ACM Announces Submission & Voting Timeline, Category Changes For 2022 Awards

The Academy of Country Music has announced the official dates for submissions and ballots for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards coming in 2022.

Submissions for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards️ are now open. The Academy will accept entries through Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at 5 p.m. CT. To submit, click here.

Additionally, the ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the Academy’s Studio Recording Awards’ Guitar Player of the Year category, now splitting it into two awards—individually recognizing Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year and Electric Guitar Player of the Year.

The previously awarded Steel Guitar Player of the Year will now be considered within the existing Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year Award category.

In the Radio Awards, the National On-Air Personality of the Year category has also been split to now recognize both a National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year and a National Daily Personality of the Year.

The Academy of Country Music has also updated the voting security protocols for their Awards, implementing a double-authentication process through a mobile number, rather than through an email address.

“As we approach the 57th ACM Awards cycle, ensuring a secure and efficient voting process for our members is a top priority. We look forward to the implementation of our new double-authentication process and the extra safety layer it will offer in maintaining the integrity of our prestigious ACM Awards,” says Tommy Moore, VP Artist and Industry Relations, Governance and Board Administration. “Additionally, we are thrilled to continue to expand our Awards and to open our arms to celebrate even more radio personalities and studio musicians who help keep this industry running. We look forward to recognizing both acoustic and electric guitar players, as well as national weekly and national daily on-air personalities for the first time this year!”

Key dates are as follows:
Submissions Period Opens: Oct. 25, 2021
Submissions Period Closes: Nov. 30, 2021
First Round Voting Main Awards: Jan. 3, 2022 – January 10, 2022
First Round Voting Radio Awards: Jan. 3, 2022 – January 17, 2022
Second Round Voting Main Awards: Jan. 24, 2022 – January 31, 2022
Final Round Voting Radio Awards: Jan. 24, 2022 – February 7, 2022
Final Round Voting Main Awards: Feb. 21, 2022 – February 28, 2022

The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards will be exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video, the first major awards show to be broadcast solely via a streaming platform.