ACRAs cancelled: Australian commercial radio awards axed for good

The Australian Commercial Radio Awards have been axed for good, a move that has reverberated through the country’s radio community. Commercial Radio and Audio (CRA) chief executive Lizzie Young said the decision to scrap the industry’s night of nights was driven by cost pressures and a perceived need to focus on long-term sustainability. “Our focus on long-term sustainability across the industry needs to be our number one priority,” Young said in a statement. She stressed that the decision was not taken lightly, adding that resources would be redirected toward initiatives such as Sound Start, CRA Audio ID and HEARD, as well as regulatory matters like Radio Prominence where CRA believes it can have the greatest impact on supporting the industry’s future. She noted that networks will continue to celebrate outstanding work through their own recognition programs.

CRA announced in April that the 2025 ACRA Awards would not proceed, a signal that the industry’s flagship night would be shelved for the foreseeable future. While officials had hoped the event would return the following year, the cancellation underscored a broader recalibration of where the industry concentrates its resources.

“Moving ahead without the event will place the industry on a much firmer footing,” Young added, insisting that radio in Australia remains bright and future-facing. “I firmly believe radio has a bright and exciting future in Australia, and this positions us to build that future.”

The decision marks a shift away from a long-standing annual gathering that has long served as a focal point for talent, teams and the broader radio ecosystem. In place of a centralized awards night, CRA says it will concentrate on programs meant to cultivate talent, support industry-wide standards and address regulatory issues that affect stations across the country. Sound Start, CRA Audio ID and HEARD are cited as examples of initiatives aimed at strengthening pipelines, visibility and accountability within the sector.

Industry observers say the loss of the ACRAs removes a unifying event that has historically brought producers, on-air talent, engineers and executives into one room to recognize achievement across networks and formats. Yet CRA’s leadership argues that the new emphasis on targeted programs may deliver tangible benefits more quickly and at a reduced cost, while allowing the industry to respond to a changing media environment where revenue models and audience habits are evolving rapidly.

Still, the shift has prompted questions about how the industry will maintain morale, visibility and momentum for emerging and established radio professionals without a central awards night. Some insiders caution that the absence of a single, high-profile celebration could dampen industry-wide enthusiasm for innovation and collaboration, even as networks continue to spotlight excellence through their own internal awards and partnerships.

As CRA iterates its strategy, the industry will watch closely how the new portfolio of initiatives interacts with ongoing regulatory reforms and the competitive dynamics of Australian broadcasting. The organization has signaled that the focus on sustainability and impact will guide its decisions in the near term, with updates to come as programs roll out and new partnerships are formed.

In the meantime, supporters of the changes emphasize that the industry’s mission remains intact: to nurture talent, elevate quality production and ensure that radio remains a vital, innovative medium in a rapidly changing media landscape. The path forward, CRA officials say, is about building a resilient foundation that can weather economic pressures while still celebrating achievement—albeit through different channels than the traditional awards night.