![](https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acm-awards-1024x620.jpg)
Yearly because the nominations for nation music awards come and go, it’s arduous to not fall right into a perfunctory angle about them as a result of cyclical and predictable nature of the nominees.
That is made a measure worse now that the meaningless CMT Awards have gone from a passing notion to CBS’s flagship nation presentation since they kicked the ACMs to the curb, and the ACMs now broadcast through Amazon Prime. And now the brand new “Folks’s Selection Nation Awards” deliver NBC into the image, giving nation music a ridiculous 4 awards reveals annually.
Even remarking on the ACM Award nominations runs the danger of giving them extra consideration than they deserve, although they most likely deserve extra consideration than the video-based CMTs, or the upstart Folks’s Selection Nation Awards. Traditionally, the CMA Awards and the ACMs have been nation music’s 1A and 2B awards reveals.
However there’s a newer class and a few fascinating wrinkles to the 2024 ACM Awards nominations that deserve remark because the Academy clearly tries to deal with the brand new actuality in nation music the place impartial artists not heard on the radio proceed to extend their market share and recognition.
At the start, we have to focus on the ACM’s latest class, the “Artist-Songwriter of the Yr” that was established in 2022, and appears to have been moved from the “ACM Honors” presentation to the right ACM Awards for 2024. On it’s face, this could possibly be a superb class to cowl an usually missed sector of the nation music business.
Whether or not it was the previous greats like Man Clark, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Lucinda Williams and others, or extra current artist-songwriters comparable to Lori McKenna, Caitlyn Smith, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall, and even of us like Jason Isbell, there are artists who additionally occur to jot down songs that others make into main hits that by no means appear to get the right recognition they deserve.
One cool factor in regards to the Canadian Nation Music Affiliation is that they have all the massive mainstream classes because the CMAs do, however in addition they have a “Finest Different Nation Album” class, and a “Finest Roots Artist” class. This contains the chance to spotlight artists that aren’t on mainstream radio themselves.
However the nominees for the ACMs “Artist-Songwriter of the Yr” award couldn’t be worse. As an alternative of highlighting the missed, it principally reinforces the highest names of the style and offers them much more nominations/awards.
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Zach Bryan
Ernest
Hardy
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Certain, you could possibly sort of see somebody like Zach Bryan qualifying for this class since he wrote all of the songs for his newest self-titled album himself and suits the mildew of a pure “songwriter.” Maybe you could possibly even slip Ernest in there as effectively since he’s most likely extra profitable as a songwriter than a performer at this level.
However do Entertainer of the Yr nominees Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton really want to compete for yet one more award? As an enviornment draw himself with main hits on the radio, does Hardy actually match this mildew both? Additionally, Morgan Wallen, Ernest, and Hardy have been nominated for this similar award final 12 months, and Hardy gained it. Are we simply going to appoint and award these three dudes indefinitely so long as Morgan Wallen’s at #1?
This was a good suggestion by the ACMs that was utterly squandered by the execution.
The rules for the new artist-songwriter category don’t actually stipulate what the ACMs are searching for in the case of this class. They merely spell out eligibility, which makes such a large area of potential nominees, principally anyone might get nominated, facilitating the largest names within the mainstream swooping in for yet one more award.
This award is offered to a person identified each as an artist and a songwriter who was the predominate recording artist on at the very least one tune that charted within the prime 20 on Billboard’s Scorching Nation Songs or Mediabase Nation charts through the eligibility interval. Nominees will likely be chosen by a Skilled Panel of judges whose members are authorized by the ACM officers composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights group (PRO) representatives. The Panel will submit 5 (5) nominees, which will likely be positioned on the ultimate poll as soon as authorized by the Board.
The elements to be thought of embrace, however will not be restricted to, a commercially launched tune crediting the songwriter that achieved its highest place within the Prime 50 on Billboard’s Scorching Nation Songs or Mediabase Nation charts through the eligibility interval. If the only was launched previous to the eligibility interval however achieved its highest charted place through the present eligibility interval, it’s eligible, except it appeared on a closing ACM poll.
– – – – – – – – – –
The second fail of the 2024 ACM Awards is their New Duo or Group of the Yr class. Typically this class doesn’t come up in any respect, however this 12 months it does, whereas solely together with three nominees.
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Neon Union
Stressed Street
Tigirlily Gold
No offense to any of those teams, however that is simply the ACMs working to bolster the Nashville system. Since you’ve got two extra spots, why not additionally nominate The Castellows who’re a fast rising group of dynamic sisters? There’s maybe no hotter up-and-coming band in nation music proper now than 49 Winchester, and since their earlier albums have been independently launched, they nonetheless qualify beneath the ACM’s guidelines. They’re not precisely 100% nation, however the Crimson Clay Strays are completely on fireplace proper now. Why not add them to the class?
Each the ACMs and the CMAs have a much bigger downside in the case of these Group of the Yr and Duo of the Yr classes. These fields are so extremely skinny proper now, they’re filling them in with duos and bands that aren’t even at present lively. That’s additionally how Brothers Osborne and Outdated Dominion proceed to win these awards 12 months after 12 months, regardless of their lack of cultural relevance. Combining the Duo and Group classes like they did within the “New Artist” realm wouldn’t be a nasty thought.
One brilliant spot is the weak Group of the Yr area facilitated Flatland Cavalry lastly getting a nomination, which has to really feel like candy validation for a band that began within the Texas/Crimson Filth scene.
One other brilliant spot is the nomination of Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves for the tune “I Keep in mind Every thing.” With the affect this collaboration had and the love Musgraves receives from awards, will probably be a powerful contender for Music Occasion of the Yr.
However as soon as once more, the ACMs are leery of nominating Zach Bryan for Entertainer of the Yr, and even Male Artist of the Yr. He’s far and away the 2nd greatest artist in nation music for the third straight 12 months, and nonetheless these awards deal with him like the brand new child on the block as a result of he’s not on mainstream radio. Zach doesn’t want the plaudits, however the ACMs would possibly want to incorporate artists like Zach Bryan in the event that they wish to stay related shifting ahead.
It was additionally heartening to see Tyler Childers and his video for “In Your Love” nominated for Visible Media of the Yr. You simply want Childers can be acknowledged when there wasn’t an inclusivity field to test off by doing so. Just like Zach Bryan, Childers continues to be discounted by these awards establishments.
As nation music followers proceed to diversify their listening habits and favor extra impartial and non radio-supported artists, these awards reveals should comply with go well with. In any other case they threat dropping their relevancy. Opening up new lanes for songwriters, conventional nation artists, up-and-coming artists can assist, however not in the event that they get clogged by the identical forged of characters from the mainstream.
2024 ACM AWARDS NOMINEES
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The Conflict And Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Flatland Cavalry
Woman A
Little Massive City
Outdated Dominion
Zac Brown Band
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Hannah Ellis
Kylie Morgan
Megan Moroney
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ernest
Kameron Marlowe
Dylan Scott
Conner Smith
Nate Smith
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Neon Union
Stressed Street
Tigirlily Gold
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Gettin’ Outdated – Luke Combs
– Greater – Chris Stapleton
– Leather-based – Cody Johnson
– One Factor At A Time – Morgan Wallen
– Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) – Kelsea Ballerini
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
– “Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum
– “Quick Automotive” – Luke Combs
– “Final Evening” – Morgan Wallen
– “Want A Favor” – Jelly Roll
– “Subsequent Factor You Know” – Jordan Davis
SONG OF THE YEAR
– “Quick Automotive” – Luke Combs
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
– “Coronary heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson
– “Subsequent Factor You Know” – Jordan Davis
Songwriters: Chase McGill, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, Josh Osborne
– “The Painter” – Cody Johnson
Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
– “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney
Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
– “Can’t Break Up Now” – Outdated Dominion, Megan Moroney
– “Totally different ‘Spherical Right here” – Riley Inexperienced (feat. Luke Combs)
– “I Keep in mind Every thing” – Zach Bryan (feat. Kacey Musgraves)
– “Man Made A Bar” – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church)
– “Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
– “Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum
– “Human” – Cody Johnson
– “In Your Love” – Tyler Childers
– “Subsequent Factor You Know” – Jordan Davis
– “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Chase McGill
Josh Thompson
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan
Ernest
Hardy
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen