CMA Presents Justin Thomson With 2024 International Country Broadcaster Award

THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION PRESENTS JUSTIN THOMSON WITH
2024 INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY BROADCASTER AWARD

CMA Hosts Industry Reception at CMC Rocks in Australia

The Country Music Association, the premier trade association of the Country Music industry, continued its time abroad this past weekend, where the organization returned as a sponsor of the CMC Rocks Festival in Australia and awarded its final International Award for 2024, the International Country Broadcaster Award.

At CMC Rocks, CMA hosted a backstage reception at the CMA Bar on Saturday, March 22 for industry attendees hailing from Australia, New Zealand and North America. During the event, Natalie Waller (Head of ABC Music and Events, Chair of ARIA and CMA Board member), presented Justin Thomson (National Content Director, KIX Country Radio and iHeart Radio Australia) with the 2024 CMA International Country Broadcaster Award. This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of Country Music in their country. Up to three recipients may be named in any year. In 2024, Joakim Richardson (Station Manager, Go Country Sweden) and Wimpie van der Sandt (CEO, Bok Radio) were also presented with the honor. Thomson has been recognized by the international Country Music industry as a key force in expanding Country Music’s reach in Australia. In 2023, he first brought KIX Country to Nashville for CMA Fest, delivering 30 hours of coverage with over 50 artists, while also championing the genre through KIX’s broadcasts of the CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas. He returned to CMA Fest in 2024, providing additional content opportunities for U.S. artists who are expanding their reach into Australia. Additionally, Thomson has traveled to Canada to cover the CCMA Awards and to the U.K. to cover C2C.

About the Country Music Association

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music worldwide. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits music education through the CMA Foundation and is taped for a television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” CMA’s television properties are screened internationally in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the U.K. CMA brings music worldwide, by presenting live performances featuring artists and songwriters through its touring series Introducing Nashville and CMA Songwriters Series. CMA members are located around the globe. Through task forces represented in Australasia, Canada, Europe, The Nordics and the U.K., industry leaders work to further Country Music in these territories. CMA presents six annual international industry awards to acknowledge the efforts of individuals working to develop Country Music in markets across the world.