New York - May 20, 2009 - The finalists for the 2009 Radio Mercury Awards, which recognize bold and effective commercials and campaigns exemplifying good radio creative, have been announced. The winners in the competition awarding a total of $125,000 in prizes will be announced at the annual gala on June 17 in New York City. The winner of this year's grand prize will receive a $100,000 award. In addition, two new awards were introduced this year; a $10,000 Integrated Radio Campaign Prize honoring the best use of radio in an integrated multimedia plan, and the Marketer of the Year Award. The Marketer of the Year finalists, selected by a committee of industry-insiders, are Coca-Cola, Geico, Hershey's, McDonald's, Mercedes-Benz, Wal-Mart and the Barack Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign, chosen for their commitment to radio as a creative medium.

Rick Boyko, director of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Brandcenter and former co-president and chief creative officer of Ogilvy and Mather, served as chief judge, and helped the Mercury Awards assemble its panel of final round judges: Bill Bruce, chairman, chief creative officer, BBDO New York; Pete Favat, chief creative officer, Arnold Worldwide; David Fowler, senior partner, worldwide creative director, Ogilvy and Mather; Mark Gross, senior vice president, group creative director, DDB Chicago; Mike Hughes, president and creative director, the Martin Agency; Lance Jensen, chief creative officer and founder, Modernista; Jose Molla, founder, creative director, la Comunidad; Mark Nardi, creative director, Hill Holliday; Ronny Northrup, creative director, Goodby, Silverstein and Partners; Bob Scarpelli, chairman and chief creative officer, DDB Worldwide; Mike Shine, executive creative director, Butler, Shine, Stern and Partners; Joyce King Thomas, executive vice president/chief creative officer, McCann Erickson, and Bill Wright, creative director, Crispin Porter and Bogusky.

Entries were judged based on their creativity, originality and effective communication of a brand's message. The finalists are: