Matt Eastwood, JWT and Chief Judge, with Justine Armour, Best of Show Winner W+K, and Erica Farber, President and CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau
The winners of the 2014 Radio Mercury Awards were announced at the 23rd annual awards reception at le Poisson Rouge in New York. This year’s $50,000 Best of Show award was given to Wieden+Kennedy for their spot, “MomSong” for Old Spice.
“These winning spots and campaigns are true testaments to radio’s ability to engage consumers, build brands and inspire the next generation of creative minds,” said Erica Farber, president and CEO of Radio Advertising Bureau and chair of the Radio Creative Fund.
This Marketer of the Year Award was given to GEICO. Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Hubbard Radio presented this year’s award to Amy Hooks, broadcast marketing manager for GEICO.
“The manner in which GEICO localizes their spots and their commitment to initiatives such as the ‘Something to Be Proud of’ vignettes targeting federal employees are just a few more of the many examples of their effective, strategic and creative use of the radio medium,” said Farber.
The ceremony was hosted by Eric and Kathy from Hubbard Radio’s WTMX(FM) in Chicago. The event’s presenters were Jim & Kim from CBS Radio’s WWFS(FM), Wendy Wild from Clear Channel’s WKTU(FM), DJ Enuff from Emmis Communication’s WQHT(FM) and Ino Gomez from Univision Radio’s WADO(AM). DJ Whutevva from Clear Channel’s WWPR(FM) served as the guest DJ.
The creative and advertising community were well-represented in attendance, including Matt Eastwood, DDB NY; Bill Koenigsberg, Kimberly Aiello, Christine Lembo, Melissa Zeoli, Lauren Russo from Horizon Media; Bill Brower, Melissa Halicy, Amy Hooks from GEICO; Brad Higdon, Dean Jarrett, Jackie Davenport from the Martin Agency; Jim Elliott, Y&R NY; Jill Applebaum, JWT NY. Also in attendance were creative teams from the Barbarian Group, Barton F. Graf 9000, BBDO NY, DDB Chicago, DDB NY, Deutsch LA, Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners, Ogilvy & Mather, Wieden+Kennedy and Y&R New York.
The event was produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau, presented by Hubbard Radio in partnership with Clear Channel, and sponsored by: Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, Buckley Broadcasting, CBS Radio, Cox Radio Group, The Cromwell Group, Emmis Communications, Entercom Communications, Greater Media, Inc., Hubbard Radio, Katz Radio Group, Lincoln Financial Media, Marketron, Miller Kaplan Arase LLP, MoreFM, Nielsen Audio, Neuhoff Communications, Salem Communications, United Stations Radio Network, Univision Radio and WestwoodOne.
$50,000 Best of Show
Commercial: MomSong
Campaign: Old Spice
Agency: Wieden+Kennedy
$6,000 Agency/Production Company
F&Easy
Fresh&Easy
Ignited
$3,000 Agency/Production Company
Grandma/Goth
Netflix
Deutsch LA
$1,500 Innovative Use of Radio
Endangered song
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
DDB NY
$3,000 Integrated Radio Campaign
It Can Wait
AT&T
BBDO New York
$3,000 Integrated Radio Campaign
Thoughts
New York Lottery
DDB NY
$3,000 PSA
Learned
AdCouncil
DDB NY
$6,000 Radio Campaign
I’m Sorry, I Was Eating a Milky Way
Mars, Inc. — Milky Way
DDB Chicago
$3,000 Radio Campaign
Netflix Holiday Radio
Netflix
Deutsch LA
$1,500 Radio Promotion of Year
2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival
iHeartRadio
Clear Channel Media + Entertainment
$6,000 Radio Station Produced
Dent
Buy Doors Direct
Clear Channel Creative Services Group
$6,000 Spanish-Language Campaign
Wake Up
Pepsico
JWT San Juan
$3,000 Spanish-Language Campaign
James Bond Ortega
Argentina New Cinema
Conill
$1,500 Student
I’m Going to Die
The Humane Society
Portfolio Center