The commercial media industry has changed, with more competition and less revenue than it had in past eras. In this context, the annual radio awards night, the ACRAs, has been axed.
The first ACRAs, originally known as the RAWARDS (radio awards), were held by CRA’s predecessor, the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters (FARB) in 1989. Until then, radio networks had their own internal awards, but there was no industry wide recognition or celebration.
At the time of introduction, FARB,members decided to combine the recognition programs of each network into a commercial radio industry event and to widen the scope of the annual industry conference. It became a three day event, with a full day conference held on the Friday for clients and industry leaders, followed by a half day conference on Saturday morning, with time off in the afternoon to get frocked up for the awards that evening. The CRA Annual General meeting was also held as part of the three day event. Later, training workshops were introduced on the Thursday before the main conference, delivered by AFTRS and international consultants.
In the 1980s, the radio industry had expanded hugely, with new FM stations on air, mergers, acquisitions and additional regional licences being issued. There were many radio companies, from the big networks like Wesgo, to small regional groups owned by family companies.
Former CRA Chairman and Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran attended all the awards nights from the first year until 2015. He has told radioinfo:
Former Fairfax Radio CEO Graham Mott was there when the Rawards were introduced and was part of the awards judging and board decision making all through his career. He has told radioinfo:
“From what used to be a very ordinary event the ACRAs became a night of nights for commercial radio. Lots of awards and entertainment helped to showcase radio as a vibrant industry that enjoyed honouring the best performers. It was the highlight of the annual conference.
Both industry leaders described the axing of the annual awards as “sad,” but recognised the changed commercial circumstances behind the decision. Graham Mott said:
“The ACRAs were widely supported by the industry; however, the cost to hold them was significant. At a time when radio is facing challenges that impact their commercial viability, it’s not surprising that something had to give. In the end the industry leaders have decided the money could be better used elsewhere.
“Radio has faced enormous challenges during the past and has met them very well. However, the business model must continue to change to a more cost-effective one, so everyone can survive. Sadly, events such as the ACRAs in their current form can’t escape the focus of spending money where it is most needed.”
radioinfo first reported the Rawards and annual conference in 1999 (when our site was known as AMT).
After the awards night was renamed ACRAs, in 2002 the awards were attended by 800 people and featured presentations by Olivia Newton John. By 2004 there were 28 award categories when we reported that the judging process had started. In 2005 we reported all the winners, and continued to do so in more details each year.
radioinfo became known for sponsorship of the annual after-conference drinks function. radioinfo’s retired editor Peter Saxon remembers trying to make a speech at the drinks function the first time it was held, but, with a room full of excited post-conference radio people talking, he could not be heard over the throng and cut his speech short. But everyone knew we had sponsored the drinks and each year we received many handshakes and thank yous from people who had enjoyed the hospitality of the radioinfo bar tab sponsorship.
There were speeches at the first few Rawards, but when the ACRAs were introduced, the CRA board, wisely, decided that no one could make a speech at the awards night because, if you put radio people in front of a microphone they will talk forever. But we felt it was a missed opportunity to hear from the winners, especially young up and comers from regional stations, so we began to interview them after they received their awards. At first the interviews were written then they were captured as audio and eventually video.
As our coverage developed, radioinfo broke new ground with live social media streaming and interviews during the night, followed by embedded audio in the results story. And of course Peter Saxon always gave his assessment of the night in an annual editorial (more of Peter’s editorials below).
Over the years we covered quirky stories such as couples who worked for rival networks being forced to sit at separate tables and one radio bride who got married the day before the conference and spent the first part of her honeymoon with new hubby, at the ACRAs.
With the consolidaiton of radio stations into just a few big networks, the landscape has changed from the time when there were dozens of owners and independent stations. The networks now have their own internal awards and are likely to deliver recognition to their teams through these internal mechanisms in future.
radioinfo will continue to support industry recognition in whatever way we can by working with any of those networks.
Steve Ahern, with some of the ACRAs coverage team of recent years
Our past ACRAs converage.
Peter’s past editorials: