CMA Presents Industry Honors

The Country Music Association Presents Industry Honors

Recipients Include Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, Leslie Fram, and Michael Strickland

CMA recently presented industry honors to four highly-deserving individuals. Renowned documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan are the 2022 recipients of CMA’s Joe Talbot Award, CMT Senior Vice President, Music Strategy Leslie Fram has received the 2022 CMA Media Achievement Award, and Bandit Lites Founder/Chair Michael Strickland is the 2022 recipient of the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award. 

The CMA Joe Talbot Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of Country Music’s values and tradition. Burns and Duncan were surprised with news of their awards via Zoom by CMA Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Trahern. Duncan was able to accept his trophy in-person during a visit to Nashville for the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony in October. Burns and Duncan are the visionaries behind the recent PBS documentary, “COUNTRY MUSIC,” which explores the history of the uniquely American art form, from its roots in small settings to its worldwide popularity over the course of the 20th century. 

The CMA Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music. During last week’s CMT Next Women of Country concert at Nashville’s City Winery, Fram was surprised with news of her award by CMA Senior Director, Industry Relations & Inclusion, Mia McNeal. Fram and McNeal were joined on stage by participants of CMT and mTheory’s Equal Access Development Program, including Charlene Bryant, Madeline Edwards, Miko Marks, and Valerie Ponzio, as well as mTheory’s Cameo Carlson, Tiffany Provenzano and Chantrel Reynolds. Fram is at the forefront of a number of equity initiatives within Country Music including CMT Next Women of Country and Equal Access.  

The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award is for an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism and advocacy, supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music community. Strickland was recognized at the Pre-Telecast Ceremony during “The 56th Annual CMA Awards” last week at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Strickland has advocated on behalf of the live events industry, testifying before the U.S. Senate on the pandemic’s effects on the music industry and ensuring live events professionals and organizations received federal funding through various legislative bills. 

About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC.  

Filmmaker Dayton Duncan receives the 2022 CMA Joe Talbot Award from CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern ahead of the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 16 in Nashville.  

Photo Credit: Courtesy of CMA  

Bandit Lites Founder/Chair Michael Strickland receives the 2022 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award at the Pre-Telecast Ceremony during “The 56th Annual CMA Awards” on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. 

Photo Credit: Donn Jones/CMA