Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson have been crowned Best On-Air Team (FM) at the 33^rd annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), announced at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. The KIIS 1065 breakfast stars have now won the award a record eight times and were also inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame for outstanding lifetime achievement and their contribution to radio, the community and charities over their career.

Melbourne institution Neil Mitchell, whose influential 3AW morning show continues to top the ratings after 35 years with the station, scooped the double with Best Talk Presenter and Best Current Affairs Presenter.

3AW breakfast team Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft picked up the Best On-Air Team (AM) accolade.  This is the second win for the pair but the first time they’ve been able to pick up the award in person following the return of the radio awards as a live event after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The ACRAS were presented at a gala event attended by 1,000 radio personalities and executives from around the country, hosted by WSFM stars Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones, with entertainment by Birds of Tokyo, First Nations singer songwriter Mitch Tambo and hip hop artist ILLY.

The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power also won Best Networked Program and Sandilands was awarded Best Entertainment Presenter.

Winners of other major awards included Fitzy & Wippa (Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli) from NOVA Entertainment who won Best Syndicated Australian Program.

The Ben & Liam breakfast show on Nova 91.9 in Adelaide won Best Community Service Project (Metro) for “Ben & Liam’s Trapped”, raising awareness for mental health.

Other major winners included:

·         Best Sports Presenter – James Brayshaw (Triple M Melbourne)

·         Best Newcomer On-Air – Sofie Formica (4BC Brisbane)

·         Best Original Podcast – Unbranded – Brenda, Call Me! hosted by Courtney Act & Vanity (Nova Podcasts)

·         Best Digital Radio Station – RnB Fridays Radio (SCA)

·         Best News Presenter Metro AM – Amie Meehan (2GB)

·         Best News Presenter Metro FM – Heidi Tiltins (smoothfm 95.3)

·         Brian White Award for Radio Journalism – Clinton Maynard (2GB)

The ACRAS highlight Australia’s vibrant radio and audio industry, recognising outstanding talent across 39 categories, including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment.

Ford Ennals, the chief executive officer of awards organiser Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), said: “The ACRAS are about celebrating what makes radio such an enduring and influential medium.  It has been 99 years since the first station began broadcasting in Australia, and radio’s bond with listeners today is stronger than ever.  Congratulations to all the winners and the finalists on their amazing work.”

The ACRAS are peer judged, with entries received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Stations outside the metropolitan areas are well represented with more than 200 winners from country and provincial stations.

Photos: Red carpet photos available from 7pm AEDT and winners photos after the event here.

Broadcast vision: Event highlights and red carpet interviews will be available after the event here.

Full list of winners below:

Please note: Category Finalists are denoted with the following letters:

Country>Provincial>Non-Metropolitan>Metropolitan>Syndication/Production Company

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM

The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, ARN

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM

3AW Breakfast with Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft; Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft, 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Nine Radio

BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY AND PROVINCIAL

Brooke & Bob; Brooke Humble & Bob Lawry, Magic 93.1, Berri SA, ARN C

Tanya & Steve; Tanya Wilks & Steve Grahame, Triple M 102.9, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

BEST TALK PRESENTER

Adam Roche; 3WM, Horsham VIC, Ace Radio Broadcasters C

Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9/Hot 100, Darwin NT, ARN P

Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Nine Radio M

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM

Country Today; Libby Price, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Tasmania Talks with Mike O’Loughlin; Mike O’Loughlin & Rhea Gillie, ARN P

Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, ARN M

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER

Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9/Hot 100, Darwin NT, ARN NM

Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Nine Radio M

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER

Dana Hamilton; Power 98.1, Muswellbrook NSW, ARN C

Bianca Dye; 90.9 SeaFM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P

Kyle Sandilands; KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER

Adam McGuire; Hit 97.9, Kalgoorlie WA, Southern Cross Austereo C

Al Dobie; Triple M 92.5, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P

Mitch Churi; KIIS Network, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER

Blake Escott; 3NE, Wangaratta VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Jeremy Ryan; Triple M 102.9, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

James Brayshaw; Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM

Fitzy & Wippa; Ryan Fitzgerald & Michael Wipfli, NOVA Entertainment

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT

Tracksuit Boys ‘Everybody’; Brad Blissett, Power FM, Bega Bay NSW, ARN C

Get Vaccinated; Nick Gill, Hit 106.9, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

Barb Scams the Scammer; Kate Langbroek, Monty Dimond & Yumi Stynes, KIIS Network, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT

RnB Fridays Radio; SCA DAB+ Team, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR

Kayla Wilson; Mixx FM 101.3, Horsham VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Isabel Everett; Triple M, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

Sofie Formica; 4BC, Brisbane QLD, Nine Radio M

BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR RADIO JOURNALISM

Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, ARN NM

Clinton Maynard; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio M

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
MHA Meals on Wheels; Blake Escott & Owen Godenzi, 3NE/Edge FM, Wangaratta VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Bianca, Dan & Ben’s Flood Watch; Bianca Dye, Dan Anstey & Ben Hannant, 90.9 SeaFM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P

Ben & Liam’s Trapped; Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton, Ben Latimer, Jordan Marshall, Macey Gibbs, Nick Marwe, Belle Jackson, Cam Doyle, Josh McCabe, Lachlan Wiltshire, Adam Pope & Brodie Green, Nova 91.9, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST RADIO SHOW PODCAST

Jimmy & Nath; Jimmy Smith & Nath Roye, Hit 100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo NM

Jonesy & Amanda’s Time Travellers Podcast; Brendan Jones, Amanda Keller, Millie Michael, Jenna Benson & Wayne Fox, WSFM, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – BRANDED

Project Ari; The Project Ari Team, NOVA Entertainment

BWEST ORIGINAL PODCAST UNBRANDED

Brenda, Call Me!; Nova Podcasts, NOVA Entertainment

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE

Raiders On Mix – Raiders v Titans Comeback Match; Chris Coleman, Phil Small, Nick Risteski & Adam Jansen, Mix 106.3, Canberra ACT, ARN/ SCA NM

Local AFL Grand Final Call & Cometti’s Final Call; The 92.9 Triple M Perth Team, 92.9 Triple M, Perth WA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Mayoral Tribute; Andrew Johnston, 2QN, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM

RIP – A Shane Warne Tribute – SEN Remembers Shane Warne; Sam Thompson & Julian Bayard, SEN 116am, Melbourne VIC, Sports Entertainment Network M

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL

32 Years of Taylor Swift; Jess Scully, RealFM, Mudgee NSW, Super Radio Network C

30th Anniversary of Nevermind; Drew Chapman & Karina Bennett, Power 100, Townsville QLD, ARN P

MMM’s School of Rock with Jimmy Barnes; Andrew Very & Brendan Annakin, Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION

Hit 100.9 The Off Season with Jimmy & Nath; Jimmy Smith & Nath Roye, Hit 100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo NM

Kyle & Jackie O’s Get Vaxxed Baby!; Derek Bargwanna, Matthew Petherick, Sam Vallins & Kian Oliver, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES

Menulog – Red Room; NOVA Entertainment, Nova 96.9 Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Open Your Ears with LiSTNR; SCA Marketing team, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST STATION PROMOTION

Moffee’s Phonebooth Bucks; Michael Moffett, 106.3 Triple M, Coffs Harbour NSW, SCA C

Newcastle’s Biggest Whirlpool; Taylah Smith, Claudia Mason, Nick Gill, Jess Farchione, Alex Ryan & Nick Allen-Ducat, Hit 106.9, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

Kyle and Jackie O’s Set You Up For Life; Kyle & Jackie O, The Kyle & Jackie O Breakfast Show, KIIS 1065 Content, KIIS 1065 Brand & Promotions, KIIS 1065 Digital & ARN Commercial Team, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW ARN M

BEST SALES PROMOTION

Eumundi Brewery – Brewed by Eu; Ebony Parke & Josh Wilkinson (The Studio), 92.7 Mix FM, Maroochydore QLD, GSL Media Group NM

Stav, Abby & Matt Underwater Show; Nick Bartley, Stav Davidson, Abby Coleman, Matty Acton & Jack Ball, B105, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC

Grace Garde; Hit 100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo NM

Zach La Cava; Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENT AFFAIRS

Rhea Gillie; LAFM, Launceston TAS, ARN NM

Harnsle Joo; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio M

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Angela Frino; 2QN/Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Rod Brice; 92.7 Mix FM, Maroochydore QLD, GSL Media Group P

Mike Byrne; WSFM, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR

Trent Towson; 90.9 SeaFM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo NM

Brad McNicol; KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, ARN M

BEST PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR

Brooke Papamanolis; 92.7 Mix FM, Maroochydore QLD, GSL Media Group NM

Nick Bartley; B105, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL

Scott Leek; SCA Griffith, Griffith NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C

Rod McLeod; 92.5 Triple M, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM

Amie Meehan; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO FM

Heidi Tiltins; SmoothFM 95.3, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

ARN’s VPlayer; Bryan Amos, ARN, National AUS, ARN

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

Sophie Jackson; 3WM, Horsham VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Dan King; K Rock 95.5, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P

Daniel Pearson; Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE

Coffs Coast Dental – Tooth Decay; Cameron Horn, Triple M, Gosford NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C

Live Bushfire Ready; Glen Styles & Marc Dwyer, Hit Network, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P

Bushranger Power Equipment; Tony Byrne, Carly Nicolaides & Andrew Fritsch, Triple M, Brisbane QLD, SCA M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN

Suncoast Health & Fitness – Voice In Your Head; Selina Hynes & Matt Cancian, 91.9 SeaFM, Maroochydore QLD, GSL Media Group NM

Height 4 Hire; Tony Byrne & Andrew Fritsch, Triple M, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST AGENCY SALESPERSON

Isabella Wells; Nine Radio

BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON

Caroline Lowe; Magic 899 & 5CC, Port Lincoln SA, ARN NM

Duncan Fosdike; Triple M & SAFM, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION SALES ACHIEVEMENT

GOLD FM98.3 & AM1071 Sales Team; Gold Central Victoria, Bendigo VIC, ARN NM

Melbourne Direct Sales Team; SEN 1116, Melbourne VIC, Sports Entertainment Network M

BEST NEWCOMER OFF-AIR

Nathan Bell; 3NE & Edge FM, Wangaratta VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C

Scott Gilchrist; Hit 104.7 & Mix 106.3, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA P

Spiro Christopoulos; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio M