CMA Touring Awards 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. The 7th Annual CMA Touring Awards will be held on Monday, January 28, 2019, at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, TN. 2018 Annual CMA Touring Awards Photo Gallery 2018 CMA TOURING AWARDS FINALISTS & WINNERS (WINNERS IN BOLD) CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc. Julie Boos – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. Legina Chaudoin – O’Neil Hagaman, PLLC Jamie Cheek – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. Dwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR Ron Easley – Jason Aldean Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan Larry “Big” Garten – Lee Brice Larry Phye, Jr. – Chris Stapleton John Stalder – Kenny Chesney CATEGORY 3 – FRONT OF HOUSE (FOH) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Kirk Kelsey – Keith Urban Billy Moore – Eric Church Chris Rabold – Kenny Chesney Chris Stephens – Jason Aldean Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion CATEGORY 4- LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney Justin Kitchenman – Luke Bryan Gavin Lake – Eric Church Will Lowdermilk – Darius Rucker Mac Mosier – Chris Stapleton CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR Virginia Davis – G-Major Management Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management Jason Owen – Sandbox Entertainment Chris Parr – Maverick John Peets – Q Prime South CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR Steve Bryan – Florida Georgia Line David Farmer – Kenny Chesney Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton Jake LaGrone – Jason Aldean Jan Volz – Rascal Flatts CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Bryan Baxley – Kenny Chesney Cam Beachley – Miranda Lambert Johnnie Branham – Chris Stapleton Joel Stickrod – Darius Rucker Phil Wilkey – Keith Urban CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR Jay Ballinger – Dierks Bentley Randy “Baja” Fletcher – Keith Urban Todd Ortmeier – Florida Georgia Line Jay Schwartz – Rascal Flatts Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR Erin Burr – Big Machine Label Group Ebie McFarland – Essential Broadcast Media Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom Jensen Sussman – Sweet Talk Publicity Wes Vause – Warner Music Nashville CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR Becky Gardenhire – WME Kevin Neal – WME Nate Ritches – Paradigm Risha Rodgers – WME Jay Williams – WME CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR Ben Farrell – Lon Varnell Enterprises Ali Harnell – AEG Presents Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville Brian O’Connell – Live Nation Nashville Stacy Vee – Goldenvoice CATEGORY 12 – TOUR CATERER OF THE YEAR Dega Catering Concert Kitchen Hightopps Backstage Grille HSG Catering Taste Events Catering CATEGORY 13 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Wyatt Beard – Kenny Chesney Dan Hochhalter – Dierks Bentley Mike Kennedy – George Strait Tully Kennedy – Jason Aldean Travis Toy – Rascal Flatts CATEGORY 14 – VENUE OF THE YEAR Alabama Theatre – North Myrtle Beach, SC Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN CATEGORY 15 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Zack Clevenger – Rascal Flatts Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley Ryan Rushing – Luke Bryan Mark Willcox – Chris Stapleton
