The Advertising Club has always said that its flagship Abby Awards is ‘’for the industry, by the industry and of the industry”. And this is what Ajay Kakar, Ajay Kakar, Chairperson of Awards Governing Council Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show and Managing Committee Member The Advertising Club, told MxMIndia in a virtual chat with MxMindia on Thursday evening.
Like last year’s edition, the Abby Awards are powered by One Show and have received a total of 3506 entries as against 3301 last year. As many as 73 entrants for the Media Abby as against 63 last year. In Creative, there are 198 entrants as against 181 last year.
The total number of entries for Media Abby were 1258 this year (up from 1019 last year) and in the various categories under Creative, it’s been 2248 this year, as against 2282 last year. Digital, Mobile, and Technology, have collectively garnered 626 entries from 75 companies.
There were 23 jury chairs and 204 jurors across 23 categories. Of these there were 53 new, young, award-winning judges. There were 68 women amongst the judges (nine jury chairs are women).
So what’s new this year? Well, Lowe Lintas and McCann have entered in a bigger way, we are told. DDB Mudra and Famous Innovations are also there. Ogilvy continues to stay away.
A ‘Best Use of AI’ sub-category has been introduced as also Copywriting for web and digital craft has been added in still digital and digital verticals. A new vertical called Health has been added with sub-categories such as OTC Oral Medicines, OTC Products, Nutraceuticals among others. A new specialist agency award that has been introduced is Health Specialist of the Year for the best performance by a company in this vertical.