CMA TOURING AWARDS
After 15 years, the CMA Touring Awards returned in 2012 to celebrate the Country Music touring industry and the people who continue to promote and sustain America’s favorite live entertainment format!
Previously known as the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards, the CMA Touring Awards were originally created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry. Only CMA members in the Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, International, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring Personnel, and Venue categories vote for the CMA Touring Awards.
The final five nominees in each category are selected after the nomination round. The winners are announced at the CMA Touring Awards. The eligibility period is from July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the current year.
2023 CMA TOURING AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS
CREW OF THE YEAR
WINNER: “All-American Road Show Tour” Crew –
Chris Stapleton
“The Outsiders Revival Tour” Crew – Eric Church
“I Go Back Tour” Crew – Kenny Chesney
“Country On Tour” Crew – Luke Bryan
“2023 World Tour” Crew – Luke Combs
“One Night At A Time World Tour” Crew – Morgan Wallen
“No Bad Vibes Tour” Crew – Old Dominion
“Home Team Tour 23” Crew – Thomas Rhett
BACKLINE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Joel “Tico” Jimenez – Thomas Rhett
Jason Baskin – Zac Brown Band
Melvin “Melvis” Fults – Kenny Chesney
Carlos Gutierrez – Dierks Bentley
Jason Herndon – Blake Shelton
Jeremiah Langdon – Jelly Roll
Chris Miller – Keith Urban
Zach Rickard – Brothers Osborne
BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
David Boyer – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Catherine Moore – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Caleb See – Curo Financial, LLC
Michael Vaden – Vaden Group/Elliott Davis
Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Erin Siegfried – Lainey Wilson
Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown Band
Josh Easter – Morgan Wallen
Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Justin Pullin – Old Dominion
Chris Sims – Jelly Roll
Wayne “Wayno” Sullivan – Blake Shelton/Keith Urban
FRONT OF HOUSE (FOH) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Arpad Sayko – Chris Stapleton
Brendan Hines – Jelly Roll
Aaron Lain – Morgan Wallen
Todd Lewis – Luke Combs
Ben Rigby – Eric Church
Trey Smith – Thomas Rhett
Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion
LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Mac Mosier – Chris Stapleton
Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
Kevin Lichty – Old Dominion
Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs
Taylor Price – Miranda Lambert
Austin Strain – Jelly Roll
Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Mandelyn Monchick – Red Light Management
Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment
Virginia Bunetta – G-Major Management
Martha Earls – Neon Coast
Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
Marion Kraft – ShopKeeper Management
John Peets – Q Prime South
MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bryan “Opie” Baxley – Kenny Chesney
Mark Davis – Jelly Roll
Logan Hanna – Brothers Osborne
Andy Hill – Zac Brown Band
Nathan Lowe – Eric Church
Jimmy Nicholson – Thomas Rhett
Dean Studebaker – Old Dominion
Scott Tatter – Dierks Bentley
PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: John Garriott – Chris Stapleton
Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
Meesha Kosciolek – Eric Church
Erik Leighty – Miranda Lambert
Chris Nathan – Jake Owen
Earl Neal – Jason Aldean
Kevin Twist – Thomas Rhett
Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom PR
Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
Paul Freundlich – PFA Media
Quinn Kaemmer – Big Machine Label Group
Carla Sacks – Sacks & Co.
Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Public Relations
Wes Vause – Press On Publicity
Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Todd Green – Chris Stapleton
Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church
Donnie Floyd – Morgan Wallen
Matt Hornbeck – Luke Combs
Josh “Dude” Marcus – Jason Aldean
Tom Nisun – Kenny Chesney
Richard Rossey – Old Dominion
Justin Sumrall – Thomas Rhett
SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Clair Global
4 Wall Entertainment
Dega Catering
Master Tour by Eventric
Moo TV
Richards & Southern
TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jay Williams – WME
Meredith Jones – CAA
Joey Lee – WME
Jonathan Levine – Wasserman Music
Darin Murphy – CAA
Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency
Aaron Tannenbaum – WME
Elisa Vazzana – UTA
TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Louis Messina – The Messina Group
Bradley Jordan – Peachtree Entertainment
Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville
Rich Schaefer – AEG Presents
Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville
Ed Warm – Joe’s Concerts
Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Meg Miller – Lainey Wilson
Matt Anderson – Old Dominion
Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton
Luke Holton – Brothers Osborne
Chuck Hull – Keith Urban
Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs
Chris Thacker – Dierks Bentley
Jon Townley – Thomas Rhett
TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) –
Chris Stapleton/Vince Gill
Rob Byus (Bass Guitar) – Blake Shelton
Ben Helson (Guitar) – Dierks Bentley
Lee Hendricks (Bass Guitar) – Eric Church
Harmoni Kelley (Bass Guitar) – Kenny Chesney
Chris Kimmerer (Drums) – Thomas Rhett
Danny Mitchell (Piano) – Miranda Lambert
Kurt Ozan (Guitar) – Luke Combs
TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: CeCe Dawson – Lainey Wilson
Mason Allen – Old Dominion
Andy Barron – Chris Stapleton
Zach Belcher – Dierks Bentley
David Bergman – Luke Combs
Tanner Gallagher – HARDY
Grayson Gregory – Thomas Rhett
Andy Pollitt – Jelly Roll
TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Chris Jones – Jelly Roll
Josh Clark – Miranda Lambert
Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
Nate Fountain – Zach Bryan/Blake Shelton
Ricky Krohne – Thomas Rhett
Michael Todd “M.T.” Stembridge – Eric Church
VENUE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Choctaw Casino Resort – Durant, OK
Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
Joe’s on Weed Street – Chicago, IL
Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Kelsey Maynard – Old Dominion
Dallas Bowshier – Eric Church
Josh Castle – Dierks Bentley
RJ Estrella – Luke Combs
Kayla Carter Greear – Luke Bryan
Todd Molle – Jake Owen
Mel Murphy – Live Nation Nashville
Tyler Rhodes – Thomas Rhett
CMA TOURING LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award is for an individual who has accomplished the highest level in the Country Music field of touring. The award was established to recognize an individual who has achieved both prominence and stature at the highest level. The individual receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on Country Music fans and the industry alike.
It is to be noted that their presence will have a long-term positive impact on Country Music and CMA for generations to come.
This award is not intended for an artist.
Past Recipients:
2016 Randy “Baja” Fletcher
2017 Brian O’Connell
2018 Louis Messina
2019 Tony Conway
2022 John Huie
2023 Ron Baird
