The Wolfe Brothers score CMA International Award nomination

The Country Music Association (CMA) have revealed the nominees for 2021’s CMA International Awards, which honour artists and industry executives who have supported and impacted the growth and promotion of country music in the International marketplace.

Recognised in multiple categories and voted on by international members, nominees from Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States are honoured for their continued efforts in expanding country music’s footprint in their local territories. 

While Australians have scored nominations in five of the six categories, The Wolfe Brothers are the only Australian musical act up for an award. The Tasmanian duo is nominated for a ‘Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award’, which recognises outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside of the United States, alongside Sweden’s Jill Johnson, Canada’s Brett Kissel and The Shires from the United Kingdom.

“We are incredibly grateful for this total surprise finalist nomination in the CMA 2021 Global Country Artist Award,” says Nick Wolfe. “The fact that our music is being recognised globally is something we only dreamed of a few years ago.”

Australia has a long history of success with this award. Since the inception of the ‘Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award’ in 2003, Australian artists have won ten-out-of-17 years (twelve-of-17 if you count Australian-born Canadian-based artist Gord Bamford).

Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Slim Dusty, Adam Harvey, Troy Cassar-Daley, Catherine Britt, Tommy Emmanuel, The McClymonts, Jasmine Rae, Morgan Evans and Travis Collins are all past recipients.

Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Maren Morris and Yola will compete for an ‘International Artist Achievement Award’, which recognises outstanding achievement by a United States-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period.  

In addition to the five existing CMA International Award categories, CMA has also added a new award this year, the ‘Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award’. Named after the late Australian promoter, this award recognises outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending performance opportunities and building live audiences for country music outside of the United States. 

CMA Chief Executive Officer says, “We are delighted to honour those in the industry who have been instrumental in carrying Country Music forward into territories outside of the United States as this year’s CMA International Awards nominees. We are especially thrilled to be adding a new award to the slate this year recognizing those specifically in the live music industry cultivating and growing country music’s reach. A true pioneer in the genre, few people exemplified this more than Rob Potts. He was a driving force in our efforts to expand country music internationally, and I am excited we are able to honour those following in Rob’s footsteps.” 

Voting by the members of the CMA takes place during the month of August with the winners announced before the end of the year. For more information about the Country Music Association's awards and initiatives, visit CMAworld.com. 

2021 CMA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS – NOMINEES:

ROB POTTS INTERNATIONAL LIVE MUSIC ADVANCEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending performance opportunities and building live audiences for country music outside of the United States.

• Michael Chugg (Australia – Chugg Entertainment and Chugg Music) 
• Sina Hall (Germany – Semmel Concerts Entertainment GmbH)  
• Nigel Hassler (U.K. – CAA)  
• Sigve Prestnes (Norway – Stageway Talent) 
• Troy Vollhoffer (Canada – Premier Global Production, Country Thunder Music Festivals and Big Valley Jamboree)  

JO WALKER MEADOR INTERNATIONAL AWARD 
This award recognises outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.  

• Ilse DeLange (The Netherlands - Artist, founder of Spark Records, Firefly Publishing and Tuckerville Festival) 
• Tracy Martin (Canada – The Core Entertainment)  
• Natalie Waller (Australia – ABC Music and Events) 
• Chris York (U.K.– SJM Concerts, Country to Country Festival U.K.)   

WESLEY ROSE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 
This award recognises outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music outside of the United States.  

• Mathias Bridfelt (Sweden – SVT) 
• Saniel Marriner (Australia – CMT Australia)  
• Ricky Marshall (U.K.– BBC Radio 2)  
• Charlotte Thompson (Canada – Red Umbrella P.R.) 

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 
This award recognises outstanding achievement by a United States-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period.  

• Brothers Osborne 
• Luke Combs 
• Dan + Shay  
• Maren Morris 
• Yola 

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY BROADCASTER AWARD 
This award recognises outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in his/her country.    

• Dayna Bourgoin (Canada – Pure Country Radio/Bell Media)  
• Rita Jernquist (Sweden – Sveriges Radio P4) 
• Baylen Leonard (U.K. – Absolute Radio Country/Bauer Radio Limited) 
• Justin Thomson (Australia – KIX Country/Grant Broadcasters)  

JEFF WALKER GLOBAL COUNTRY ARTIST AWARD 
This award recognises outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of country music as well as brought attention to the Country Music format in their foreign based territory. 

• Jill Johnson (Sweden)  
• Brett Kissel (Canada)  
• The Shires (U.K.)  
• The Wolfe Brothers (Australia)  

For more breaking news from CountryTown, check out here.

Image: Supplied