Final Nominees Announced for CMA 2013 SRO Awards

The Country Music Association has named the final nominees for the CMA 2013 SRO Awards.  The final ballot will be e-mailed to voters on Friday, May 24. This year a new category has been added for Talent Buyer/Promoter.

Ballots will be sent to CMA members in the following categories: Affiliated, Artist, Engineer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Publicist, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, TV/Video/Media and Venue. Final voting for the SRO Awards will take place online from May 24-June 12. Ballots will be tabulated by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

Finalists were determined during the first round of the balloting process when voters submitted nominations in each category.

CMA’s SRO Awards 2013 Final Nominees are as follows (in alphabetical order):

CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Jamie Cheek – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.

Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.

Dwight Wiles – Smith, Wiles & Co., P.C.

CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR

Kelley Beck – Blake Shelton

Caleb Garrett – Kenny Chesney

Tim Olson – Toby Keith

CATEGORY 3 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Greg Huffman – Jake Owen

Jeff Parsons – Blake Shelton

David Payne – Taylor Swift

CATEGORY 4 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Trevor Ahlstrand – Martina McBride

Paul Normandale – Hunter Hayes

Steve Richards – Taylor Swift

CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Robert Allen – 13 Management

Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment

Clint Higham – Morris Artists Management

CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Canady – Blake Shelton

Greg Fowler – Jake Owen

Erica Worden – Taylor Swift

CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Brad Baisley – Blake Shelton

Jordan Kolenc – Taylor Swift

Evan Richner – Jason Aldean

CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Arthur Kemish – Taylor Swift

Meesha Kosciolek – Martina McBride

Art Rich – Blake Shelton

CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

Paula Erickson – Erickson Public Relations

Mary Hilliard Harrington – The GreenRoom

Ebie McFarland – Essential Broadcast Media, LLC

CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR

Rod Essig – Creative Artist Agency

Jay Williams – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC

Rob Beckham – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC

CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Louis Messina – The Messina Group

Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

Debra Rathwell – AEG Live

CATEGORY 12 – TOUR CATERER OF THE YEAR

Dega Catering

TaDa! Catering

TourCats Catering

CATEGORY 13 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

David Cook – Taylor Swift – Keyboard

Robby Emerson – Jake Owen – Bass

Steve Sinatra – Hunter Hayes – Drums

CATEGORY 14 – VENUE OF THE YEAR

Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tenn.

Joe’s Bar – Chicago, Ill.

Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.

CATEGORY 15 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney

Olivier Goulet – Taylor Swift

Michael Tinsley – Taylor Swift