Podcast and creator
The Independent
Awards 2026
Sunday, March 15th
4:30-7:00 PM
Skybox on 6th
Austin, TX
HOSTED BY
KILLER MIKE
Michael Render, better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an Atlanta icon and the ultimate 'hyphenate' – Rapper, Actor, Activist and Entrepreneur, among other activities. He made his rapping debut on Outkast's fourth album in 2000 and released his debut studio album Monster in 2003. His recent album Michael won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2024. Since 2005, Michael has also appeared in a number of high-profile films and TV series, including 20 Funerals, Idlewild, ATL, Ozark, Billions and The Lowdown. In 2025, he launched his proudly independent podcast, Conversate with Killer Mike.
The only awards exclusively for independents.
The Independent Podcast and Creator Awards (Indie PaC), presented by Oxford Road and Libsyn, is the first-ever ceremony dedicated to honoring podcasters and creators who own their content and operate outside major network control.
Taking place at SXSW 2026, the event recognizes excellence across six categories selected by a four-person jury of respected voices in audio, media, and advertising.
No platform exclusives. No corporate gatekeepers. Just the podcasters and creators who built audiences on their own terms and are outperforming the big shows.
Actual influence, measured by how audiences respond when these creators speak.
Presented by
Oxford Road
and Libsyn
SKYBOX ON 6TH, AUSTIN TX
SUNDAY, MARCH 15 | 4:30 – 7:00 PM
MEET YOUR
JUDGES
JAMES CRIDLAND
EDITOR, PODNEWS & PODCAST BUSINESS JOURNAL
GLADWELL MWANGI
PAID MEDIA ENABLEMENT LEAD, WHOLE FOODS MARKET
ASHLEY FLOWERS
HOST, CRIME JUNKIE & FOUNDER, AUDIOCHUCK
HERNAN LOPEZ
FOUNDER, WONDERY / THE PODCAST ACADEMY
WE’VE ASSEMBLED A JURY OF LEADING CREATORS, AUDIO JOURNALISTS, AND BRAND EXECUTIVES TO DETERMINE THIS YEAR’S WINNERS. AS JUDGES, THEY’LL HELP SHAPE WHICH VOICES GET RECOGNITION AND SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT INDEPENDENT EXCELLENCE LOOKS LIKE.
DEFINING INDEPEnDENCE
A SHOW/CHANNEL IS ELIGIBLE IF IT MEETS ALL THREE CRITERIA:
1. Creator Ownership & Editorial Control
IP owned by creator(s) or an independently-held company. Not majority-owned by, and with no editorial oversight from, Spotify, SiriusXM, iHeart, Amazon, major broadcast networks, or platform-exclusive deals that restrict distribution.
2. Active Publishing
Minimum 12 episodes/videos in the last 12 months
3. Not a Celebrity Vehicle
Not primarily a promotional vehicle for a top-tier celebrity for whom this is secondary to their main career. Edge cases decided by jury.
Note on RSS:
RSS is not required. Independence is about ownership, not distribution platform. A YouTube-first show can be independent. A Spotify-exclusive cannot.
Note on Ad Sales Partnerships:
Shows using third-party ad sales (Acast, Audacy, etc.) may qualify if the creator retains full editorial control and IP ownership. The key test: the creator retains full editorial control and IP ownership, and is not known, through public reporting or information reasonably available to Oxford Road, to receive a minimum guarantee that would compromise their independent status.