Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced its 2011 Radio Promotion Award winners. Given out each year at Country Radio Seminar, the awards are presented to stations in the large, medium and small market categories.

Large Market Winner: KUPL Portland, Ore.
KUPL’s “Free Money Friday” paired two of the station’s advertising clients to create a successful cross-promotion. Customers who picked up KUPL bumper stickers at one client location would receive a text message directing them to the second client’s promotion and location, where customers could win up to $500. The promotion generated increased sales for the clients and doubled the radio station’s texting database.

Medium Market Winner: WQMX Akron, Ohio
WQMX utilized the power of social networking to conduct its “Zac Brown Look-A-Like Contest” in the summer of 2010. Listeners submitted photos through the station’s Facebook page for a chance to win front row seats and a backstage “eat and greet” with the Zac Brown Band.

Small Market Winner: KZPK St. Cloud, Minn.
In 2010, KZPK staged its biggest benefit concert ever during Central Minnesota’s summer FireFest event. The show featured performances from Little Big Town, Emerson Drive and Bomshel, raising more than $50,000 for the city of Cold Spring’s Fire and Rescue Relief Association.

The Radio Promotion Awards will be presented during the “90 Executable Ideas in 50 Minutes” CRS panel on March 3, at the Nashville Convention Center.

Stations are judged on the creativity and implementation of their promotions, held from Nov. 1, 2009 – Dec. 31, 2010. Winners are evaluated on promotion objective, presentation style, effect on cume and overall success of the promotion.

Radio Promotion Award winners receive a free trip to Country Radio Seminar, including airfare (up to $500 of actual cost), hotel accommodations and registration fees.