CMA launches award in honour of late Rob Potts with Michael Chugg among nominees

Pictured: Rob Potts (Credit: Martine Cotton)

The Country Music Association (CMA) has launched an award named after the late Australian promoter, Rob Potts.

Potts co-founded CMC Rocks and was also an instrumental player in establishing TMN’s Country Airplay Chart.

He passed away in 2017 following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash and was remembered as someone at the top of his game who knew more than anyone in Australia about how country music operated.

He will now be honoured via the Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award at the CMA International Awards.

The gong will seek to recognise outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending opportunities and building live audiences for country music.

Among the inaugural nominees is Michael Chugg, who previously partnered with Potts on the CMC Rocks festival.

CMA chief executive officer, Sarah Trahern, said the organisation is especially thrilled to be adding the new award to the slate which will recognise those cultivating and growing country music’s reach.

“A true pioneer in the genre, few people exemplified this more than Rob Potts,” she said. “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.”

Natalie Waller, who heads up ABC Music and recently became the chair of ARIA, is nominated for the Jo Walker Meador International Award, which centres on people who advocate and support country music’s marketing development in territories outside the US.

Australia’s Saniel Marriner, from CMT, is up for the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, and Justin Thomson from KIX Country/ Grant Broadcasters is in the running for International Country Broadcaster.

Australia’s The Wolfe Brothers are also nominated for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award.

Band member Nick Wolfe noted the duo’s surprise and excitement at the recognition.

“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.”

The Awards will take place in November in Nashville.