Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift top this year’s nominees for the 47th Annual CMA Awards with six nominations apiece (full list below). Musgraves is up for Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year; and picked up two more nominations for Album of the Year for Same Trailer Different Park and Single of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round,” which she produced with Luke Laird and Shane McAnally. In the Song of the Year category (which is presented to songwriters) she is nominated twice, once for “Merry Go ‘Round” with songwriters Josh Osborne and McAnally and for Lambert’s hit “Mama’s Broken Heart” with songwriters Brandy Clark and McAnally.
Swift is already familiar with the winner’s circle at the CMA Awards, and she has earned another six nominations this year including Entertainer of the Year; Female Vocalist of the Year; Album of the Year for Red, which was produced by Jeff Bhasker, Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson and Swift; and nominations for “Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Urban for Single, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year. Swift now has 21 CMA Awards nominations and seven wins including two for Entertainer of the Year (2009, 2011), which ties her with Barbara Mandrell for wins in that category by a female artist.
Miranda Lambert, the CMA’s reigning Female Vocalist, and Blake Shelton, the reigning Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, received five nominations each. Lambert received three individual nominations for Female Vocalist, Music Video (“Mama’s Broken Heart,” directed by Trey Fanjoy) and Single of the Year, for “Mama’s Broken Heart” (produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf and Chuck Ainlay), with an additional two nominations with Pistol Annies. Shelton earned five nominations including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Based on a True Story, produced by Scott Hendricks), Music Video of the Year (directed by Fanjoy) and Musical Event of the Year (“Boys ‘Round Here”). Florida Georgia Line and Keith Urban each received four nominations for Country’s Biggest Night.
The first round of nominations were announced this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America by Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line. Remaining categories were announced via livestream from Best Buy Theater in New York City.
The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thurs., Oct. 10. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Mon., Oct. 28 (5:00 PM/CT). The 2013 Broadcast Awards finalists were also announced this morning from Nashville.
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return to host the CMA Awards for the sixth consecutive year. The 47th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 6, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Tickets for the Annual Awards, as well as CMA Country Christmas, will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets can be bought at ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or in person at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Box Office.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Taylor Swift
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lee Brice
Brett Eldredge
Florida Georgia Line
Kacey Musgraves
Kip Moore
DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Sugarland
Love and Theft
Civil Wars
Thompson Square
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Based on a True Story, Blake Shelton; Produced by Scott Hendricks; Warner Bros. Records
Blown Away, Carrie Underwood; Produced by Mark Bright; 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
Red, Taylor Swift; Produced by Jeff Bhasker, Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker and Dan Wilson; Big Machine Records
Same Trailer, Different Park, Kacey Musgraves, Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves; Mercury Records
Tornado, Little Big Town; Produced by Jay Joyce; Capitol Records Nashville
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“I Drive Your Truck,”Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
“Merry Go Round,” Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osbourne and Shane McAnally
“Pontoon,” Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean
“Wagon Wheel,” Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line, Produced by Joey Moi, Republic Nashville
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw, Big Machine Records
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf and Chuck Ainlay, RCA Nashville
“Merry Go Round,” Kacey Musgraves, Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves, Mercury Records
“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker, Produced by Frank Rogers, Capitol Records Nashville
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each Artist)
“Boys ‘Round Here,” Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, Warner Bros. Records
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line with Nelly, Republic Nashville
“Don’t Rush,” Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill, 19 Recordings/RCA Records
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Big Machine Records
“The Only Way I Know,” Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, Broken Bow Records
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood, Directed by Randee St. Nicholas
“Boys Round Here,” Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Downtown,” Lady Antebellum, Directed by Peter Zavadil
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Directed by Shane Drake
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Tornado,” Little Big Town, Directed by Shane Drake
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally

Michael O’Neill has been named as the successor for BMI’s long-serving president and CEO Del Bryant.
O’Neill has been with BMI for 20 years, most recently as Sr. VP of repertoire and licensing. O’Neill’s appointment was a unanimous decision by BMI’s board of directors. O’Neill will begin his new role  as CEO on Sept. 16, and as president of the company in June 2014.
“I am honored that the BMI Board of Directors chose me to follow in the footsteps of two truly iconic CEOs who have led BMI for the past 28 years – Frances Preston and Del Bryant,” said O’Neill in a statement. “I am also thrilled that I will have the ability to rely on Del’s counsel over the coming year as he is an exceptional executive, leader, role model and friend.”
Bryant announced his plans to exit BMI in May of this year, saying that he was “privileged to lead this company I love, one of the world’s greatest music companies. I began my career with BMI in 1972 and after four decades with the company and 10 years as CEO, I’m excited to be moving back to my hometown of Nashville where my family and I will build a farm on beautiful land purchased by my folks with money earned from their BMI catalog. I look forward to working with the board during the transition period, and to supporting the company as a consultant after retiring as CEO.”

Legendary music industry executive Irving Azoff, 65, has announced the creation of Azoff MSG Entertainment. The company includes his artist management business (with clients including the Eagles, Steely Dan, Van Halen and Christina Aguilera), a television/live event division, a 50 percent stake in Digital Brand Architects, and a 90 percent interest in a publishing venture headed by former ASCAP executive Randy Grimmett. The company is backed by the Madison Square Garden Company, which supplied $175 million to the company. Azoff counts Madison Square Garden Company’s executive chairman James L. Dolan as a longtime supporter.
The Madison Square Garden Company will pay $125 million for a 50 percent stake in Azoff MSG Entertainment, and will provide up to $50 million of credit to the company. Azoff will also serve as a consultant to the Madison Square Garden Company.
In a joint interview, Azoff and Mr. Dolan described the mission of the new company as being somewhat loose, saying they see it as a lean, digitally focused company that will address the needs of the evolving music business. Azoff’s career began in artist management in the 1970s.
Dolan joined Live Nation’s board in 2011, after the company merged with Ticketmaster and Azoff was named Executive Chairman. After Azoff exited his post as Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment and CEO of Front Line Management Group in January of this year, Dolan resigned from the board; Dolan’s company did away with its 3.9 million shares in Live Nation for $44 million.