One hundred and nineteen radio/audio spots and campaigns made it to the finals of the 2023 Radio Mercury Awards. The submissions were created by advertising agencies, brands, production companies, radio stations and students.
The 2023 finalists range from regional and large advertising agencies and radio stations as well as national and local advertisers from business categories including automotive, consumer packaged goods, entertainment, healthcare, nonprofits, quick-serve restaurants, retail, telecommunications, travel and hospitality.
“After coming out of a turbulent few years, one takeaway from this year’s judging is that comedy is back,” said Sherman Winfield, executive creative director, VMLY&R, and chief judge for the Radio Mercury Awards. “It was great for the final round jury to hear agencies, clients and radio stations become comfortable again with combining humor and entertainment with their messaging.”
“This year’s finalists reflect radio’s effectiveness as an advertising medium,” noted Erica Farber, president and chief executive officer, RAB, and chair of the Radio Creative Fund. “We are very excited to award the winners of this year’s competition and celebrate great radio work.”
In addition to Chief Judge Sherman Winfield, the final round judging panel included Ashley Andrews, group creative director, Wunderman Thompson Atlanta; Mitch Bennett, executive creative director, Baldwin&; Lauren Cooper, creative director, Gut; John Fiebke, executive vice president, head of copy, FCB Chicago; Larry Gordon, group creative director, Laundry Service New York; Piper Hickman, executive creative director, McKinney; Larissa Kirschner-Chaney; freelance creative director and Yelan Tong, group creative director, VMLY&R Kansas City.
Sponsors for the event include event sponsor iHeartMedia; dedicated sponsors Hubbard Radio; livestream sponsor Audacy; participating sponsors Beasley Media Group, CUMULUS MEDIA | Westwood One, Katz Radio Group, Salem Media Group; general sponsors CBS News Radio, Connoisseur Media, Forcht Broadcasting, Mr. Master, Neuhoff Media, Nielsen, Skyview Networks, vCreative and Xperi.
The Radio Mercury Awards winners will be presented on Thursday, June 8 at SONY Hall in New York City. As previously announced, Procter & Gamble is being awarded as Radio Marketer of the Year. For more information, go to
www.radiomercuryawards.com.
Branded Podcast: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group
Unseen & Unheard Podcast
Janssen Pharmaceuticals
FCB Chicago
What Should I Do With My Money, episode 2: Financially Fit at Forty
Morgan Stanley
Pacific Content
Princess and the Pea-tition
Now Upon a Time
The Martin Agency
Broadcast Radio Campaign: Agency, Production Company or Advertiser
Hafta is History
Monster
Arnold Worldwide
Insurance Shanties
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide
Pets Stay Free (Dog & Cat)
Motel 6
Barkley
No Bitter Endings Campaign
Heineken USA
BBH USA
Wash How You Wanna / Meta Messes campaign: “Dog Hair” “Smudges”
Take 5 Car Wash – Driven Brands
Erich and Kallman
Embrace Your Curiosity
Montclair Film Festival
Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Didja Know
Jersey Mike’s
Highdive
Banana Noodle Fruit
U.S. Bank
McCann Detroit
Responsible St. Patrick’s Day
Jameson Whiskey
Ogilvy
Song Hijack Campaign “Signs” & “Dazzling”
Staples
Oink Ink Radio
Kidney Konvos – Spots: “Moving Day,” The Transplant” and “Bodywarming”
Donate Life America
The Martin Agency
Broadcast Radio Campaign: Radio Station or Group
Critter Court
Perfection Pest Control
Hubbard Radio Cincinnati
Her Man Campaign
Herrmann Services
Hubbard Radio Cincinnati
Confidence Crushers: Stinky Closet, Spread Eagle, Mom Bangs
Byte Invisible Teeth Aligners
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Fund Your Happy: Butt Lift, Scuba, Pontoon
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Summer’s Lame: Badminton, Potato Salad, Tan Lines
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Not Just a Burger
Just Jeff’s
Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group
Pest-imonials
Steve’s Pest Control
Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group
Broadcast Radio Commercial or Campaign for Good: Agency, Production Company or Advertiser
Howlers
Howling for Wolves
Media Bridge Advertising
Cell Phone Lament
YMCA North
Preston Spire
FLU-ET
Wyoming Department of Health
Sukle Advertising and Design
Kidney Konvos – Spots: “Moving Day,” “The Transplant” and “Bodywarming”
Donate Life America
The Martin Agency
Broadcast Radio Commercial: Agency, Production Company or Advertiser
Birds
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide
Email Ding
Zulily
Baldwin&
Gam Gam
Colorado Lottery
Cactus
Anthem
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
DeVito/Verdi
Just for Cars
Take 5 Car Wash – Driven Brands
Erich and Kallman
Glad Strength: App
The Clorox Company, Glad Products
FCB Chicago
Glad Strength: Coffee
The Clorox Company, Glad Products
FCB Chicago
Not Listening
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Important Questions
Twizzlers
Hershey’s
Banana
U.S. Bank
McCann Detroit
Fruit
U.S. Bank
McCann Detroit
Noodle
U.S. Bank
McCann Detroit
Holiday Loan
Fibre Federal Credit Union
Push Button Creative Audio
Broadcast Radio Commercial: Radio Station or Group
Call Of The Wild
Carnival Cruise Lines
Audacy
Hot Date
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Audacy
Pipes
Tammy’s Smoke Shop
Majestic Communications
Getaway
Seneca Lodge
Seven Mountains Media
Badminton
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Butt Lift
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Pontoon
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Potato Salad
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Scuba
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Tan Lines
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
The Earl is Coming!
Earl of Sandwich
Townsquare Media of El Paso
Necessary Smoothness
El Bandido Yankee Tequila
WGN Radio 720
Broadcast Radio Promotional Spot: Radio Station or Group
1010 WINS Moves to 923 FM
1010 WINS
Audacy
KZJK Jack FM Records Presents Metallica
KZJK Jack FM
Audacy
KRBE Baseball Ticket Promo
Cumulus Media Houston KRBE
CUMULUS MEDIA
KS95 For Kids 2022 Wrap
Gillette Childrens and Masonic Childrens
Hubbard Broadcasting LLC
Christmas in July
The Drive Radio Station
Hubbard Radio Chicago
Vote for Classic Rock
The Drive Radio Station
Hubbard Radio Chicago
Broadcast Radio PSA: Radio Station or Group
Hubbard Broadcasting Cincinnati Mental Health Awareness Month Campaign
Mercy Health Clermont Hospital
Hubbard Radio Cincinnati
UNLV’s First Graduate
PSA
KUNV
Ora Hamel Korean
Everett Police Department
SR Broadcasting Inc.,
Local Market Broadcast Radio Commercial: Agency, Production Company or Advertiser
Name-Dropping
Gulfshore Bird-A-Way
PPK
Horse Girl
YMCA North
Preston Spire
Pillow Talk
YMCA
Preston Spire
Local Market Broadcast Radio Commercial: Radio Station or Group
Easy to Trust
Krasno Krasno &Onwudinjo Philadelphia
Audacy
Cheese Days
Green County Wisconsin
Hubbard Radio Chicago
Marching Menn
Hermann Services
Hubbard Radio Cincinnati
Cake
Iliad Media Group
Iliad Media Group
Mangy Moose We Suck Less
Mangy Moose
RiverFront Broadcasting
Fridge Poem
Affordable Appliance Solutions
Seven Mountains Media, LLC
Dr. Bill Promo
Steve’s Pest Control
Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group
Spring Press Conference
Steve’s Pest Control
Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group
Multi-Platform Campaign with Broadcast Radio: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group
Pets Stay Free (Dog & Cat)
Motel 6
Barkley
Cars vs. Babies campaign: “Just for Cars”
Take 5 Car Wash – Driven Brands
Erich and Kallman
Cars vs. Babies campaign “To Reiterate”
Take 5 Car Wash – Driven Brands
Erich and Kallman
The Holdovers
Champion Energy Services
Proof Advertising
Big Machine Music City Grand Prix: Jerry, Karen, Legend
Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
Two by Four
Short Broadcast Radio Commercial: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group
Feed Your Shakespearean Side
Creamette (Winland)
Havas Chicago
Jaguar Parking Space
Big Cat Rescue
PPK
Student-Produced Radio Commercial
Overtime
Speed Stick
Miami Ad School
Pass That $#!T
Frank’s RedHot
Miami Ad School
The First Sip
Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc.
Miami Ad School
Yoga
Kraft Mac and Cheese
Miami Ad School
Pulled Over
Squatty Potty
Miami Ad School
Unplug To Recharge
University of Texas at Arlington
Use of Humor in a Broadcast Radio Spot: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group
Birds
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide
Night Creature Eyes
Bosch
Bailey Lauerman
Gen Z
Motel 6
Barkley
Pets Stay Free (Dog Spot)
Motel 6
Barkley
The No Bitter Endings Break Up Song
Heineken USA
BBH USA
The No Bitter Endings Invasion of Troy
Heineken USA
BBH USA
The No Bitter Endings Olde Timey Radio Drama
Heineken USA
BBH USA
Stand Up Pirate – Father’s Day
Bum Rogers Crabhouse
Beasley Media Group
Cheat – Foreign VO
Colon Cancer Coalition
BeautifulBeast
Sheet – Foreign VO
Colon Cancer Coalition
BeautifulBeast
Your Little Buddy
Total Body Therapy of Georgia
Dickey Broadcasting Company
Just for Cars
Take 5 Car Wash – Driven Brands
Erich and Kallman
Not Listening
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Feed Your Shakespearian Side
Creamette (Winland)
Havas Chicago
KFAI – KFAI Karaoke 02
KFAI Radio
KFAI Fresh Air Radio
Responsible St. Patrick’s Day: Clover Controversies
Jameson Whiskey
Ogilvy
Responsible St. Patrick’s Day: Mirror Issues
Jameson Whiskey
Ogilvy
Name-Dropping
Gulfshore Bird-A-Way
PPK
FLU-ET
Wyoming Department of Health
Sukle Advertising & Design
Badminton
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Potato Salad
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Use of Songs/Music in a Broadcast Radio Spot or Campaign: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station in Group
Insurance Shanties
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide
No Bitter Endings Campaign
Heineken USA
BBH USA
Song Hijack Dazzling
Staples
Oink Ink Radio
Song Hijack Taco
Staples
Oink Ink Radio
Jingle Ahh
YMCA North
Preston Spire
The Pick 4-Tet
New Jersey Lottery
PureRED
FLU-ET
Wyoming Department of Health
Sukle Advertising & Design
Butt Lift
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Fund Your Happy: Butt Your Lift, Scuba, Pontoon
Happy Money
The Studio at iHeartMedia
Use of Sound Design in a Broadcast Radio Spot of Campaign: Agency, Production Company, Radio Station or Group
Know What’s below_Electricity
PA One Call
Audacy
No Bitter Endings Campaign
Heineken USA
BBH USA
500X THE CASH – Bungee Jumping
The Florida Lottery
PPK
Jingle Ahh
YMCA North
Preston Spire
Getaway
Seneca Lodge
Seven Mountains Media
Symphony of Connection
AT&T
United Masters
About the Radio Mercury Awards
The Radio Mercury Awards, the only competition exclusively devoted to radio and audio, was established in 1992 to encourage and reward the development of effective and creative radio commercials. The annual Radio Mercury Awards competition draws entries from advertising agencies, production houses, radio stations and educational institutions across the country. Approximately 21,000 commercials have competed in the Radio Mercury Awards and close to $3.5 million in prizes have been awarded over the past 32 years. The Radio Creative Fund (RCF), a nonprofit corporation funded by the radio industry, governs the Radio Mercury Awards. The RAB produces the Radio Mercury Awards.
