ACRAs pushed back to 2022
The Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) will not go ahead this year.
The event will now take place in Sydney on the night of Sunday, February 13, 2022.
The announcement is the latest in a series of delays for the industry’s big night caused by COVID-19.
The 2020 event was called off due to COVID-19, however Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) was keen to push ahead with this year’s event to acknowledge the hard work of the sector.
The 2021 event was due to take place in just over one month’s time, on Saturday October 30, however CRA recently acknowledged Sydney’s lockdown, closed borders and ongoing uncertainty would likely have an impact.
As a result, the event has been pushed back again, with CRA saying the decision will allow time for corporate events and interstate travel to resume.
CRA’s CEO Joan Warner said holding the ACRAs as a live event in 2022 would give the radio industry a boost off the back of another challenging year.
“Our radio teams have been working hard to entertain and inform Australians during extended lockdowns,” she said. “After a two-year hiatus, we want to kick off 2022 on a positive note and give the industry an exceptional night at the ACRAs to look forward to.
“The event will be a wonderful opportunity for radio teams to come together to acknowledge the outstanding achievements in Australian radio over the past two years.”
The event has been rebranded as the ACRAS 20/21 to symbolise the recognition of work throughout both 2020 and 2021.
CRA said the event would take place at the ICC Sydney in line with COVID-safe procedures.
Finalists were due to be released this month, however this too has been delayed. CRA revealed today that finalists for the 20/21 ACRAs would be announced in the first week of October.
Warner will be departing the industry body soon after the event. She revealed yesterday she was calling time on her 20-year tenure and would finish up in March.
Ain’t no party like a Sunday night party
Not sure CRA read the room on this one..
Could CRA at the very least give the nominations… two years of industry recognition on hold for a Sunday night party?
Wouldn’t it be easier and less chance of being postponed again if they held it anywhere other than Sydney?
Is it really that hard to have a digital event?
We’re this far into the pandemic and the radio industry still hasn’t figured out how to do a virtual event?
Speaks volumes
Agree with Dorothy!
Or a simulcast across the country with each market holding their own event with all local stations attending.
Further proof it was a money making venture and not about recognising industry talent. Got to wait to get those dollars from a ceremony… R.I.P. ACRAS. Why would anyone bother entering in the future?