Eric Church Leads ACM Nominations

Eric Church is the leading nominee with seven nods, followed by Hunter Hayes with six, and Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert with five each.

Eric Church leads the nominations for the 48th Academy Country Music Awards with nine nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nod for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for “Springsteen,” as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for “Springsteen” and for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

Nominees were announced today (Feb. 13) via the second annual digital press conference on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Featured in the video announcements were     Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Ryan Seacrest, 2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs, The Talk hosts (Julie Chen, Sarah Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, and Sheryl Underwood), plus Entertainment Tonight co-anchors Nancy O’Dell and Rob Marciano.

Hunter Hayes received six nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Wanted.” He is also twice nominated in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for “Wanted.”

Miranda Lambert earned five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record and twice nominated for Song, as artist and composer, for “Over You.” Lambert is the reigning ACM Female Vocalist.

Reigning Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift received five nominations, including her fourth consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer, this will be her third consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for Female Vocalist, Video for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and Album for Red as the artist and producer.

Luke Bryan received four nominations, including his first ever for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He also received nominations for Album for tailgates & tanlines and Vocal Event for “The Only Way I Know” with Aldean and Church.

First-time ACM nominee Kacey Musgraves is nominated for four awards including Female Vocalist, New Female Vocalist and twice for Video of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round” as artist and producer.

Other first-time nominees include Florida Georgia Line (3 nominations), Jana Kramer (2 nominations), and Natasha Bedingfield, Will Hoge, Eric Paslay, and Sunny Sweeney with one each.

Little Big Town leads group nominations with four nods, including Vocal Group, Album, Single Record for “Pontoon” and Video for “Tornado.”

Earning three noms apiece are Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band, and Florida Georgia Line.

Shelton and Bryan will co-host the ACM Awards airing live from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Fan Voting for Entertainer and New Artist of the Year: The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the ACM Awards, and selects the final top five nominees for Entertainer of the Year. New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM ET/12noon PT at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 7, 2013 (before the live show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer will close during the third hour of the live broadcast. The winners of both awards will be announced live during the ACM Awards. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line are the nominees for ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s Department Stores. In the first round of fan voting at GACtv.com, Gilbert, Kramer and FGL were respectively voted New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year. The winners of those categories go on to compete for overall ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Jana Kramer
Kacey Musgraves
Sunny Sweeney

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES [Winners of New Male, New Female & New Vocal Duo or Group Of The Year]
Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert
Jana Kramer

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright
Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
Red – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records), Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson
tailgates & tanlines – Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens
Tornado – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville), Produced by: Mike Wrucke
“Over You” – Miranda Lambert (RCA), Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
“Pontoon” – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Springsteen” – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN), Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“A Woman Like You” – Lee Brice
Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone
Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band
Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay
Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)

“Over You” – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

“Springsteen” – Eric Church
Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell
Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges
Publishers: Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)
Rodney Clawson
Dallas Davidson
Josh Kear
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award) [TIE]
“Creepin’” – Eric Church
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Peter Zavadil

“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves; Director: Perry Bean

“Tornado” – Little Big Town
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Shane Drake

“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Producers: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams; Directors: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
Producer: John Nguyen; Director: Declan Whitebloom

“The Wind” – Zac Brown Band
Producer: Ben Kalina; Director: Mike Judge

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
“Don’t Rush” – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Dann Huff
“Easy” – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts
“Feel Like A Rock Star” – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
“Let It Rain” – David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell
“The Only Way I Know” – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)
Produced by: Michael Knox

OFF CAMERA AWARDS – The following off-camera awards will be presented during the annual ACM Honors event held in Nashville this fall.

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

CASINO OF THE YEAR
Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, CA
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa, OK
Northern Quest Casino – Airway Heights, WA
Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas, NV
WinStar World Casino – Thackerville, OK

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace – Bakersfield, CA
Joe’s Bar – Chicago, IL
The Dusty Armadillo – Rootstown, OH
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill – Denver, CO
Wild Bills – Duluth, GA

VENUE OF THE YEAR
Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Brill – Billy Alan Productions
Jerry Hufford – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
Gary Osier – Gary Osier Presents
Pat Powelson – Jayson Promotions, Inc.
Fran Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Brad Garrett – Police Productions
Darin Lashinsky – NS2
Debra Rathwell – AEG Live
Glenn Smith – Glenn Smith Presents
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

MUSICIAN/BANDLEADER/INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Brett Beavers
Buddy Cannon
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Michael Knox

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Chuck Ainlay
Derek Bason
Mills Logan
Steve Marcantonio
F. Reid Shippen

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dennis Crouch
Kevin “Swine” Grantt
Larry Paxton
Jimmie Lee Sloas
Glenn Worf

PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers
Matt Chamberlain
Chad Cromwell
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Aubrey Haynie
Hank Singer
Joe Spivey

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac
J.T. Corenflos
Jay Joyce
Rob McNelley
Brent Mason

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Gordon Mote
Steve Nathan
Michael Rojas

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Darken
Glen Duncan
Jim Hoke
Bryan Sutton
Ilya Toshinsky

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
Greg Leisz
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders

RADIO AWARDS – The following radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners event held the day prior to the ACM Awards telecast, on April 6th in Las Vegas.

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL
Blair Garner, After MidNite with Blair Garner
Cody Alan, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Shawn Parr, The Country’s Hotlist with Shawn Parr
Whitney Allen, The Big Time with Whitney Allen

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Cornbread, Judi Diamond & Cap’n Mac, WIL-FM, St. Louis, MO
Dr. Don Carpenter, Rachel, Grunwald & Jason the 300lb. Cowboy, WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI
Drew Walker, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Edwards & Lee, WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI
Trish Biondo, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Chris Carr, Maverick & Statt, WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman, WFMS-FM, Indianapolis, IN
Lisa McKay, WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
Q Morning Crew – Mike Wheless, Marty Young & Janie Carothers, WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
Randy Carroll and Jamie Martin, KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
Cash and Carey, KWEN-FM, Tulsa, OK
Jack Ryan, WMYL-FM, Knoxville, TN
Party Marty Mitchell, WKMK-FM, Monmouth-Ocean, NJ
Rowdy Yates, Sunny Leigh & Carly Rush, KVOO-FM, Tulsa, OK
Tom and Becky, WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Brent Lane, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL
Dex and Mo, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Gator Harrison, Styckman & Cowboy Kyle, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Jamie Mac, KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
Philip Gibbons, WGSQ-FM, Cookeville, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KNIX-FM Phoenix, AZ
KUPL-FM Portland, OR
WDSY-FM Pittsburgh, PA
WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
WYCD-FM Detroit, MI

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
WLHK-FM Indianapolis, IN
WSM-AM Nashville, TN
WUBE-FM Cincinnati, OH

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
WBBS-FM Syracuse, NY
WGNA-FM Schenectady, NY
WKMK-FM Monmouth-Ocean, NJ
WMYL-FM Knoxville, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
WXFL-FM Florence, AL
WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL