While the nominations for the 46th Academy of Country Music are rolling out, so are the off-camera nominations.
These awards, which aren't televised due to time slotting difficulties, are for the Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist (MBI) and Industry Awards categories.
The awards are presented at the annual ACM Honors ceremony in Nashville in the fall. Those nominated for the prestigious MBI Awards are as follows:
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Nathan Chapman
Frank Liddell
Frank Rogers
Paul Worley
Mike Wrucke
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Chuck Ainlay
Jeff Balding
Drew Bollman
Steve Marcantonio
Clarke Schleicher
TOP BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Brignardello
Kevin "Swine" Grantt
Larry Paxton
Jimmy Lee Sloas
Glenn Worf
TOP PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMMER OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers
Chad Cromwell
Paul Leim
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow
TOP GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac
Pat Buchannan
J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg
Dann Huff
TOP FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Rob Hajacos
Aubrey Haynie
Joe Spivey
TOP PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jim "Moose" Brown
Tony Harrell
John Hobbs
Gordon Mote
Steve Nathan
TOP SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Darken
Mickey Raphael
Bryan Sutton
Ilya Toshinsky
Biff Watson
TOP STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Bouton
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
"Cowboy" Eddie Long
Russ Pahl
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR
Agua Caliente Casino - Rancho Mirage, CA
Island Resort Casino - Harris, MI
Mohegan Sun Casino - Uncasville, CT
Peppermill Casino - Wendover, NV
WinStar World Casino - Thackerville, OK
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace - Bakersfield, CA
Coyote Joe's - Charlotte, NC
Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill - Mesa, AZ
Wild Bill's - Duluth, GA
VENUE OF THE YEAR
BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Chicago, IL
Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion - Gilford, NH
Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich - Romeo Entertainment Group
Billy Brill - Billy Alan Productions
Jimmy Jay - Jayson Promotions, Inc.
Gary Osier - Gary Osier Presents
David Snowden - Triangle Talent, Inc.
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Ferrell - Varnell Enterprises, Inc.
Ali Harnell - AEG Live/The Messina Group
Louis Messina - The Messina Group
Ed Warm - Joe’s Bar
Sally Williams - Ryman Auditorium
The ACM Country Music Awards will be broadcast LIVE April 3 at 8 p.m. from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on CBS.
