CMA Reveals 2025 Awards Ballot Schedule

The Country Music Association has announced the 2025 awards ballot schedule—including key dates for the CMA Awards, Broadcast Awards, Touring Awards, International Awards and Industry Honors—as well as some updates to the process.

“Country music runs on the passion and hard work of so many people—on stage, behind the scenes, and in communities around the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “At CMA, we take that to heart. Our awards and industry honors aren’t just about recognition; they’re about celebrating the people who make this genre what it is. We’re proud to shine a light on the incredible creativity, dedication, and teamwork that moves country music forward every day.”

Below is a snapshot of key dates, eligibility requirements, and voting processes across CMA’s annual awards cycle.

For questions regarding voting and nomination processes, CMA members can contact Brenden Oliver, CMA Director, Awards Stewardship, at BOliver@CMAworld.com. For inquiries related to CMA membership, reach out to the Membership team at Membership@CMAmember.com.

CMA Awards Balloting Timeline & Details:

Eligibility Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Voting Process:
– Nomination Ballot: Voters write in any artist or project they think deserves a nomination. If it fits the criteria for that category, it counts.
– Second Ballot: The top 20 vote-getters from the first round move forward (only the top 15 for Entertainer of the Year). Members can vote for up to five candidates in each category.
– Final Ballot: The top 5 from the second round become the official nominees—and CMA members vote one last time to choose the winners. Members can vote for one nominee in each category.

All CMA Professional voting members can vote in three rounds. As of today, 6,468 Professional members are eligible to vote.

For Musician of the Year, voting in all rounds remains limited to eligible voters in the following membership categories: Musician, Artist, Composer, and Producer/Engineer/Studio.

New this year, only eligible voters in the following membership categories can vote in the Nomination and Second Ballots for the Song of the Year category: Composer, Artist, Musician, Producer/Engineer/Studio, and Publisher/PRO. All eligible voters can vote in the Final Ballot.

All three rounds of voting will be conducted online by Election Services Corp. (ESC). To ensure ballot delivery, members are encouraged to add CMAAwardsVote@mg.electionservicescorp.com to their safe senders.

All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

Nomination Ballot:
– Emailed to eligible CMA members on Monday, July 7
– Closes Wednesday, July 16 at 6:00 PM/CT

Second Ballot:
– Emailed on Tuesday, Aug. 5
– Closes Monday, Aug. 18 at 6:00 PM/CT
– Final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer.

Final Ballot:
– Emailed on Wednesday, Oct. 1
– Closes Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6:00 PM/CT

To vote in all three rounds, prospective CMA members must apply for membership by Sunday, June 1 at CMAmember.com. Only CMA Professional voting members receive voting privileges. The Professional voting tier is offered to industry professionals who primarily work within country music.

CMA Broadcast Awards Submissions — 2025 CMA Broadcast Awards Timeline & Details:

Eligibility Period:
– Performances and events between June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025

Submission Process:
– Apply now online at CMAawards.com.
– Guidelines and entry instructions are available on the site.
– CMA membership is not required to submit.

Eligible Categories:
– Broadcast Personality of the Year and Radio Station of the Year in four market sizes: Major Market, Large Market, Medium Market and Small Market
– National Broadcast Personality of the Year in two formats: Daily and Weekly (Syndicated, Short-Form, Hub Voice-Tracking, Digital Service Providers, and Satellite personalities with live-stream broadcasts are eligible to apply for National Broadcast Personality of the Year.)

Submission Period:
– Open Thursday, May 1 through Monday, June 30 at 5:00 PM/CT

Judging Process & Information:
– Entries will be reviewed and evaluated online by a panel of distinguished radio and industry professionals.
– CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be notified in early October and recognized at The 59th Annual CMA Awards ceremony.
– All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

CMA Touring Awards Nominations Timeline & Details:

Eligibility Period:
– Oct. 1, 2024 – Sept. 30, 2025

Nomination Process & Information:
– Nomination Ballot: A Nomination Ballot will be sent to current CMA Professional voting members in the following member categories: Affiliated, Artist, Composer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Advertising/Marketing/Communications, Venue, Talent Buyer/Promoter and Touring Personnel. Each member is eligible to submit one nomination for each award category.
– Second Ballot: Any candidate that meets the eligibility criteria and receives a minimum of three (3) nominations will be placed on the Second Ballot. Eligible CMA members may vote for up to five (5) candidates in each category for which they choose to vote.
– Selection of Final Nominees: The Top 20 vote recipients from the Second Ballot will be presented to a CMA Touring Awards Task Force to develop a slate of at least five (5) but no more than eight (8) potential nominees for each of the CMA Touring Awards categories.
– Final Ballot: The Final Ballot consisting of the approved nominees are sent to eligible CMA members for voting. Each member may vote for one (1) nominee in each category they choose to vote.
– All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

Nomination Ballot:
– Opens Monday, July 21
– Closes Friday, Aug. 1 at 5:00 PM/CT

Second Ballot:
– Opens Tuesday, Aug. 26
– Closes Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5:00 PM/CT

Final Ballot:
– Opens Monday, Dec. 1
– Closes Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 5:00 PM/CT

CMA International Awards Timeline & Details:

Nomination Process & Information:
– All CMA Professional voting members can submit nominations. A CMA International Awards Task Force reviews the nominations and makes winner recommendations to the CMA Board of Directors, which approves the recipients.
– There are six CMA International Award categories—Jo Walker Meador International Award, Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award, Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, International Country Broadcaster Award, International Artist Achievement Award, and Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award.
– Nominate now at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/IntlNomsPR.

Nomination Ballot:
– Open now through Saturday, May 31

CMA Industry Honors Nominations:

Nomination Process & Information:
– CMA Industry Honors recognize artists, executives, and other professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the Country Music industry and community.
– All CMA members can submit nominations for the following CMA Industry Honors —CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Irving Waugh Award of Excellence, Joe Talbot Award, CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, and Studio Recording Icon Award.
– Final recipients are selected and approved by the CMA Board of Directors.
– Nominate now at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/industryhonorsnomPR.

Nomination Ballot:
– Open now through Sunday, Aug. 10

Author
Recent Posts

LB Cantrell

LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print issues and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.