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
