Radio Mercury Awards names Mark Gross chief judge
A top radio awards show now has a big name to lead its panel of judges this year, someone who ushered in radio’s longest-running campaign. Mark Gross, founder and creative director at Highdive Advertising, has been named the 2017 Chief Judge for the 26th Annual Radio Mercury Awards Competition.
Mark Gross named chief judge for 2017 Radio Mercury Awards
Gross is a DDB Chicago alumnus, having led creative on some of the agency’s biggest accounts, including Capital One, Cars.com, Bud Light and Mars-Wrigley. He is probably best known for the “Real Men of Genius” campaign for Bud Light, the most awarded campaign in advertising history. He has won three Best in Show Radio Mercury Awards, two Cannes Radio Grand Prix Lions, a Radio Grand Andy and a Radio Grand Clio. Mark has also served as President of the inaugural Cannes Radio Jury, and President of the Clio Radio Jury.
“Captivating movies, engaging books, powerful stage plays, sticky songs, memorable radio advertising -- they all share one thing: great storytelling,” said Gross. “The panel of judges and I will be looking for the campaigns and spots that draw us in with unforgettable and fascinating stories that you can only tell on the radio.”
This past fall, Gross, along with fellow DDB Chicago colleague and Radio Mercury Award winner Chad Broude, founded Highdive Advertising, a boutique agency in Chicago.
“Mark Gross has been a part of so many Radio Mercury Award-winning spots and campaigns that we’ve lost count. His roster of work could be a curriculum of how to create award-winning radio advertising. We are thrilled he will lead this year’s judging and ensure that the best of the best are awarded in June,” said Erica Farber, president and CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau and chair of the Radio Creative Fund, a non-profit corporation funded by the radio industry that governs the Radio Mercury Awards.
Award categories for the 2017 Radio Mercury Awards will be announced later this month, along with Call for Entry guidelines and deadlines.