Broadcast Dialogue’s 2021 Canadian Radio Awards, Presented by HD Radio, are set to open for entries, starting Sept. 13.

We’re looking for your station’s best radio from the past year, from on-air talent to imaging and commercial production, engineering and station promotions.

This year, we’ve expanded our categories to 22, including new partnerships with the National Campus & Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC), that will see a Best Campus or Community Station of the Year award established and the Radio Connects’ Sound of Success Award, demonstrating innovative use of radio to positively impact client business – locally, regionally, or nationally, whether a station, group, agency, or radio advertiser. Due to an overwhelming number of entries last year, we’ve also added new talent and commercial production categories.

Juried by a panel of industry experts, awards will be handed out in each category to Major, Medium and Small Market winners.

Station of the Year – presented by NLogic

Recognizing overall excellence in radio broadcasting, this award goes to a local station demonstrating its ability to impact and engage with its target audience; including but not limited to personality strength, client effectiveness, community involvement, promotions and marketing, as well as creativity and innovation.

Campus or Community Station of the Year – presented by National Campus & Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) 

Recognizing overall excellence in broadcasting, awarded to a station operating as a not-for-profit and c/c licenced, demonstrating its ability to impact and engage with its campus and/or community audience, including but not limited to community service and involvement, creativity, innovation.

Program Director of the Year – presented by Signal Hill Insights

Awarded to a Program Director who demonstrates leadership, while promoting positive workplace culture, creativity, and the conception of unique programming that engages the station’s target audience. PD of the Year nominees may also be judged on community involvement, innovation, talent development, and efforts to promote the station’s identity and core values.

Music Director of the Year – presented by MusicMaster

The Music Director of the Year honour reflects excellence in tastemaking in the curation of station playlists. Nominees will be judged on their demonstrated ability to assess what will resonate with listeners, including the addition/discovery of new releases and new local talent if applicable to station format. Nominees may also be judged on conception of music-related station contests, giveaways, and other initiatives.

Best On-Air Solo Host (Music) – presented by PH1L Consulting

Awarded to an individual who displays an outstanding ability to engage, inform and entertain their target audience, judged on originality, and presentation, as well as community involvement and ability to convey station brand and identity.

Best On-Air Team (Music) – presented by David Kaye/Kayeman Productions

Awarded to an on-air team who display an outstanding ability to engage, inform and entertain their target audience, judged on originality, presentation, and co-host synergy, as well as community involvement and ability to convey station brand and identity.

Best On-Air Solo Host (News/Talk/Sports)

Awarded to an individual who displays an outstanding ability to engage, inform and entertain their audience, judged on originality, and presentation, as well as credibility, relevance, and ability to approach complex topics with clarity and balance.

Best On-Air Team (News/Talk/Sports)

Awarded to an on-air team who display an outstanding ability to engage, inform and entertain their audience, judged on originality, presentation, and co-host synergy, as well as credibility, relevance, and ability to approach complex topics with clarity and balance.

Best Canadian Multi-Market Program – presented by radioCount

Awarded to the on-air and production team behind programming, distributed either nationally or to multiple markets. Submissions will be judged on originality, presentation, and ability to entertain and demonstrate relevance to audiences across multiple stations and communities.

Best Anchor or Reporter

Awarded to an individual who demonstrates excellence in their ability to present news with clarity and credibility, including but not limited to live, breaking news, special events, and continuing coverage.  Nominees will be judged on presentation, creativity, ingenuity, and demonstrated ability to respond and pivot to bring emerging stories to air.

Best Podcast – presented by Triton Digital

Awarded to the producer, on-air personality or team, who demonstrate creativity, originality and excellence in podcasting.

Best On-Air Promotion 

Awarded to a station for excellence in contesting or station promotion. Nominations will be judged on audience engagement, creativity, programming integration, production value and on-air execution.

Best Sales Promotion –presented by Matrix Solutions

Awarded to a station that demonstrates excellence in executing a local sales campaign or promotion for a client, with a focus on creativity, ingenuity and target audience engagement.

Best Community Service Initiative –presented by Bohn & Associates Media

Awarded to a station that demonstrates creativity, engagement, and impact in the execution of a community service initiative. Nominees will be judged on programming integration, station creative and production values, and on-air and street team execution.

Sound of Success Award – presented by Radio Connects

The Sound of Success Award is open to stations, agencies and clients, recognizing a radio campaign that demonstrates how AM/FM Radio successfully contributed to business objectives, demonstrated by ROI, brand lift, and increased store or web traffic, in a local or national sales campaign.

Canadian Radio Emerging Artist of the Year – presented by FYI Music News

In an unprecedented partnership with FYI Music News, we’ll be launching the Canadian Radio Emerging Artist of the Year, presented by FYI Music News, nominated and voted on by radio Program Directors and Music Directors. Check back soon for more information!

Best Commercial – Local

Recognizing creative and technical excellence in local commercial production, consisting of either an individual spot or client campaign.

Best Commercial – National

Recognizing creative and technical excellence in national commercial production, consisting of either an individual spot or client campaign.

Best Performance in a Commercial

Celebrates a strong voicing/acting performance, creativity and ability to paint realistic mental pictures, tone and pacing to enhance a commercial.

Best Imaging Voice

Awarded to the best Canadian voice over talent for station imaging produced for a Canadian station, including demonstrated ability to capture station brand and identity.

Best Imaging Production – presented by Benztown Branding

Recognizing creative and technical excellence in station i.d. imaging. Entry may be for a single station or network brand.

Best Use of Sound in Imaging, Commercial, or Program

The creative use of sound within imaging, commercial or programming work, reflecting technical excellence in creating or manipulation audio elements (incl. sound effects, music and dialogue).

Best Achievement in Engineering

Awarded to an individual or station engineering/IT team that demonstrates excellence in technical problem-solving. Nominees are judged on their ability to navigate technical challenges, whether individual events or as part of a station build, transition or ongoing project, as well as ingenuity, knowledge, and adaptability.

Eligible submissions must have been aired or been executed between Nov. 1, 2020 and Oct. 10, 2021. The entry deadline is 12 a.m. PT on Oct. 11.

The Broadcast Dialogue Canadian Radio Awards are free to enter, thanks to our generous sponsors & supporters. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.

Read more about last year’s winners and the Canadian Radio Awards here.

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