# Radio Disney Music Awards

The Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA) are a discontinued annual awards show operated and governed by Radio Disney, an American radio network. Beginning in 2001, the show was originally broadcast only on Radio Disney, but later began being televised on Disney Channel from 2013 to 2019.
Radio Disney ceased operations on April 14, 2021, after switching to automated programming on January 1 of that same year. The network has made no statement about the future of the awards.

## History

The Radio Disney Music Awards honored the year's achievements in music, mainly in the teen pop genre, and were awarded based on popular vote from the network's listeners via online voting. The trophy awarded to a winner is known as the "Golden Mickey", a gold-colored statuette with a silhouette figure of Mickey Mouse donning headphones nicknamed the "Ardy", representing Radio Disney's initials. Before 2014, the ceremony was not televised beyond commercial interstitial segments for Disney Channel to promote their sister radio network. As of the seventh annual ceremony on April 26, 2014, the ceremony began to be televised in full a day after a tape delay, as the network attempted to compete with Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards in airing awards programming. Starting in 2016, Canada was able to vote for the first time as Disney programming, formerly under the control of Family Channel, is now carried by Disney-branded Corus Entertainment networks in both English and French.
On June 16, 2019, the 2019 Radio Disney Music Awards were renamed ARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration and aired live for the first time instead of on a tape-delay.
On June 25, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 Radio Disney Music Awards would be renamed Radio Disney Presents ARDYs Summer Playlist and premiere on July 10, 2020 with Laura Marano as the host.

## Awards events

| Year | Location |
| 2001 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2002 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2003 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2004 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2005 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2006 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2007 | Radio Disney Burbank, California (Audio-only recording) |
| 2008–2012 | No ceremonies held |
| 2013 | Nokia Theatre/Microsoft Theater Los Angeles |
| 2014 | Nokia Theatre/Microsoft Theater Los Angeles |
| 2015 | Nokia Theatre/Microsoft Theater Los Angeles |
| 2016 | Nokia Theatre/Microsoft Theater Los Angeles |
| 2017 | Nokia Theatre/Microsoft Theater Los Angeles |
| 2018 | Dolby Theatre Los Angeles |
| 2019 | CBS Studio Center Los Angeles |
| 2020 | Cancelled |

## Award categories

* Best Female Artist
* Best Male Artist
* Best Music Group
* Song of the Year
* Best New Artist
* Breakout Artist
* Artist with the Best Style
* Most Talked About Artist
* Best Artist Turned Singer
* Best Music Video
* Best Soundtrack Song
* Catchiest New Song
* Best Anthem
* Best Crush Song
* Song to Dance to
* Fiercest Fans
* Best Song That Makes You Smile
* Best Breakup Song
* Best Collaboration
* Best Song To Lip Sync To
* Favorite Country Artist
* Favortite Country Song
* Favorite New Country Artist
* Favorite Tour
* Favorite Social Media Star
* Favorite International Artist
* Best Album
* Best Homework Song
* Best Karaoke Song
* Best Song to Air Guitar
* Best Song to Watch Your Dad Sing
* Best Song to Rock Out to with Your BFF
* Funniest Celebrity Take
* Best Acoustic Performance
* Favorite Roadtrip Song
* Most Talked About Artist
* Favorite Preschool Theme Song
* Best Song That Makes You Turn Up the Radio
* Best Song to Air Guitar
* Best TV Movie Song
* Best TV Show Song
* Most Rockin' Relative
* Best Song You Can't Believe Your Parents Know the Words To
* Best Song To Listen To While Getting Ready For School
* Best Song to Listen to on the Way to School
* Favorite TV Star Who Sings
* Best Group Made of Brothers / Sisters
* Best Dance Style
* Favorite Song Your Teacher Likes
* Best True Ringer Ring Tone
* Best Song From a Movie
* Best Song to Wake Up To
* Best Song You've Heard a Million Times and Still Love
* Best Song to Put on Repeat
* Best Song to Sing to an Ex

## Special awards
### Impact Award

Impact Award is in recognition of an artist's influence on the world of entertainment and society, across generations of music enthusiasts.
* 2018: Janet Jackson

### Hero Award

Hero Award is an honor for contribution for the charitable work.
* 2014: Shakira
* 2015: Jennifer Lopez
* 2016: Gwen Stefani
* 2017: Nick Jonas
* 2018: Carrie Underwood
* 2019: Avril Lavigne

### Icon Award

Icon Award is an honor for the music contribution and influence with the teenagers by long-time career artists.
* 2017: Britney Spears
* 2018: Kelly Clarkson

### Heroes for Change Award

Heroes for Change Award is an honor for young non-artists who make a difference in the world with charitable work.
* 2013: Mary Dawson, Ben Harowitz, Misha Ahmad, Dara Reyes and Denzell Perry.
* 2014: Arianna Lopez, Matthew Kaplan and Yossymar Rojas.
* 2016: Whitney Stewart and Braeden Mannering.

### Other special awards

* 2014: Chart Topper Award to Ariana Grande for her impact on the charts.
* 2014: Show Stopper Award to R5 for their sold-out shows on Louder Tour.

## Achievements

Below are the current rankings for the most wins and most nominated artist among female and male:

### Most wins

| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Artist | Hilary Duff | Fifth Harmony Selena Gomez Taylor Swift | Avril Lavigne Miley Cyrus |
| Total | 18 | 8 | 7 |

### Most nominations

This is a list of multiple nominated performers and actors with 10 or more career nominations. Hilary Duff is currently the most nominated performer with 35 nominations.
35 nominations
* Hilary Duff
22 nominations
* Vanessa Hudgens
21 nominations
* Avril Lavigne
19 nominations
* Ashley Tisdale
17 nominations
* Lindsay Lohan
16 nominations
* Miley Cyrus
* Selena Gomez
* Taylor Swift
15 nominations
* Zac Efron
14 nominations
* Justin Bieber
* Kelly Clarkson
11 nominations
* R5
10 nominations
* Ariana Grande
* JoJo