CMA Awards

The CMA Awards (Country Music Association Awards) is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television, recognizing outstanding achievement in country music since 1967. Organized by the Country Music Association (CMA), the awards are determined by 7,000-plus Professional voting members across 12 categories. The 59th Annual CMA Awards took place November 19, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Lainey Wilson winning Entertainer of the Year. The 60th Annual CMA Awards air November 18, 2026, on ABC, with live streaming on Disney+ for the first time.

Submission and Eligibility Details

The CMA Awards use a three-ballot voting system open exclusively to CMA Professional members. Prospective members must apply by June 1 to participate in that year's voting cycle.

Key eligibility and submission details:

• The eligibility period for the 60th Annual CMA Awards runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
• Round one (nomination ballot): Emailed to eligible CMA members in early July. Members may submit write-in nominations. Closes mid-July
• Round two: Members vote for up to five candidates per category. Closes late July
• Round three (final ballot): Final nominees are emailed in early October. Members vote through late October
• Only CMA Professional voting members participate. Professional membership is limited to industry professionals who primarily work within country music
• All balloting is tabulated by Deloitte, an independent professional services organization
• There is no application fee for artists. CMA membership fees apply to voting members

Key Benefits for Artists

• Network television exposure: The CMA Awards air live on ABC, consistently drawing millions of viewers. The 60th Annual CMA Awards will also stream live on Disney+ for the first time, expanding the audience beyond traditional broadcast.
• Entertainer of the Year prestige: Winning the top category is widely considered the highest honor in country music. Lainey Wilson's 2025 Entertainer of the Year win followed her 2024 win, making her a back-to-back winner and cementing her arena-headlining status.
• Multi-category recognition: With 12 categories spanning performance, songwriting, production, and music video direction, the CMA Awards recognize both artists and behind-the-scenes professionals. Paul Franklin won Musician of the Year (Steel Guitar) in 2025.
• Historical significance: The CMA Awards is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television, first held in 1967. The 60th anniversary in 2026 represents a milestone year with expanded coverage and retrospective content.
• Commercial impact: CMA wins and nominations consistently drive streaming spikes, album sales, and tour ticket sales. Ella Langley and Riley Green's three wins in 2025 for "You Look Like You Love Me" propelled the song to multi-platinum status.
• Brooks & Dunn record: With their 2025 Vocal Duo win, Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for most CMA Award wins of all time with 20 total, demonstrating the career-spanning impact of CMA recognition.

Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Closed voting system: Only CMA Professional members vote, and Professional membership is restricted to those who primarily work within country music. Independent artists outside the Nashville industry ecosystem may struggle to gain voting member support.
• Nashville-centric structure: The ceremony has been held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville every year except 2020 (pandemic relocation). This geographic concentration reinforces the Nashville industry's gatekeeping role in country music.
• Genre exclusivity: The CMA Awards exclusively recognize country music. Artists working in country-adjacent genres (Americana, folk, alt-country) may not qualify depending on how the CMA defines "country music" in any given year.
• Major label advantage: The voting membership skews toward industry professionals with major label affiliations. Independent artists have historically struggled to secure nominations in marquee categories, though Zach Top's 2025 New Artist win shows exceptions exist.
• Long eligibility window: The July-to-June eligibility period means releases from early in the window may be forgotten by the time final voting occurs in October. Artists should plan release timing and promotional campaigns accordingly.

Related Resources

• Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Learn how CMA recognition fits into broader revenue strategies
• How to Release Music Independently - Build a release strategy for country music markets
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate the streaming revenue boost from CMA exposure
• Music Industry Glossary - Understand industry terms related to awards and chart performance
• Official website: cmaawards.com