Boston-based agency, and first-time entrant to the Radio-Mercury Awards, MMB has won this year's 100,000 Grand Prize with Badonkadonk, a radio spot created for Subway Restaurants. The architects of the best radio commercials were honored yesterday with a total of over 170,000 in cash prizes during the 16th annual Radio-Mercury Awards ceremony, held at Cipriani NYC. A total of 16 winners received a trophy along with their cash award. 5,000 dollars was awarded to each of nine winners from the General Category and to one winner from Spanish-Language, 30-Second, Radio Station-Produced, and the new Urban Category. In addition, a 2,500 award was presented for the best PSA.
The Masterfoods brand has worked well for TBWAChiatDay NY. Last year the agency won a Radio-Mercury for Starburst, and this year they won for a spot from the Combos campaign.
Other winners in the General Category included: Arnold with Crispin Porter + Bogusky for American Legacy Foundation; BBDO NY for FedEx; Crispin Porter + Bogusky for Miller Lite; DDB Chicago for Anheuser Busch; DeVito/Verdi for Legal Sea Foods; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners for Comcast; JWT NY for JetBlue; and MeadsDurket for San Diego Radio Broadcasters Association.
The top award in the 30-Second Category went to The Martin Agency, for a spot created for one of the Radio industry's biggest spenders, Geico. The Spanish-Language Category win went to first time winner CreativeOndemandD for a spot created for Regions Bank.
ABC Radio, Minneapolis took home the Radio Station-Produced prize for local advertiser Surdyks Liquors. This year's new Urban Category Award was scooped up by the Uniworld Group for a Burger King commercial. The PSA Award and accompanying donation went to Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners for a spot created for The Ad Council/Adopt US Kids. The Creative Circus from Atlanta took home the Student Award.
