The best radio commercial of 2008 will be battled out between 50 ad agencies and radio stations as part of the
national Siren Awards, which will be announced in Melbourne on May 9.
The finalists include DDB, Saatchi & Saatchi, Clemenger BBDO, Grey Worldwide, Leo Burnett, George Patterson Y&R and JWT as well as boutique agencies like Eardrum Australia, AJF Partnership; Smart and KWP! Adelaide. Radio stations represented among the finalists include Nova 106.9 Brisbane; DMG Perth; Macquarie Regional Radioworks and Australian Radio Network in Sydney.
The national Siren Awards, now in their fourth year, are run by Commercial Radio Australia and are designed
to recognise the best radio advertising in the country. The awards promote the importance of creativity as
a way to make radio advertising more effective. The Gold Siren winner receives a trip for two to the
Cannes Advertising Festival and entry into the 2008 Cannes Radio Lions to be held in June.
Last year’s Gold Siren winner, an advertisement for Snickers called 'Hoedown', won the Grand Prix Radio
Lion at Cannes and was the first Australian winner ever.
The other radio winner from Australia was a campaign for Foxtel, written by Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
which won a Silver Lion.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the Siren Awards provided a
great opportunity to recognise excellence in Australian radio advertising and this year had received a
record number of entries. “Each year the Siren Awards continue to raise the bar in terms of creativity and
originality and with a record number of entries this year – over 570 – up nearly 90% on last year - we are
set for a great winner," Ms Warner said.
The winner of the 2008 Siren Awards for creative excellence in radio advertising will be announced at a
gala breakfast featuring the hosts of Nova’s top-rating, drive time show, 'The Wrong Way Home' - Akmal
Saleh, Cal Wilson and Ed Kavalee. The breakfast will be followed by a Masterclass featuring well-known
Australian television and radio writer and producer, Tim Pye as well as Australian screen writers, Jan Sardi
and Craig Pearce. Sardi received an Academy Award nomination in 1997 for his screenplay for 'Shine'
and is known more recently for his work on the screenplay for the US film, 'The Notebook'.
Both the Sirens breakfast and Masterclass will be held at The Point Albert Park in Melbourne. Commercial
Radio Australia is running the event in association with the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club
(MADC) and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG). The breakfast will run from 7.30am to 9.30am and the
Masterclass will follow the breakfast and includes lunch. Tickets are on sale now at $395 for the breakfast
and Masterclass combined and $65 for breakfast only. For more information visit
www.sirenawards.com.au.
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