John Williamson quits as CMAA President in row over awards

Country music singer songwriter John Williamson has quit as President of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) after ten years – saying that its annual Golden Guitar music awards have become too American.

In a letter to CMAA chairman Jeff Chandler, Williamson wrote, “It’s as though the Golden Guitar Awards are the American Country Music Awards of Australia. It seems the industry is hell-bent on producing more Keith Urbans.

“If we are not respected as a legitimate organisation to promote original Australian country music, I cannot be associated with it any longer.”

Williamson, whose songs have included True Blue and has won many Golden Guitars through the years, added, “The current turmoil was bound to happen. It is impossible to run serious Golden Guitar Awards using volunteers.”

He pointed out that the problem with the awards was that “an album with 90 per cent American covers can get in (referring to Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey’s hit album The Great Country Songbook which is up for album of the year). We should be nurturing what Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson started.”

He also had a problem that a US-based country act as Keith Urban, although raised in Australia, should be in line to win Male Performer of the Year.

The row is part of a further issue which has divided the Australian country music industry – how much to move with the times, and how much do you stay Australian and how much do you change to get overseas recognition and success?

Chandler thanked Williamson for his service to the CMAA: “John was one of the founders of the organisation and we will be forever indebted to him for his vision and commitment to the growth and future development of country music in Australia.”

Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers, also a co-founder of the association has stepped in as CMAA President.

The row follows two instances when two records had to be dropped from the finalists list because they were deemed ineligible.

Ted Egan had to be dropped from the Bush Ballad category. Judges for the awards had to vote again in the Male Artist of the Year category when it was discovered that finalist Peter Denah, was not eligible. The rules are that someone can only be considered for Male Artist if his album is eligible for Album or Alternative Country Album. Denahy’s Sayonara Nakamura was only released as a single, and he stepped down. Doug Bruce then became a Male Artist finalist for his song Thank God I’m A Cowboy.

Organisers have since gone through all categories to double-check eligibility. Judging closes tomorrow (Wed Dec 11).