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Clio Awards
The Clio Awards logo
Awarded forCreative excellence in advertising and design
Dateannually in May
VenueCipriani 25 Broadway
CountryWorldwide
Presented byEvolution Media
Hosted byAlan Cumming
Established1959
First award1960; 65 years ago (1960)
Websiteclios.com

The Clio Awards, or simply The Clios, is an annual award in advertising that recognizes creative excellence and innovation in communication and design, judged by advertising professionals from around the world. The awards are presented by Evolution Media.[1][2]

The Clios has several awards programs alongside the larger Clio Awards that recognize creative marketing efforts in specific industries: Clio Cannabis, Clio Entertainment, Clio Fashion & Beauty, Clio Health, Clio Music, and Clio Sports. One work in each media type may be awarded the Grand Clio, the highest honor.

In 1991, the event was described as the most recognizable international advertising award by Time magazine; the "Oscars" of advertising.[3]

History

[edit]

The awards, founded by Wallace A. Ross in 1959, are named for the Greek goddess Clio, the mythological Muse known as "the proclaimer, glorifier and celebrator of history, great deeds and accomplishments."[4]

Originally presented by the American Radio and TV Commercials Festival, the parent company for the Clios, also founded and directed by Ross,[5] the first Clios were awarded in 1960 for excellence in U.S. television advertising. Each winner received a gold Georg Olden–designed statuette. The competition was expanded to include work on international television and cinema in 1966, and then U.S. radio ads in 1967.[4]

1970s–1980s

[edit]
Engraved plaque on the 1977 Clio award given to Artie Schroeck for arranging the music in a McDonald's jingle.

The Clio Awards were acquired by Bill Evans in 1971 for US$150,000[6] (equivalent to $1,127,566 in 2024) and became a "for profit" company.[4] Over the next two decades the company's income grew to $2.5 million per year, derived primarily from Clio nomination fees, of $70 to $100 per entry.[3]

Evans expanded competition by including U.S. print advertising in 1971, international print advertising in 1972, international radio advertising in 1974, U.S. packaging design in 1976, international packaging design and U.S. specialty advertising in 1977, U.S. cable in 1983, and Hispanic competition in 1987.[4]

The rules for the 1984 award required that a given entry appear publicly during the calendar year 1983. In order to be eligible, Chiat/Day needed to run Apple Computer's "1984" commercial (directed by Ridley Scott) for the Macintosh computer prior to Super Bowl XVIII. In December 1983, Apple purchased time on KMVT in Twin Falls, Idaho, after the normal sign-off, and recorded the broadcast in order to qualify.[7]

In 1984, a nearly identical situation occurred when Doyle Dane Bernbach, the ad agency for Ziebart, purchased time on a Detroit channel carrying the inaugural Cherry Bowl college football game in December in order for Ziebart's "Friend of the Family (Rust in Peace)" commercial to be eligible for the awards the following year. The commercial won the Clio Award in 1985.[8]

The 1988 awards were aired on television on FOX and hosted by David Leisure on December 7, 1988.[9]

1990s

[edit]

1991 Clio Awards

[edit]

Attendees of the 1991 Clio Awards who had paid the $125 admission price did not have tickets waiting at the door, as promised. Also missing was Clio President Bill Evans.

The caterer of the event announced that the master of ceremonies was considered a no-show, but that he would attempt to stand in as the host. He informed the audience that the winners list had been lost. Print ads were the first awards; transparencies of the winning entries were displayed, sometimes backwards or out of focus. As each image appeared on screen, the owner of the work was asked to come to the stage, pick up their Clio, and identify themselves and their agency. Eventually, advertising executives, intent on the Clios that remained, rushed the stage and grabbed any that had not been claimed.[3][6]

The event for television commercials, scheduled a few days later, was called off.[3][6]

1992 bankruptcy

[edit]

On March 17, 1992, Clio Enterprises Inc., filed for bankruptcy, claiming $1.8 million in debts and indeterminate assets of at least $1 million.[10] Chicago publisher Ruth Ratny purchased the Clio name for an undisclosed figure. Evans had wanted $2 million, and trade publications reported a sale price of $10,000, which Ratny called low. Ratny reorganized the event as the New Clio Awards, and combined what had previously been two events into a single presentation, which was delayed from June until September 1992. Advertising Age magazine reported 6,000 entries, less than one quarter of the 1990 total. As a concession to the 1991 winners who had not yet received the trophies, their entry fee was waived. The 1990 award show at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts drew 1,800, while only 500 paid for the 1992 show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel,[6] which was hosted by Tony Randall. A total of 86 awards in 73 categories were handed out.[11] Another major change with the "New" Clios was direct competition between U.S. and foreign firms, which resulted in Swiss agency Comsult/Advico Young & Rubicam being named the winner of the best Television campaign.[12]

A bankruptcy court ruled that the creditors of the 1991 Clio Awards should be paid. At the time, Ratny lacked the financial resources to settle the $600,000 debt. Another Chicagoan, former film editor James M. Smyth, put up the money and became sole owner of the Clio Awards. On New Year's Eve of 1992, Smyth began working on the 1993 show.[13][14] The award ceremony was again delayed until September, and Jay Chiat of TBWA\Chiat\Day, Rick Fizdale from Leo Burnett Worldwide and Keith Reinhard at DDB Worldwide joined the Clio Executive Committee.[15]

In 1997, the Clios were sold to Dutch-owned company VNU Media;[3] Andrew Jaffe at Adweek managed the acquisition.[16]

2000s - present

[edit]

In 2007, VNU changed its name to the Nielsen Company.[3]

In 2009, e5 Global Media assumed control of Clio, when it acquired magazines Adweek and Billboard, among others, from Nielsen Business Media.[17][unreliable source?]

In 2010, Nicole Purcell was appointed executive director of Clio and Brooke Levy was hired to run marketing for the organization. In 2015, Purcell was promoted to president.[18]

In 2014, the Clio Awards absorbed The Hollywood Reporter's Key Art Awards (created in 1971 by Tichi Wilkerson) to celebrate marketing and communications in the entertainment business. In 2017, it was renamed the Clio Entertainment Award.[19][20]

In 2020, the Clios were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Judging

[edit]

In 2007, Clio stated that the competition received more than 19,000 entries from all over the world and enlisted a jury of more than 110 judges from 62 countries. Nearly two-thirds of the submissions came from outside the United States.[citation needed]

In 2014, Clio assembled a 50/50 male-female jury, of which 75% were international (non-US) judges.[citation needed] 2014 was also the year Clio began holding judging sessions internationally. The 2014 session took place in Malta, and the 2015 session in Tenerife, Spain.

According to the Clio Awards website, more than 80% of submissions are eliminated within the first two rounds. Juries then determine whether a work deserves to be included on the Shortlist, or receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold medal. One work in each media type may be awarded the Grand Clio, the highest honor.[citation needed]

Awards programs and subsidiaries

[edit]

Programs

[edit]
  • Clio Cannabis – recognizes excellence in marketing and communications in the cannabis industry. The program was launched in 2019.[21]
  • Clio Entertainment – recognizes excellence in marketing and communications across film, television, live entertainment, and gaming. This award originates from The Hollywood Reporter's Key Art Awards, which was created in 1971 by Tichi Wilkerson and acquired by Clio in 2014. The award received its current name in 2017.[19][20] Being postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony returned in 2021, where voiceover artist Tom Kane received an honorary Clio Entertainment Award.[19]
  • Clio Fashion & Beauty – recognizes excellence in marketing and communications the industries of fashion/style and cosmetics. This program was introduced in 2013.[22]
  • Clio Health – recognizes excellence in marketing and communications in health and wellness.[23]
  • Clio Music – recognizes excellence in marketing and communications in the music industry. This program was introduced in 2014.[24]
  • Clio Sports – recognizes excellence in sports advertising and marketing. This program was founded in 2014.[25]

Subsidiaries

[edit]
  • Ads of The World – Clio's global ad archive.
  • Muse by Clio – Clio's content platform. Muse is a news site and newsletter that covers "the best in creativity in advertising and beyond." Its coverage includes creative efforts in brand marketing, fashion, film and TV, gaming, healthcare, music, and sports. The publication is claims to be editorially independent from the Clio Awards, with its coverage not being "connected in any way to [its] parent company's award programs."[26]

Archive

[edit]

In 2017, the Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive acquired the Clio Awards Collection from the London International Awards, the organization that purchased the collection from the Clio organization in 1992.[27] Composed of thousands of reels of 16 mm and 35 mm film, the collection contains Clio entries and winners from the 1960s through the early 1990s across a wide variety of categories.[28] International submissions are also included in the collection.[27]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Clio Awards

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Clio Awards is an annual international awards program founded in 1959 by Wallace A. Ross to honor creative excellence and innovation in , , and communications worldwide. Named after , the Greek muse of history, the awards recognize boundary-pushing work by brands, agencies, production companies, and individuals that shape culture and commerce. The first ceremony took place in 1960, establishing it as a prestigious benchmark akin to the Oscars for the industry. Over the decades, the Clio Awards have evolved alongside the advertising landscape, expanding from a focus on traditional print and broadcast media to encompass digital, experiential, and integrated campaigns. In 1972, the program was acquired by , who grew its influence until further ownership changes, including a 2017 acquisition by Evolution Media that preserved its core structure. Today, entries are judged by leading global creative talent during an annual jury retreat, with winners receiving Grand, Gold, Silver, or Bronze statuettes that symbolize industry achievement. The program now features specialized verticals to address sector-specific innovations, including Clio Advertising for broad , Clio Health for healthcare and wellness campaigns, Clio Sports for athletic branding and events, Clio Music for audio-visual promotions, and Clio Entertainment for film, TV, and digital content integrations. Disciplines span print, outdoor, film, digital/mobile, social media, , and design, with entry deadlines typically closing in late fall for announcements the following year—such as the second deadline for the 2026 cycle on December 12, 2025. Beyond awards, the Clios foster community through thought leadership events, a global ad archive at AdsOfTheWorld.com, and original industry content via Muse by Clio. Notable for spotlighting transformative campaigns, the Clio Awards have celebrated icons like the 1984 Apple "1984" ad and modern hits such as Dove's "Real Beauty" series, underscoring their role in documenting advertising's cultural impact. In recent years, the program has emphasized diversity and inclusion, with 2025 highlights including comedian hosting the Entertainment Awards to blend creativity with . As of 2025, the Clios continue to set global standards, with over 20,000 entries annually from 72 countries.

History

Founding and early years (1959–1970s)

The Clio Awards were founded in 1959 by Wallace A. Ross, a New York advertising executive, as the American TV and Radio Commercials Festival, with the purpose of recognizing excellence in broadcast advertising. Ross, who had been active in the advertising industry since the 1940s, established the program to celebrate creative achievements in television and radio commercials, initially limiting entries to U.S.-produced work. The awards were named after Clio, the Greek muse of history, symbolizing the recording and glorification of great deeds and accomplishments in the field. The first Clio Awards ceremony took place in 1960, honoring outstanding U.S. television and radio commercials through a judging process that emphasized innovation and impact. Ross served as the managing director of the American Television Commercials Festival, overseeing the administration and operations of the awards until 1971, when he sold the program. Early ceremonies were modest affairs, often held in New York, and focused exclusively on broadcast media, with winners receiving the distinctive golden statuette modeled after the muse. Notable early winners included campaigns such as the 1960 Volkswagen "Funeral" commercial, which used humor and subversion to highlight the car's reliability, and Mercury automobile ads that employed fantasy narratives to promote features like smooth handling. During the mid-1960s, the awards began to expand beyond their broadcast origins, accepting international entries starting in 1965 to reflect growing global interest in . This outreach marked an early step toward broader recognition, with entries from outside the U.S. increasing participation and diversity. By the late and into the , categories were extended to include print media, allowing the program to honor excellence in magazines, newspapers, and posters alongside traditional broadcast work. In , Ross sold the program to , who transformed it into a for-profit enterprise. These developments under Ross's leadership solidified the Clio Awards as a benchmark for creative excellence, setting precedents for innovative campaigns that influenced industry standards.

Expansion and challenges (1980s–1990s)

During the 1980s, the Clio Awards underwent significant expansion, solidifying their status as a premier event in the global industry. The program broadened its scope by introducing new categories to reflect evolving media landscapes, including advertising for the first time in 1983, which allowed recognition of innovative work in emerging broadcast formats. Additionally, in 1987, the awards debuted a category for the market, honoring targeted campaigns that addressed diverse audiences and marking an early step toward greater inclusivity in creative recognition. This period saw a surge in submissions, driven by growing international participation and the awards' reputation as the "Oscars of advertising," transforming the Clios into a must-attend showcase for creative excellence. The 1991 Clio Awards epitomized this peak prominence, with elaborate ceremonies planned at high-profile venues like Lincoln Center in New York, attracting top industry figures and celebrating standout campaigns from agencies worldwide. However, the events unraveled into unprecedented controversies, beginning with the abrupt cancellation of the television awards banquet just hours before its start, after organizers failed to pay a $60,000 venue fee amid escalating financial woes. The preceding print and radio ceremony devolved into chaos: the scheduled emcee failed to appear, a caterer improvised as host, and frustrated attendees—angered by an incomplete winners list and the absence of radio category announcements—stormed the stage, seizing statuettes in protest. These disruptions highlighted underlying operational strains, including delayed prize distributions and mounting entrant complaints, eroding the awards' credibility overnight. The fallout from 1991 precipitated a severe , culminating in the March 1992 bankruptcy filing of Clio Enterprises Inc. under Chapter 11, with reported debts of $1.8 million against assets estimated between $1 million and $10 million. Attributed to financial mismanagement by owner , the collapse involved lawsuits from entrants seeking reimbursement for unpaid entry fees and prizes, as well as broader operational failures like bounced checks to vendors and disrupted judging processes. The bankruptcy temporarily halted the program, prompting industry soul-searching about the overemphasis on awards amid economic pressures. Recovery efforts began swiftly post-bankruptcy, with the Clio name acquired first by Chicago publisher Ruth Ratny, who staged a modest "New Clios" event in September 1992. In early 1993, James M. Smyth, a former commercial production executive, purchased the awards from Ratny through Clio Awards Inc., aiming to restore prestige by streamlining operations and rescheduling the 1993 ceremony for September to allow time for restructuring. Under Smyth's leadership, initial steps included reducing costs and rebuilding trust with entrants, setting the stage for stabilization in the mid-1990s despite ongoing challenges like lower attendance and subdued industry enthusiasm.

Revival and modern era (2000s–present)

Following the financial collapse and bankruptcy of the early 1990s, the Clio Awards were revived through a series of ownership transitions, culminating in their acquisition by Dutch-owned VNU Media in 1997, which stabilized operations and restored the program's prestige. Under VNU's management, the awards adapted to the digital age in the early 2000s by emphasizing emerging media categories such as and interactive content, while introducing online entry submissions to streamline participation and attract global contributors. This shift broadened the scope beyond traditional print and broadcast, reflecting the industry's pivot toward web-based creativity and user-generated work. In 2014, the Clio Awards expanded its entertainment focus by acquiring The Hollywood Reporter's Key Art Awards—originally launched in 1971 to honor promotional design in film, TV, and theater—and integrating them as the Clio Key Art Awards, later rebranded as Clio Entertainment Awards in 2017. This merger enhanced recognition for cross-media campaigns, with ceremonies returning to high-profile venues like the . By the mid-2010s, the program further evolved through ownership changes, including its 2017 acquisition by global investment firm Evolution Media, which supported expanded digital platforms and community engagement tools. The awards continued to innovate amid technological advancements, notably introducing AI-driven creativity recognition in 2024 through a partnership with , which sponsored a new Specialty Award for work leveraging generative AI tools like Gemini to transform narratives. Annual ceremonies adapted to global challenges, shifting to virtual formats for the 2020–2021 cycles in response to the , featuring hosted reveals of winners via online streams to maintain industry momentum without in-person gatherings. By the , entries exceeded 20,000 annually from more than 70 countries, underscoring the program's enduring appeal, while new emphases on —through categories like Sustainable Commerce—and diversity, inclusion, and social impact initiatives highlighted evolving priorities in creative excellence. In 2025, the Clio Awards marked further milestones with the announcement of Grand Clio and "Of the Year" winners on May 14 during a live ceremony in New York, celebrating 39 top honors across global campaigns, including standout work from agencies like Ogilvy, named Agency Network of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Clio Entertainment Awards, hosted by actress and comedian , took place on November 13 at the , recognizing innovative promotions in television, streaming, and live events. These developments reinforced the Clios' role as a forward-looking benchmark for creativity in an increasingly digital and socially conscious landscape.

Description

Purpose and scope

The Clio Awards, established in , serve as a premier global platform to recognize and celebrate innovation in , , and communication, with a core mission to honor creative excellence that drives cultural relevance and commercial success. By spotlighting boundary-pushing work from brands, agencies, and production companies worldwide, the awards inspire industry professionals to elevate standards and foster thought leadership in the creative sector. Initially centered on broadcast and print advertising, the scope of the Clio Awards has evolved significantly to reflect advancements in media landscapes, now encompassing a broad spectrum of formats including digital campaigns, experiential activations, and such as AI-generated content. This expansion ensures the program remains a dynamic benchmark for creative achievement across traditional and innovative channels, adapting to the industry's shift toward integrated, multi-platform storytelling. Eligibility for the Clio Awards is open to professional creators and organizations globally, provided entries are original works first publicly released within the specified eligibility period, which typically spans approximately 18 months centered around the entry deadlines (with extensions for select mediums, such as up to 30 months for Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy, and Creative Business Transformation). Entries must demonstrate high levels of originality, technical craft, and overall effectiveness in engaging audiences. The annual cycle begins with a call for entries through multiple deadlines (early bird, standard, and late), followed by a collaborative jury selection process involving international experts, culminating in an awards ceremony, most often held in May at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City. Unlike the Cannes Lions, which balance creative merit with measurable business outcomes and effectiveness metrics, the Clio Awards prioritize pure artistic and conceptual innovation without requiring proof of commercial ROI, positioning them as a focused celebration of unadulterated . Post-2020, the program has intensified its commitment to inclusivity by actively soliciting diverse juror nominations to ensure multifaceted perspectives in evaluations and introducing categories that highlight social impact work, such as diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Judging process

The Clio Awards employs a rigorous judging designed to ensure fairness and excellence in evaluating . Each year, the organization appoints top creatives and marketers from around the world to serve on its distinct juries, selecting individuals based on their own exemplary creative portfolios and deep industry knowledge. These jurors represent a diverse range of expertise across , , media, and related fields, drawing from international professionals to provide global perspectives. Entries are submitted online through the Clio platform, with all submissions required to be anonymized to maintain impartiality—jurors must not see agency credits, client names, or other identifying details. The process begins with preliminary rounds where jurors individually review and score entries on a scale, assessing them against specific criteria. This is followed by final rounds of collaborative deliberation, often conducted during an annual judging retreat where groups of jurors convene in person for intensive sessions lasting several days, such as the three-day gatherings held in locations like , , or , . During these retreats, jurors discuss and vote democratically, with all members having equal say and decisions determined by majority consensus. Awards are merit-based with no predetermined minimum or maximum quotas, resulting in Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Shortlist honors for qualifying entries. Evaluation focuses on as the core criterion, guided by targeted questions that probe the work's boldness, , ability to inspire, and potential impact on the industry. High-scoring entries may advance to Grand Clio status, the highest honor reserved for standout achievements within a specific medium. To uphold integrity, strict policies are enforced: jurors must abstain from voting on any work they have submitted or produced, and they are required to maintain by avoiding toward personal or professional networks, ensuring thorough and objective reviews. Winners are announced in stages, with Shortlist, Bronze, Silver, and Gold recipients revealed in following the judging cycles. Grand Clio winners and additional honors, including "Of the Year" designations for agencies, advertisers, and other categories, are presented at the annual gala ceremony, typically held in May in . "Of the Year" awards are determined by aggregating statue points from all qualifying entries submitted by an entity across mediums, recognizing overall excellence. In response to the , the Clio Awards postponed its 2020 program and adapted judging for 2021 to accommodate remote participation, combining virtual reviews with a return to in-person elements thereafter.

Awards programs

Core Clio Awards

The Core Clio Awards form the flagship program of the Clio Awards, honoring creative excellence in across traditional and digital mediums since the competition's inception in 1959. These awards celebrate innovative work that advances communication, drawing submissions from advertising agencies, brands, and production companies worldwide. The program emphasizes boundary-pushing ideas in visual, auditory, and interactive formats, with judging conducted by industry experts to identify standout contributions. Key categories encompass Film, recognizing commercials and video content up to five minutes in length; Print/Outdoor, for static advertising in publications, posters, and billboards; Digital/Mobile, covering web-based, social media, and app-integrated campaigns; Radio/Podcast (also termed Audio), for broadcast and on-demand sound pieces; Design, highlighting packaging, logos, and visual identity systems; and Craft, which spotlights technical achievements such as animation, cinematography, music composition, and sound design. Beyond these, the program includes broader mediums like Branded Content for narrative-driven integrations, Experiential and Activation for immersive events and installations, and Innovation for cutting-edge applications, encompassing over 20 sub-categories in total. A notable category, Innovation, recognizes novel approaches that redefine consumer experiences, such as Mastercard's "True Name" campaign for inclusive payment solutions, which earned a Grand Clio in 2020. Entries must feature work produced and released within the eligibility period (typically the prior 12 months), submitted online via the official portal, with non-refundable fees varying by medium, format (single or campaign), and deadline tier. For the 2025 cycle, early bird pricing applied through the first deadline in late 2024, with fees starting at $525 for single audio entries and rising to $950 for campaigns by the final deadline on February 7, 2025; all submissions closed at 11:59 p.m. EST. Award levels include Bronze, Silver, and Gold statues for meritorious work, while Grand Clios are bestowed on the highest-scoring entries in major categories, representing the pinnacle of creative achievement. The core program attracts thousands of entries annually from over 70 countries, reflecting its global prestige and rigorous selection process where less than 5% receive any recognition.

Specialized programs

The Clio Awards have expanded beyond traditional through specialized programs that recognize creative excellence in niche sectors, each maintaining the core judging standards while employing industry-specific juries composed of global leaders in their respective fields. These verticals—Clio Health, Clio Sports, Clio Music, and Clio Entertainment—tailor categories to address unique challenges, such as regulatory constraints in healthcare or experiential demands in sports, fostering innovation tailored to non-traditional landscapes. Clio Health, launched in 2009, honors outstanding work in pharmaceutical, healthcare, and wellness communications, with categories emphasizing patient engagement, disease awareness, and that promotes under strict regulatory guidelines. The program features judging by top executives from agencies and brands, awarding Grand, , Silver, and Bronze honors. In 2025, notable winners included VML's campaigns earning multiple for innovative health narratives, alongside Grand recipients like "Sightwalks" by Circus Grey for Cemento Sol, which highlighted in wellness promotion. The annual ceremony culminates in events, such as the November Catalyst Conversations, celebrating over a thousand entries annually. Introduced in 2014, Clio Sports celebrates boundary-pushing creativity in sports marketing, including fan experiences, athlete endorsements, and league promotions that blend storytelling with athletic culture. Juries drawn from sports media, agencies, and brands evaluate entries for impact and innovation, selecting winners across similar tiers to the core awards. The 2025 edition recognized innovative campaigns in experiential sports content and honored influential figures in athletics. Hosted by ESPN's Katie Feeney, the ceremony highlights thousands of global submissions, underscoring the program's growth in recognizing sports as a creative frontier. Clio Music, also established in 2014, focuses on promotional campaigns, artist branding, and advertising that amplify cultural moments through visuals, digital experiences, and cross-media strategies. Industry juries from labels, agencies, and platforms assess entries for originality in artist promotion and integration. For 2025, winners included Spotify's artist spotlights and Charli XCX's branding efforts, with Grand honors going to as Artist of the Year and Coca-Cola's music-tied campaigns by Africa Creative agency. The program processes thousands of entries each year, culminating in dedicated shows that spotlight 's role in broader creative . Clio Entertainment, which integrated the legacy Key Art Awards starting in 2014, recognizes excellence in film, television, and streaming , including trailers, posters, and experiential promotions that drive audience engagement. Specialized juries from Hollywood studios and creative teams judge for visual and promotional innovation. In 2025, winners featured campaigns for major releases, with the ceremony hosted by at the in on November 13, followed by an after-party, drawing thousands of entries from global marketers.

Subsidiaries

The Clio Awards maintains a network of owned digital platforms that extend its influence beyond the awards ceremony, providing resources for showcasing, education, and community building in the industry. These subsidiaries include Ads of the World and Muse by Clio, both fully operated under Clio Awards LLC to support creative professionals globally. Ads of the World (adsoftheworld.com) functions as a comprehensive global database and user-generated archive of . Established in by developer Ivan Raszl, the platform was acquired by Clio Awards LLC in 2016 and now hosts over 85,000 entries of campaigns, print ads, videos, and from contributors worldwide. It emphasizes user submissions, allowing agencies, , and independents to and share work, fostering a collaborative showcase that highlights diverse executions. The site receives approximately 700,000 user visits per month (as of 2025), contributing to the Clio ecosystem's substantial online reach. Muse by Clio (musebyclios.com), launched in 2018 under the leadership of former creative editor Tim Nudd, serves as a dedicated content hub for the and creative sectors. Unlike the awards programs, it focuses on editorial content, including in-depth interviews with industry leaders, analyses of emerging trends in areas like brand marketing, entertainment, and technology, and spotlights on standout creative projects. The platform delivers daily curated articles, newsletters, and multimedia features to connect creators, offering insights that inform professional development without direct involvement in judging or awarding. These subsidiaries play integral operational roles within the Clio framework by hosting dedicated galleries of award-winning entries, which inspire potential submissions and provide contextual industry insights through archival access and trend reporting. All Clio winners are automatically integrated and promoted across both platforms, ensuring seamless visibility and archival preservation of recognized work. Collectively, the Clio-owned platforms generate substantial annual traffic, amplifying exposure for featured content and reinforcing the organization's role in the creative community. In the , these platforms have evolved through enhanced digital integrations, such as expanded online galleries and content delivery systems, adapting to the shift toward virtual engagement in the post-pandemic advertising landscape. This pivot has strengthened their utility as resources for global creatives seeking inspiration and networking.

Partnerships and integrations

In 2014, the Clio Awards acquired the Key Art Awards, previously managed by since 1971, and renamed them the Clio Key Art Awards; the program was further rebranded as the Clio Entertainment Awards in 2017 to broaden recognition of creative marketing and communications in the industry. This move enhanced the program's focus on entertainment-specific categories, such as theatrical posters and promotional materials, while maintaining the awards' emphasis on visual and strategic . The Clio Awards has forged key partnerships with technology companies to incorporate emerging tools into its recognition of creative excellence. In partnership with Google, the awards introduced the inaugural AI Specialty Award in 2025, honoring advertising campaigns that leverage Google Gemini AI tools to push creative boundaries. Similarly, a collaboration with Luma AI launched the 2025 AI Challenge powered by Dream Machine, inviting junior- to mid-level creatives and recent graduates to produce AI-generated video advertisements, with free access to the platform provided to participants. These tech integrations extend to event tie-ins, such as the co-hosting of the 2025 Clio Creative Summit in , where finalists from the Luma AI Challenge presented their work in a roundtable discussion, fostering on AI's role in . Such collaborations have directly benefited specialized programs like Clio Entertainment by introducing innovation categories that highlight AI-driven content creation. For diversity initiatives, the Clio Awards partners with organizations like MOCEAN through its Entertainment Impact Spotlight, promoting access, opportunity, and empowerment to build a more equitable industry, including efforts to amplify underrepresented voices in judging and entries. Overall, these external alliances have significantly boosted the awards' global reach and entry diversity since 2010, evolving from a primarily U.S.-focused program to one celebrating international creative work across continents.

Recognition and impact

Industry prestige

The Clio Awards have long been regarded as the "Oscars of ," a nickname originating in the that underscores their status as the premier accolade for creative excellence in the field. This reputation has significantly influenced industry practices, with winners often leveraging Clio recognition to secure high-profile hires, client pitches, and project opportunities, as the awards signal superior innovation and execution. Established in , the program boasts a legacy spanning over 60 years, consistently covered by leading trade publications such as for its role in benchmarking creative standards. The awards' prestige is further amplified by their global scope, attracting entries from more than 80 countries annually and drawing international juries to evaluate submissions. High-profile elements, such as celebrity hosts for key ceremonies—including for the 2025 Clio Entertainment Awards at the —enhance their cultural visibility and appeal within creative circles. Unlike the Awards, which emphasize marketing effectiveness and measurable results, or , which broadly honors advertising excellence, the Clio Awards prioritize pure creative innovation and artistic achievement across advertising, design, and communication. Despite this stature, the Clio Awards faced a significant challenge in 1992 when the organizing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid financial debts exceeding $1.8 million, prompting a sale and efforts by new ownership to rebuild trust through refined operations and renewed industry engagement. In the , the introduction of dedicated categories—recognizing eco-conscious design and execution—has bolstered the awards' contemporary relevance, aligning them with evolving industry priorities on environmental impact.

Notable winners and legacy

The Clio Awards have recognized numerous iconic campaigns that have shaped advertising history and . Early winners include the series of commercials from the 1970s, such as the "Henry" spot featuring a lamenting overindulgence, which captured the brand's humorous approach to relief and earned acclaim for its creative execution. Other landmark entries, like Apple's groundbreaking "" advertisement directed by , won Clio honors for its dystopian narrative and innovative storytelling that redefined product launches. In recent years, the 2025 Clio Awards highlighted contemporary excellence, with VML securing 94 creative achievements across 11 Golds, 19 Silvers, 39 Bronzes, and 25 Shortlists for campaigns demonstrating global innovation. The 2025 Clio Awards, held on November 13, recognized campaigns like "Caption With Intention," which won three Grand Clio Awards for innovative accessibility in entertainment marketing. Influential agencies and figures have frequently dominated Clio rosters, underscoring the awards' role in elevating industry leaders. David Ogilvy's namesake agency, known for data-driven creativity, has a storied history of Clio wins, culminating in 2025 when Ogilvy earned 9 Grand Clio awards, 23 Golds, and Network of the Year honors for campaigns like Coca-Cola's "Recycle Me." Modern powerhouses like have also left an indelible mark, with their work on Nike's "So Win" commercial clinching the 2025 Super Clio for Creative Excellence, building on a legacy of bold, athlete-centric narratives. The Clio Awards serve as pivotal career milestones for creatives, often propelling winners toward broader industry recognition and awards sweeps. A Grand Clio or Agency of the Year title, as seen with Ogilvy's repeated successes, signals exceptional talent and frequently correlates with accolades from Cannes Lions or Effies, enhancing professional trajectories and client opportunities. This legacy extends to inspiring future generations, as the program sets global benchmarks for boundary-pushing ideas in advertising. Archival resources preserve the Clio legacy for study and inspiration. The official website features an online winners gallery searchable by year, category, and medium, showcasing entries from recent seasons like 2025 back through modern , though comprehensive historical access relies on institutional collections. Physical artifacts, including Clio statuettes and certificates from campaigns like the Hispanic Advertising AIDS initiative, are housed in the Smithsonian , documenting the awards' evolution since 1960. Empirical studies affirm the tangible impact of Clio wins, particularly on firm performance. Research using methodology found that Clio Awards generate positive cumulative abnormal returns in stock prices for food manufacturers and retailers, reflecting enhanced firm value and market perception of creative advertising's effectiveness.

References

  1. https://clios.com/the-clio-awards/
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/04/archives/wallace-ross-dies-at-52-led-ad-association-here.html
  3. https://www.fxpertsinc.com/histclio.htm
  4. https://societyawards.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-the-clios
  5. https://clios.com/about/
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