TCMA's Annual Songwriter Contest

The Texas Country Music Association holds an annual Songwriter Contest for TCMA Members only.  There are two categories for song entries:  Country Music and Christian Country Music.  Entries are accepted between December 1 and May 31 of each year.  Songs submitted do not have to be current releases or professionally produced. The songs are reviewed by Preliminary Round judges who score them and based on those scores the top 10 songs in each category are determined.  Those top 10 finalists go to the Final Round Judges for scoring, and the overall winner is determined in each category as well as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place runners up and 5 honorable mentions.  The overall winners in each category are invited to perform their winning entry during the Texas Country Music Awards pre-show.  All 10 top finalists are recognized and receive awards.

Texas Country Music Awards Nomination and Voting Process

The Texas Country Music Association presents the Texas Country Music Awards annually.  Nomination ballots go out generally on May 1 and close on June 15 unless otherwise announced.  Final round voting is generally between July 1 and August 15 unless otherwise announced.  Anyone can nominate and vote and do not have to be a member of TCMA; however, TCMA Members' nominations and votes are doubled.  All total nominations from fans and members count toward 1 nomination and are added to the nominations made by each Nomination and Voting Committee Member from the top 10 nominees, resulting in the top 5 nominations in each award category.  Those top 5 finalists are announced and presented for a vote, and the overall winners in each category are determined by TCMA Members and fan votes only.  All nominations and votes are verified, vetted, and confirmed by the Voting Committee.  Winners are presented at the annual Texas Country Music Awards at Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Texas Country Music Awards Category Descriptions

Entertainer of The Year:     

This category represents a noted Texas Country artist or group (traditional or progressive in style) that has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of headlining shows and releasing current music.

Male Artist of the Year:     

This category represents a noted male Texas Country artist (traditional or progressive in style) who has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing original shows and releasing current music.

Female Artist of the Year:     

This category represents a noted female Texas Country artist (traditional or progressive in style) who has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing original shows and releasing current music.       

Country Band of the Year:     

This category represents a noted Texas Country band or group (traditional or progressive in style) that has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing original shows and releasing current music.       

Roots/Alternative Artist of the Year:     

This category represents a noted Texas artist or group that fits into the Texas Country scene in its broader expressions (e.g., Country Rock, Southern Rock, Outlaw Country, Folk, Americana, Ameripolitan, etc.) and has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing original shows and releasing current music.

Western Swing Artist or Band of the Year     

This category represents a noted Texas Western Swing artist or Band with a traditional Western Swing sound and instrumentation, (traditional or progressive in style) that has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing shows and releasing current music.

Tejano Country Artist or Band of the Year

This category represents a noted Tejano Country artist or band with a traditional Tejano sound and instrumentation, occasionally blended with Country music (traditional or progressive in style) that has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing shows and releasing current music.   

Young Artist (18 & Under):     

This category represents a Texas Country artist (traditional or progressive in style) who is age 18 or under on January 1 of the current year and has demonstrated a successful year of playing shows and beginning to release current music. 

Emerging Artist:     

This category is not a "new" artist award, rather it represents a Texas Country artist (traditional or progressive in style) that has, within the past year, shown a significant increase in being recognized as making an exceptionally successful transition into playing original shows and releasing current music.

Country Album of The Year:     

This category represents a project release (EP or LP from the current or previous calendar year) by a Texas Country artist or group (traditional or progressive in style) that has been received with critical acclaim and/or success in streaming and sales.

Country Single of the Year:     

This category represents a single release (from the current or previous calendar year) by a Texas Country artist or group (traditional or progressive in style) that has been received with critical acclaim and/or success in radio and streaming.  The Songwriter(s) along with the performing artists are awarded in this category.

Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year:     

This category represents a terrestrial radio station that serves its market with excellence through its country and Texas Country music programming as well as community involvement.

Broadcast Personality of The Year:     

This category represents an on-air broadcast personality that serves his or her market with excellence through their support and interaction with the country and Texas Country market as well as community involvement.

Internet Radio Station of the Year:     

This category represents an exclusively internet-only, streaming radio station that serves its market with excellence through its country and Texas Country music programming.

Live Music Venue of the Year:     

This category represents a live music venue known for its excellence in its operations, marketing, and in showcasing original live Texas Country music (traditional or progressive in style).

Christian Country Artist of the Year:     

This category represents a noted Christian Texas Country artist with faith-based, positive country,  and crossover music (traditional or progressive in style) who has demonstrated an exceptionally successful year of playing original shows and releasing current music.

Bass Player of the Year:     

This category represents a bass player who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas Country recordings.     

Fiddler of the Year:     

This category represents a fiddle player who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas Country recordings.       

Guitarist of the Year:     

This category represents a guitar player who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas Country recordings.       

Keyboard/Pianist of the Year:     

This category represents a keyboard player who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas Country recordings.       

Steel Guitarist of the Year:     

This category represents a steel guitar player who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas country recordings.       

Drummer of the Year:     

This category represents a drummer who is known to be excellent in his or her craft and is a touring band member of a noted Texas artist or contributes significantly to Texas Country recordings.

TCMA Trailblazer Award:     

This award represents a Texas artist, group, songwriter, or other industry stakeholder who has made significant accomplishments in their Texas Country and Red Dirt music career and has provided inspiration and opportunities for younger artists to follow in their footsteps. This award is  selected by the Board of Directors of the Texas Country Music Association and is not a voted category.

Moe Bandy Icon Award:

This award is to honor those Country Artists, Musicians, Songwriters, or other Industry Stakeholders who are from Texas and have a rich history in the Texas Country Music industry.  This award is selected by the Board of Directors of the Texas Country Music Association and is not a voted category.

Songwriter of the Year (Country and Christian Country Categories):

This category represents songwriters who have participated in the TCMA Songwriter Contest and whose entered songs have advanced through Preliminary Round Judging through Final Round Judging.  This is not a voted category.

TCMA Artist Scholarship

This scholarship is presented each year to a deserving artist or songwriter who may need a little extra boost.  The recipient receives 1 single recording from Mauldin Productions, 1 graphic package from Courtney Ritter Marketing, and radio distribution for 1 single, along with other perks that we may add. This is a nominated category but will not go to vote.  The recipient will be chosen from those nominated by the TCMA Board of Directors and Voting Committee.