• June 19, 2003

DeVito/Verdi, New York, won its first Radio-Mercury Award by capturing the $100,000 Grand Prize in the 2003 competition. Over $150,000 in cash prizes were awarded for the best Radio commercials from 2002 at the luncheon and ceremony held today at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Both the General Category, for advertising agency submissions, and the Public Service Announcement Category drew an increase in entries this year. DeVito/Verdi garnered the top Mercury with Dinner Date, a spot for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The production company on the grand prize winning spot, McHale Barone, also worked on a BBDO, New York, spot for Snickers/Mars Candy that won one of the nine $5,000 General Category awards. The other eight General Category award winners were: Cliff Freeman & Partners, New York (Hollywood Video); The Richards Group, Dallas (Motel 6/Accor North America); DDB Chicago (Bud Light/Anheuser-Busch); Arnold Worldwide, Boston (Volkswagen of America); Secret Weapon Marketing, Santa Monica (Jack in the Box); Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco (Saturn L-Series); Cripin Porter + Bogusky, Miami (Ikea); and Clarity Coverdale Fury, Minneapolis (Minnesota Department of Health: Target Market).