Five months after the CRA announced they were cancelling the 2025 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), the industry body has confirmed it has now scrapped the annual audio awards permanently.
Confirming the news to Mediaweek, after members were told via email, CRA CEO Lizzie Young said the decision to cancel was not an easy one.
“Our focus on long term sustainability across the industry needs to be our number one priority,” she 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.”
Lizzie Young, CEO of the CRA.
Back in April, the CRA confirmed the 2025 ACRA event would not go ahead.
In an email sent to members, the industry body cited “significant cost pressures incurred from ongoing legal matters with the PPCA” as a key reason for pausing the annual celebration of commercial radio’s top talent.
The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) is campaigning to lift the longstanding one per cent royalty cap imposed by the Copyright Act 1968, which governs what radio broadcasters must pay for the use of sound recordings.