15 million Spotify followers and 19 million YouTube subscribers, many fans believe Joe Rogan will sweep the board. 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast has discussed pop culture among theories on the Covid-19 pandemic, 'unhinged' reviews of Tesla and political topics, including the 2024 US election.
As of current (8 May), Rogan’s show is still holding the No. 1 spot on Spotify, although it was briefly dethroned by popular 'Good Hang with Amy Poehler.'
"Joe Rogan shld be wiping this let's be real," one user wrote on X.
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Some believe the extra category is downright 'unnecessary,' while another agreed: "What? That’s not movie or tv show. That’s unethical"
Meanwhile, others are happy to see their favourite podcasters get some overdue recognition.
"Finally—podcasters getting the spotlight they’ve earned!" one fan commented.
"I’m surprised this didn’t already exist," another surprised user replied.
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Other popular independent podcasts include Theo Von’s This Past Weekend, Steven Bartlett’s ‘The Diary of a CEO,’ and Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy.' While on the true crime front, ‘Crime Junkie’ and ‘The Daily’ by The New York Times currently rank fourth and fifth on Spotify.