Academy of Country Music

The Academy is mourning the loss of Joe Bonsall, a member of the ACM Award-winning group The Oak Ridge Boys for 50 years. Celebrated for their distinctive four-part harmonies, The Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban) received four ACM Awards, including prizes for Top Vocal Group, Album of the Year for Ya’ll Come Back Saloon, and Single Record of the Year for “Elvira.” In 2007, they were honored with the ACM Pioneer Award. In addition, they are members of both the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Please join the Academy in sending love and healing to his Oak Ridge band mates, as well as his family, friends, and fans.

On Saturday (6.22), the Academy of Country Music (ACM) continued Pride Month celebrations by taking to Broadway to walk in the Nashville Pride Parade, joined by ACM members, family, and friends.   This follows in the footsteps of our inaugural ‘ACM Country for Y’all’ showcase on Thursday (6.20), exclusively for ACM Members. Taking place at Frankie J’s in Nashville, the event aimed to shine a light on the talented voices within the Country genre and LGBTQIA+ community, featuring performances from Adam Mac, Brooke Eden, Chris Housman, and Denitia.     With a mission to remain relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in the Country music industry, the Academy continues to celebrate Pride Month by spotlighting additional LGBTQIA+ artists through curated takeovers of the official ACM Instagram account throughout the month of June. 

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of the ACM Special Award honorees! These spectacular individuals have each played a tremendous role in shaping and growing Country Music, and we are so excited to celebrate them at #ACMhonors, August 21 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. ✨ Congrats to all the honorees!   SPECIAL AWARD HONOREES: ACM TRIPLE CROWN AWARD and ACM MILESTONE AWARD – Lainey Wilson ACM ICON AWARD – Tony Brown, Trisha Yearwood ACM LIFT EVERY VOICE AWARD – Shannon Sanders ACM LIFTING LIVES AWARD – Luke Bryan ACM POET’S AWARD – Walt Aldridge, Alan Jackson ACM ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Chris Stapleton ACM SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Jessie Jo Dillon   Be there at “the Country Music industry’s favorite night,” featuring unforgettable tribute performances you’ll only see at ACM Honors – tickets go on sale this Friday, June 21 on AXS.    To learn more about the ACM Special Award Honorees and #ACMhonors, please visit https://lnkd.in/gVHmN3i9

Congratulations to the winners of the ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards from the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards! 🎉   59th ACM INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS:  • CASINO OF THE YEAR - THEATER: Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Grand Theater – Durant, OK  • CASINO OF THE YEAR - ARENA: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT  • FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR: Tortuga Music Festival – Fort Lauderdale, FL  • FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – San Antonio, TX  • CLUB OF THE YEAR: Joe's Live – Rosemont, IL • THEATER OF THE YEAR: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN  • OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO  • ARENA OF THE YEAR: Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN  • DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR: Ed Warm  • PROMOTER OF THE YEAR: Adam Weiser – AEG    59th ACM STUDIO RECORDING AWARD WINNERS:  • BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jimmie Lee Sloas • DRUMMER OF THE YEAR: Jerry Roe  • ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Charlie Worsham • ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rob McNelley • PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: (TIE) Jim “Moose” Brown & David Dorn  • SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paul Franklin • AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Jim Cooley • PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Dann Huff   All ACM Industry Award and Studio Recording Award recipients will be celebrated during the 17th Academy of Country Music Honors on August 21 at the historic Ryman Auditorium here in Nashville.   Thank you to Billboard for helping us share this news yesterday.  https://lnkd.in/ggGeMME5

The Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Voices Council, gave back to a local elementary school in Dallas, TX, before the 59th #ACMawards. The Academy’s Lifting Voices Council recognized Birdie Alexander Elementary’s efforts and wanted to celebrate and inspire the students to continue pursuing their musical ambitions. The ACM Lifting Voices Council, joined by Warner Music Nashville’s country music artist Tyler Braden and in proud partnership with Gibson, Inc., delivered a special donation of musical instruments to the band, orchestra, and musical theatre programs to support the school’s fine art initiatives. It is the hope that this donation catalyzes a wave of change and fosters new opportunities for these Dallas-based students.

The Academy of Country Music’s 2024 LEVel Up cohort met at WME | William Morris Endeavor for the program’s “Artist and Representative Day.” Joined by ACM LEVel Up Alumni and WME Agent Morgan Kenney as well as Big Loud/Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records’ artist Lily Rose, the cohort took part in an in-depth discussion about the world of agents and promoters, balancing careers, mental health, and opportunities to remove disparities that marginalized communities have faced. In addition, the group connected with Rose on her passion for songwriting, touring with the likes of Sam Hunt and Shania Twain, and her overall musical journey.

What an incredible way to close out the first year of our #OnRampACMxBMAC program! 🌟   Last June, we launched OnRamp, a groundbreaking partnership with Black Music Action Coalition focused on improving inclusivity and equity within Music City and empowering the next generation of leaders, both artists and music industry professionals, through 360º mentorship, exclusive panels, and workshops with ACM Board members and thought leaders, and more.   Last night, we celebrated the 20 members of the inaugural OnRamp class with an unforgettable performance showcase at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville. Congrats to our OnRamp class members on completing the program, and thank you to WENDY MOTEN for hosting and all the supporters that came out and made this night so special.   ACM x BMAC OnRamp, Inaugural Class:  Kim Albritton, music licensing  Erica D. Baker, Esq., attorney  Jasmine Bavaro, management and audio engineer  Tylar Bryant, artist  Tatyana Carter, artist manager  Carmen Dianne, artist  Larysa Jaye, artist  The Kentucky Gentlemen, artist  Chasidy Lauderdale, business management  Cameron Leavy-Thorn, music business student  Tae Lewis, artist  Roz Malone, musician  Daisha McBride, artist  Nina Teapot Owens, creative consultant  Qualls, artist  Nick Tabron, artist  Kendall Warner, artist  Dede Neahn West West, public relations  Julie Williams, artist  Amari Young, A&R For more information regarding the OnRamp program, please visit acmcountry.com/onramp.

The Academy of Country Music (ACM), Prime Video & Amazon Studios, and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) today announced that entertainment icon Reba McEntire will host the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT, streaming live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. A Prime membership will not be required to watch live, everyone is invited to the Party of the Year. We are thrilled for the homecoming of Reba to the #ACMawards stage for the 17th time! There is simply no one better to continue to elevate this show in our new global streaming era with Amazon Prime Video,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside said. “No one has a deeper and richer history with the Academy than Reba, from her many years hosting the ACM Awards, and from her 16 ACM Awards wins including Entertainer of the Year and two ACM anniversary Milestone Awards. With exciting new music coming, extensive television presence and a worldwide fanbase, Reba’s back and better than ever!”

On Monday (4.15), the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Whiskey Jam partnered for the first time to host a live show as part of Whiskey Jam’s outdoor concert series. Taking place at Skydeck on Broadway, the event garnered record-breaking attendance from fans who packed-out the rooftop venue to enjoy the ACM-curated lineup of performers. Beginning with remarks from Ward Guenther (Co-founder, Whiskey Jam) and Damon Whiteside (CEO, Academy of Country Music), the evening featured a strong lineup of performances by Tyler Braden, Benjamin Joseph, Tiera Kennedy, Matt Koziol, LANCO, Meghan Patrick, Chase Rice as well as surprise appearances from Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat. As one of several membership events organized by the Academy throughout the year, ACM Members were treated to exclusive access to the VIP viewing deck during the show, allowing for invaluable networking throughout the evening. 2023 marked the Academy's highest membership count to date, with more than 5,000 artists and industry professionals nationwide.

Nominations for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards were recently announced with Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, and Morgan Wallen receiving the most nominations. "Country Music’s Party of the Year" will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. For the full list of nominations → https://lnkd.in/eNfC9Cc7