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2023 Radio Mercury Awards Finalists Announced

Audacy, BBH USA and The Studio at iHeartMedia Lead the Way as Finalist Front Runners
NEW YORK – May 9, 2023 – 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
UTA Radio.com

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 or 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.

Media Contact:

Madison Wright
(212) 681-7215