ACRAs Celebrate Commercial Radio Music Champions

Commercial Radio & Audio have announced the full list of finalists for the 2023 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), ahead of this year’s ceremony in October.

The 34th edition of the ACRAs will be held in Eora/Sydney on Saturday October 14, with the ceremony taking place at the International Convention & Exhibition Centre. “Congratulations to all the finalists,” said Ford Ennals (CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio) in a press statement (via Radioinfo). “You’ve been acknowledged by your peers as being the best and the brightest in a thriving and creative commercial radio and audio industry.

“The 34th ACRA Awards will celebrate 100 years [of] commercial radio in Australia. And while we honour a century of music, news, entertainment and connection, we crown those who are ensuring commercial radio’s continued vibrancy and relevance across Australia.”

There will be a suite of new awards presented at this year’s ACRAs, including the Gudinski award (named in honour of the late, great Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski), and the Brenno award (named for another late music icon, radio king John Brennan), as well as categories for Station Of The Year, Individual Talent Of The Year, Diversity and Inclusion, Best News Event Coverage, Podcast Of The Year and Podcast Host Of The Year.

Finalists for the inaugural Gusinski award include Jodie Williams and Maddy Rowe (for the NOVA Network’s Maddy Rose Aus Music Show), K-Sera, the team of Triple M’s Homegrown With Matty O, and NOVA’s Tim Blackwell.

Triple M have also racked up four of the five nominations for the Best Music Feature award, earning nods for their Oztober initiative, an edition of Behind The Hits honouring late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, The Killers’ David Williams-hosted station takeover, and Matty O’s NAIDOC Week celebration. The sole remaining nod for the award goes to ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil and Samantha Clarke (of WSFM) for their feature Turning Music Into Gold: Albums Turning 50 This Year.

Neither station made the cut for this year’s Music Director Of The Year award – the five finalists for this trophy are Brad McNicol (for Sydney’s KIIS 1065), Jake Powel (Katoomba’s CADA), Kiri Martin (Melbourne’s The Fox), Lee ‘Stampsy’ Stamps (Sydney’s iHeartRadio) and Scott Baker-Smith (Melbourne’s Nova 100).

Head here to see the full list of finalists for the 2023 ACRAs.