Finalists announced for 33rd annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards
Monday, 22 August 2022
The finalists for the 33rd Australian Commercial Radio Awards (the ACRAs) were announced today, with Australia’s top radio personalities vying for the coveted Best on Air Team award.
New father Kyle Sandilands and his breakfast co-host Jackie Henderson, (The Kyle and Jackie O Show, KIIS 106.5, Sydney) are in the running for a record eighth Best On Air Team award in the FM category against the ever-popular Jonesy & Amanda (Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney); Fitzy & Wippa (Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli Nova 96.9, Sydney); Kate, Tim & Joel (Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey, Nova Network, Sydney) and The Christian O’Connell Show (The Christian O’Connell Show, Gold 104.3, Melbourne).
This will be the first ACRAS live awards ceremony in three years, with the industry gathering to celebrate the best in the business at a gala red-carpet event at the ICC Darling Harbour in Sydney on Saturday, October 29.
The Metropolitan Best On Air Team AM title will be a contest between FIVEaa Breakfast (David Penberthy and Will Goodings, FIVEaa, Adelaide); 3AW Breakfast with Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft (3AW, Melbourne) and Laurel, Gary & Mark (Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare & Mark Hine, 4KQ, Brisbane). The trio recently bid farewell to 4KQ after 16 years on air.
2GB’s Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley are nominated for Best Talk Presenter alongside Neil Mitchell and Tom Elliott from 3AW. Mitchell is also up for best Current Affairs presenter alongside Deborah Knight (2GB, Sydney); Luke Bona (Triple M, Sydney) and Neil Breen (4BC, Brisbane).
Chrissie Swan (Nova 100, Melbourne) is a finalist in the Best Entertainment Presenter category alongside Christian O’Connell (Gold 104.3, Melbourne); Jase Hawkins (KIIS 101.1, Melbourne), Jackie Henderson (KIIS 106.5, Sydney) and Kyle Sandilands (KIIS 106.5, Sydney).
Brisbane radio and TV presenter Sofie Formica, who hosts the afternoon show on 4BC, is in the running for Best Newcomer on Air, alongside Adelaide’s Max Burford (Nova 91.9) and Loren Barry (Triple M, Melbourne).
Acknowledging the growing popularity of podcasting, awards will be handed out in three podcast categories – Best Radio Show podcast, Best Original Podcast Branded and Best Original Podcast Unbranded. Hamish & Andy (Southern Cross Austereo) have been nominated in the latter category alongside The Space, a mindfulness podcast hosted by singer Casey Donovan (Nova Podcasts); Brenda, Call Me! by Courtney Act and Vanity (Nova Podcasts); I was a Teenage Prize-Pig (Jon Vertigan & Sophie Jackson, ACE Radio Broadcasters); and Hennessy’s Hotline (Nova Podcasts).
Ford Ennals, the chief executive officer of awards organiser Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), said the nominees highlight Australia’s vibrant radio and audio industry, recognising outstanding talent across 39 categories, including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment.
“Congratulations to all the finalists. We look forward to celebrating the return of the ACRAS and making the night bigger and better than ever. Radio is thriving thanks to the efforts and creativity of staff on air and off who strive to provide listeners with the best in audio entertainment and information,” he said.
Entries were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Stations outside the metropolitan areas are well represented at the ACRAs with more than 200 finalists from country and provincial stations. The winners are peer judged by industry members.
A highlight of the ACRAs is the announcement of the Hall of Fame inductee, acknowledging a lifelong commitment to and achievement in the Australian radio industry. Past Hall of Fame inductees include Doug Mulray, John Laws, Bob Rogers, Neil Mitchell, Amanda Keller, Ray Hadley, Lee Simon, Peter Harvie and Cathy O’Connor.
The awards ceremony will start at 6pm AEDT on October 29, with red carpet at 5pm.