Winners for the 30th anniversary Radio Mercury Awards were announced virtually on Wednesday evening at the 2021 event.
This year’s winners captured the creativity taking place during the last year and a half and reflect these unprecedented times. During last night’s awards, Alejandro Ortiz, executive creative director at Campbell Ewald Detroit/NY, was announced as the chief judge for the 2022 Radio Mercury Awards.
Additionally, it was announced that the Creative Use of Nonbroadcast Audio category ended in a tie, resulting in two winners.
“This year, it took us two days to fully deliberate, as this year’s winners really impressed the jury with their overall approach to messaging and storytelling,” said Robin Fitzgerald, chief judge and chief creative officer, BBDO Atlanta. “The winning work shone through, made us laugh, feel inspired and even made us a little hungry for soup dumplings.”
“The 30th anniversary awards presentation once again reflected the power of radio creative and its ability to grow brands and deliver for advertisers,” noted Erica Farber, president and chief executive officer, Radio Advertising Bureau, and chair of the Radio Creative Fund. “The Radio Mercury Awards continue to advance the medium forward by showcasing innovative, creative and effective radio and audio commercial work.”
The virtual presentation, produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau and hosted by Fitzgerald and Chris Smith, principal and chief creative officer, Plot Twist Creativity, featured this year’s final round jury, who served as presenters for the awards alongside previous Radio Mercury Awards best-of-show winners.
The full list of presenters included: John Berman, executive creative director, R/GA; Mitch Bennett, executive creative director, Baldwin&; Nathalie Brown, executive creative director, VMLY&R; Bianca Guimaraes, partner and executive creative director, Mischief NY; Mark Gross, co-founder and chief creative officer, Highdive; Paul Johnson, freelance copywriter and creative director, New York; Derrick Ogilvie, vice president/creative director, BBDO Atlanta; Alejandro Ortiz, executive creative director, Campbell Ewald Detroit/NY and Sherman Winfield, executive creative director, VMLY&R Atlanta.
Finalists and attendees from across the country celebrated this year’s winners virtually.
Event sponsors for this year’s awards event include Audacy, iHeartMedia, Nielsen, Pomann Sound, Sound and Fury and World Wide Wadio. Dedicated sponsors are Cherry Creek Media, Oink Ink Radio, Triton Digital and Xperi, along with general sponsors CBS News Radio, Forcht Broadcasting, Miller Kaplan and Neuhoff Communications.
Below is the list of winning spots. To listen to all the work awarded at tonight’s event, click here. For an on-demand viewing of the event, click here.
Creative Radio Campaign: Agency/Production Company/Advertiser/Radio Station or Group
Barbershop Quartet
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide
Motel 6 2020 Radio Campaign
Motel 6
The Richards Group
Creative Radio Spot for a Cause: Agency/Production Company/Advertiser
How to Play Soccer
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play
Arnold Worldwide
Creative Radio Spot: Agency/Production Company/Advertiser
Snickers “Commercial Free”
Mars Chocolate North America
BBDO NY
Car Dealership
Postmates
Mother LA
Creative Radio Spot: Insightful Voice
Meemaw
Motel 6
Barkley
Creative Radio Spot: Radio Station or Group
Disco Colonoscopy
Kansas Medical Clinic
Alpha Media
BALLWASH.COM VALENTINE’S DAY 2020
Ballsy
CUMULUS MEDIA Atlanta
Creative Spot for a Cause: Radio Station or Group
Black Voices of Humboldt County #2
In-House PSA
Lost Coast Communications, Inc.
Creative Use of Nonbroadcast Audio
Bedtime Stories
Walmart
FCB Chicago
Radio Recliner
Bridge Senior Living
Luckie
Creative Use of Songs/Music (Original or Repurposed)
Chinchilla
Absolute Roofing
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Integrated Brand Campaign with Radio/Audio
When All You Can Food Is Think About
Postmates
Mother LA
Purpose-Driven Spot or Campaign: Agency/Production Company/Advertiser/Radio Station or Group
Bingo Recovery
Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance
Preston Spire
Radio Station or Group Promotional Spot or Campaign
Black Excellence
In-House Campaign
iHeartMedia
