Members of Australia’s Commercial Radio and Audio (CRA) organization on Thursday morning learned via e-mail that the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, or “ACRAs,” won’t be postponed until 2026 after all.
The awards have been permanently cancelled.
According to Australian industry trade publication Radio Today, the initial plan was to put the 2025 event on hold until next year. Now, CRA says the dollars used to put on the awards would be best served for other purposes.
“Our focus on long term sustainability across the industry needs to be our number one priority,” CRA CEO Lizzie Young said. “After careful consideration in consultation with our Board and Members, we’re directing our resources into initiatives like Sound Start, CRA Audio ID and HEARD, and regulatory matters such as Radio Prominence where we can have the greatest impact supporting our industry’s future. Individual networks continue to celebrate the amazing work being done across our industry through their own recognition programs. This decision was not taken lightly, but I firmly believe radio has a bright and exciting future in Australia, and this positions us to build that future.”
Cancellation of the 2025 ACRAs was first shared in April. Following Radio Today‘s news that the awards won’t return after its 2024 staging, reaction was swift. “If we cannot celebrate our industry and our people, then what do we have?” said Zak Davies, an audio integration professional who serves as Content & Promotions Director at amplifyCBR. “How do we benchmark our greatest achievements? How do we motivate our people to do their best work if we can no longer profile them and their success in front of their peers? How do we attract young talented people and maintain radio as an aspirational medium?”
