CMA Touring Awards To Honor Brian O’Connell

Brian O’Connell

The Country Music Association (CMA) will honor Live Nation’s President of Country Music Touring Brian O’Connell as this year’s recipient of the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. The CMA Touring Awards, which highlights vital behind-the-scenes members of the industry, will take place Monday, Jan. 22 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. Sugarland member and CMA winner Kristian Bush will host the ceremony.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award from the CMA,” O’Connell said. “This is absolutely not a reflection of anything I have done on my own, rather my incredible team in Nashville, Michael Rapino, Bob Roux and the rest of Live Nation giving us the latitude and guidance to achieve lofty goals, and most importantly the artist community, including the agents, managers and road warriors who make it all possible.”

“CMA is proud to have Brian as such an instrumental and influential voice on the CMA Board,” said CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms. “His ability to think outside the box with touring while also expanding festivals in country music is inspiring, and he has no doubt made an impact on the genre that will live on for generations to come. He represents his artists with passion, commitment and insight, and we are all proud to know him.”

For more than 25 years, O’Connell has revolutionized country touring while contributing to some of the most successful careers in country music. His growing legacy includes tours with artists Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban. O’Connell developed the hugely successful Country Megaticket, a season ticket to country shows at Live Nation venues across the country, and continues to grow a vibrant festival division within the company including Watershed, Faster Horses, LakeShake and more.