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.

2022 CMA TOURING AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS

CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Stephanie Mundy-Self – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
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.

CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: John Stalder – Kenny Chesney
Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown Band
Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Jon Long – Dierks Bentley

 

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

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

 

CATEGORY 4- LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: 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

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

 

CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

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

CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Brian O’Connell – Live Nation Nashville
Jered Johnson – Pepper Entertainment
Louis Messina – Messina Touring Group
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.

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

 

CATEGORY 13 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 14 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

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

 

CATEGORY 15 – VENUE OF THE YEAR

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

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