And The 2018 Radio Mercury Awards Winners Are...

McCann NY Co-Chief Creative Officer, Sean Bryan; John Bleeden, FCB Chicago, and Erica Farber, RAB President-CEO

Winners for the 2018 Radio Mercury Awards were announced Thursday evening at the 27th annual awards presentation held at The Cutting Room in New York.

This year’s $50,000 Best of Show award was split between FCB Chicago for their "Tours" Radio Flyer Campaign and Fitzco//Casanova McCann for their "Share A Coke 1,000 Name Celebration" Campaign.

"We were really torn over this classic incredibly creative storytelling for Radio Flyer and then this innovative and exciting use of the medium for Coke," noted Sean Bryan, chief judge and co-chief creative officer, McCann NY. "Splitting the Best of Show award is the best option with a nod to the heart of the medium, and a wink to the future."

"This was a fantastic year for radio creative. Our two Best of Show winners, along with all of tonight’s winners, showcase radio’s ability to share creative stories that encapsulate a brand’s message, and use the medium in a multi-platform environment, much like how consumers digest media and advertising today," said Erica Farber, president and CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau and chair of the Radio Creative Fund.

Sean Bryan with Alejandro Ortiz Casanova McCann; Mitch Bennett,Michael Groenwald, Bowen Mendelson, Fitzco and Farber

This year’s Radio Marketer of the Year Award was presented to Comcast’s Xfinity. Drew Horowitz, president and chief operating officer of Hubbard Radio presented this year’s award to Eileen Diskin, senior vice president, marketing communications at Comcast. Erica Farber noted that "Xfinity’s brand efforts activated during the past year consistently demonstrate how to leverage radio’s multi-platform capabilities. They created significant programs to support their suite of video, broadband, mobile, phone and home security products and services that showcase the very best of radio."

The lively ceremony was hosted by the radio team of Sherman & Tingle from Hubbard Radio’s 97.1 The Drive WDRV in Chicago and included the following presenters: Chuck Meehan, Doner Detroit; New York radio personalities – Rita Cosby, WABC; Shelley Rome, Z100; Shalia, WBLS, Omar Torres, Alt 92.3; and Garrett Vogel, Z100. DJ Whutever from iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1 served as the guest DJ for the night.

Numerous leaders from the creative and advertising community including the aforementioned Sean Bryan, Chuck Meehan,Ciro Sarmiento, Dieste, along with Sal DeVito and Ellis Verdi, co-founders of DeVito/Verdi, and SVP, executive creative director from Fitzco, Mitch Bennett were in attendance. Also in attendance were creative teams from barrettSF, BBDO NY, JWT Puerto Rico, Publicis NY, PureRed, and W+K.