Academy of Country Music Award Nominees Announced

I just thought I'd throw out my PREDICTIONS (in BOLD) for the winners... Feel free to post your GUESSES as well.  We'll agree to disagree on some of 'em... okay?

Entertainer of the Year

Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Lee Brice
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sheryl Crow
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

New Artist of the Year (previously announced semi-finalists)
Lee Brice
Brett Eldredge
Tyler Farr
Justin Moore
Kip Moore
Kacey Musgraves
Thomas Rhett
Parmalee
First round fan voting for New Artist of the Year is going on at www.VoteACM.com and www.GACTV.com/ACM through Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 3 pm ET. Final round fan voting begins on Monday, March 24 and will close on April 6, with the winner being announced live during the ACM Awards.

Album of the Year [Award To Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Based On A True Story… – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks; Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

Crash My Party – Luke Bryan
Producer: Jeff Stevens; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Here’s To The Good Times – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Republic Nashville

Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves; Record Label: Mercury Records

Two Lanes Of Freedom – Tim McGraw
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Record Label: Big Machine Records

Single Record of the Year [Award To Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
“Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Republic Nashville

“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Record Label: Big Machine Records

“I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice
Producers: Lee Brice, Kyle Jacobs, Matt McClure; Record Label: Curb Records

“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf; Record Label: RCA Nashville

“Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum
Producer: Frank Rogers; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Song of the Year [Award To Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” – Gary Allan
Songwriters: Gary Allan, Hillary Lindsey, Matthew Warren
Publishers: Always Alone Songs (ASCAP), Crystal Beach Music (BMI), Raylene Music (ASCAP)

“I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary
Publishers: Beattyville Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Great Day At This Music (BMI), Happy Tears Music (ASCAP), Vistaville Music (ASCAP), Watch This Girl Publishing (BMI)

“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
Publishers: 351 Music (BMI), Crazy Water Music (ASCAP), Little Blue Egg (ASCAP), Songs of Parallel (ASCAP), Vista Loma Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

“Mine Would Be You” – Blake Shelton
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan
Publishers: Doc and Maggie Music (ASCAP), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Get A Load Of This Music (ASCAP), Great Day At This Music (BMI), Hopeless Rose Music (ASCAP), Vistaville Music (ASCAP), Watch This Girl Publishing (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

“Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum
Songwriters: Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor
Publishers: Blood Donor Music (BMI), Special Rider Music (SESAC)

Video of the Year [Award To Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
“Better Dig Two” – The Band Perry
Producer: Eric Williams
Director: Declan Whitebloom

“Blowin’ Smoke” – Kacey Musgraves
Producer: Josh Goldstein
Director: Honey

“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
Producers: Tameron Hedge, Chandra LaPlume
Director: Shane Drake

“I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch

“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Reagan Rosson
Director: Trey Fanjoy

“Two Black Cadillacs” – Carrie Underwood
Producer: Steve Lamar
Director: P.R. Brown

Vocal Event of the Year [Award To Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
“Boys ‘Round Here” – Blake Shelton Featuring Pistol Annies & Friends
Producer: Scott Hendricks; Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

“Cruise (Remix)” – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly
Producers: Joey Moi, Jason Nevins; Record Label: Republic Nashville

“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Record Label: Big Machine Records

“Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum
Producer: Frank Rogers; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

“We Were Us” – Keith Urban And Miranda Lambert
Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban; Record Labels: Capitol Records Nashville, Hit Red Records, RCA Nashville

Off Camera Awards (to be presented during the 8th Annual ACM Honors Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 in Nashville)

Songwriter of the Year
Rhett Akins
Rodney Clawson
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally

Industry Awards:
Nightclub of the Year
Billy Bob’s Texas—Fort Worth, TX
Bub City—Chicago, IL
Floore’s Country Store—Helotes, TX
The Dusty Armadillo—Rootstown, OH
Wild Bills—Duluth, GA

Casino of the Year – Small Capacity (maximum capacity 4,000 seats)
Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa—Rancho Mirage, CA
Deadwood Mountain Grand—Deadwood, SD
Mohegan Sun Wolf Den—Uncasville, CT
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort—Mount Pleasant, MI
The Joint at Hard Rock Casino—Catoosa, OK

Casino of the Year – Medium Capacity (capacity 4,001 seats to 11,000 seats)
Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino—Windsor, ON‎, Canada
Casino Rama—Rama, ON, Canada
Mohegan Sun Arena—Uncasville, CT
Star of the Desert Arena—Primm, NV
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace—Las Vegas, NV

Venue of the Year – Small Capacity (maximum capacity of 4,000 seats)
American Music Theatre—Lancaster, PA
Cape Cod Melody Tent—Hyannis, MA
Georgia Theatre—Athens, GA
House of Blues—Boston, MA
The Moody Theater—Austin, TX

Venue of the Year – Medium Capacity (capacity 4,001 seats to 11,000 seats)
Amphitheater at The Wharf—Orange Beach, AL
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook—Gilford, NH
Big Sandy Superstore Arena—Huntington, WV
Grand Ole Opry House—Nashville, TN
Red Rocks Amphitheatre—Golden, CO

Venue of the Year – Large Capacity (venues of any type, including casinos, with a minimum of 11,001 seats)
BOK Center—Tulsa, OK
Bridgestone Arena—Nashville, TN
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion—Bangor, ME
Gorge Amphitheatre—George, WA
Hollywood Bowl—Hollywood, CA

Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
Billy Brill—Billy Alan Productions
Brock Jones—Global Spectrum
Nicole More—Neste Event Marketing
Fran Romeo—Romeo Entertainment Group
R.J. Romeo—Romeo Entertainment Group

Promoter of the Year
Brent Fedrizzi—AEG Live
Brad Garrett—Police Productions
Billy Minick—Billy Bob’s Texas
Brian O’Connell—Live Nation
Ron Sakamoto—Gold & Gold Productions

The Studio Recording Awards: (formerly the The Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist MBI Awards)
Bass Player of the Year
Mike Brignardello
Kevin “Swine” Grantt
Mark Hill
Michael Rhodes
Glenn Worf

Drummer of the Year
Chad Cromwell
Fred Eltringham
Shannon Forrest
Greg Morrow
Lonnie Wilson

Guitar Player of the Year
Jeff King
Troy Lancaster
Brent Mason
Rob McNelley
Jerry McPherson

Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year
Tony Harrell
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Tim Lauer
Gordon Mote

Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Jim Hoke
Danny Rader
Bryan Sutton

Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Dan Dugmore
Paul Franklin
Steve Hinson
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders

Audio Engineer of the Year
Derek Bason
Ben Fowler
Mills Logan
Steve Marcantonio
Justin Niebank

Producer of the Year
Mark Bright
Dann Huff
Michael Knox
Frank Liddell
Paul Worley

Radio Awards: (To be presented during the annual Radio Winners Reception held the day prior to the ACM Awards telecast, on Saturday, April 5 in Las Vegas.) 
On-Air Personality of the Year – National
Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox —The Bobby Bones Show
Crook & Chase—Crook & Chase Countdown
Kix Brooks—American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Lia—The Lia Show
Lon Helton—Country Countdown USA

On-Air Personality of the Year – Major Market
Dave and Veronica; WQYK-FM—St. Petersburg, FL
Donna & “Muss”; KEEY-FM—Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Don Carpenter, Rachael Hunter, Grunwald, Jason the 300lb. Cowboy; WYCD-FM—Detroit, MI
Edwards & Lee – Chuck Edwards & Linda Lee; WYCD-FM—Detroit, MI
Paul Schadt and Meg Geof; WKKT-FM—Charlotte, NC

On-Air Personality of the Year – Large Market
Big Dave & Chelsie; WUBE-FM—Cincinnati, OH
Dave O’Brien; WLHK-FM—Indianapolis, IN
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman; WFMS-FM—Indianapolis, IN
Lisa McKay; WQDR-FM—Raleigh, NC
Randy Carroll and Jamie Martin; KAJA-FM—San Antonio, TX

On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium Market
Andy Ritchie, Alison West, Jimmy Holt; WIVK-FM—Knoxville, TN
Dan Brennan & Shelby Mitchell; WKSJ-FM—Mobile, AL
Kevin Richards; WGNA-FM—Schenectady, NY
Scott Wynn & Sue Wilson; WQMX-FM—Akron, OH
Steve Lundy and Gina Melton; KXKT-FM—Omaha, NE

On-Air Personality of the Year – Small Market
Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry; KKNU-FM—Eugene, OR
Brian Gary, Todd Harding, and Susan Moore; KUAD-FM—Windsor, CO
Dex and Mo; WUSY- FM—Chattanooga, TN
Mark Ericson, Karen Kiley; WOKQ-FM/WPKQ-FM—Portsmouth, NH
Scotty Cox, Cara Denis; KCLR-FM—Columbia, MO

Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
KUPL-FM—Portland, OR
WIL-FM—St. Louis, MO
WKLB-FM—Boston, MA
WSOC-FM—Charlotte, NC
WXTU FM—Philadelphia, PA

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
WCTK-FM—Providence, RI
WFMS-FM—Indianapolis, IN
WLHK-FM—Indianapolis, IN
WMIL-FM—Greenfield, WI
WQDR-FM—Raleigh, NC

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
KXKT-FM—Omaha, NE
WBBS-FM—Syracuse, NY
WCYQ FM—Knoxville, TN
WDXB-FM—Birmingham, AL
WKMK FM—Neptune, NJ

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KSJJ-FM—Bend, OR
WGSQ-FM—Cookeville, TN
WUSY-FM—Chattanooga, TN
WXFL-FM—Florence, AL
WYCT-FM—Pensacola, FL

American Country Awards Announced

Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Blake Shelton

Artist of the Year: Female
Kelly Clarkson
Sheryl Crow
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Lee Brice
Hunter Hayes
Randy Houser
Scotty McCreery
Justin Moore

Artist of the Year: New Artist
Florida Georgia Line
Kip Moore
Kacey Musgraves
Cassadee Pope
Thomas Rhett

Album of the Year
Night Train, Jason Aldean
Here’s To The Good Times, Florida Georgia Line
Two Lanes of Freedom, Tim McGraw
Based On A True Story…, Blake Shelton
Pioneer, The Band Perry

Single of the Year
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line
“How Country Feels,” Randy Houser
“Beer Money,” Kip Moore
“Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry
“One of Those Nights,” Tim McGraw

Single of the Year: Male
“Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” Gary Allan
“One of Those Nights,” Tim McGraw
“The One That Got Away,” Jake Owen
“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker
“Sure Be Cool If You Did,” Blake Shelton

Single of the Year: Female
“Easy,” Sheryl Crow
“American Heart,” Faith Hill
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert
“Begin Again,” Taylor Swift
“Two Black Cadillacs,” Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year: Duo/Group
“Downtown,” Lady Antebellum
“Tornado,” Little Big Town
“Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry
“If I Didn’t Have You,” Thompson Square
“Goodbye in Her Eyes,” Zac Brown Band

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
“I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice
“All Over The Road,” Easton Corbin
“Somebody’s Heartbreak,” Hunter Hayes
“How Country Feels,” Randy Houser
“Til My Last Day,” Justin Moore

Single of the Year: New Artist
“Did It for the Girl,” Greg Bates
“Don’t Ya,” Brett Eldredge
“Redneck Crazy,” Tyler Farr
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line
“Beer Money,” Kip Moore

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
“The Only Way I Know,” Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church
“Don’t Rush,” Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
“Boys ‘Round Here,” Blake Shelton with Pistol Annies

Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Zac Brown Band

GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY – Music Video of the Year
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line
“Tornado,” Little Big Town
“Sure Be Cool If You Did,” Blake Shelton
“Begin Again,” Taylor Swift
“Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry

Music Video of the Year: Male
“Take A Little Ride,” Jason Aldean
“Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” Gary Allan
“One of Those Nights,” Tim McGraw
“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker
“Sure Be Cool If You Did,” Blake Shelton

Music Video of the Year: Female
“American Heart,” Faith Hill
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert
“Someone Somewhere Tonight,” Kellie Pickler
“Begin Again,” Taylor Swift
“Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood

Music Video of the Year: New Artist
“Don’t Ya,” Brett Eldredge
“Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line
“Crying On A Suitcase,” Casey James
“Beer Money,” Kip Moore
“Merry Go ‘Round,” Kacey Musgraves

Music Video of the Year: Group or Collaboration
“Tornado,” Little Big Town
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
“Come Wake Me Up,” Rascal Flatts
“Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry
“If I Didn’t Have You,” Thompson Square

Song of the Year (award goes to the songwriter(s)):
“Better Dig Two,” Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen, Recorded by The Band Perry
“Cruise,” Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Joey Moi, Chase Rice and Jesse Rice, Recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Hard To Love,” Ben Glover, Billy Montana and John Ozier, Recorded by Lee Brice
“Highway Don’t Care,” Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren and Brett Warren, Recorded by Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
“I Drive Your Truck,” Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary, Recorded by Lee Brice
“Like Jesus Does,” Casey Beathard and Monty Criswell, Recorded by Eric Church
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves, Recorded by Miranda Lambert
“Merry Go’ Round,” Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne, Recorded by Kacey Musgraves
“Pontoon,” Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird, Recorded by Little Big Town
“Wagon Wheel,” Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor, Recorded by Darius Rucker

Chance McKinney on ABC 4 - Salt Lake City, UT

Catch the latest video and write-up from "Good Things Utah" by clicking the link here>>>  Chance McKinney.

Top 25 on iTunes? Think About That... literally.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Join the movement!  We're makin' a run at the Top 25 Country Charts on iTunes for INDEPENDENT artist Chance McKinney.  Be part of it.  Get your copy of THINK ABOUT THAT for $5 off the June 1st price by Pre-Ordering on iTunes today!

He's CMT's Music City Madness Winner...

He's had tour dates with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Kenny Rogers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alan Jackson, Dwight Yoakam, .38 Special and many more...

Now, find out WHY when you purchase your copy of Chance McKinney's new CD "Think About That" on iTunes for $5 off the retail price.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Do it now... be part of history!  A former high school teacher at the top of iTunes Country Charts?  It could happen with your help.

Join us on www.Facebook.com/ChanceMcKinneyMusic or www.Twitter.com/ChanceMcKinney for further info and giveaways!

iTunes PRE-SALE on "Think About That" is on!

$5 Off on iTunes Pre-Sale link to Chance McKinney's Think About That: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

We, here at Chance McKinney Music, are excited to announce the long-awaited release of "Think About That".  Chance's sophomore effort (the follow-up album to CMT Award Winning, "Be Real") has already received thousands of positive reviews from fans who have picked up a physical copy at "live" shows which came out May 2nd during the CD Release Series throughout Washington State.

Of the 11 tracks on the CD, 3 were written by Chance McKinney (and co-write, Kevin Ray Lawson).  The other 8 were submitted by multi-platinum writers Frank Myers (12 #1's on Chris Young, Lonestar, John Michael Montgomery), Craig Wiseman (17 #1's on Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Brooks and Dunn), Brett James (11 #1's on Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Gary Allan, Jason Aldean), David Lee, David Frasier, James LeBlanc, Craig Boyd, Bobby Pinson, Brad Crisler and more.

"It was 11 of the top 500 songs pitched for this project, including the songs I written or co-written on" says McKinney.  "See, I wasn't bull-headed enough to think all my stuff was going to be better than everything out there so I put a majority of the decision-making process in Kevin Ray Lawson's (Producer) hands.  When he came back to me with his Top 20 and we compared it to my Top 20... There were 13 songs in common.  And in those 13, I was nothin' short of amazed to find 3 of mine!  From that point on, it was a 2-man brawl to narrow it down to 11 and get the album cut.  But, after we both got out of the hospital with my severe hangnail and a bruise to Kevin's shin, we got it done."

McKinney goes on to say "I realistically never thought it'd get finished.  There's so much to the process, especially when done right.  And all the while, we're testing songs at 'live' shows to get audience reaction to make sure we were on the right track.  I guess it all came to a head (emotionally) for me when I finished a show in Wenatchee, WA and I sat down to sign some stuff for the first little girl in line.  When I held the CD, and told her, it was the first time I'd held (or signed it, for that matter) the Think About That CD... we both began to cry."

"I've gone through things nobody should have to go through or know about in the music industry to make sure I honor those (my fans, former students and family) who put me in this position just 3 years ago with the CMT Win.  I truly hope Think About That is a step in the direction they want to see me go."

It's now a matter of setting the Music Industry on its ear with a strong showing at iTunes.  How many of you are still with us here at Chance McKinney Music?

iTunes Pre-Sale link to Chance McKinney's Think About That: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Track Listing & Writer Credits Below: