The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) presented honors to top touring professionals during the “CMA TOURING AWARDS” at MARATHON MUSIC WORKS in NASHVILLE on MONDAY, JANUARY 22nd. Hosted by CURB NASHVILLE’s JERROD NIEMANN, and featuring presentations from DIERKS BENTLEY, THOMAS RHETT, and CHRIS STAPLETON, the evening recognized winners in fifteen categories as well as the CMA TOURING LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, presented to LIVE NATION Pres./Country Music Touring BRIAN O’CONNELL by KIX BROOKS and ROB BECKHAM.
The complete list of winners is as follows:
- Business Manager Of the Year: DUANE CLARK (FLOOD, BUMSTEAD, MCCREADY & MCCARTHY)
- Coach/Truck Driver Of The Year: DANNY SHELNUT (MONTGOMERY GENTRY)
- FOH (Front Of House) Engineer Of The Year: ARPAD SAYKO (CHRIS STAPLETON)
- Lighting Director Of The Year: DAVE BUTZLER (GARTH BROOKS)
- Manager Of The Year: CLARENCE SPALDING (MAVERICK)
- Tour Manager Of The Year: LOGAN KORNEGAY (THOMAS RHETT)
- Monitor Engineer Of The Year: MARC EARP (ERIC CHURCH)
- Production Manager Of The Year: JOHN GARRIOTT (CHRIS STAPLETON)
- Publicist Of The Year: JAKE BASDEN (BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP)
- Talent Agent Of The Year: DARIN MURPHY (CAA)
- Talent Buyer/Promoter Of The Year: LOUIS MESSINA (MESSINA TOURING GROUP)
- Tour Caterer Of The Year: CENTER STAGE EVENTS
- Touring Musician Of The Year: NATHAN BARLOWE (KEITH URBAN) (Keyboard)
- Venue Of The Year: BRIDGESTONE ARENA (NASHVILLE, TN)
- Tour Video Director Of The Year: JOHN BRESLIN (GARTH BROOKS)
