Do The MusicRow Awards Predict CMA Winners?

Pictured at the MusicRow Awards, hosted by ASCAP. (L-R): Bob Doyle & Associate's Kates Snyder, Neil Perry, Republic Nashville Pres. Jimmy Harnen, Reid Perry, Kimberly Perry, MR's David Ross, Jesse Frasure, and manager/publisher Bob Doyle.

Examining this year’s list of MusicRow Award winners is like peering into a Crystal Ball of future CMA Award winners. Last week The Band Perry took home three CMA trophies, after also taking home honors for the same achievements at the MusicRow Awards, held in June at ASCAP. And this isn’t the first time this has happened.

This trend has become especially clear since the trade publication instituted reader voting. Essentially, many of the same people vote for both awards ceremonies.

In 2011, The Band Perry won MusicRow Breakthrough Artist and CMA New Artist of the Year. The trio’s hit “If I Die Young” received Song of the Year honors from both organizations, also earning sole writer Kimberly Perry the MR Breakthrough Songwriter prize. Additionally, the monster TBP hit won CMA Single of the Year. MusicRow doesn’t give a comparable award.

In 2010 MusicRow readers bestowed Song honors on “The House That Built Me,” and in 2009 they chose “In Color,” both of which went on to win the CMA trophy.

Almost every year since 2006, MusicRow’s Breakthrough Artist winners also received the CMA New Artist/Horizon Award later the same year, including Zac Brown Band (2010), Lady Antebellum (2008), Taylor Swift (2007), and Carrie Underwood (2006).