CMA TOURING AWARDS

After 15 years, the CMA Touring Awards returned in 2012 to celebrate the Country Music touring industry and the people who continue to promote and sustain America’s favorite live entertainment format!

Previously known as the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards, the CMA Touring Awards were originally created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry. Only CMA members in the Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, International, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring Personnel, and Venue categories vote for the CMA Touring Awards.

After two round of balloting, five to eight finalists are selected by a CMA Board approved Task Force. The winners are determined by a Final Round of voting and announced at the CMA Touring Awards ceremony. The eligibility period is from October 1 of the previous year to September 30 of the current year.

2024 CMA TOURING AWARDS NOMINEES

CREW OF THE YEAR

“The Beautifully Broken Tour” Crew – Jelly Roll
“Country’s Cool Again Tour” Crew – Lainey Wilson
“Gravel & Gold Tour” Crew – Dierks Bentley
“Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour” Crew – Luke Combs
“No Bad Vibes Tour” Crew – Old Dominion
“One Night At A Time Tour” Crew – Morgan Wallen
“Quit!! Tour” Crew – HARDY
“Sun Goes Down Tour” Crew – Kenny Chesney

 

BACKLINE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Derek Benitez – Chris Stapleton
Dalton Brown – Lainey Wilson
William Coats – Eric Church
Allen Cothran – Jason Aldean
Terry Fox – Kenny Chesney
Dave Graef – Tim McGraw
Hunter Lamb – HARDY
Brian Love – Luke Combs

 

BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Stephanie Alderman – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
Julie Boos – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
Dwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

 

COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR

Chad Allison – HARDY
Josh Easter – Morgan Wallen
Toby Eaton – Old Dominion
Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett
Terry Ford – Kenny Chesney
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Wendy Holt – Lainey Wilson
Chris Sims – Jelly Roll

 

FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Ryan Dell – Lainey Wilson
Ron Gardner – Jelly Roll
Todd Lewis – Luke Combs
David Loy – Kane Brown
Evan “Turbo” Owen – HARDY
Jeff Parsons – Blake Shelton
Robert Scovill – Kenny Chesney
Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion

 

LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
Trevor Drawdy – HARDY
Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
Andy Knighton – Jason Aldean
Mitch Mueller – Lainey Wilson
Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs
Chris Reade – Dierks Bentley
Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett

 

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Elisabeth Ashley – Borman Entertainment
Enzo DeVincenzo – 377 Management
Martha Earls – Neon Coast
Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
Troy “Tracker” Johnson – TRACK Management
Chris Kappy – Make Wake Artists

 

MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Beau Alexander – Morgan Wallen
Brad Baisley – Blake Shelton
Cory Benson – Tyler Childers
Samuel Ferry – HARDY
Logan Hanna – Brothers Osborne
Jimmy Nicholson – Thomas Rhett
Dean Studebaker – Old Dominion
Michael Zuehsow – Luke Combs

 

PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
Jeff “Goofy” Greeninger – Jon Pardi
Chad Guy – Morgan Wallen
Meesha Kosciolek – Eric Church
Earl Neal – Jason Aldean
Jerry Slone – Luke Combs
Emily Waller – Lainey Wilson
Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney

 

PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
Carla Sacks – Sacks & Co.
Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Relations
Jensen Sussman – Sweet Talk Publicity
Wes Vause – Press On Publicity
Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity

STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church
Donnie Floyd – Morgan Wallen
Matt Hornbeck – Luke Combs
Josh “Dude” Marcus – Jason Aldean
Tom Nisun – Kenny Chesney
Allison Noah – Carly Pearce
Richard Rossey – Old Dominion
Fred Yanda – Dan + Shay

 

SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Bandit Lites
Dega Catering
Master Tour By Eventric
Moo TV
Pioneer Coach
Richards & Southern
Rising Star Travel
Spectrum Sound

 

TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR

Mike Betterton – Wasserman Music
Rod Essig – CAA
Becky Gardenhire – WME
Meredith Jones – CAA
Austin Neal – The Neal Agency
Braeden Rountree – WME
Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency
Elisa Vazzana – UTA

 

TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
Brad Garrett – Police Productions
Bradley Jordan – Peachtree Entertainment
Brian O’Connell – Live Nation Nashville
Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
Adam Weiser – AEG Presents

 

TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Matt Anderson – Old Dominion
David Farmer – Kenny Chesney
Jeff Gossett – Morgan Wallen
Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton
Mike McGrath – Tim McGraw
Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs
Taylor Watson – HARDY

 

TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Kurt Allison (Guitar) – Jason Aldean
Nick Buda (Drums) – Kenny Chesney
Jerry Flowers (Bass Guitar) – Keith Urban
Aslan Freeman (Guitar) – Lainey Wilson
Kurt Ozan (Guitar) – Luke Combs
Mickey Raphael (Harmonica) – Chris Stapleton
Tyler Tomlinson (Guitar) – Morgan Wallen
Charlie Worsham (Guitar) – Dierks Bentley

 

TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Mason Allen – Old Dominion
Alex Alvga – Kane Brown
Andy Barron – Chris Stapleton
Becky Fluke – Little Big Town
Tanner Gallagher – HARDY
Jeff Johnson – Carrie Underwood
David Lehr – Morgan Wallen
Jill Trunnell – Kenny Chesney

 

TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Josh Clark – Miranda Lambert
Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
Tyler Hutcheson – Luke Combs
Jordan Karow – HARDY
Mike Tinsley – Tim McGraw
Jake Zobrist – Cody Johnson

 

VENUE OF THE YEAR

Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
Joe’s on Weed St. – Chicago, IL
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

 

UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR

Holly Atherton – Chris Stapleton
Kayla Carter Greear – Luke Bryan
Mindy Grabowski – Live Nation Entertainment
Jeff “Bean” Griffin – HARDY
Lolo Kinser – Tim McGraw
Robin Majors – Kenny Chesney
Mel Murphy – Live Nation Nashville
Katie Wilkinson – Chris Stapleton

CMA TOURING LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award is for an individual who has accomplished the highest level in the Country Music field of touring.  The award was established to recognize an individual who has achieved both prominence and stature at the highest level. The individual receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on Country Music fans and the industry alike.

It is to be noted that their presence will have a long-term positive impact on Country Music and CMA for generations to come.

This award is not intended for an artist.

Ben Farrell, longtime Country Music concert promoter, will be honored with the 2024 CMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Past Recipients: 
2023    Ron Baird
2022    John Huie
2019    Tony Conway
2018    Louis Messina
2017    Brian O’Connell
2016    Randy “Baja” Fletcher