ACM Announces Voting Timeline & Category Changes For 2024 Awards

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The Academy of Country Music has announced the submissions and professional membership voting timeline for the 59th ACM Awards, taking place in May, as well as changes and additions within multiple categories.

Submissions will open at 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 8. The Academy will accept entries through Friday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT. The ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year and New Duo or Group of the Year, extending charting for those categories to open eligibility to more artists. The Board of Directors also adopted criteria to require a minimum of three eligible submissions to award a category.

The eligibility period for submissions for this year’s awards started on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 and ends on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.

New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Yea, and New Duo or Group of the Year are presented to an individual artist, group or duo who gains initial fame or significantly greater recognition during the promotion of a debut or sophomore album within the eligibility period. The artist must have released a single that reached the top 50 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs or the Mediabase Country charts. Any albums self-released through an independent label the artist owns and operates may not be counted as a debut or sophomore album, unless it produces a top 50 single reported by Billboard’s Hot Country Songs or Mediabase Country charts. The nominees shall be determined by a nomination ballot(s) and are subject to the approval of the Board. The winner shall be determined by a vote of the ACM professional membership.

Any artist who served or is currently serving as a lead member of a duo or group is not eligible for individual category recognition. Additionally, any artist who has gained initial fame as a solo artist or as part of a duo or group in another genre is not eligible in these categories. An artist may be a nominee two times in a three-year period. Once an artist releases the lead single from a third studio album, they will no longer be eligible in this category. If an artist is a winner in the New Female Artist, New Male Artist, New Duo or Group (or any respective previously named category) their first year on a ballot, they will not be eligible in any New Artist categories again. Any artist who has previously won the award for Entertainer, Female Artist, Male Artist, Duo or Group of the Year (or any respective previously named category) is ineligible for a New Artist nomination.

For more information, click here.

Key Dates For ACM Professional Members:
Submissions Period: Jan. 8, 2024-Jan. 26, 2024
First Round Voting, Main Awards: Feb. 26, 2024–March 4, 2024
Second Round Voting, Main Awards: March 18, 2024–March 25, 2024
Final Round Voting, Main Awards: April 15, 2024–April 22, 2024
First Round Voting, Radio Awards: Feb. 26, 2024–March 11, 2024
Final Round Voting, Radio Awards: March 18, 2024–April 1, 2024

“The 59th ACM Awards cycle brings changes to awards categories that will allow more artists, groups and duos the chance to qualify and be recognized with an ACM Award, which will benefit emerging artists and help put a spotlight on the future of the genre,” says Daniel Miller, Chair of the ACM Awards Voting & Membership Committee. “I’d like to thank the Awards Committee members, Board members and Board Officers for their thoughtful contributions in expanding eligibility to reflect our evolving industry and the realities for new artists on their path to success.”

“ACM New Duo or Group of the Year is an illustrious category that has seen the likes of Brooks & Dunn and The Chicks win early in their careers as well as both reigning ACM Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne and reigning ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion. The category hasn’t been awarded in recent years, and we’re hopeful these changes in category rules and minimum qualifying entrant levels will allow us to bring back this award, a fan favorite, as well as celebrate additional deserving emerging artists in the critical early years of their career,” explains Tommy Moore, ACM VP of Artist & Industry Relations, Governance & Board Administration.

“I am proud that the ACM Awards, Country Music’s Party of the Year, continues to be one of the favorite and most-watched awards shows today. With history-making hosts, a ever-present platform in Prime Video, a groundbreaking format, a perfectly suited location in Frisco, Texas, plus country’s most exciting and diverse nominees, winners and performers, there has never been a better time to be a part of the Academy and the ACM Awards,” says Damon Whiteside, ACM CEO. “We look forward to receiving our industry’s submissions for the 59th ACM Awards, and especially to celebrating the best of 2023 next May!”

“The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards,” produced by Dick Clark Productions, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas exclusively on Prime Video for a global audience for a third straight year, as part of the Academy’s renewed partnership with Amazon.

Liza Anderson
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