Aussie touring and media execs up for international country music awards

Five Australians are nominated in four of five categories in the US-based Country Music Association (CMA)’s annual International Awards.

These honour executives and artists who have supported and made a difference in the growth and promotion of Country Music in the International market place.

Susan Heymann, general manager of Chugg Entertainment, is up for the Jo Walker Meador International Award, for her role in marketing country music.

Chugg Entertainment, in partnership with Rob Potts Entertainment, runs the successful CMC Rocks Queensland and tours major country music acts.

Melbourne music journalist and broadcaster David Dawson (and songwriter) is listed in the nominees for the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award.

For close to 60 years, Dawson spread the story on country music, especially its mavericks, in major newspapers and music magazines as Juke, Beat, Across Country and Mixdown, and presented numerous radio shows.

He is currently a producer on Nu-Country TV.

The International Country Broadcaster category honours Paul Jackson, group program director of NOVA Entertainment and Trevor Smith of Aloha Media, Byron Bay-based content production house for audio, visual and online.

Singer-songwriter and performer Travis Collins, who last month won the Golden Guitar in Tamworth for best male artist, is up for a Global Country Artist for increasing the genre’s profile.

The awards will be handed out as the CMA hosts showcase events through March in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.