Final CMA Touring Awards Nominees Revealed

Voting to determine the winners in 15 categories for the CMA Touring Awards (formerly the SRO Awards) ends Wednesday, Dec. 7 (6:00 PM/CT).

CMA members in the following categories are eligible to vote: Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring, and Venue. The professional services firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLP tabulates the voting.

“It is an honor to recognize the hard work these men and women devote to advancing Country Music on the road from coast-to-coast,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “These touring professionals are on the frontlines with the fans and each one is an important ambassador for the format and very deserving of our applause.”

Final nominees for the 2016 CMA Touring Awards are as follows (in alphabetical order):

CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Jamie Cheek – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Cheryl Harris – O’Neil Hagaman, PLLC
Rob Taylor – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Ron Easley – Jason Aldean
Josh Easter – Kenny Chesney
Larry Phye, Jr. – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 3 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Jared Blumenberg – Florida Georgia Line
Billy Moore – Eric Church
Chris Stephens – Jason Aldean

CATEGORY 4 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Scott Cunningham – Florida Georgia Line
Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
Chris Reade – Dierks Bentley

CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
Clarence Spalding – Maverick

CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Tom Addison – Dierks Bentley
Todd Bunch – Eric Church
Logan Kornegay – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Marc Earp – Eric Church
Jordan Kolenc – Taylor Swift
Phil Wilkey – Keith Urban

CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Arthur Kemish – Taylor Swift
Ken Thomas – Florida Georgia Line
Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney

CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
Ebie McFarland – Essential Broadcast Media, LLC
Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom
Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Relations

CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
Rob Beckham – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC
Kevin Neal – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC
Jay Williams – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC

CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Farrell – Lon Varnell Enterprises
Louis Messina – The Messina Group
Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

CATEGORY 12 – TOUR CATERER OF THE YEAR
Dega Catering
HSG Catering
Mike Maxwell + Co. Motion Picture Catering

CATEGORY 13 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Beard – Kenny Chesney (Keyboard)
David Cook – Taylor Swift (Keyboard)
Dan Hochhalter – Dierks Bentley (Fiddle)

CATEGORY 14 – VENUE OF THE YEAR
Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, Tenn.
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tenn.
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.

CATEGORY 15 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
John Breslin – Garth Brooks
Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
Milojko Dobrijevich – Jason Aldean

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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