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 & WINNERS
CREW OF THE YEAR
WINNER: “Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour” Crew – Luke Combs
“The Beautifully Broken Tour” Crew – Jelly Roll
“Country’s Cool Again Tour” Crew – Lainey Wilson
“Gravel & Gold Tour” Crew – Dierks Bentley
“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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Julie Boos – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Stephanie Alderman – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
Dwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC
COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Wendy Holt – Lainey Wilson
Chad Allison – HARDY
Josh Easter – Morgan Wallen
Toby Eaton – Old Dominion
Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett
Terry Ford – Kenny Chesney
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Chris Sims – Jelly Roll
FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Todd Lewis – Luke Combs
Ryan Dell – Lainey Wilson
Ron Gardner – Jelly Roll
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
WINNER: Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs
Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
Trevor Drawdy – HARDY
Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
Andy Knighton – Jason Aldean
Mitch Mueller – Lainey Wilson
Chris Reade – Dierks Bentley
Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
Elisabeth Ashley – Borman Entertainment
Enzo DeVincenzo – 377 Management
Martha Earls – Neon Coast
Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
Troy “Tracker” Johnson – TRACK Management
Chris Kappy – Make Wake Artists
MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Michael Zuehsow – Luke Combs
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
PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jerry Slone – Luke Combs
Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
Jeff “Goofy” Greeninger – Jon Pardi
Chad Guy – Morgan Wallen
Meesha Kosciolek – Eric Church
Earl Neal – Jason Aldean
Emily Waller – Lainey Wilson
Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Carla Sacks – Sacks & Co.
Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Relations
Jensen Sussman – Sweet Talk Publicity
Wes Vause – Press On Publicity
Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Donnie Floyd – Morgan Wallen
Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church
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
WINNER: Dega Catering
Bandit Lites
Master Tour By Eventric
Moo TV
Pioneer Coach
Richards & Southern
Rising Star Travel
Spectrum Sound
TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Austin Neal – The Neal Agency
Mike Betterton – Wasserman Music
Rod Essig – CAA
Becky Gardenhire – WME
Meredith Jones – CAA
Braeden Rountree – WME
Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency
Elisa Vazzana – UTA
TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
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
TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs
Matt Anderson – Old Dominion
David Farmer – Kenny Chesney
Jeff Gossett – Morgan Wallen
Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton
Mike McGrath – Tim McGraw
Taylor Watson – HARDY
TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Charlie Worsham (Guitar) – Dierks Bentley
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
TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Andy Barron – Chris Stapleton
Mason Allen – Old Dominion
Alex Alvga – Kane Brown
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
WINNER: Tyler Hutcheson – Luke Combs
Josh Clark – Miranda Lambert
Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
Jordan Karow – HARDY
Mike Tinsley – Tim McGraw
Jake Zobrist – Cody Johnson
VENUE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
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
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
WINNNER: Robin Majors – Kenny Chesney
Holly Atherton – Chris Stapleton
Kayla Carter Greear – Luke Bryan
Mindy Grabowski – Live Nation Entertainment
Jeff “Bean” Griffin – HARDY
Lolo Kinser – Tim McGraw
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.
Past Recipients:
2024 Ben Farrell
2023 Ron Baird
2022 John Huie
2019 Tony Conway
2018 Louis Messina
2017 Brian O’Connell
2016 Randy “Baja” Fletcher