ACM AWARDS ARE MAKING SOME CHANGES

The Academy of Country Music is making changes to several awards categories, including the splitting of Songwriter of the Year into two categories and expanding the number of nominees for Entertainer of the Year.

The ACM will hand out a Songwriter of the Year and an Artist-Songwriter of the Year award at next year’s ceremony. The ACM has expanded Entertainer of the Year to seven nominees from five.

Criteria for the Album of the Year category has been changed to increase the required volume of previously unreleased content to 75% from 51%, and the release window has been updated to better accommodate gradual release schedules. The Video of the Year category has been expanded into Visual Media of the Year to include additional formats of visual content.

Additionally, the Academy’s Radio Award criteria for National Personality of the Year has been updated to require that show submissions be distributed across all continental time zones. This has an impact on the National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year and the National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year categories.

“Making these changes clarifies eligibility and allows artists, songwriters and radio broadcasters to put their best foot forward in having their accomplishments recognized by their peers and celebrated by the Academy,” said Tommy Moore, VP, Artist and Industry Relations, Governance and Board Administration.

The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, produced by dick clark productions, will livestream on Prime Video 5/11 from Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

The eligibility period for submissions is 11/16/21–12/31/22. Other key dates are as follows.

• Submissions: 1/9–1/27
• First-round voting for main awards: 2/27–3/6
• First-round voting for radio awards: 2/27–3/13
• Second-round voting for main awards: 3/27–4/3
• Final-round voting for radio awards: 3/27–4/10
• Final-round voting for main awards: 4/17–24.