The annual Aerial Awards will undergo a major restructure this year as the categories are reduced and a new awards evening planned for May 22nd in London.
The event is run by the Radio Advertising Bureau and is the only dedicated radio advertising awards, which are now in their 12th year.
In a change to the historical sector driven approach, this year’s Aerials will have a total of only six categories: Best Campaign; Best Direction; Best Sound Design; Best use of Creative Radio in a Multimedia Campaign; Best use of Creative Radio for Tactical Advertising and the Gold Award, which recognises the most outstanding ad or campaign of all the entries.
Mark Barber, planning director of the RadioCentre and director of the Aerial Awards said: "Radio presents a unique creative opportunity which only the finest ideas are able to exploit fully. Historically, the sector-driven structure of the awards hasn't always allowed the best radio ideas to enjoy the limelight they deserve. Our new approach is designed to allow the cream to rise to the top and demonstrate the true creative potential that radio offers to advertisers."
Martin Galton of agency Hooper Galton, who won best campaign for Nando's in last year's Aerial Awards, will chair the panel of judges, which is due to be announced in the next few weeks.
Said Barber, "We’re delighted that Martin Galton, a previous Aerial winner himself, and a true champion of ideas, has agreed to chair the panel of judges."
Said Martin Galton, “What the modern media world needs now is ideas. Ideas, ideas, ideas. So it’s important to celebrate them wherever they live.”
Winners of the Aerial Awards will be announced on May 22nd at the Four Seasons Hotel in London.
