The best radio ad of 2017 will be battled out between 10 of Australia’s leading agencies and production studios from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as part of the national Siren Awards, which will be announced next month.

Last year’s Gold Siren was won by Melbourne agency Clemenger BBDO for the Maltesers ad titled “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” created by Elle Bullen and James Orr.  The Melbourne agency dominated the round wins this year and is credited with 11 of the 30 finalist nominations.  

The latest radio survey for Dubbo stations 2DU, Zoo FM and Hit93.5 have been released offering a chance to see how ratings have fared since the last survey a year ago. 

And 2DU took a hit.

The station dropped 8.0 percentage points from last survey, sitting at number two as the station listened to most with 20.6%, Hit 93.5 is number one with 24.9% and ZOO FM third with 17.1% All People 10+.

Projections by PwC for DAB+ digital radio show that nearly 60% of new vehicles sold in Australia in 2021 will be fitted with a digital radio, forecasting nearly double the number of current new vehicles fitted with the technology.  

PwC projects that close to 4 million new vehicles fitted with DAB+ will be sold by the end of 2021, up from 862,426 at the end of 2016.

Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) released the PwC forecast today and announced DAB+ digital only station listening figures would now be distributed eight times a year. 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has agreed to register a new Commercial Radio Industry Code of Practice, submitted by Commercial Radio Australia.

'The new code contains robust community safeguards across a range of areas,' said acting ACMA Chairman Richard Bean.

A new report released by radio audience measurement company GfK, shows metropolitan and regional radio continues to be the most engaging medium with consumers during the summer months, with nearly nine out of ten (86%) respondents indicating they listen to more radio in summer.

Eight out of 10 media buyers have bought streaming digital audio advertising, according to inaugural IAB “Digital Audio Advertising: State of the Nation” trade survey. It also reveals Australian agencies are leveraging their existing audio expertise by using the same team for broadcast radio and streaming digital audio planning and buying.
 

Radio industry CEOs were in Canberra last night for their third annual cocktail event at Parliament House. 

Ben Fordham from 2GB hosted the event. Alan Jones was due to have the honour but pulled out at the last minute recovering from another major back operation.

The board of Commercial Radio Australia were there to meet with the MPs and remind them of the influence of radio. 

Commercial radio broadcasters today criticised an attempt by the Labor Party to amend the Interactive Gambling Bill to phase out and ban advertising of betting odds and gambling commercials during live sporting broadcasts.
 
Joan Warner, the chief executive officer of peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia, described the move as “unnecessary and counterproductive”.
 
“There has been no consultation with the industry,” Ms Warner said.