If you're like me, there are probably times when you are frustrated with the nominees of the different award shows. You have your favorite artists and they seem too often left out when it comes time to be nominated.
I've written the procedures the ACM Membership goes through in order to create the list of nominees each year.
Who Are the ACM Members?
ACM Members are comprised of anyone who currently makes their living or in the past has made their living from country music. The affiliate categories are: artists, entertainers, club operators and employees, composers, on-air personalities, managers, musicians, band members, instrumentalists, music publishers, publications, publicists, public relations, record labels, talent agents, talent buyers, TV/Motion Pictures.
Round 1:
The entire membership of the ACM receives a blank ballot in the First Round on which they will write in one nomination for each of the following categories; Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, Top Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist, Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Duo or Vocal Group, Top Vocal Group, Top Vocal Duo, Single Record of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year.
Any entry that receives fifteen (15) or more votes is then reviewed by a committee to ensure they meet all the criteria for that category. The committee researches each entry and the qualifying entries are released to the ACM members for the Round 2 voting.
Round 2:
In Round 2, members of the ACM cast five (5) votes for each category. The five (5) nominees receiving the most votes move on to Round 3 for voting.
Final Round:
In Round 3, members of the ACM cast one (1) vote for each category. These are the final votes, and they are the ones announced at the live ACM show, which is held this year at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, NV on May 26, 2004. In the case of a tie, both winners will receive an award.
