Clear Channel Radio Awards $1.25 Million in Prizes to Creators of Outstanding Radio Ads

The host was sublime, the prizes were unprecedented and the winners had game. All set against the backdrop of New York City’s picturesque Columbus Circle. Best of all: the winners of the Excellence in Advertising on Radio (EAR) Awards, held Friday at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center here, walked away with some $1.25 million in cash and prizes. Created by Clear Channel Radio (NYSE:CCU), the EAR awards monetarily recognize the outstanding work being done in radio advertising creative. Judged by a distinguished panel of top advertising and marketing editors, the awards are open to anyone creating radio advertising, whether inside broadcasters, advertisers, ad agencies, or creative shops. Friday’s event capped a four-month contest that attracted nearly 1,000 submissions. "We were delighted with the response to the competition, but we’ve been blown away by the response to Friday’s event,” said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "In addition to congratulating the winners, our thanks go out to Stephen Colbert for such a masterful job as host.” Among Colbert’s trademark observations in congratulating the nominees, declaring that the nominees had created radio advertising that was entertaining, funny, poignant and, most of all, "impactishnessful.” Some 42 finalists vied for prizes in seven categories that included prizes from BMW, PayPal and eBay, American Express, Delta AirElite, and Clear Channel. And the EAR Awards went to ... Best of Show(Grand Prize: $1 million in Clear Channel Radio air time) "Talk Like You Type” Pond Radio Entertainment Client: Typing Master Pro Writer / Director: Sam Pond Best Copywriting(Delta AirElite Fleet Membership in a private chartered jet for winner and five guests) "Talk Like You Type” Pond Radio Entertainment Client: Typing Master Pro Writer / Director: Sam Pond Best Use of Humor(A pair of 2007 Mini Cooper S vehicles) "Fisherman” Devito Verdi Client: Legal Seafood Copywriters: Joe Schrack, Larissa Kirschner Art Director: Carlos Figueiredo Producer: Karen Tomlin Production Company: Barl Best Use of Music(2008 BMW 3 Series convertible hardtop with HD Digital Radio installed) "Double Shot General” Crispin Porter + Bogusky Client: Burger King Copywriter: Ryan Kutscher Chief Creative Officer: Alex Bogusky Creative Directors: Bill Wright, Bob Cianfrone Executive Integrated Producer: Jill Kershaw Production Company: Audio Post Engineer: Frank Vendrosa-Nutmeg Audio Post Composer: Andrew Fellstein, John Nau-Beacon Street Best Use of Radio to Drive Consumers to the Web(A $50,000 line of credit on PayPal for use on eBay or another online auction site) "Tickets” Clear Channel Radio/Los Angeles Client: Broadway dot com Creative Director: David Heisop Best PSA/Pro Bono($25,000 donated to the charity of the winner’s choice) "Evil” Roberts Communications Client: Lead Free Rochester Creative Director/Copywriter: Tony Cacamo Creative Director: Bill Murtha Chief Creative Officer: Bruce Kielar Best Commercial Produced by a Radio Station(A $20,000 Paris shopping spree with a prepaid American Express credit card) "Crazy” Clear Channel Radio/Orlando Client: Adobe Gilas Director of Production Services: Dave Green Production Director: CJ Goodearl About Clear Channel Radio Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com.