CMA Announces Nominees For 2022 CMA Touring Awards

CMA ANNOUNCES NOMINEES  FOR 2022 CMA TOURING AWARDS

Voting for 2022 CMA Touring Awards Opens Wednesday, Dec. 14

CMA has announced the nominees for the 2022 CMA Touring Awards, which highlight vital behind-the-scenes members of the Country touring industry. Final voting for the 2022 CMA Touring Awards opens Wednesday, Dec. 14 and closes Wednesday, Dec. 28. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this year’s Touring Awards will take place Monday, Jan. 30 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

“I am thrilled that we will be returning this year to host the CMA Touring Awards after a two-year hiatus,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The touring industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and I have been amazed at the continued resilience and dedication from this community as they rebuild. These behind-the-scenes heroes are the ones that keep the music playing, so to be able to honor and celebrate them again is especially exciting. We can’t wait for January 30!”

CMA members in the following membership groups are eligible to vote on the 15 categories up for awards: Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring, and Venue.

All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of Deloitte’s legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
• David Boyer – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
• Jamie Cheek – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
• Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
• Stephanie Mundy-Self – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC

CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR

• Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown Band
• Rhett Evans – Thomas Rhett
• Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
• Jon Long – Dierks Bentley
• John Stalder – Kenny Chesney

CATEGORY 3 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Aaron Lain – Morgan Wallen
• Todd Lewis – Luke Combs
• Robert Scovill – Kenny Chesney
• Frank Sgambellone – Luke Bryan
• Trey Smith – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 4 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
• Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
• Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs
• Chris Reade – Dierks Bentley
• Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
• Mary Hilliard Harrington – Red Light Management
• Chris Kappy – Make Wake Artists
• Marion Kraft – ShopKeeper Management
• John Peets – Q Prime South

CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• David Farmer – Kenny Chesney
• Luke Holton – Brothers Osborne
• Curt Jenkins – Miranda Lambert
• Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs
• Jon Townley – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Jimmy Nicholson – Thomas Rhett
• Phillip Robinson – Kenny Chesney
• Scott Tatter – Dierks Bentley
• Phil Wilkey – Keith Urban
• Michael Zuehsow – Luke Combs

CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
• Erik Leighty – Miranda Lambert
• Jerry Slone – Luke Combs
• Kevin Twist – Thomas Rhett
• Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney

CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

• Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
• Ebie McFarland – Essential Broadcast Media
• Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom
• Jensen Sussman – Sweet Talk Publicity
• Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity

CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR

• Mike Betterton – Wasserman Music
• Joey Lee – WME
• Austin Neal – The Neal Agency
• Nate Towne – WME
• Jay Williams – WME

CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

• Jered Johnson – Pepper Entertainment
• Louis Messina – Messina Touring Group
• Brian O’Connell – Live Nation Nashville
• Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville
• Adam Weiser – AEG Presents

CATEGORY 12 – TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

*Due to a tie in this category, there are six nominees.

• Zach Belcher – Dierks Bentley
• David Bergman – Luke Combs
• Tanner Gallagher – HARDY
• Grayson Gregory – Thomas Rhett
• Jeff Johnson – Carrie Underwood
• Jill Trunnell – Kenny Chesney

CATEGORY 13 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• John Breslin – Garth Brooks
• Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
• Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
• Tyler Hutcheson – Luke Combs
• Phil Nudelman – Keith Urban

CATEGORY 14 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

• Jimmie Deeghan – Kane Brown
• Dan Hochhalter – Dierks Bentley
• Harmoni Kelley – Kenny Chesney
• Jimmy Mattingly – Garth Brooks / Trisha Yearwood
• Josh Reedy – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 15 – VENUE OF THE YEAR

• Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
• Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
• Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

About the CMA Touring Awards

The CMA Touring Awards, originally called the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards, were created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry. The first awards were presented at a black-tie gala hosted by K.T. Oslin and Roger Miller during CMA’s Entertainment Expo, also known as the Talent Buyers Entertainment Marketplace. Ten awards were presented at the first gala and the number swelled to 19 over the years before settling at the current 15. The SRO Awards were renamed the CMA Touring Awards in 2016.