FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

TOP 5 FINALISTS IN THE

2025 TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC “INDUSTRY AWARDS”

 

Presentations to be made at TCMA’s 2025 Texas Country Industry Awards June 12 at Rhinestone Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards

CARTHAGE, TX (January 31, 2025) The Texas Country Music Association announced today the top 5 Finalists in the 2025 Texas Country Music Industry Awards.

The Texas Country Music Industry Awards are presented by the Texas Country Music Association and include award categories that are not represented in the annual Texas Country Music Awards held each November at Billy Bob’s.

“The Texas Country Music ‘Industry Awards’ is to recognize those that work hard alongside the artists to make an effective impact on today’s Texas music,” says TCMA Executive Vice President Richard Wilson, “There are so many moving parts to make music that the general public hears on radio or streaming outlets. These are individuals and businesses that TCMA, as the only trade organization  and supporting force for the Texas Country Music industry, must honor.”

TCMA President Linda Wilson adds, “This is an incredibly unique and special awards event since it’s voted on only by TCMA Members and other verifiable industry stakeholders and peers. It’s our goal to let these individuals and entities that work so hard alongside the artists to know that the industry is paying attention – and grateful.”

The nomination round took place between November 1, 2024 and February 15, 2025.  The top 5 Finalists in each award category have been confirmed and will now go to final round voting between January 15, 2025 and March 31, 2025 and will be voted on by members of the Texas Country Music Association and other verifiable industry stakeholders.

Winners in each category will be announced at the 2025 Texas Country Music Industry Awards on June 12, 2025 at Rhinestone Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards. TCMA will not hold the Texas Country Music Summit conference on that day, but will begin at 6pm with Red Carpet interviews, awards presentations and live music throughout the evening, with a full-brand finale performance to be announced at a later date.

Tickets will go on sale in mid-February through a link on www.texascountrymusic.org.

The 2025 Texas Country Music Industry Awards Finalists are (in no particular order):

ARTIST MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Amy Powell (Joey Green)

Jimmy Collins (Brooke Graham)

Len Snow (Billie Jo Jones)

Brandon Pierson (Chad Cooke Band)

Machelle Baird (Tanner Sparks)

 

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Hayden Baker (Hayden Baker)

Rico Gonzales (Kin Faux)

Scotty Alexander (Scotty Alexander)

Todd Stewart (Randy Rogers Band)

Joe Harrison (Billie Jo Jones)

 

TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Brian Kinzie (Cody Canada and the Departed)

Austin Salazar (William Clark Green)

Jimmy Hamilton (The Great Divide)

Shelton Wallace (Jon Stork)

Daniel Clanton (Josh Ward)

 

RADIO PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

David Gilligan (Gilligan Promotions)

Dillon Steen (Steen Entertainment)

Cynthia Garcia (G289 Productions & Entertainment)

Greg Austin (Austin Promotions)

Jennifer & Ray Redding (Jenerayte)

 

PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

Amy Johnson (Top Shelf Talent)

Barry Rogers (Wayne Public Relations)

Brandy Reed (RPR Media)

Candy Hutzell (Pinnacle Media & Entertainment

Heidi Labensart (McGuckin Public Relations)

 

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Sierra Jade (Silver Saddle Saloon)

Victory USA (Payton Riley)

Amy Johnson (Top Shelf Talent)

Clair Parada (Gruene Hall)

Brandi Hope (Madam Pearl's Saloon)

 

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR

Rosewood Studios (Tyler)

Stormy Cooper Media (Houston)

KSIJ Studio/Mauldin Productions (Gladewater)

Fort Worth Sound (Fort Worth)

Steel Records (Grand Cane LA)

 

RECORD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Bart Rose (Fort Worth Sound)

Chad Mauldin (Mauldin Productions/KSIJ Studio)

Drew Hall (Rosewood Studios)

Mack Damon (Stone Creek Sound)

Will Braun (Stormy Cooper Media)

 

BOOKING AGENT OF THE YEAR

Holly Grant (Grant Entertainment)

Mae Curtis (Tailgate Talent)

Brandi Hope (Blue Eyed Texan Booking)

Andrew McWilliams (Evergreen Artist Group)

Grant Fithen (Loud & Heavy Booking)

 

TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR (VENUE OR FESTIVAL)

Joel Hofmann (Riley's Tavern)

Chris Smith (Rhinestone Saloon)

Trey Jackson (Gruene Hall)

Justin Crawford (Spur One Management)

Marcus Federman (Cattle Country Fest)

 

LIVE SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR (VENUE, COMPANY OR TOURING)

Justin Cummings (Josh Ward)

Dale Simpson (Extreme Sound Production)

Jimmy Hamilton (The Great Divide)

Christian Keep (CK Production Solutions)

Kent Murphy (Brazos Entertainment)

 

LIGHTING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR (VENUE, COMPANY OR TOURING)

Dennis Peek (2 Rivers Technical Services)

Thomas Smith (Show Gear Systems)

Jimmy Davidson (Texas Stage)

Dale Simpson (Extreme Sound Production)

Aaron Warren (CDK Production Solutions)

 

VENUE OWNER OR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Jennifer Murillo (Madam Pearl's Dancehall and Saloon)

Jeremy Pool and Chad Sargent (Rhinestone Saloon)

Rebecca Meadors (Silver Saddle Saloon)

Frank Jackson (The Table at Madeley)

Brandon Wright (The Post at OG)

 

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Tired of the Radio (Ryder Grimes)

Coming Home To You (Mojo Brothers Band)

Checking Boxes Crossing Lines (Trent Cowie)

In Law Familia (Mark Powell/Rico Gonzales)

It Ain't Easy (Rustic Rose)

 

VIDEOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Trenton Johnson (613 Media)

Kyle Garrett Tomchesson (KG Media)

Drew Mitchell (Drew Mitchell Media)

Matthew JC (1307 Productions)

Bob Mauldin (31 West Productions)

 

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Becky Stinehour (Candid Images Photography)

Jamie Goode (JME Studios)

Christopher Jaso (Jasos Picassos)

Greg Roach (Greg Roach Photography)

Shawnessy Ransom (Shawnessy Ransom Photography)

 

GRAPHIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR (ALBUM OR SINGLE COVER)

Shawnessy Ransom (Fireflies - Payton Riley)

Jamie Goode (Some Girls Don't Cry - Billie Jo Jones)

Courtney Ritter (Delta Dawn - Sarah Hobbs)

Bubba Westly (Feels So Good - Bubba Westly)

Cowboy Revolution (Checking Boxes Crossing Lines - Trent Cowie)

 

RADIO PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Buzz Russell (KNES Texas 99.1 FM Fairfield)

James Cook (KOLI 94.9 FM The Outlaw Wichita Falls)

Brandon Michael (KYKX 105.7 FM Tyler/Longview)

Corliss (KVMK 100.9 FM Maverick College Station)

Jim Nash (KTKO 105.7 FM Texas Knockout Beeville)

 

RADIO BROADCAST TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Erin Wilde (KTFW 92.1 Hank FM Fort Worth, TX )

Tim Shipman (TexasRedHotRadio.com)

Crowman and Nikki (KRMX 104.9 FM Shooter Waco)

Carey Dean and JoJo (KRVF 106.9 FM The Ranch Corsicana)

James Cook (KOLI 94.9 FM The Outlaw Wichita Falls)

 

MUSIC FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

Larry Joe Taylor Music Festival (Stephenville – Zach Taylor)

Cattle Country Festival (Gonzales - Marcus Federman)

Brooke Graham Beach Bash (Port Aransas - Brooke Graham)

Outlaws and Legends (Abilene – Mark Powell)

Texas Country Music Cruise (Galveston/Sea - Cynthia Sayko)

 

CHARITABLE MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

Concert for Love (Love Heals Youth - Rebecca Smith)

Texas Ranch Round Up (North Texas Rehab Center - West Texas Boys Ranch)

Harmonies for Heroes (Fort Worth, Veterans - Trigg 44 Entertainment)

Cotton Fest (Lubbock, High Cotton Relief Fund – William Clark Green)

Patriots of Texas Music Fest (Military/Veterans - Jesse Raub Jr)

 

PODCAST OF THE YEAR

Gotta Love Texas Music (Katherine and Honey Odom)

Texas Toast Podcast (Helen Elshick)

Only Vans (Bri Bagwell)

James Cook Podcast (James Cook)

Truth Tall Tales and Whiskey (Josh Greathouse/Martin Antonio)

 

DIGITAL OR PRINT MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR

Stars over Texas TV (Mike Bilansky)

Pro Country Music (Justin Loretangeli)

Galleywinter (Brad Beheler)

Texas Country Network (Zakk United)

Texas Music Daily (Tami Milspaugh/Greg Sax)

 

SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR

Dance Time in Texas (Mike Bilansky)

Red Dirt Proud (JB Cloud)

Sunday Morning Coming Down (Mike “Crowman” Crow)

Ship Show (Tim Shipman)

 

BEST ARTIST/BAND MERCHANDISE OF THE YEAR

Jenni Dale Lord

Josh Ward

Justin Ross & Deadwood Revival

Tyler Tillman

Dirt Road Troubadours

 

ARTIST OR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER OF THE YEAR

Caroline Garland (Grant Gilbert)

Jamie McKean Hodges (Cody Joe Hodges)

Kayla Bacon (Josh Ward)

Justin Jones (Billie Jo Jones)

Vickie Sauceda (Sunny Sauceda)

 

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Joe Kelly (CDX)

Robert Gallagher (Billy Bob's Texas)

Greg Sax (Saxis Music Group)

Bri Bagwell (Texas Country Artist/Only Vans Podcast)

Grant Fithen (Loud and Heavy Booking)

 

According to TCMA President Linda Wilson, the Texas Country Music Industry Awards are vastly different than any other type of music awards. She says, “We’ve designed awards presentation with our primary focus on honoring those who work so hard – those  you rarely see but are vital to this industry’s success.  We will not be holding the Summit conference this year.  We want to focus solely on these industry professionals, and they deserve it.”

 

For more information on the Texas Country Music Association, visit www.texascountrymusic.org.

 

# # #

 

Media Contact (not for publication)

Linda Wilson
President

Texas Country Music Association

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org

 

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