New York, NY– April 5, 2010 – The Radio Mercury Awards is pleased to announce the call for entries to the 2010 Radio Mercury Awards begins today. One outstanding commercial will take home the coveted $100,000 Grand Prize. Winners will be announced on Monday, September 27, 2010 at the start of Advertising Week in New York City.

New to this year’s competition, all categories will now be accepting spots that were delivered via IP stream to computers, mobile applications or any other Internet device. “As our industry and business moves forward with new digital platforms, it is not only appropriate but necessary for our industry awards competition to reflect the complete sponsored audio content space,” stated Jeff Haley, President & CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau, and Co-chair of the Radio Creative Fund 

In addition to the $100,000 Grand Prize, the 2010 Radio Mercury competition includes: one Radio Campaign; three Agency/Production Company category and one each for, Radio Station-Produced, Spanish-Language, Student-Produced, and PSA categories. The Radio Station, Student-Produced, and PSA prize monies will be doubled as previously announced.

“I’m looking forward to listening to new and exciting creative Radio spots.  I think including streaming spots into the competition will add a new dynamic into this year’s competition,” noted John Norman, Co-Chief Creative Officer from the Martin Agency and Co-Chief Judge for the 2010 Radio Mercury Awards.  “By opening up this new platform for creative advertising, my hope is that we will hear new entrants who may not have entered prior to this year, because they had purely digital and streaming campaigns.”

 “Marketers today are utilizing an integrated multiplatform approach to their advertising campaigns, and Radio continues to be a key component,” said Mike Hughes, President and Co-Chief Creative Officer of The Martin Agency, and Co-Chief Judge for the 2010 Radio Mercury Awards. “We look forward to judging the great creative work that has been produced in 2009.”

Entry deadline to the 2010 Radio Mercury Awards competition is June 11, 2010.  Complete details, rules, and entry fees are available at www.RadioMercuryAwards.com or by calling 212-681-7207.  Last year’s Radio Mercury Award-winning spots can be heard on the website. 

The Radio Mercury Awards, the only competition exclusively devoted to radio, 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 17,000 commercials have competed for over $2.9 million in prizes. The Radio Creative Fund (RCF), a non-profit corporation funded by the radio industry, governs the Radio Mercury Awards. Last year, the $100,000 Grand Prize was awarded to The Richards Group.

Media Contact:

Meghan Buonocore
212-681-7215
mbuonocore@rab.com