ACRAs Finalists Fever – #11
There are thousands of hard-working, dedicated and amazingly creative people throughout the radio industry – and every year a small fraction of those people make the short list as a finalist in the ACRAs.
Just like we did last year, over the next few weeks, Radio Today will shine a spotlight on the best of the best.
Today we feature Katrina Fowler, Glenette Silver and Sean Craig Murphy, Sam Morrison, Hayden Naughton & Alex Abela.
Let’s Roll Out the Red Carpet….The ACRAs Finalists Fever – counting down the days to the big event on October 10 by profiling the finalists across all categories. You can get involved by emailing us here.
BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE
Mid North Coast Pest Control, Katrina Fowler, Cameron Horn & Anna Cook, 2MC, Port MacquarieNSW,Southern Cross Austereo C
So tell us about you….
I don’t have a radio background – that’s what made being a finalist so exciting for me! It’s my first year in radio – I studied a Diploma of Advertising at Macleay College, then did an internship with SCA which lead to a casual gig, then a full time role – I have only been an official full time copywriter for about 15 months.
I’m up for this award with Cameron Horn, who was my lecturer, and helped me get my internship at SCA, and Anna Cook, she’s been a producer at SCA Central Cost for almost 3 years now. Both Cam and Anna have been finalists and winners at previous ACRAS, so I’m lucky to be working in such a highly awarded team.
Tell us about the ad..Biggest achievement is the last 12 months…
Our entry is a 15 second spot for a Pest Control Company. We came up with the idea to just run a recognisable ‘pest related’ music bed – and then just to cut it, which is really what people want when they have pests – they just want them gone. Anna and I put a lot of effort into cutting it at a time in the music where you’re expecting the next note, so it’s really unexpected and almost off-putting have the splat sound effect. Then getting the timing right for when the VO came in… its more effort than a lot of people think – each second has had thought and time go into it. That’s what makes me really proud of this spot. Plus it stands out in an ad break. The conversations that go on in our office when we’re brainstorming can be quiet wild, we are creative after all, and it was great to be able to work on this idea without having to hold back…. Much.
You get the ACRA, what’s your speech..
I think I’d have to tell everyone that the splat sound effect used in this ad is actually a fart sound effect. Not many people can say they’ve put a fart sound to air. And that’s something we’re all very proud of.
I’ve found working with Country clients (I work with provincial and country clients in my role) can be very difficult. Most of them have their idea of an ad and are stuck to it, so a lot of the time you end up creating audio wall paper, with “convenient locations, friendly staff, and all your ‘insert product here’ needs”. When we get a client we can be creative with and have fun with I always find those spots are the best. Harder than writing the ad is getting the client to trust you and to run with it. Luckily the client in our case was all for it, and could see the benefit in standing out in an ad break. What I feel great about isn’t the ACRA finalist for this (I’m stoked, yes, but) I love that the client is seeing results. People sometimes forget us creatives aren’t ‘artists’ – we don’t create funny ads for the sake of it. We want to create effective ads, so hearing that the clients ad is working is my reward.
BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON
Glenette Silver; 2UE, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network M
Tell us about your career in radio…
I have been in the radio industry for a number of years having started with O’Connor Creative Services selling radio programs plus TM sound libraries to a number of radio stations. I ran the office here in Sydney as their head office was in the US
I then worked for Radio 2CH for 8 years as a direct Account Manager having met their GM during my O’Connor selling days
When 2CH was sold to John SIngleton I moved over to work for 2UE & had been working there for 21 years until the merger with 2GB where I am now working in the 2GB Pyrmont office
Best part of your job..
Becoming good friends with my clients and over the years helping them achieve success in their business
Surpassing my sales goals
Seeing the station gain success
Key achievements over the last year..
Surpassing my sales targets every month
Making the transition from 2UE to 2GB/2UE
Introducing new advertisers to 2GB/2UE
Introducing existing 2UE advertisers to 2GB
Your speech if you won..
I would like to thank ACRA & those who have nominated me I love the Radio industry & the many terrific people working in it from the superstars like John Laws, Alan Jones, Ray Hadley to the many sales executives & managers i have had over the years who have become good friends I lived through the rich days of radio like flying clients in the 2UE Traffic helicopters to the Hunter Valley for lunch ,to the tougher days of serious expense control and targets
But radio is still unique and I love working in the business and seeing satisfied clients
BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Greatest Year Of Music; Sean Craig Murphy, Sam Morrison, Hayden Naughton & Alex Abela, Triple M
Ok… guys…where and what..go..
Sean has been in radio since the 80’s.
He’s worked at 15 stations around the country including SAFM, 2Day FM, FOX FM, MIX 102.3 and Triple M (four times!)
Sam’s the baby of the group having been at Triple M for 8 years.
Haydon has worked in radio for 18 years with stints all around the country including Hobart, Newcastle and in Adelaide at SAFM as well as Triple M.
Alex has notched up 14 years at stations like 2Day FM and Triple M in Sydney and SAFM and Triple M in Adelaide.
Tell us about your entry…
This entry is a pure collaboration featuring Sean Craig Murphy (Writer/announcer), Sam Morrison (producer), Haydon Naughton (Announcer/digital) and Alex Abela (Music)
It was the first big project we all were involved in together after Sean started at Triple M late last year.
We really wanted to create a music feature that hadn’t been done before and involved the listener on air and online.
The spark for the idea came from an article that Craig Bruce had read in Billboard magazine which stated that 1984 was the greatest year of music ever.
We decided to put that to the test and after many brainstorms and lot’s of encouragement from Irene Hulme we created this multi platform music feature that ran over 4 weeks. It worked so well in Adelaide that it was successfully picked up all around the country by the Triple M network.
Here’s your moment… the speech.. go..
We’d keep it pretty tight and thank YOUR MUM.
Are You an ACRAs Finalist?
If you’re a finalist in Metropolitan, Non-Metropolitan, Provincial or Country drop us a line and we’ll shine the spotlight on you. Email Blair here.