More radio networks in Asia Pacific should participate in next year’s New York Festivals awards, says the events organiser.

Despite a 20 percent increase in entries from around the world, only four countries and territories from this region took part in this year’s radio awards.

Stations from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and India still collectively won 27 awards.

The award’s Executive Director Rose Anderson told Asia Radio Today that although participation had increased enormously over the past few years they would still “welcome more engagement from the region’s stations”.

Anderson says two new categories in the documentary group, Social Issues and Current Affairs, saw more entries from stations in Asia.

But there are 132 categories, ranging from music and personality radio programming to news and drama.

Rose Anderson, Executive Director, New York Festivals

“There are no geographical boundaries for talent and innovation so we have no boundaries in our entry process.  Most importantly, each entry is judged on its own merits, not in competition with others in the same category,” said Anderson.

The annual awards sees scores of respected industry professionals picked as judges including at least 10 from Asia Pacific.

Anderson gave Asia Radio Today some examples of the feedback given about the winning entries from this region.

• “Borderless Radio” from MYFM earned Gold in the Best Event category. One Grand Jury member said: “This program is an example of how radio can change the world by presenting a message that unifies people.”
• 92.7 Big FM’s earned Gold in the best station ID category for its early morning jingle and was cited for: “Exceptional production values, authentic instrumentation, great vocals which make this a world class Gold worthy entry.”
• Radio City earned Gold in Best Sound for its Acapella Jingle: “This highly original idea is beautifully crafted to enable it to do what it’s supposed to do – identify the station in such a way as to indelibly imprint that ID into the listener. Once through, and it did the job. Excellent!”
• “RTHK Radio 3 – The Girl in the Green Dress” which earned Gold was described by jury members as: “Powerful…This entry is brilliant on all levels.”

Check out videos from this year’s awards here.