With the exception of the Lifetime Achievement Award(s), these awards are to honor the INDEPENDENT recording artists/performers in country music and other genres that fall under the country music umbrella. Performers are eligible if they meet one of the following statuses:
Country performers are not eligible if they have had ‘Top 40’ success as a ‘primary’ recording artist (not a collaboration) in their career on the primary Billboard Country Singles Chart prior to the ending of that particular awards year/cycle OR signed to a major record label at the conclusion of the eligibility period of that particular awards year/cycle.
Note: Due to the vast number of National talent competitions, any artist having chart success directly related to a talent show, such as collaborations and other releases via compilations, since the inception of the Arkansas Country Music Awards in 2018 will not be penalized. (Only when it is an artist with chart success from their ‘own’ release).
Umbrella category performers (Americana, Bluegrass, Inspirational) are not eligible if they have had recordings released for sale with a major label in their known musical field.
* Artists are either COUNTRY, AMERICANA or BLUEGRASS. Artists can only fall into one of these three categories.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
This Award(s) is open to anyone who was born in Arkansas OR for a substantial period of time resided in Arkansas that as a recording artist, songwriter, producer, engineer, disc jockey, promoter or anyone else who has fostered country music. Their initial known National achievements must have occurred at least 25 years prior to the award show year.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for the artist that exhibits the highest level of entertaining, through recorded output, live performances and public acceptance.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
This Award is for a female artist (country, Americana or bluegrass) who tours and records under her name only, or for a female who is the lead vocalist of a country group, Americana group or bluegrass group.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
This Award is for a male artist (country, Americana or bluegrass) who tours and records under his name only, or for a male who is the lead vocalist of a country group, Americana group or bluegrass group.
AMERICANA ARTIST OF THE YEAR *
This Award is for any Americana solo performer, duo or group. (Alternative country, roots, folk, rockabilly, old-time mountain music, etc.)
BLUEGRASS ARTIST OF THE YEAR *
This Award is for any bluegrass solo performer, duo or group. Traditional bluegrass artists and contemporary bluegrass artists (as long bluegrass instruments are at forefront) are eligible. This is a wide-reaching category of both traditional bluegrass festival type artists and non-traditional bluegrass festival type artists.
COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR *
This Award is for any country solo performer, duo or group.
INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any artist who solely records and/or performs inspirational and/or country gospel music OR any country, Americana or bluegrass artist who has released recorded output of such music within the two-year eligibility period.
ACOUSTIC ACT OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any solo performer or duo that primarily performs as an acoustic act on record and/or live on a regular basis.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any duo, trio or more. This is for any country group, Americana group, bluegrass group, or a collaboration of multiple solo performers, providing the collaboration has recorded material released as such during the two-year eligibility period.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any album of eight (8) songs or more and was released for purchase no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations by an artist meeting the eligibility requirements. The reigning Album of the Year cannot repeat as a finalist. Award goes to artist and producer (if different).
SONG OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any original song released on an album, a EP or individually for purchase no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations by an artist meeting the eligibility requirements. The reigning Song of the Year cannot repeat as a finalist. Award goes to the artist and songwriter (if different).
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any composer who has displayed a consistent pattern of original material through any of their recorded output that was released for sale no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations OR a composer who has had songs recorded by another artist or artists that has been released for purchase no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations.
MUSIC PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any producer, who was born in Arkansas or resided for an ample time in Arkansas. They must have produced (not self-produced) recorded product for purchase no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations.
SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any sound engineer, who born in Arkansas or resided for an ample time in Arkansas. They must run sound for concerts/events on a regular basis OR have engineered the sound (not self-engineered) on recorded product for purchase no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations.
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any promoter, who was born in Arkansas, resided for an ample time in Arkansas or promotes Arkansas country concerts on a regular basis. A promoter cannot be the recipient of this award in back-to-back years.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any video, released by a performer who meets the performer eligibility criteria that was released for the first time for viewing no more than two years prior to the closing of final nominations. This must be an actual video to accompany a recorded song. The reigning Video of the Year cannot repeat as a finalist. Award goes to artist and director.
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
This award is for any country music radio station in Arkansas or any radio station that on a regular basis features an ample amount of country music airplay. A radio station cannot be the recipient of this award in back-to-back years.
RADIO DJ OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any disc jockey, who on a regular basis plays country, Americana, bluegrass or Inspirational music (in studio, not syndicated) on a radio station in Arkansas. A radio DJ cannot be the recipient of this award in back-to-back years.
PUBLICATION/BLOG/PODCAST OF THE YEAR
This Award is for an Arkansas publication (print or online newspaper/magazine), Arkansas based blog, or Arkansas based podcast that features country music or country music related content on a regular basis. A publication/blog/podcast cannot be the recipient of this award in back-to-back years.
VENUE OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any venue in Arkansas that hosts and has hosted country music concerts on a regular basis throughout the two year eligibility period. A venue cannot be the recipient of this award in back-to-back years.
YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR (19 and under)
This Award is for any male, female, duo or group that performs on a regular basis. The nominee cannot turn the age of twenty (20) until January 1st (or later) of the award year. This is to honor a 'promising' talent and a recipient of this award is no longer eligible in this category.
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any bass player (electric or acoustic) that plays bass on a regular basis on country music studio recordings OR a bass player (electric or acoustic) in any country group, inspirational group, Americana group or bluegrass group.
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any drummer that plays drums on a regular basis on country music studio recordings OR a drummer who plays drums in any country group, inspirational group, Americana group or bluegrass group.
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any fiddle player that plays fiddle on a regular basis on country music studio recordings OR a fiddle player who plays fiddle in any country group, inspirational group, Americana group or bluegrass group.
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any guitarist that plays guitar on a regular basis on country music studio recordings OR a guitarist who plays lead (electric guitar) in any country group,, inspirational group or Americana group OR any guitarist who plays acoustic guitar in a bluegrass group.
STEEL/DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This Award is for any steel guitar player that plays steel guitar on a regular basis on country music studio recordings OR someone who plays steel guitar or dobro in a country group, inspirational group, Americana group or a bluegrass group.
Notes: Once nominations end, the ones most meeting the criteria in each category will go to the special awards committee, who will select the final five per category. Final voting will be determined by the special awards committee and a collective tally of fan online voting