FAQs

Radio Mercury Awards

When does Call for Entry open?

Monday, January 6.

When is the deadline for entries?

Tuesday, April 1.

How do I win a Radio Mercury Award?

Start by entering! If you're proud of the broadcast radio or digital audio work you created, and it ran and/or aired between January 1, 2024, and up until April 1, 2025, and you want it to be recognized, the Radio Mercury Awards should be on your must-enter list.

What's new in the awards?

We are giving you more opportunities to enter - and win - in 2025:

  • We are introducing two categories exclusively for streaming spots: "Single Streaming Spot" and "Streaming Campaign."
  • We are introducing the category, "Use of Directing in a Single Broadcast Radio Spot."
  • We are also introducing the category, "Single Spot Airing on a Podcast."
  • We have updated our Public Service Announcement (PSA) category to "Single Broadcast Spot for Good" to better reflect the depth and variety of cause-related radio spots.
  • We have updated the "Emerging Technology" category to "Innovative Use of Broadcast Radio and Digital Audio" to recognize and reflect exciting new audio techniques and creative ideas.

View the full awards slate here.

What remains unchanged in the Radio Mercury Awards?

Everything you love about the Radio Mercury Awards remains intact:

  • Classic categories for single broadcast radio commercials, campaigns, locally produced spots and more.
  • No late fees for entries.
  • Award trophy and prize money for winners (you only pay for additional trophies post-event if desired).
  • FREE entry for our student-produced category.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to agencies, advertisers, production companies, audio companies and broadcast radio stations, groups or networks. Our awards slate details who is eligible to enter a category.

  • For example, certain categories are exclusively for agencies, advertisers and production companies; audio companies can enter some categories; other categories are exclusively for broadcast radio stations, groups or networks. And some of our categories are open to all of the above!

We even have a "Student-Produced Radio Commercial" category.

What categories are open to broadcast radio commercials and campaigns?

Several of our most popular categories are exclusively for broadcast radio work. Our awards slate breaks that down for you.

Can I submit streaming spots? What about digital audio?

Yes. There are several categories, depending on where your work aired/ran:

  • Streaming spots or campaigns: We have two new categories exclusively for digital streaming creative: "Single Streaming Spot" and "Streaming Campaign."
  • You can enter digital audio into the "Innovative Use of Broadcast Radio or Digital Audio" category.

Can I enter a spot that aired in a podcast?

Yes. That work would be entered in our new, "Single Spot Airing on a Podcast" category.

Can Spanish-language broadcast radio spots be entered?

Enter your work in the "Single Spanish-Language Broadcast Radio Spot" category.

I have more questions that aren't listed here.

We are happy to help! Email us here or call 212-681-7212.