ACM Industry And Studio Award Winners Announced

The ACM has announced the Industry Award and Studio Recording Award winners for the 53^rd Academy Of Country Music Awards. Industry Award, Studio Recording Award and the previously announced Special Award winners will be honored during the 12^th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 53^rd ACM Awards.  ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 22 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Tickets are available to the public at Ticketmaster.com. Lauren Alaina and Jon Pardi will co-host the 12^th Annual ACM Honors.

The Industry Awards and Studio Recording Award winners for the 53^rd Academy of Country Music Awards:

INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS:

• NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR: Cotton Eyed ­Joe ­– Knoxville, TN
• CASINO OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY: The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino – Las Vegas, NV
• CASINO OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV
• VENUE OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY: The Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
• VENUE OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY: The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
• VENUE OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY: Shoreline Amphitheater – Mountain View, CA
• FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR: Country Thunder – Florence, AZ
• DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR: R. J. Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
• PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

STUDIO RECORDING AWARD WINNERS:

• BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jimmie Lee Sloas
• DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Fred Eltringham
• GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Rob McNelley
• PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jim ‘Moose’ Brown
• SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Danny Rader
• STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Paul Franklin
• AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Justin Niebank
• PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Dave Cobb

The Academy of Country Music Industry Awards are voted on by all professional members of the Academy. The Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the artist-entertainer/musician-bandleader-instrumentalist categories and the producer-engineer-studio manager sub-category.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Industry Ink: Ashley McBryde & John Osborne, Randy Rogers, Kimberly Perry, More - October 21, 2026
• Garth Brooks Adds Matinee Shows In Kansas City & Seattle - October 21, 2026
• Zach Top’s ‘Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film’ To Premiere At Stardust Drive-In & On YouTube - October 21, 2026