When the ACRAs were cancelled, I was deluged with calls, texts, emails and comment posts asking what radioinfo and RadioToday could do to keep the recognition and energy of the ACRAs going.

• Some of my fondest radio memories were at this event… Radio deserves to be celebrated.
• For many, the goal of an ACRA was never just the award. It was the belief that the work mattered, that there was a thriving industry worth striving to be recognised in.
• The acknowledgment just needs to be there so I hope a new way to do that isn’t far off.
• A celebration of radio is now just.. gone! It’s be good if something else replaced it…
• Someone needs to step up.
• It’s time for audio awards that include commercial radio, the ABC, community radio and podcasters.
• Where will the next gen of radio announcers get that recognition?
• I loved the chance to get dressed up, celebrate the craft, and reconnect with people I’ve shared this journey with. That’s something I’ll really miss.
• Here is a wild idea- radiotoday run an awards online. Voted by the people rather than some welded on shiny pant suit who is ticking a box for their network. Admit it, that is not the worst idea you have heard this year.
• I think that’s a fantastic idea! It will fit in nicely with the RT Podcast Awards. Let’s make the “Radio Today Radio Awards” a thing

The key themes of your comments were:

• a chance to benchmark yourself against others
• professional recognition across all sectors of radio and podcasts
• being noticed by someone who might tap you on the shoulder for your next job
• a chance to rub shoulders with industry icons and heroes
• a fun industry night party

Initially I thought about the suggestion that we combine our existing RadioToday podcast awards with radio awards. We started putting something together that would have worked, but it would not have fulfilled some of those other themes such as an industry awards night and party. But at least it would have been something.

Others were also stepping up to see what they could do, industry podcasts were talking about it, the Radio facebook groups were canvassing suggestions, and over at Mumbrella, Tim Burrowes was working on an event.

Tim and I had a coffee chat about it at SXSW after we both heard what the other was working on and decided to collaborate. Radioinfo and RadioToday had the specialist radio industry expertise, Mumbrella had the proven event experience.

Others like David Rogerson, Melanie Lindquist, Zac Davies, Wade Kingsley, Jen Seyderhelm, Sarah Patterson and far too many more to name individually, put up their hands to offer help if we decided to do something.

All those people are now involved in some aspect of these awards. Most of them are on the powerhouse jury, listed on the awards info page here. Thanks all of you for stepping up.

Someone had to do something. In fact a lot of someones have got us this far.

Entries are open, the awards and a party are scheduled for 28^th May, just a few months from now.

Now it’s up to you!

The people who organise events are rarely the ones who make the events great.

The people who enter, those who turn up to celebrate their colleagues at the ceremony and the people who frock up to make the party something special are really the ones who make any awards night memorable.

It’s also the industry heavyweights who don’t need to win another prize and don’t need to go to another awards night, who enter anyway, or who turn up anyway… just because they want to support the industry and they know that up-and-comers want to meet them.

I’ve always been so impressed to see people like Jonesy and Amanda at awards nights, they’re there to support the event and happy to chat to everyone who approaches them

We are doing our part to make this happen. What about you?

Have you entered? Anyone can enter these awards, you can nominate and pay for yourself, you don’t have to wait to be selected by your company.

Have you nominated one of your team? If you earn the big bucks, have you generously paid the entry fee for someone young and new on your team?

If you are already high profile, buy a ticket anyway. It’s not just about you.

Have you entered into the spirit of the awards? It’s not just about winning, it’s about being part of the critical mass of an industry event. Are you talking about the awards, encouraging others to enter? Are you revving up your team to put in their best entry, up against your rivals?

I’m looking forward to seeing ABC, SBS, Commercial and Community radio broadcasters, plus small independent podcasters and big corporates competing and mixing together at the event in May.

Winning isn’t everything. Some people are afraid to enter because they feel they might not win. These awards are about more than winning, they are about being part of something that celebrates the audio industries.

We have developed a credible set of judging criteria and will take the judging seriously. This is not one of those awards nights where everyone gets a prize. In this first year we have limited the number of categories offered, but we have more on the list to expand the number of categories in future if all goes well this year.

If you enter but don’t make it to the finalist list this year, it won’t be public. Only the finalists are revealed.

If you make it to the finalist list, your entry will have been judged to be quality by your peers. That’s cause for celebration in itself.

If you win an award, you will be recognised as someone whose works stands out as an example to others of quality and impact. You may inspire someone else. As the old saying goes, ‘not win or lose, it’s how you play the game.’

Play the game well and enjoy the party afterwards with your rivals and colleagues as recognition of a well played contest.

Game on… get that entry in now!

Steve Ahern

Steve is publisher of this trade journal.