Upcoming Events
American Advertising Awards Professional Deadline
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Rules and Category Descriptions
The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.
Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards - recognized as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in the AAF Nashville American Advertising Awards competition is the first step toward winning a National ADDY.
Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.
How to Enter
Visit www.aafnashville.com and click on "ADDYS" in the upper right hand corner. You will be directed to the competition site to register as an entrant. Review the category list in this document or on these websites to find where your work should compete, and follow the simple drop down menus to enter your information. Make sure you credit the members of your creative team, so that they will be recognized properly in press releases and other AAF winner publications.
Entry Deadline and Drop Off
The deadline for entries is 6pm on Friday, January 18, 2019. Entries must also be dropped off at Athens Paper Company between 10am and 6pm on Friday, January 18, 2019. Athens Paper is located at 1898 Elm Tree Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37210.
Entry Fees
There is a substantial savings in entry fees for AAFN members. Some of the benefits of membership include: personal and professional development through regular meetings and workshops; networking opportunities; a voice in legislative issues; and member discounts on business related services.
AAFN Member Entry Fees:
Single Entry $105
Campaign $125
Non-Member Entry Fees:
Single Entry $145
Campaign $165
Method of Payment
When entering the competition, you may pay for them online by using any major credit card. If you choose, you may also pay the entry fee at the time of submission. AAF Nashville accepts American Express, MasterCard and Visa. Cash, Cashiers Check, Money Order and Personal Checks are also accepted.
Eligible Markets
The following Middle Tennessee cities fall within the boundaries of AAF Nashville, and are eligible to compete in this competition. If your city is not listed, but is located within the boundaries of the cities listed, you are also eligible to compete. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call the AAF Nashville office at 615-469-4040. The eligible cities/boundaries are: Nashville, Ashland City, Carthage, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Fayetteville, Franklin, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Sparta, Springfield and Shelbyville Tennessee.
Eligibility / Geographic Considerations
All work entered in The American Advertising Awards competition must have first appeared in the media between January 1 and December 31, 2018. With the exceptions of Public Service Advertising, Advertising for the Arts, and Advertising Industry Self Promotion categories, work entered must have been the result of paid creative services and media placement in the normal course of business (excluding student entries). Entries must be submitted in the CBSA, DMA or MSA where the work was created (as defined by Arbitron or Nielsen for your local market). In the event that there are entrants located in markets not served by a local ADDY affiliated show, the acceptance, processing, judging, forwarding and fees of those entries will be decided by the governing body of the district in which the entrant is located.
Rules and Categories
Download general information, rules, categories, and descriptions.
Past Events
February 5, 2019
Super Bowl Ad Breakdown
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Paramore Digital
February 1, 2019
American Advertising Awards Student Deadline
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ FoxFuel Creative
January 22, 2019
January Luncheon w/ Google
11:30 am - 1:00 pm @ Sambuca
January 18, 2019
American Advertising Awards Professional Deadline
10:00 am - 6:00 pm @ Athens Paper
December 18, 2018
Holiday Mixer
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm @ Smith & Lentz Brewery
December 5, 2018
Ballyhoo Online Auction
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
November 16, 2018
Agency Bus Tour
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
November 13, 2018
November Luncheon
11:30 am - 1:00 pm @ Sambuca
November 2, 2018
Screening of "Miracle on 42nd Street"
11:00 am - 2:00 pm @ Nashville Film Institute
October 9, 2018
Ad Night
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ redpepper
September 11, 2018
Luncheon
11:30 am - 1:00 pm @ Sambuca
August 21, 2018
Trivia Showdown
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ redpepper
May 1, 2018
Nashville State Visual Communications Portfolio Show
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm @ H Building Gallery @NSCC
April 17, 2018
Watkins Graphic Design Senior Show
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm @ redpepper
April 12, 2018
Nossi Senior Design Show
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm @ Nossi College of Art
April 10, 2018
Ad Tuesday - Freelancer Panel
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ WeWork
March 30, 2018
March 15, 2018
March Luncheon - Valerie Graves
11:30 am - 1:00 pm @ Sambuca
March 3, 2018
53rd Annual Nashville Advertising Awards
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm @ Music City Center
February 27, 2018
Student ADDY Awards Celebration
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm @ Play