Avery Anna, who was named the Academy of Country Music Awards’ new female artist of the year on Tuesday (April 28), ahead of the 61st annual ACM Awards on May 17, is a fast-rising 22-year-old singer from Flagstaff, Arizona.
She is signed to Warner Music Nashville, for whom she has released two full-length albums, Breakup Over Breakfast and Let Go Letters, and two EPs: Mood Swings and forgive, forget. She co-wrote all 17 songs on Breakup Over Breakfast, which features collaborations with Parmalee, Dylan Marlowe, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna. She also co-wrote and was featured on Sam Barber’s hit “Indigo,” which reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.She has served as an opening act on tours by Josh Turner, Parmalee and Martina McBride.
She joins a very impressive list of winners in the new female artist of the year category, which has been presented in all but seven years since the ACM Awards got underway in 1966. Shania Twain, who is set to host this year’s show, won the award in 1996. Each of the top four nominees for this year’s ACM Awards – Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson – is a past winner in the category. Other past winners include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini and Ashley McBryde. And that’s just in this century. Pre-2000 winners include Barbara Mandrell, Tanya Tucker, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt, Crystal Gayle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes.
Here are five things to know about Avery Anna.
Tucker Wetmore, who was named the Academy of Country Music Awards’ new male artist of the year on April 30, ahead of the 61st annual ACM Awards on May 17, is a fast-rising 26-year-old singer from Washington state.
Wetmore was recently performing in London when his mom, Sia, walked on stage and directed her son’s (and the audience’s) attention to the video screens on either side of the stage, on which Thomas Rhett announced that Wetmore was this year’s recipient of the award.
“I’m at a loss for words right now for the first time in a long time,” a clearly moved Wetmore said. “I can’t do any of this without you guys. I can’t do any of this without that woman [mom] right there… Y’all made this possible. Every single person in this venue. And there’s countless more outside of this venue that I can’t sit here and name because I’d be here all night. Thank y’all so much and thank you ACMs for this amazing honor.”
Last summer, Wetmore was the opening act for Rhett, who is a nine-time ACM Award winner.
Seven past winners of the ACM Award for new male artist of the year have gone on to win ACM’s entertainer of the year prize. Merle Haggard, who was the inaugural winner of new male artist of the year – not a bad start – won entertainer of the year in 1971. Other new male artist winners who stepped up the top prize are Mickey Gilley, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton.
Here are six things to know about Tucker Wetmore.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers revealed its 2026 ASCAP Latin Music Awards winners during an invite-only ceremony hosted Tuesday night (May 5) in Miami.
For a third time, Colombian hitmaker Keityn was named songwriter of the year after co-penning hits such as Karol G and Marco Antonio Solís‘ “Coleccionando Heridas,” Maluma‘s “Cosas Pendientes,” Feid‘s “Doblexxó” and Nicky Jam and Beéle‘ “Hiekka.”
New York Dominican superstar — and self-proclaimed King of Bachata — Romeo Santos won the ASCAP Latin songwriter-artist of the year award backed by his recent smashes “Ángel” (also starring Grupo Frontera), “Desde Hoy” (performed by Natti Natasha) and “Khé” (with Rauw Alejandro).
The 2026 ASCAP Latin Song of the Year award was given to “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” performed by Karol G and written by ASCAP songwriter Rios. The tune, which dropped last June, was published by Capital Music Puerto Rico LLC and Kobalt Music Publishing. The track ruled Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart at No. 1 for 14 weeks and recently climbed back to No. 6 following Karol G’s headlining performance at this year’s Coachella.
Meanwhile, Daddy Yankee extends his reign as the most decorated Latin ASCAP songwriter in history, adding his 63rd and 64th award for the uplifting anthem “Sonríele” and “Latina Foreva,” the sultry tune performed by Karol G. The reggaetón legend has been recognized at every ASCAP Latin Awards ceremony since 2005.
On the industry side, Universal Music Publishing Group was recognized as Latin music publisher of the year for the fourth consecutive year, thanks to its representation of several latest hits by Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro and more.
Additional ASCAP Latin honorees include Julito Gastón, who earns his first recognition for cowriting Bad Bunny’s global hit “Baile Inolvidable” alongside Antonio Caraballo. Other winners include Feid (“Doblexxó,” “Háblame Claro,” “Verano Rosa”), Xavi (“En Privado,” “Flores”), Natanael Cano (“PRESIDENTE”), Tito El Bambino (“EoO”), Danny Ocean (“Imagínate”) and more.
See the full list of ASCAP Latin music winners on the ASCAP website.
The Australian Recording Industry Association has announced the six artists set to be inducted into the 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame, with the ceremony scheduled for June 11 at Carriageworks in Sydney as part of the ARIA Awards’ landmark 40th anniversary celebrations, in partnership with Spotify.
Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda will join a distinguished group of previous inductees that includes AC/DC, INXS, Kylie Minogue, Crowded House, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, Archie Roach, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Olivia Newton-John and Yothu Yindi.
The late Gurrumul — born Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu of the Gumatj clan of Elcho Island in Arnhem Land — remains one of Australia’s most culturally significant artists. Blind from birth, the Indigenous singer-songwriter rose to international acclaim with his 2008 self-titled debut album, which drove more than 500,000 worldwide sales. During his lifetime he performed for Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Barack Obama, and was one of only two Australian performers at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. He received 22 ARIA Award nominations and 10 wins alongside 16 National Indigenous Music Award wins before his passing in 2017 at age 46.
Jenny Morris rose to prominence in the 1980s and ’90s, first with QED and INXS before launching a successful solo career that produced multiple platinum albums including Body and Soul (1987), Shiver (1989) and Honeychild (1991). She won back-to-back ARIA Awards for Best Female Artist in 1987 and 1988, and toured internationally alongside Prince, INXS and Paul McCartney. Beyond performing, Morris has been a significant industry advocate, serving as chair of the APRA board and founding Art of Music, a charity fundraiser for music therapy organization NORO, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Kate Ceberano first broke through in 1984 as the lead vocalist of I’m Talking, before achieving her first Platinum solo album, Brave, in 1989. Across more than four decades she has released 31 albums and 57 singles, holding the rare distinction of being one of only four Australian artists — alongside AC/DC, Midnight Oil and Kylie Minogue — to achieve top 10 albums across five consecutive decades. She holds 22 ARIA nominations and five wins.
Spiderbait — Janet English, Kram Maher and Damian Whitty — formed in the NSW Riverina town of Finley in 1989 before relocating to Melbourne’s punk underground. Their 1996 album Ivy & The Big Apples debuted in the ARIA Top 3 and went Double Platinum, featuring “Buy Me a Pony,” the first Australian song to top the triple j Hottest 100. The band’s “Black Betty” later reached No. 1 on the ARIA singles chart. Today, the band generates more than 100 million streams annually, with over 70% of their listenership based outside Australia.
The Living End — Chris Cheney, Scott Owen and Andy Strachan — have been one of Australia’s most significant rock acts since their 1998 self-titled debut, which went four-times Platinum, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA chart and charted for 83 weeks. Their single “Second Solution / Prisoner of Society” became the biggest Australian single of the 1990s, and the band holds the record for most consecutive entries in the triple j Hottest 100 from 1997 to 2006. They have collected five ARIA Awards from 29 nominations, and most recently debuted in the ARIA Top 5 with I Only Trust Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Sisters Vika Bull and Linda Bull rose to prominence as key members of The Black Sorrows before forging a successful career as a duo spanning four decades. Their 1994 self-titled debut reached the ARIA Top 10 and went Platinum, and their greatest hits compilation Akilota (Anthology 1993–2006) reached No. 1 in 2020. They have collaborated with Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Archie Roach and Renée Geyer, received the Order of Australia Medal in 2022, and release their ninth studio album, Where Do You Come From?, on June 5.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said in a statement that the inductees “represent the depth, diversity and enduring influence of Australian music across generations,” adding: “As we mark 40 years of the ARIA Awards, it feels especially meaningful to honour these artists whose work has defined moments in time and continues to resonate with audiences today.”
The 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame Special Event takes place June 11 at Carriageworks in Sydney, in partnership with Spotify and supported by the NSW Government through Sound NSW. The 2026 ARIA Awards will be held Nov. 18 at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion, streaming live on Paramount+ and broadcasting on Network 10.
Amyl and The Sniffers snared a hattrick at the 2026 APRA Music Awards, presented Wednesday night (April 29) in Sydney, while INXS was feted with the lifetime achievement award.
For the past year, no Australian act could touch Amyl And The Sniffers on the awards circuit. It was the same story at the Hordern Pavilion, as the loveable rogues collected the peer-voted APRA song of the year, marking the second consecutive year the punk rockers have won prestigious honor, having done so in 2025 with “U Should Not Be Doing That”.
The Melbourne four piece also collected most performed rock work for their cheeky Cartoon Darkness hit “Jerkin’,” and lifted the coveted songwriter of the year award.
“I remember when we first wrote that song and people were asking us, ‘oh, could you maybe write a censored version?,” singer Amy Taylor said of “Jerkin’”. “And we kind of tried to do it, but obviously then there’ll just be no lyrics at all.” Taylor pointed out that her band, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, are all self-taught in their disciplines. “It was all very DIY at the start. We recorded ourselves, we wrote ourselves,” she remarked. “So it feels amazing to be in this position.”
Earlier in the day, Amyl’s managers Simone Ubaldi and Andrew Parisi (of Sundowner Artists) jointly won manager of the year at the AAM Awards, also presented in Sydney.
Doubling up on the night was Guy Sebastian and co-writers Ned Houston and Robby De Sa, who won most performed Australian work and most performed pop work for “Maybe”. The victory marks Houston’s first APRA Award, and the fourth career win for Sebastian and De Sa.
Sia scooped the category for most performed Australian work overseas for the third consecutive year with the aptly-titled “Unstoppable,” for the singer and songwriter’s 14th donut-shaped award across her career. The Adelaide-raised artist is now APRA’s most-awarded writer member of all time.
Hitmaker Sarah Aarons made the trip from her base in Los Angeles to receive the international recognition award, her sixth APRA Award. While visiting the stage, Aarons, who was worked with the likes of Tame Impala, BTS, Flume, Gracie Abrams, ROSÉ and Maren Morris, told of her homesickness. Her favorite restaurant on the West Coast is the Qantas business lounge at LAX, she quipped. “Not being home is really hard.”
Emily Wurramara made history at the 2024 ARIA Awards, when Nara won for best adult contemporary album, the first time an Indigenous woman had won the category since its inception in 1987. The proud Warnindhilyagwa woman etched her name in APRAs history at the Hordern when she nabbed emerging songwriter of the year, a board-appointed award recognizing her incredible body of work over the past year.
The biggest cheers of the night, however, were directed at INXS, who were saluted with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Long-time friend, artist and APRA chair Jenny Morris inducted the new wave band, with an emotional trip down memory lane.
“People ask me what made INX different. The honest answer is everything,” she remarked. “I’ve stood on the riser with these guys. I watched them from the wings, from the front of the house, from the stage door, from every single angle. They were extraordinary.” The six-piece’s “power, intelligence, and visceral effect of the music couldn’t be ignored.”
Holding back tears, Morris recounted the late, great frontman Michael Hutchence, who passed away in 1997, aged 37. “The Michael I knew was modest. As his friends will tell you, in his private time he liked nothing better than just being part of the cohort. One of the bunch. He was not someone who looked over your shoulder at the room full of glitz and glamor. He would look you in the eye. He genuinely wanted to hear what you had to say. He once said, ‘there is an integrity to INXS in the music, that makes it worthwhile.’” He claimed they were “worthwhile. A modest word from a modest man.”
With over 75 million albums sold worldwide, and a slew of international awards from their peers and fans, INXS is one of the most popular bands to emerge from the land Down Under.
Formed back in 1977, INXS would go on to climb rock’s highest summit, a stadium act whose posters were attached to teenagers’ walls everywhere. The sextet of Andrew (keyboards), Jon (drums), and Tim Farriss (lead guitar), along with Garry Beers, Kirk Pengilly (guitar/sax), and the charismatic Hutchence, landed five top 20 albums on the Billboard 200, and a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Kick’s “Need You Tonight.”
In the United Kingdom, the band scored six top 10 albums, including a No. 1 with Welcome To Wherever You Are from 1992, plus a BRIT Award in 1991 for best international group.
The surviving members of the band were on hand to receive the Ted Albert Award, ahead of what will be INXS’ 50th anniversary. Each spoke. Andrew Farriss recounted a youthful conversation with his older brother and bandmate, Tim. “I said to him early in our career, you know, we’re going to have to get real job one day. And this is fun, we play music, have a few beers, a few laughs. We get away with it. Then we went and did all that. Incredible. You were right brother.” Pengilly, who spoke last, admitted the band made “amazing choices.”
As previously announced, the awards celebrated the 100th anniversary of APRA, and were hosted by Julia Zemiro with guest presenters Bernard Fanning, Jessica Mauboy, Mark Coles Smith and Stella Donnelly, and music curated by François Tétaz.
Performers included Christine Anu, Ngulmiya and Rob Ruha; Barkaa; Ecca Vandal; Paul Kelly; and The Presets’ show-stopping electronic rendition of Midnight Oil’s “Power and the Passion,” featuring a special guest appearance by Peter Garrett, in tribute to the late Oils drummer, Rob Hirst.
“The 2026 APRA Music Awards were a fitting way to celebrate not only 100 years of APRA, but today’s biggest and brightest stars,” remarks Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS. “It’s a privilege to look back at 100 years of service to our members and the incredible breadth and diversity of Australian talent. As a nation we derive so much, socially, culturally and economically, from our music creators, it’s imperative that we recognize and celebrate that contribution.”
The APRAs celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honoring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields. At told, 18 awards were presented across three distinct selection processes: board selected, most performed (based on statistical analysis) and peer voted.
See all the winners at apraamcos.com.au/apramusicawards2026 and below.
| Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Jerkin’ Amyl and The Sniffers Declan Mehrtens / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson |
| Songwriter of the Year |
| Amyl and The Sniffers Declan Mehrtens / Fergus Romer / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson |
| Emerging Songwriter of the Year |
| Writer: Published by: Emily Wurramara Mushroom Music Publishing |
| International Recognition Award |
| Writer: Published by: Sarah Aarons Sony Music Publishing |
| Most Performed Australian Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Maybe Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian / Robby De Sa* / Ned Houston* Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing* |
| Most Performed Australian Work Overseas |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Unstoppable Sia Sia Furler / Christopher Braide* Sony Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing ANZ* |
| Most Performed Alternative Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Please Don’t Move to Melbourne Ball Park Music Sam Cromack Sony Music Publishing |
| Most Performed Blues & Roots Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Survival Karen Lee Andrews Daniel March / Adam Ventoura |
| Most Performed Country Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Who You Are Rachael Fahim Rachael Fahim / Shawn Mayer / Liam Quinn / Vlado Saric / Keenan Te* Sentric Music Publishing obo Acts Music Publishing* |
| Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Tell Me |
| Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: RAINDROP Ocean Grove Samuel Bassal* / Brent Hunter* / Luke Holmes BMG* |
| Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Spinnin |
| Most Performed International Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Timeless |
| Most Performed Pop Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by: Published by: Maybe Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian / Robby De Sa* / Ned Houston* Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing* |
| Most Performed R&B / Soul Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by:Pity Party PANIA Pania Hika / Jake Amy / Chelsea Warner / Sam Verghese |
| Most Performed Rock Work |
| Title: Artist: Written by:Jerkin’ Amyl and The Sniffers Declan Mehrtens / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson |
| Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music |
| INXS |
| Licensee of the Year |
| The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre |
In a night all about women supporting women, Zara Larsson took the Billboard Women in Music mission statement literally on Wednesday night (April 29) at the Hollywood Palladium, with the Swedish pop star being held aloft by her four backup dancers as she flawlessly performed her Grammy-nominated song “Midnight Sun.”
And that was just one of many iconic moments in a night full of them. Larsson was honored with the Breakthrough award, for taking over the charts in a major way after 10 years in the business, while the singing voices of HUNTR/X — EJAE, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI — were celebrated for their “Golden”-powered KPop Demon Hunters success as our Women of the Year.
Host Keke Palmer did double-duty, kicking off the night with the first performance, while Mariah the Scientist was honored as Honda’s Rising Star and Tate McRae received the Hitmaker title. Country chart-topper Ella Langley accepted the Powerhouse prize, and Laufey was honored as our Innovator. But we were just getting started: Kehlani took home the Impact award, Thalia was named our Icon, and Teyana Taylor was presented with the Visionary award.
Beyond our artist honorees, ASCAP’s Beth Matthews was also celebrated with the Executive of the Year title, presented by Kim Petras.
And there were even two big global moments as well, with Canadian rockers The Beaches and Filipina girl group BINI accepting Global Force accolades, thanking Billboard Canada and Billboard Philippines for their support back home.
Below, go inside the empowering night with the 11 best moments from the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the date of the 60th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (April 29). The show will air live on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and be available the next day on Hulu. The show has been held at Bridgestone every year since 2006 (except for the pandemic-year show in 2020). The show has also aired on ABC every year since 2006. The host of this year’s show has not yet been named. (Lainey Wilson hosted last year’s show, and co-hosted the 2024 show.)
The CMA also announced the full ballot schedule for the 60th annual CMA Awards, as well as key dates for the CMA Broadcast Awards, Touring Awards, International Awards and Industry Honors.
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“Country Music is shaped by the people who dedicate their lives to it, whether on stage, in the studio, on the road, or behind the scenes,” Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, said in a statement. “At CMA, celebrating that work is at the heart of everything we do. Across our awards and honors, it is this community that determines what excellence looks like, and in our 60th year, I hope every member of this industry truly understands the significance of that. Their participation is how country music recognizes itself, and how it shapes its future.”
This will be Trahern’s final show as CMA’s CEO. On Jan. 14, she announced her intention to retire at the end of the year. She has held the post since 2014.
Here is a summary of key dates, eligibility requirements and voting processes across CMA’s annual awards cycle.
Balloting Timeline — 60th Annual CMA Awards
Eligibility Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Voting Process: All CMA professional voting members may vote in three rounds. As of today, 6,678 professional members are eligible to vote.
Nomination Ballot: The nomination ballot will be emailed to eligible CMA members on Monday, July 6. Voting closes on Thursday, July 16, at 6:00 p.m. CT. Voters write in any artist or project they think deserves a nomination. If it fits the criteria for that category, it counts.
Second Ballot: The top 20 vote-getters from the first round move forward (only the top 15 for entertainer of the year). Members may vote for up to five candidates in each category. The second ballot will be emailed on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Voting closes on Monday, Aug. 17, at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Final Ballot: The top five from the second round become the official nominees. CMA members vote one last time to choose the winners. Members may vote for one nominee in each category. The final ballot will be emailed on Thursday, Oct. 1. Voting closes on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:00 p.m. CT. The final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer.
All three rounds of voting will be conducted online by Election Services Corp. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte.
Membership Deadline & Information: To vote in all three rounds, prospective CMA members must apply for membership by Monday, June 1, at CMAmember.com. Only CMA professional voting members receive voting privileges. The professional voting tier is offered to industry professionals who primarily work within country music.
CMA Broadcast Awards
The CMA Broadcast Awards recognize excellence in country broadcasting.
Eligibility Period: Performances and events between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026
Submission Process: Apply starting Friday, May 1, at broadcast.CMAawards.com. Guidelines and entry instructions are available on the website. CMA membership is not required to submit.
Eligible Categories: Broadcast Personality of the Year and Radio Station of the Year in four market sizes: Major Market, Large Market, Medium Market and Small Market; National Broadcast Personality of the Year in two formats: Daily and Weekly.
Syndicated, Short-Form, Hub Voice-Tracking, Digital Service Providers and Satellite personalities with livestream broadcasts are eligible to apply for National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
Submission Period: Open Friday, May 1 through Tuesday, June 30, at 5:00 p.m. CT
Judging Process & Information: Entries will be reviewed and evaluated online by a panel of radio and industry professionals. CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be notified in October and recognized at the 60th annual CMA Awards ceremony. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.
CMA Touring Awards
The CMA Touring Awards honor excellence in country music touring, recognizing behind-the-scenes professionals across 20 categories for their contributions to the industry.
Eligibility Period: Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2026
Nomination Process & Information:
Nomination Ballot: A nomination ballot will be sent to current CMA Professional voting members in the following member categories: Affiliated, Artist, Composer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Advertising/Marketing/Communications, Venue, Talent Buyer/Promoter and Touring Personnel. Each member is eligible to submit one nomination for each award category. The nomination ballot opens on Monday, July 20, and closes on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Second Ballot: Any candidate that meets the eligibility criteria and receives a minimum of three nominations will be placed on the second ballot. Eligible CMA members may vote for up to five candidates in each category. The second ballot opens on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and closes on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Selection of Final Nominees: The top 20 vote recipients from the second ballot will be presented to a CMA Touring Awards Task Force to develop a slate of at least five but no more than eight potential nominees for each of the CMA Touring Awards categories.
Final Ballot: The final ballot consisting of the approved nominees is sent to eligible CMA members for voting. Each member may vote for one nominee in each category. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte. The final ballot opens on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and closes on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 6:00 p.m. CT
CMA International Awards
CMA International Awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to country music worldwide, celebrating individuals across six categories who champion the genre and expand its global reach.
Nomination Process & Information: All CMA Professional voting members may submit nominations. A CMA International Awards Task Force reviews the nominations and makes finalists and winner recommendations to the CMA Awards & Recognition Committee, which approves the recipients.
There are six CMA International Award categories: Jo Walker Meador International Award, Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award, Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, International Country Broadcaster Award, International Artist Achievement Award and Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award. Nominate at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/IntNoms26PR. The nomination ballot opens on Friday, May 1. Voting runs through Sunday, May 31.
CMA Industry Honors
CMA Industry Honors recognize artists, executives and other professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the country music industry and community.
Nomination Process & Information: CMA professional members may submit nominations for the following CMA Industry Honors: CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Irving Waugh Award of Excellence, Joe Talbot Award, CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award, CMA Songwriter Advocate Award and CMA Award for Recording Excellence.
Nominate at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/IndustryHonorsNoms26PR. The nomination ballot is open now through Sunday, Aug. 16. Final recipients are selected and approved by the CMA board of directors.
For questions regarding awards eligibility or voting and nomination processes, CMA members may contact Brenden Oliver, CMA director, awards stewardship, at BOliver@CMAworld.com. For inquiries related to CMA membership, reach out to the membership team at Membership@CMAmember.com.
All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte.
Rosalía will receive the international songwriter of the year award at The Ivors’ upcoming awards ceremony.
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The Catalonian-born singer-songwriter will accept the honorary award at the May 21 event, held at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The honor, according to The Ivors’ press release, is awarded to an “international songwriter whose released songs had a cultural and commercial impact in the U.K. over the past year.” In 2025, The Killers’ Brandon Flowers was awarded the special international award for his impact as a songwriter.
Presented by The Ivors Academy, one of the largest professional associations for music writers in Europe, the prizes are judged by a select panel of songwriters and composers.
First held in 1956, the ceremony routinely attracts big-hitters both domestically and internationally, with The Beatles, David Bowie, Adele, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and more among the artists to be recognized.
Rosalía released Lux, her fourth LP, in October 2025. The critically acclaimed album hit No. 4 on both the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. The set features Rosalía singing in 13 different languages, including Spanish, Catalan, English, Latin, German and Arabic. She collected the international artist of the year prize at the 2026 BRIT Awards and performed Lux single “Berghain” at the ceremony, which featured a cameo from Björk.
Speaking on the announcement, Roberto Neri, chief executive of The Ivors Academy, said, “We are proud to celebrate Rosalía as International Songwriter of the Year. Her songwriting has captured the hearts and minds of audiences around the globe.”
He continued: “With lyrics in over 13 languages, Rosalía has broken down barriers and borders, and I’m delighted she will be celebrated by our community and industry as she picks up her first Ivor Novello Award. This recognition reflects our growing global outlook and celebrates songwriters defining music and culture.”
Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, Lola Young and Coldplay are among the nominees for the upcoming ceremony.
On April 28, the Musicians Hall of Fame welcomed a dozen new members, as it inducted its ninth class during a ceremony held at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University.
Dann Huff, Dolly Parton (recipient of the industry icon award), George Thorogood & the Destroyers, John Boylan (recipient of the producer award), Keith Urban, Leland Sklar, Michael McDonald and the late Nicky Hopkins were all inducted.
The evening launched with a private medallion ceremony, held in the Fisher Center’s Brad Paisley Ballroom, where Linda Chambers, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum co-founder and CEO, presented Hall of Fame medallions and custom-made jackets to honorees, with help from guests and 2016 Musicians Hall of Fame inductees Ricky Skaggs and Don Felder.
Later, actor/musician Sam Palladio oversaw an all-star concert held to celebrate the honorees.
The Musicians Hall of Fame all-star band featured musicians Brent Rader, Mark Beckett, Paul Franklin, Mark Hill, Chris Leuzinger, John Jarvis, Michael Rojas, Sam Levine, Eric Darken, Alicia Enstrom, and Gordon Kennedy, as well as background vocalists Marcia Ware Wilder, Brent Rader and Tania Hancheroff.
Dweezil Zappa presented George Thorogood & The Destroyers (Thorogood, Jeff Simon, Bill Blough, Jim Suhler and Buddy Leach) with a Musicians Hall of Fame accolade, and joined the band for their first song, “Move It On Over.” The band followed with “Who Do You Love” and “Bad to the Bone.”
“With humility, we say thank you,” Thorogood told the audience in accepting the induction.
Producer/music executive Tony Brown honored bassist Sklar, known for his work with artists including James Taylor, Carole King and Lyle Lovett. Wendy Moten sang a powerful rendition of “Running on Empty” and Garth Brooks performed a joyous version of “How Sweet It Is.”
“You guys all light the paths that the rest of us try to follow,” Brooks told the evening’s honorees.
Bernie Leadon presented the accolade to John Boylan, known for his production work on Boston’s self-titled debut, as well as multiple albums recorded by Linda Ronstadt (whom he has also managed), Charlie Daniels Band and many more. Johnson performed “More Than a Feeling,” and Trisha Yearwood performed the Ronstadt-recorded songs “Love Has No Pride” as well as “Silver Threads and Golden Needles,” joined by Felder and Alicia Enstrom.
To honor guitarist Dann Huff, known for his work as a producer and musician on scores of albums (including a 25-year relationship working with fellow inductee Urban), but also for his keen guitar skills on albums by everyone from Michael Jackson to Kenny Rogers and Taylor Swift — and even on the Celine Dion smash “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack. Along the way, Huff also performed as part of the Christian rock band Whitesnake.
Wendy Moten performed “My Heart Will Go On,” while Buck Johnson performed the Whitesnake classic “Here I Go Again.”
Huff told the audience, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around this. I know it’s cliche to say this, but just to be inducted in the class with these people, it’s astounding.”
Peter Frampton honored the late pianist Nicky Hopkins, known for his work on albums by The Who, The Beatles, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones. Frampton called Hopkins “a piano player’s piano player,” while Hopkins was honored by performances of “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Revolution” and “Angie.” Vince Gill then sang a tender rendition of “You Are So Beautiful.” Hopkins’ wife Moira accepted the honor on his behalf.
Sheryl Crow presented the honor to Parton, who shared her acceptance remarks via a pre-recorded video message. While Parton is known for writing and performing all-time country hits like “9 to 5” and “Jolene,” she is also a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, banjo, piano, dulcimer and more.
“I am very humbled to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame,” Parton said. “My songwriting is more important to me than anything, but as much as I’ve crafted lyrics in my mind, and then eventually started writing them down on paper, I realized early on that if I was going to write songs, I needed to be able to play instruments to bring them to life. I knew this would allow people to hear them in ways that I heard them playing in my head… I understood how important it was to speak to the instrumentation. I learned to communicate what I wanted to hear on records because I could play them.”
Guitarist-vocalist-writer Steve Wariner then performed a medley of Parton hits including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5.”
Gill and Skaggs presented the honor to Urban, who then took the stage to perform renditions of “Long Hot Summer,” “When Summer Comes Around” and “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me.”
“This is a bit surreal honestly,” Urban said in accepting his honor. To his fellow honorees, he said, “It’s a huge honor to be with every one of you in this class, it’s insane.” He said of his fellow inductee Huff, “I’ve grown so much from Dann about just being a better musician. I think when we started working together, I was just all stubble and rough as hell and all disheveled, like, that’s a vibe, let’s move on, next song. And Dann, who was from the Mutt Lange world, was like… play that solo 464 frickin’ times more. There was that learning curve. Somewhere in between the way the two of us were making records was how we ended up making records and I’m so honored that 25 years later we’re still making records together and have a new album coming out that we both got to do [Urban’s newly-announced yacht rock album Flow State, out June 12].”
Gill also presented the Musicians Hall of Fame accolade to McDonald, saying, “He possesses maybe the most identifiable voice.”
McDonald then sat at a keyboard to perform rousing versions of “What a Fool Believes” and “I Keep Forgettin’” and was then joined by his fellow honorees and the evening’s presenters for an all-star rendition of “Takin’ It To The Streets.”
Following the induction of the new members, the Musicians Hall of Fame has now inducted 200 musicians, producers, engineers and other industry members.
“Each new class of inductees reminds us why we do what we do — preserving and celebrating the legacy of the musicians who bring songs to life,” Chambers said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these artists into the Musicians Hall of Fame.”
Throughout the evening, many also paid tribute to a producer and musical colleague who had been heavily involved in the making of the event, Musicians Hall of Fame Induction producer Cliff Downs, who died April 24 following a battle with cancer.
Sundowner Artists’ Simone Ubaldi and Andrew Parisi were the big winners at the Association of Artist Managers’ fifth annual awards, presented lunchtime Wednesday (April 29) at Sydney’s Crowbar, just hours before the APRA Music Awards.
The pair, who manage the international breakthrough punk rockers Amyl And The Sniffers, won manager of the year, the same category they nabbed at the inaugural AAM Awards in 2022.
“They’ve helped each of the Sniffers through areas they didn’t need to which is a testament to their generosity,” explains Amy Taylor, the ARIA Award winning band’s firebrand singer, in a statement. “Not only are they music managers, they also run a live music venue and contribute to community radio, and love going to watch live music. They’re not persuaded by dodgy deals and they’re fiercely protective, as anyone whose come in their crossfires I’m sure is aware of. Their job isn’t easy but they’ve not only managed us as a band they’ve also managed to not blow their brains out dealing with our shit for eight-odd years.”
Manager of the year was one of seven categories announced on the day, all recognizing notable achievements and activity from January 2025 to December 2025.
The AAM Awards “recognize the managers at the center of artist careers; the ones driving strategy, navigating complexity, and making the work happen behind the scenes,” comments AAM executive director Maggie Collins.
This year’s nominees, she continues “reflect the strength, diversity and ambition of our community. Our winners set the benchmark for modern management: forward-thinking, resilient, and deeply invested in their artists’ success. But they’re also part of a broader ecosystem of managers who are all shaping the future of Australian music.”
Finalists were determined thorough consultation with a panel of respected representatives from different areas of the Australian and international music industry.
Also on the day, AAM presented the Legacy Award to Melita Hodge of Six Boroughs Management, an honor curated by the trade body’s board. Hodge’s long-time artist Kasey Chambers, the ARIA Hall of Fame inducted country legend, was on hand to pay tribute with words and song.
“I wouldn’t be the artist, I wouldn’t be the woman, I am today without you,” Chambers remarked, holding back tears. “Let’s do it for another 30 years, if you can put up with me,” she quipped. Chambers then performed a solo rendition of “The Captain,” the first song she and Hodge worked on together. The performance ended in happy tears.
Also during the ceremony, the Patron’s Gift Award to Ben Pierpoint of Ben Pierpoint Management, an accolade curated by the AAM patrons, and the 2026 APRA AMCOS Lighthouse Award was presented to Neon Tiger Mgmt’s Kristie McCarthy. In addition to the award, McCarthy receives a grant valued at A$5,000 to support her business and professional pursuits.
“Receiving the Lighthouse Award at this point in my management career feels incredibly special – just days before my daughter’s first birthday and only a month after launching my own business,” she remarked.
“Like many first-time mothers, I was apprehensive about how I would manage maternity leave, especially as an artist manager. I’m so grateful to my former teammates for looking after The Cat Empire while I was away, and to Felix and Ollie for taking this next step with me as I begin Neon Tiger Mgmt.”
Matt Okine emceed the ceremony, a week after he co-hosted the Queensland Music Awards on the Gold Coast.
Guest speakers included John Graham, special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for transport, minister for music and the night-time economy. “When you look at the music industry, so much has challenged the years, but one of the constants has been a value of high quality managers, guiding us through an incredibly complicated system, and changes every time you turn around,” he remarked from the podium. “That’s why it’s so good to be here to acknowledge the role that managers part.”
Presented by White Sky, this year’s show, like all previous editions, was a lunchtime gathering before the APRAs, hosted this year at the Hordern Pavilion. Last year’s edition was presented in Melbourne.
The not-for-profit AAM boasts more than 400 artist manager members, representing over 1,250 Australian artists globally. Read more here.
2026 AAM Awards winners:
Manager Of The Year (Presented by White Sky) — Simone Ubaldi & Andrew Parisi, Sundowner Artists
Roster: Amyl and The Sniffers, Grace Cummings, The Gnomes, Girl and Girl, Nice Biscuit (Consultant Managers), Baby Cool (Consultant Managers)
Breakthrough Manager Of The Year (Presented by DMT Law Firm) — Christopher Kevin Au, 24 Karat Enterprises
Roster: POSSESHOT, SPEED (Co-Manager), Shady Nasty (Co-Manager), FUKHED (Co-Manager)
Emerging Manager Of The Year Winner (Presented by PPCA) — Ali Tomoana, Soul Has No Tempo
Roster: Miss Kaninna
Community Engagement Award Winner (Presented by The Orchard) — Tani Webb, First Nations Focus (FNFocus)
Roster: FLEWNT, Inkabee, Taija
Legacy Award Winner (Presented by Frontier Touring) — Melita Hodge, Six Boroughs Management
Roster: Kasey Chambers, Andy Golledge, Denvah, Ball Park Music (Co-Manager), Ruby Jackson (Co-Manager)
Patron’s Gift Award Winner (Presented by the AAM Patrons)
Ben Pierpoint, Ben Pierpoint Management
Roster: Dino Dimitriadis, DOBBY, GODTET, Jamaica Moana (Co-Manager), Milan Ring, Ngaiire (Co-Manager), Rose Riebl, Wallace
Lighthouse Award (Presented by APRA AMCOS — Kristie McCarthy, Neon Tiger Mgmt
Roster: Riebl Tedesco McGill and The Cat Empire