Jonesy and Amanda crowned FM’s best on-air team at ACRAs

WS FM breakfast hosts Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones and Amanda Keller have been named the Best On-Air Team in the metro FM category at the 31st Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

The duo also won the award, handed out tonight at Brisbane’s Royal International Convention Centre, in 2012 and 2014.

Jonesy and Amanda on the red carpet at the 2019 ACRAs

Jonesy and Amanda’s breakfast show is second in the Sydney FM breakfast market, sitting on 8.2% share in the last GfK radio ratings survey, behind ARN stablemates Kyle and Jackie O’s 11.6% on Kiis.

In an ACRAs first, Erin Molan and Natalie Peters won the AM equivalent, the first female duo to win Best On-Air AM team and host a talk show on 2GB. Molan was unwell and unable to attend the black-tie event.

2GB talent had a good night, with drive host Ben Fordham taking out Best Talk Presenter for the fifth time, and morning presenter Ray Hadley winning in the Best Current Affairs Presenter category. Hadley has now won 33 ACRAs across his career.

Fordham accepting the accolade last night

“Tonight has been about celebrating the amazing talent – both on and off air – that works in the commercial radio industry and continue to producing outstanding radio and audio content in all its forms,” Commercial Radio Australia’s chief executive, Joan Warner, said.

“We congratulate all the winners, both behind the scenes and in front of the mic.”

Nova drive hosts Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold won Best Networked Program and Best Syndicated Australian Program, and Rebecca Morse, of Hit 107 Adelaide’s ‘Bec & Cosi’ fame, won Best Newcomer On-Air.

Lawrence Mooney, Triple M’s breakfast host, was awarded Best Entertainment Presenter, Nova’s Kent “Smallzy” Smalls was crowned Best Music Presenter, Triple M’s Peter Sterling won Best Sports Presenter, and Hamish and Andy took out Best Original Podcast (Unbranded).

Doug Mulray, former Triple M breakfast host, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime achievement and contribution to the industry. Mulray rarely makes public appearances, and, accordingly, accepted the award via video.

Doug Mulray and his wife, Liz ‘Miss Lizzie’ Muir

“It’s nice to be included, to be inducted. I’ve never been inducted before, I hope it doesn’t hurt,” Mulray joked.

“I appreciate being remembered fondly by the industry. It is a great pleasure and a great privilege.

“It would be dumb for me to receive this award without acknowledging those people [who helped in his career], generally if I can’t mention all the names. Genius people. And I think that too often when my success is discussed they’re overlooked and I really couldn’t accept this award without including them in my thank you.”

Mulray hosted TV shows like Beauty and the Beast and Mulray. Commercial Radio Australia’s Joan Warner congratulated Mulray on the achievement.

“There is no disputing the enduring place that Doug Mulray has in the fabric of the Australian radio industry,” she said.

“His formative impact on breakfast radio and broadcast comedy still resounds through what is heard on air today, making him one of the most respected and unforgettable voices in Australian radio.”

Andrew Denton, who worked with Mulray at Triple M, added: “You broke the mould. In fact, you reinvented the idea of a mould. You single-handedly, as far as I could see, put commercial FM radio on the map. You were the first ever to take a commercial FM radio station to number one against the then dominant AM radio.” 

Commercial Radio Australia received entries for the 2019 ACRAs from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations, with more than 200 finalists coming from country and provincial stations. The awards stretch over 39 categories, which are then split into four areas – metropolitan, provincial, country and syndication/production company – and judged by industry members.

The full list of 2019 ACRAs winners is as follows:

(Country = C; Provincial = P; Non-Metropolitan = NM; Metropolitan = M; Syndication/Production Company = S or PC)

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM
Jonesy & Amanda; Brendan Jones & Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (M)

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM
Afternoons with Erin Molan & Natalie Peters; Erin Molan & Natalie Peters, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Monkey in the Morning; Matt Monk, Lachi Rooke & Danielle Keilar, Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters (C) Mike E & Emma; Michael Etheridge & Emma Chow, The Edge 96.1, Western Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (P)

BEST TALK PRESENTER
Sarah Boorer; 2BS, Bathurst NSW, Super Radio Network (C)
Tim Shaw; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network (P)
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM
Country Today with Libby Price; Libby Price, ACE Radio Broadcasters (C)
Australia By Night with Stephen Cenatiempo; Stephen Cenatiempo, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Stephen Cenatiempo; Triple M Regional Network, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Ray Hadley; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER
Alo Baker; Hit93.5, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (C)
Jeremy Ryan; Triple M, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Lawrence Mooney; Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER
Gemma Maddox; Hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA (NM)
Kent “Smallzy” Small; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER
Kate Meade; 3YB, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters (C)
Tom King; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters (P)
Peter Sterling; Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Richie, Tim Blackwell, Marty Sheargold & the Nova Entertainment Syndication Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
Brad’s Big Black Box; Brad Blissett, Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Disclaimer Man; Luke Bradnam, Gold 92.5, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Back to School Specials; Radio Chaser, Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT
Triple M Classic Rock Digital; Adam Williscroft, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR
George Sargent; 2BS, Bathurst NSW, Super Radio Network (C)
Erin Ramsay; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment (P)
Rebecca Morse; Hit107, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR RADIO JOURNALISM
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters (NM)
Matthew Pantelis; FIVEaa, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Tathra Radiothon; 2EC & Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Stand Up To Domestic Violence; Bridget Daley & Spida Everitt, Gold 92.5, Broadbeach QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Kennedy Molloy’s trip to Yuendumu for Red Dust; Jane Kennedy, Mick Molloy, Chris Marsh & Whitney Plowman, Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST RADIO SHOW PODCAST
The Jimmy & Nath Podcast; Jimmy Smith & Nath Roye, Hit100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Ricky Gervais One-On-One with Christian O’Connell; The Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show, Gold 104.3, Melbourne VIC, Australian Radio Network (M)

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – BRANDED
Focus On Ability ; Nova Employment & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – UNBRANDED
Hamish & Andy; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, PodcastOne Australia

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
2018 AFL Grand Final Call; K rock Football Commentary Team, K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters (NM)
State of Origin Game II; Ray Hadley’s Continuous Call Team, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
David Collins – Goodbye, Farewell, Amen; David Collins, Tanya Wilks, Mark Brewer & David Dollin, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Jimmy Barnes R U OK Day; Triple M Content, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Alana and Robbie’s David Guetta Music Special; Alana McLean & Robbie Klitzing, Red FM, Regional WA, Redwave Media (C)
Jai Waetford Special; The Edge & Jimmy Manning, The Edge 96.1, Western Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (P)
Backstreet Boys Live in Las Vegas; Carrie Bickmore & Tommy Little, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION
Hit104.7 Skyfire; Zak Davies, Tarryn Evans, Adam Jansen, Alexandra Carlon, Georgia Duck, Josh Torney, Ned Breward, Matt Heap, Bethany Larsen, Gemma Maddox & Rod Cuddihy, Hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA (NM)
Fifi, Fev & Byron’s Real Slim Tradie; Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola & Byron Cooke, 101.9 The Fox, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
Jesse & Juelz’ Busselton Jetty Swim; Grant Fletcher, Jesse Watkins, Juelz Jarry, Simone Butland & Amy Collett, Hit 95.7, Bunbury WA, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Afterpay Presents Nova’s Red Room with Gang of Youths; Stephanie Loupelis, Claire Marshall, Aleksei Plinte, Lynette Churchill, Danielle Kosoric, Briar-Louise Rose, Oriel Guthrie, Mitchell Jones, Amy Don, Tara Wyllie, Amanda Ong, Leesa Ogilvy, Brendan Taylor, Tony Thomas & Jane Elliot, Nova 96.9, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Sea FM Sing It Out; SCA Marketing, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo NM Kennedy Molloy DUOS Version 2; Jane Kennedy, Mick Molloy & SCA Marketing, Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST STATION PROMOTION
Stolzy & Damo’s Town Songs; Glenn Stolzenhein, Damien Leith & Sam Arenson, Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Mow The MMM’s; Jay Shipston, Dave Peters, Angela Julian & Annita Mckinnon, Triple M, Mackay QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Fitzy & Wippa’s Backyard Cricket Match at the PM’s House; The Fitzy & Wippa Backyard Cricket Team, Nova 96.9, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST SALES PROMOTION
Tanya & Steve’s Mine OB; Triple M Newcastle Promotions Team, Triple M, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Jonesy & Amanda’s Sydney Lunar Festival World Record Yum Cha ; Brendan Jones, Amanda Keller & The WSFM Team, WSFM, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (M)

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
Rhea Gillie – Fairsy’s Big Breakfast; LAFM, Launceston TAS, Grant Broadcasters, (NM)
Leon Sjogren – Fifi, Fev & Byron; 101.9 The Fox, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENT AFFAIRS
Melissa Redman – Tasmania Talks with Brian Carlton; LAFM, Launceston TAS, Grant Broadcasters (NM)
Zac McLean – The Ben Fordham Show; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Glenn Stolzenhein; Power FM & 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Ryan Khay; TRFM, Traralgon VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters (P)
Georgie Page; smoothfm Network, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
Mike Ormond-Birch; Sea FM, Devonport & Burnie TAS, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Andrew Very; Gold 92.5, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P Jack Ball; Hit105, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

BEST PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
Molly Perrett; K rock and bay 93.9, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters (NM)
Melissa Ratchford; ARN Melbourne, VIC, Australian Radio Network (M)

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM
Mel Usher; FIVEaa, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO FM
Ange Anderson; Nova 106.9, Brisbane QLD, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Michael Prevedello; 2GN, Goulburn NSW, Capital Radio Network C Renee Criddle: i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network (P)

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Project Typhoon – SCA Playout System Rollout; James Dearness, Cameron St Clair & the Project Typhoon Team, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Brendan Egan & Troy McInnes; Hitz 939, Bundaberg QLD, Grant Broadcasters (C)
Allison Rasmussen; Triple M, Townsville QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Jeff Nielsen; WSFM, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (M)

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE
Macquarie Medi Spa “We’re for Blokes”; Janeen Hosemans, Daniel King, Nicolas Cook & Karla McDiarmid, 2BS & B-Rock, Bathurst NSW, Super Radio Network (C)
Apple Song; Josh Robins, Nat Marshall & Ethan Kavanagh, Hit Southwest, Bunbury WA, Southern Cross Austereo (P)
Walk a Mile in My Boots; Demi Williams & Eddie Bye, Nova 91.9, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN
Brisbane Waters Private; Cameron Horn, David Horspool & Ally Kallis, Sea FM, Gosford NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (NM)
Speeding Ads; Garry Dean, Magnus Newman & Drew Barrett, Nova 93.7, Perth WA, NOVA Entertainment (M)

BEST AGENCY SALESPERSON
James Paton; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited

BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON
Jim Walker-Broose; 2XL & SNOW FM, Cooma NSW, Capital Radio Network C Termira Speer; i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network (P)
James Byron; 4BC, Brisbane QLD, Macquarie Media Limited (M)

BEST STATION SALES ACHIEVEMENT
3NE & Edge FM Sales Team; Wangaratta VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM Crocmedia Melbourne Direct Sales Team; 1116 SEN, Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network (M)

BEST NEWCOMER OFF-AIR
Leona Chan; 2QN & Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters (C)
Anthony Badolato; The Edge 96.1, Western Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network (P)
Will Porter; Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (M)

Brittney Rigby

Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.

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topics ACRAs Australian Commercial Radio Award Ben Fordham Doug Mulray Erin Molan Jonesy and Amanda Kate Natalie Peters radio Ray hadley Tim and Marty

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