HOT 102.7FM Wins At The 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards

Returning for its third consecutive year, the Johannesburg-based radio station says it has won a Bronze Award in the News Documentary for its mental health series 'Derailed,' and a Finalist Award in the Human-Interest Feature category for 'Blindspot,' an investigative piece on South Africa's failing traffic light systems. Both series were produced under the leadership of Tara Penny, Head of News and recent Woman of Stature 2025 awardee.

The NYFRA Storytellers Gala, held virtually on Thursday, 22 May, is widely regarded as the Oscars of global radio. It celebrates outstanding work in news, entertainment, podcasts and audio documentaries across six continents, says HOT 102.7FM. 

Reflecting on the achievement, Lloyd Madurai, Founder and Managing Director of HOT 102.7FM, says, "We are excited and honoured to receive these awards. Earning a Bronze puts us in the top three in the world.  Seeing 'Derailed' and 'Blindspot' earn this level of recognition on a prestigious international stage like NYFRA shows the quality of HOT 102.7FM's programming and proves the power of purpose-driven radio that's locally rooted, but globally relevant."

These wins follow a strong awards track record. In 2024, the station says it earned a Bronze for its feature, 'Beginner's Guide to Online Dating,' also produced by Penny. In 2023, it was a finalist in four NYFRA categories, a first for any South African radio station at the time. 

Beyond NYFRA, HOT 102.7FM has been named Best Local Radio Station three years running in the Best of Joburg Awards and received the Most Loyal Listeners Award from the National Small Business Chamber. It also ranked among the top five fastest-growing enterprises in South Africa's Growth Champions 2025 report and placed 22^nd in Africa on the Financial Times' Fastest Growing Companies 2025 list.

Veteran broadcaster and NYFRA judge, Rina Broomberg, says, "Being recognised on such a global stage just four years since launching is no small feat. A special mention to Tara Penny for her superb content creation and hosting."

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, says, "This is a testament to South Africa's world-class creative talent. HOT 102.7FM continues to fly the flag with pride."

Madurai concludes that the recognition validates the station's bold content approach, "We're privileged to receive such honours, and grateful for the feedback from our listeners. They want journalism that respects their intelligence, human stories that resonate and music that lifts their day. HOT 102.7FM certainly ticks all those boxes."

For more information, visit www.hot1027.co.za. You can also follow HOT 102.7FM on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor