The Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards, the biggest annual awards celebration of UK commercial radio, are now open for entries. 

This year’s awards will have a total of 28 categories, including new for 2012, Radio Station Event of the Year, judging anything from live music to sporting events, with strong and relevant links to the station’s core output.   

The awards, organised by RadioCentre and now in their 17th year, celebrate achievement across the whole spectrum of commercial radio, from presenters and programming to advertising and marketing, bringing together the best of commercial radio.

There will no longer be a seperate Digital Station of the Year cateogory in 2012, reflecting the changing face of the industry, and instead, digital stations will be eligible to enter Station of the Year.

The Breakfast Show of the Year and Presenter of the Year, will be split into two categories – over one million TSA and under one million TSA, enabling stations to compete against similar sized peers.  

PPL are sponsoring two categories, Most Played Artist and Breakthrough Artist, and RCS are sponsoring Programmer of the Year. 

Andrew Harrison, chief executive of RadioCentre said:  “The Awards are a landmark event on the commercial radio calendar, giving the whole industry a chance to get together to celebrate our strengths and successes.  Last year we had some fabulous entries and we look forward to a similar high standard again this year.”  

The closing date for entries is March 9th, with nominations announced in early May and the awards ceremony taking place in London on July 4th at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza.
More information on the awards and how to enter can be found at: www.commercialradioawards.org

The full list of award categories for 2012

People Awards
1. Presenter of the Year (Under 1 Million TSA)
2. Presenter of the Year (Over1 Million TSA)
3. Programmer of the Year (sponsored by RCS)
4. Newcomer(s) of the Year (sponsored by Skillset)
5. Journalist or News Team of the Year (Ali Booker Memorial Award)

Station Awards
6. Station of the Year (<300,000 TSA)
7. Station of the Year (300,000 to 1Million TSA)
8. Station of the Year (1 Million + TSA)

Programming Awards
9. Breakfast Show of the Year (Under 1 Million TSA)
10. Breakfast Show of the Year (Over 1 Million TSA)
11. Feature(s) of the Year
12. Specialist Programme of the Year
13. Social Action Initiative
14. Station Imaging Award

Sales & Marketing Awards
15. Marketing Award
16. Radio Station Event of the Year
17. Local Sales Team of the Year
18. National Sales Team of the Year

Advertising Awards

19. Best Branded Content
20. Best Creative Campaign
21. Most Effective Campaign
22. Advertiser of the Year
23. Media Agency of the Year

General Awards
24. The PPL Most Played UK Artist on Commercial Radio
25. The PPL Breakthrough Artist of the Year
26. Schools Radio Award (sponsored by The Vision Charity)

Special Awards

27. Chairman’s/Lifetime Achievement Award
28. Gold Award