FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

TOP 5 FINALISTS IN THE

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC “INDUSTRY AWARDS”

Presentations to be made at TCMA’s 2023 Texas Country Music Summit

CARTHAGE, TX (February 3, 2023) The Texas Country Music Association announced today the top 5 Finalists in the 2023 Texas Country Music Industry Awards as a result of nominations placed by TCMA Members.

The Texas Country Music Industry Awards is presented by the Texas Country Music Association include award categories that are not represented in the annual Texas Country Music Awards.

“The Texas Country Music ‘Industry Awards’ is to recognize those that work hard behind the scenes to make an effective impact on today’s Texas music,” says TCMA Executive Vice President Richard Wilson, “There are so many moving parts to making music that the general public hears on radio or streaming outlets. These are individuals and businesses that TCMA, as the supporting organization 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 by the industry stakeholders and peers. It’s our goal to let these ‘behind the scenes’ individuals and entities know that the industry is paying attention – and grateful.”

The nomination round took place between November 4, 2022, and January 15, 2023.  The top 5 Finalists in each award category have been confirmed and will now go to final round voting between February 4 and April 19, 2023 and will be voted on by members of the Texas Country Music Association.

Winners in each category will be announced at the 2023 Texas Country Music Summit and Industry Awards on July 22, 2023, at Tenroc Ranch in Salado, TX. The Texas Country Music Summit will be during the day, and will follow up with live music and the announcement of the Award winners in the evening.  Panel speakers and entertainers will be announced shortly. Tickets are limited and are available at https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/summit-industryawards-tickets. 

The 2023 Texas Country Music Industry Awards Finalists are (in no particular order):

Artist Manager of the Year

Brian Allen (Jesse Raub Jr)

Chuck Sweeney (Kate Watson, Will Carter)

Ethan Whitaker (Zach Welch, Randy Hoyet, Colton Mathis, Jacob Ryan Marshall, Brett Patterson)

Shaun Reeder (The Wilder Blue)

Tony Krueger (Jake Bush, Jacob Boyd)

Tour Manager of the Year

Manny Morales (Roger Creager)

Shane Tucker (Holly Tucker)

Eddie Gowan (Creed Fisher)

Corey Dement (Shane Smith & The Saints)
Christian Miranda (Jake Bush)

Radio Promoter of the Year

David Gilligan (Gilligan Promotions)

Dillon Steen (Steen Entertainment)

Jennifer & Ray Redding (Jenerayte)

Roger Ramsey (Roger Ramsey Promotions)

Mariah Lyn (Powerhouse Promotions)

Publicist of the Year

Amy Johnson (Top Shelf Talent)

Amy Barnett (Barnett Branding)

Barry Rogers (Wayne Public Relations)

Brandy Reed (RPR Media)

Alexis Tedford (Various)

Social Media Manager of the Year

Michelle Watterson (KNES)

Staci Schoepf (Schoepf’s BBQ)

Caraigh Clarkson (Various)

Courtney Ritter (Courtney Ritter Marketing)

Recording Studio of the Year

Rosewood Studios (Tyler)

Yellow Dog Studio (Wimberly)

Wolfe Island Recording (Dayton)

KSIJ Studio/Mauldin Productions (Gladewater)

Fort Worth Sound (Fort Worth)

Record Producer of the Year

Dave Percefull (Yellow Dog Studio)

Bart Rose (Fort Worth Sound)

Chad Mauldin (Mauldin Productions/KSIJ Studio)
Drew Hall (Rosewood Studios)

Kevin Skrla (Wolfe Island Recording Studio)

Sound Recording Engineer of the Year (Studio)

Pat Manske (The Zone Recording Studio)

Kerry West (Rosewood Studios)

Paul Osborn (Audio Dallas)
Chad Mauldin (Mauldin Productions/KSIJ Studio)

John Shelton (Edgewater Studio)

Booking Agent of the Year

Holly Grant (Grant Entertainment)

Ashli Morales (Encore Music Agency)

Chad Kudelka (CAA)

Jon Folk (Red 11 Music)

Chris Hrovat (WME)

Booking Agency of the Year

Red 11 Music

True Grit Management

WME

CAA
Evergreen Artist Group

Venue Talent Buyer of the Year

Courtney Harrington (TXM Lindale)

Ronnie Schoepf (Schoepf’s BBQ)

Tony Avezanno (3418/Lava Cantina)

David Reynolds (Hank’s Texas Grill)

Steve Said (Dosey Doe)

Music Video of the Year (Released 2022-2023)

Anderson County (Chad Cooke Band)

Wild Horses (Kin Faux ft Terry McBride)

Black Bayou (Sarah Hobbs)

Tequila (Hayden Haddock ft Jon Wolfe)

This House Ain’t Big Enough (Joey Green)

Videographer of the Year

Chris Romain (Split Window Studios)

Matt Green/Brian Andrews (Southbound Sessions)

Trenton Johnson (613 Media)

Michelle Strength/James Graham (Ripple of Light Productions)

Kasey James (The Playlist Films)

Photographer of the Year

Andrew Quinn (Andrew Quinn Productions)

Becky Stinehour (Candid Images Photography)

Danny Vivian (Danny Vivian Photography)

Ray Redding (TexasRedd Images)

Todd Purifoy (Purifoy Photography)

Radio Station of the Year Terrestrial (Special Category * Top 10 Finalists Listed Here)

KFWR 95.9 FM - Ft. Worth, TX

KIKK 100.3-HD3 - Houston, TX

KOKE 98.5/99.3 FM - Austin, TX

KRBL 105.7 FM- Lubbock, TX

KRMX 92.9 FM - Waco, TX

KVMK 100.9 FM - College Station, TX

KNES 99.1 FM - Fairfield, TX

KTTX 106.1 FM - Brenham, TX

KXOX 96.7 FM - Sweetwater, TX

KVST 997 FM KStar Country - Montgomery, TX

Radio Station of the Year Internet Radio

RealTexasRadio.com

MadeInTexasRadio.com

TexasRedHotRadio.com

UvaldeRadio.net

PureCountry100.com

Radio Program Director of the Year

James Cook (KOLI 94.9 FM The Outlaw Wichita Falls)

Ryan Stone (KFXE 93.9/96.5 FM, 92.3 HD-3 The Fox Ingram)

Nick Russo (KIKK 100.3 HD3 Houston)

Buzz Russell (KNES Texas 99.1 FM Fairfield)

Shayne Hollinger (KFWR 95.9 FM The Ranch Fort Worth)

Lighting Engineer of the Year (Venue, Company, or Touring)

Christian Keep (Peek Pro Audio & Lighting)

Dash Speer (Limitless Lights & Sound)

Kyle Williams (Paragon Sound & Light)

Thomas Smith (Show Gear Systems)

Jimmy Davidson (Texas Stage)

Music Festival of the Year

Concert In The Country (Montgomery - Jimmy Rogers)

KOKEFest (Austin - Eric Rains)

Jesse Raub Jr.'s Patriots of Texas Music Festival and Cookoff (Magnolia – Jesse Raub Jr)

Montgomery Music & Mudbugs Fest (Montgomery – Charlie Diggs)

Outlaws & Legends (Abilene – Mark Powell)

Charitable Music Event of the Year

Harmonies for Heroes (Amy Gutzke)

Jesse Raub Jr.'s Patriots of Texas Music Festival and Cookoff (Patriots of Texas)

Concert in the Country (Boots for Troops)

Oh Tonight Gala (JAB Cares)

Texas Crab Festival (Texas Crab Festival Charities Inc.)

Texas Country Podcast of the Year

67 South Podcast (Jeff Smith)

Gotta Love Texas Music (Katherine Odom)

Texas Toast Podcast (Helen Elshick)

The Troubadour Podcast (Jared “Pete” Gile & Carly Evans)

Real Life Real Music (Kyle Hutton)

Texas Country Digital or Print Media Outlet of the Year

Saving Country Music (Kyle Coroneos)

Stars over Texas TV (Mike Bilansky)

Pro Country Music (Justin Loretangeli)

Galleywinter (Brad Beheler)

Whiskey Riff (Hill Douglas)

Texas Country Syndicated Radio Show of the Year

Dance Time in Texas (Mike Bilansky)

Texas Countdown (Chuck Taylor)

Real Life Real Music (Kyle Hutton)

Sunday Morning Coming Down (Mike “Crowman” Crow)

Texas Country Music Countdown (Kenny Schneebeli)

Best Band Merchandise of the Year

Mike Ryan

Bri Bagwell

Flatland Cavalry

The Wilder Blue

Jon Wolfe

Digital Distribution Platform of the Year

CDX Nashville

Tunecore

CD Baby

Smith Music Group

Distrokid

Music Teacher of the Year

Shawnda Rains (Shawnda Rains Entertainment – Denison)

Tom McKinney (Tom McKinney Vocal Studio - Houston)

Shawn Parks  (Bojangles Music School – Houston)

Marius Perron (Audio EnginEaring Institute - San Antonio)

Bill Welker (South Austin Music – Austin)

Music School of the Year

Bojangles Music School (Houston)

School of Rock (New Braunfels)

Shawnda Rains Entertainment (Denison)

South Austin Music (Austin)

Tom McKinney Vocal Studio (Houston)

According to Linda Wilson, the Texas Country Music Summit and Texas Country Music Industry Awards is vastly different than any other type of music conference. She says, “We’ve designed this Summit to be educational and informative with our primary focus on listening to the needs of those in the industry. We will be interacting with each other prior to the event to determine issues that need to be addressed, then bring in industry pros who are Texas Country Music industry to provide direction and possible paths to solutions.  We want to know the needs of the artists and those making, playing, and supporting the music, and we will have panel participation from those on the ground in the Texas Country Music industry to provide their expertise at the conference.”

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

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Media Contact (not for publication)

Linda Wilson
President

Texas Country Music Association

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org