The CMA presents international awards in Sydney and London, including the International Country Broadcaster Award and the Global Country Artist Award.
The Country Music Association awarded four of its 2021 CMA International Awards in Sydney and London. Australian promoter Michael Chugg was awarded the Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award through a video message from Country artist Morgan Evans (whose longtime manager was Rob Potts); Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO; and Australian Country artist Casey Barnes. Chugg was surprised with the video message and presented the award during a lunch outing with Potts’ son Jeremy Dylan and Natalie Waller, Head of ABC Music and Events and CMA Board Member.
While in London, Absolute Radio Country U.K. broadcaster Baylen Leonard was awarded the International Country Broadcaster Award, Ricky Marshall, Program Manager at Absolute Radio Country, was presented with the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, and U.K. Country duo, The Shires, were awarded the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award during C2C weekend in London. Trahern presented Leonard and Marshall with their awards on stage at the sold out CMA Songwriters Series event on Thursday, March 10, and The Shires were presented with their award at a CMA-hosted reception on Friday, March 11.
“The CMA International Awards honor some of the many individuals that we are proud to know and work with in our international Country community,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “As Country Music continues to develop and expand its audiences around the world, we could not do what we do without the work and resources these individuals put in to build and promote Country Music in their market. We are grateful for their continued support and thrilled to honor them with these awards.”
