Radio Awards finalists announced

The finalists in 21 categories of the 2003 Australian Commercial Radio Awards have been announced (full list below). There are a total of 28 categories, with another 7 specialist awards yet to be judged.

Six of Australia’s best-known broadcasters are in the running for Best Talk Personality in the metropolitan category – they are Ray Hadley and Alan Jones from 2GB, Derryn Hinch and Neil Mitchell from 3AW, Steve Price from 2UE and Leon Byner from 5AA.

Radio stars including Merrick and Rosso from Nova 969, the 2Day FM Morning Crew, Hughsey Kate and Dave from Nova 100, Jackie O and Kyle Sandilands from Austereo, Tracey Bartram and Matt Tilley from 3FOX and broadcaster Stan Zemanek are also in the running in various categories for the prestigious radio industry awards.

“The Australian Commercial Radio Awards are in their 15th year and recognise the cream of Australia’s on-air and off-air talent,” said CRA Chief Executive Joan Warner.

“The excellent standard of the entries made the judges’ task very difficult which is great testament to the high quality of broadcasting across Australia.”

Broadcasters serving regional Australia have been well represented, with 108 finalists from regional radio stations in the finalist lists for categories.

Recognising radio’s unique contribution to the community, finalists for Best Community Service Project include the Austereo Network’s Kids Helpline radiothon, which has raised in excess of $1.2 million over the past two years, Steve Price’s 2UE “Rain Train” which helped drought victims in NSW, B105’s Christmas appeal 2002 which supported the Royal Childrens Hospital Foundation and SEA FM’s Human Flag project, which brought together 5,000 people on the Gold Coast for a community event to commemorate those who lost their lives in the September 11 tragedy.

The finalists have been decided by industry judging panels with judging of the finalists to be held soon and winners announced at a gala ceremony at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, October 18.

Awards will be handed out in 28 categories in total, including two new awards introduced this year for Best Networked Program (open to programs broadcast on a minimum of five stations) and the Most Played Australian Artist on Commercial Radio Award (sponsored by DMG, Australian Radio Network and RG Capital).

The Finalists are:

Categories: M = Metro; P = Provincial; C = Country

Best Sales Promotion

John Williams, Cathy Walters and Shaun Fay – 101.7 WS-FM and GOLD 104.3 “Write Your Own Cheque” M

Nikki Rooke – Triple M Network – “KFC Cricketers Box” M

Sam Polyak – Nova 100 – “Miller Music Tour” M

3BA Power FM – 3BA Power FM P

The Triple T Team – 7TTT – “Pig Brother” P

NXFM Sales – 2XXX – “NXFM’s Morning Crew Xmas Bash at Frost Bites” P

MIX 106.3 Townsville – 4RGR – “House that Stockland Built” P

Amy Browne, Hamish Findlay and Peter Moase – 2BXS – “Where’s Walker” C

Ben Hope, Deborah Allen, Lisa Robinson and Michael Coote – 2BXS – “Jingle Bell Rock” C

Best Station Promotion

Triple M Sydney – 2MMM – “Expose the M’s” M

Nova 100 – Nova 100 – “Tossers” M

Nova 100 – Nova 100 – “Dilemma” M

Nova 96.9 Promotions – Nova 96.9 – “Wrong Songs” M

Sea FM Gold Coast – 4SEA – “Sea FM’s Human Flag” P

Phil Brandel – 2ONE – “Job Survivor” P

3TRFM – 3TRFM – “Best Station Launch – 3TRFM” P

Classic Rock – 2MOR – “Classic Rock’s Great Kiss Off” C

Snow FM – 2SKI – “Threesome” C

Eagle FM – 2SNO – “Kiss and Tell” C

Best Sports Event Coverage

Triple MMM Football Team – 3MMM – “The Carey-Nixon War”

Continuous Call Team – 2GB – “NRL Grand Final 2002”

Ray Hadley – 2GB – “State of Origin 2002”

Radio 2UE – 2UE – “2002 Commonwealth Games”

Best Current Affairs Commentator

Ray Hadley – 2GB

Alan Jones – 2GB

Derryn Hinch – 3AW

Neil Mitchell – 3AW

Paul Murray – Nova 969

Best Sports Presenter

Greg Cary – 4BC M

Travis Winks – WS-FM M

Russell Barwick – 2MMM M

Ray Hadley – 2GB M

Rex Hunt – 3AW – “3AW Football” M

KG Cunningham – 5AA M

Tony Osler – 3GV – “Tony Osler’s Weekend Experts” P

Kenny Woodhams – 900 2LM – “Sportstalk” P

Matt Granland – 3CAT FM – “Sports Update” P

John Hunt – 1116 6MM – “Sports Saturday” C

Phil Cole and David Scott – 2BS – “The Friday Free For All” C

Mat Stewart – 3YB C

Best News Presenter

Glenn Daniel – WS-FM M

Rowan Barker – 2GB M

David White – 2DAY FM M

Steve Blanda – 2UE M

Guy Sweeting – 2CA/2CC P

Kate Leslie – 2AY – “National News” P

Tamra Mercieca – 1CBR P

Nathan Stephens – 3WM – “3WM Local News” C

James Goodwin – 2XL C

Janice McGilchrist – 2BS C

Cheryl Lardner – 93.1 Magic FM C

Best Documentary

Sideshow Mike Andersen – 2MMM – “Looking Back at September 11”

Alison Drower – 1CBR – “Canberra Bushfires 2003”

Katrina Blowers, Merrick Watts & Tim Ross – Nova 969 – “Merrick & Rosso’s New York Stories”

2UE Production – 2UE – “Alec Campbell – the Last Anzac”

Dean Mackie – 2UE – “Bali Terrorist Attack”

Best Music Special

David Smith, Nigel Haines, Wilbur Wilde – Gold 104 – “Bee Gees – A Spirit Having Flown” M

Kyle and Jackie O’s Hot 30 Countdown – 2DAY FM – “The Grammys” M

Leigh Kuhlmann – 2MMM – “Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in LA” M

Bob Rogers – 2CH – “Reminiscing with Bob Rogers on 2CH” M

Sea FM 101.3 – 2CFM – “Sea FM’s SMS Request Fest and SMS 500” P

2AY Music Team – 2AY – “2AY Classic Café Tribute: Maurice Gibb” P

Jeff Garner – 1CBR – “Maurice Gibb Tribute” P

Craig Bassett – 2MG – “Tribute to Maurice Gibb” C

Mark McCreadie – 2XL – “Elvis – Top 20” C

Cathy Jubb – 3YBF – “Killing Time with Killing Heidi” C

Best Newcomer On Air

Rachael Stevens – 2GB M

Loz, Michelle and Des – 3TTT M

Nik Robinson – 2MMM – “Nik the Pom” M

Josh Szeps – 2UE M

Brihony Speed – C91.3 P

Leah Goodman – 2ROC P

Kerry Peters – 2BDR – “105.7 The River Morning Crew’s Kez” P

James Goodwin – 2XL C

Lynne Heaysman – Hot FM Network C

Mathew Monk – 3YBF C

Best Newcomer Off Air

David Penna – 2GB and 2CH M

Lucy Heal – Macquarie Radio Network M

Erin Ivancic – Nova 100 M

Megan Hodges – Wave FM P

Cassie Aldridge – 2AAY FM – “My Boobs Got Me This Job” P

Toni Collett – MIX106.3/FM104.9 P

Andrea Sammut – 3CS/MIXXFM – “Free Falling” C

Deborah Allen – 2BS and 2BXS C

Best Music Personality

Ben Dillon-Smith – 5SSAFM M

Rohan “Brownie” Brown – 3FOX M

Adam Willis – 2DAY FM M

Jamie Angel – 2DAY FM M

Andy Ross – Nova 100 M

Bianca Dye – Nova 969 M

Adam Barratt – 4SEA P

Tim Lordan – 4SEA P

Rob Doorey – C91.3 P

Michael McPhee – 2TTT – “Arvo Show with Macca” C

Adrian Charlesworth – 2GEE C

David Gillies – 2VLY C

Ben Hope – 2BXS C

Matt Sutton – 2ZOO C

Best Talk Personality

Alan Jones – 2GB M

Ray Hadley – 2GB M

Derryn Hinch – 3AW M

Neil Mitchell – 3AW M

Leon Byner – Five AA M

Steve Price – 2UE – “Steve Price Breakfast Show” M

Jeff Goodwin – 4RO P

Mike Welsh – 2CC P

Mike Jeffreys – 2CC – “Hang Ups” P

Steve Allan – 2GGO – “Steve Talks!” P

Steve Block – 2AY – “Steve Block for Breakfast” P

Mike Harris – 3GG P

Barry Hill – 2RE – “Furniture One Brekky Club” C

Scott Linden – 2OAG C

Janice McGilchrist – 2BS – “The Morning Wireless Program” C

Kerry Peck – 2BS C

Best Program Director

Dean Pickering – 3TTT M

Brian Ford – 3FOX M

Steve Mummery – 6MIX M

Steve Parsons – 2UUL P

Ross Turner – 4SEA P

Mitch Braund – 7TTT P

Mat Cummins – 3CS/MIXX FM C

Joel Gosper – 2VLY C

Damien Willoughby – 2SKI C

Cathy Jubb – 3YBF C

Best Networked Program

Wilbur Wilde – Gold 104 – “Wilbur Wilde’s Classic Café” M

Ray Hadley and the Continuous Call Team – 2GB M

Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady – 3AW- “Nightline” M

Stan Zemanek – 2UE – “Stan Zemanek at Night” M

Dani Torresan – RG Capital – “The Nite Mix with Dani Torresan” P

Cam Butler – RG Capital – “Oz Made with Cam” P

Hot and Star FM Network – DMG – DMG RAM, 4HOT, 4HIT, 4ROK, 4MKY – “The Hot 30 with Age” P

Best Syndicated Program

Radio Wise Networks – “Year In, Year Out”

MCM Entertainment – “The Hot Hits”

MCM Entertainment – “Take 40 Australia”

Elite Sports Properties – “Up Country Punt”

Best On Air Team

101.7 WS_FM – WS-FM – “The Jonesy and Kayley Show” M

Tracy Bartram and Matt Tilley – 3FOX – “The Australian Cricket Commentators” M

2DAY FM Morning Crew – 2DAY FM M

Jamie, Penny and the B105 Morning Crew – 4BBB – “B105 Morning Crew” M

Botica’s Bunch for Breakfast – 6MIX M

Hughsey, Kate & Dave – Nova 100 M

Merrick and Rosso – Nova 96.9 – “Burn in Hell” M

Phebe Irwin and Dave Gorr – Wave FM – “The Big Breakfast with Phebe and Dave” P

Mark Hine and Jo Abi – 2ONE – “Mark and Jo in the Morning” P

Pottsy and Leighton – 93.1 Star FM Wagga Wagga – “Pottsy and Leighton’s Big Breakfast” P

Kevin Rigby and Stephen Walter – 2TTT FM – “Brekky with the Boys” C

Eagle FM – 2SNO – “Adam and Sarah” C

Matt Sutton and Annwen Hughes 2ZOO – “The Morning Fat with Matt and Hughsey” C

Cathy and Monkey – 3YBF C

Best Station Produced Commercial

Geoff Bickerton – 5ADD – “Brighton Irrigation” M

Christopher Steele – WS-FM – “Choose-Day” M

Eric Stephens – WS-FM – “Chambers Cellars” M

Ray Hahunga and David Kersten 4MBX/MIX FM Fraser – “Icecream Bucket O Beef” P

David James – 4RGC – “Rosco’s Same Day Electrics” P

Cristy Kilo – 99.7 Star FM – “Falcon Beauty” P

973 Coast FM – 6CST – “QA Plumbing & Gas” C

973 Coast FM – 6CST – “Rockingham Suspension Centre” C

Jenny Summerville and Glen Thomas – 2RE – “Ruby and Gordon” C

Best Station Produced Comedy Segment

The Cage – 3MMM – “World Leaders” M

Triple M Sydney – 2MMM – “Brogden vs Carr – The Debate 2003” M

Jon Blake – 5AA – “George and Condoleesa” M

Ross Turner and Adam Barratt – 4SEA – “Sea-lebrity Fish Tank” P

Todd Widdicombe – 4RGC – “Sea FM Crazy Call” P

David Noonan – 7TTT – “Dave Noonan’s Crazy Call” P

Kevin Rigby and Stephen Walter – 2TTT FM – “Brekky with the Boys Unwanted Popstar Foundation” C

Adrian Charlesworth – 2GEE – “Skippy the Army Kangaroo” C

Matt Sutton and Annwen Hughes – 2ZOO – “British Correspondent” C

Justin Coombes-Pearce – 2BXS – “The You Beaut Race Team” C

Best Community Service Project

Austereo Network – Austereo Network – “Kids helpline Radiothon” M

B105 – 4BBB – “The B105 Christmas Appeal 2002” M

Steve Price Breakfast Show – 2UE – “The Rain Train” M

4SEA – 4SEA – “SEA FM’s Human Flag” P

NX FM – 2XXX – “NX FM’s Cessnock Bushfire Appeal” P

Jamie and Kez – The Morning Crew – 105.7 The River – “Water for Christmas” P

Nick Lowther – 2GEE – “Mudgee Drug Action Team Song Competition” C

Alex Hilling – 2CFS – “Alex and Petula’s Children’s Ward Christmas Appeal” C

2LF/STAR FM – 2LF/STAR FM – “An Off Key Xmas” C

Best Achievement in Production

Matt Dower – 3MMM M

Ben Ryan – 4BBB M

Vicki Marr and Arden Hanley – Nova 100 – “Nova 100 Imaging” M

Shane Rogers – 4SEA P

Craig Low – RG Capital P

Mark Brewer – 2XXX P

Craig Bassett and Nick Lowther – 2MG/2GEE C

Dave Peters – 2VLY C

Mitch Smart – 2ZOO – “Sounds of Dubbo” C

Best Promotions Director

Samantha Thompson – 3FOX M

Diane Massey – 2DAY FM M

Keiran Beasley – B105 M

Jean Jenkins – 2GB M

David Warner – 4RGC P

Nadeen Burge – 7TTT and 7XXX P

Steve White – 2GGO and 2CFM P

Melanie Lindquist – 2XXX and 2KKO P

Llewella McGrath – 2ROC and 1CBR P

Daryl Egan – 2VLY – C

Lisa Robinson – 2BS and 2BXS C

The categories Engineering Excellence, Brian White Memorial Award, Best Music Director, Best Station Sales Achievement, Most Played Australian Artist, Best New Australian Artist on commercial radio and Most Popular Station Manager will be announced later.