5FM has announced that it won the award for Coolest Radio Station in South Africa at the 2023 Sunday Times GenNext Awards. The awards event was held in Melrose Arch on Wednesday, 20 September and was hosted by 5FM’s Zanele Potelwa.
According to the radio station, Sunday Times GenNext is the leading annual youth brand preference and consumer behavior campaign and research report. It recognizes brands that are competitive and ahead of the curve, as voted for by South Africa’s youth.
It consists of the Sunday Times GenNext ‘Coolest Brands’ survey as well as a youth behavior report, reaching over 12 000 youths aged eight to 30 years.
The station’s marketing manager Sewela Sebola says, “This win has been a long time coming and years in the making, and getting the nod from our core target market, the youth of Mzansi, really speaks volumes about our team’s absolute passion, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Sebola adds, “With the brand constantly unearthing new insights about our youth and strategically aligning ourselves to their changing needs and wants, 5FM will remain a firm favourite for our youth, and we will keep striving to win their hearts and give them the best entertainment in the coming years.”
“This is a testament to the brand’s ever-growing power in understanding what the youth truly want, adapting to it and communicating to them in ways that matter to them,” Sebola said.
5FM’s acting business manager Michael Bossenger says, “Winning this award is a massive honor for us, especially because it’s the youth of South Africa who selected us as their favourite station. They are at the core of everything we do — from our Top 40 music core to the news, events, stunts, influencers, movers, shakers, community projects and A-list celebrities we feature.”
Bossenger says, “Thanks to intense and continued market research that keeps our fingers firmly on our audience’s pulse, and a fleet-footed A-team that’s always ahead of the trend, 5FM is making phenomenal strides and continues to show substantial growth.”
“Not only reaching but actively engaging and moving the youth market to achieve solid ROI for clients that span anything from power-punching SMEs to the biggest multinational brands. This award serves as strong confirmation that the Power of 5 is throwing all the right punches,” Bossenger concludes.