Tyla has won World Artiste of the Year at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, beating Tems, Burna Boy, Central Cee, and YG Marley. The South African star, known for Water, made history as the first-ever winner of the category. Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey also received top honors.
South African singer Tyla has been crowned World Artiste of the Year at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, outshining Nigerian heavyweights Tems and Burna Boy. The 23-year-old, famed for her global hit Water, became the first-ever recipient of this new category at the prestigious awards held in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025.
Tyla’s win marks a significant milestone for African music on the global stage, as she surpassed fellow nominees Central Cee and YG Marley. The event, held at the Dolby Theatre, also saw Taylor Swift win Artiste of the Year, with her Eras Tour hailed as the Tour of the Century. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey received the iHeartRadio Icon Award, and Lady Gaga was honored as an Innovator. Other major wins included GloRilla as Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Muni Long’s "Made for Me" as R&B Song of the Year.
This latest achievement solidifies Tyla’s place as a rising force in global music, continuing her meteoric rise following her Grammy win for Best African Music Performance. Her fans across the world celebrated her triumph, hailing her as a new African superstar.
