43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
2015
NOMINATION INFORMATION
GUIDE TO SUBMITTING ENTRIES
Deadline
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Nominations open at 9:00am Monday September 8th 2014 and close at 11:59pm
on Monday October 13th 2014.
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All physical material (where applicable) must be provided to the CMAA and all
digital material must be uploaded online by this time. Late entries will not be
accepted.
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All Nominations are to be completed and uploaded online at
http://cmaa.awardsplatform.com
Nominations
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Nominations will be accepted from independent artists, signed artists, agents,
record companies, and publishing companies. If more than one nomination is
received for the same nominee in the same category, precedence will be given
to those received from the record company.
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In all categories except Album of the Year, Alternative Country Album of the Year,
Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Top Selling Australian Album of
the Year and Top Selling International Album of the Year, nominations are
restricted to one track per artist per entity releasing the material.
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Each entry must be accompanied by a high resolution JPEG headshot photo of
the artist/s uploaded online.
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All required fields must be completed.
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If the company or individual nominating and the artist/s nominated (including all
artists in Vocal Collaboration of the Year) are current financial Professional
Members of the CMAA at the time of nominating then the total fee for all
nominations is $82.50 (inc GST).
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If the company or individual nominating is not a Professional Member of the CMAA
then a nomination fee of $220 (inc GST) applies to each batch of nominations per
artist.
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Nomination fee is payable at the time of submitting your entries.
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To become a professional member of the CMAA or renew membership please go
to www.country.com.au/membership
Entering all categories
All categories are to be submitted online as follows:
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Go to https://cmaa.awardsplatform.com
Create your unique Login and Password
Enter and upload your Nomination/s plus supporting information as required
Pay your Nomination Fee
Submit your entry
Entries will only be accepted in the following formats:
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Audio - MP3 or M4A
Video - YouTube URL
Photo - High resolution JPEG (maximum 5MB) or PDF
Album Art (cover only) - PDF
Text documents should be Word DOC for PDF
Entry is via online only and no physical entry form will be required. If, however you
are experiencing difficulties or do not have access to the internet, please contact
the CMAA (02 6766 1577) who will be able to assist.
Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year, Album
of the Year, Alternative Country Album of the Year, Top Selling Australian Album of
the Year, and Top Selling International Album of the Year are all required to submit
a physical copy of the CD to the 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia.
Delivery address for physical product
Postal Address:
43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
PO Box 298
Tamworth NSW 2340
Please allow sufficient time for your entry to be received prior to the deadline as
no nomination will be accepted after the deadline, regardless of when it was
postmarked or dispatched.
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ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for the 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
is defined as follows:
PLEASE NOTE
Unless otherwise stated to the contrary in this agreement, "Album" means a recording
containing no less than seven (7) songs in total at least 70% of which are previously
unreleased songs which are released for the first time in the relative eligibility period.
1
To be eligible for nominations in all categories the nominated material must be
available for sale on recognised DSP’s such as iTunes during the eligibility period or
on a commercially available CD. If the material was released only on CD, no less
than FIVE HUNDRED (500) copies of the nominated audio CD must be
manufactured in Australia during the eligibility period.
2
The eligibility period for all categories except Top Selling Australian Album of the
Year, Top Selling International Album of the Year and Single of the Year is October
1st 2013 to September 30th 2014 inclusive.
3
The eligibility period for Single of the Year is October 1st 2012 to September 30th
2014 inclusive (a two year period). A single can only be nominated in this
category in one awards year.
4
The eligibility period for Top Selling Album of the Year and Top Selling International
Album of the Year is any consecutive twelve month period from June 1st 2012 to
September 30th 2014 inclusive. An album can only be recognised as a winner of
this category in one awards year.
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Nominations in all categories except Album of the Year, Alternative Country Album
of the Year, Top Selling Album of the Year and Top Selling International Album of
the Year must be new recordings commercially released for the first time in the
relevant eligibility period.
The Albums nominated for Album of the Year, Alternative Country Album of the
Year, Top Selling Album of the Year and Top Selling International Album of the Year
categories must comply with the definition of Album above.
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A nomination for Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Group or
Duo of the Year is only valid if the nominating artist(s) has entered his/her Album
in either the Album of the Year or Alternative Country Album of the Year category
in the current eligibility period.
8
Nominations for Vocal Collaboration, APRA Song, New Talent, Bluegrass,
Instrumental, Heritage and Bush Ballad must be a track from an album or single
commercially released for the first time in the relevant eligibility period.
3
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Nominations for Video Clip must be first available for broadcast or sale within the
relative eligibility period. N.B. it need not be tied to the release date of the
associated audio track.
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A Male Artist of the Year or Female Artist of the Year nominee cannot also
nominate for Group or Duo of the Year in the same awards year.
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An individual member of a Group or Duo of the Year nominee cannot nominate
for any category in the same awards year other than APRA Song of the Year,
Instrumental of the Year, or Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
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No track can be entered in both Heritage Song of the Year and Bush Ballad of the
Year in the same awards year.
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An artist who has not previously been a finalist in any category may nominate for
New Talent of the Year in three awards years.
An artist who has previously been a finalist in New Talent of the Year, but has not
won New Talent of the Year, may nominate one more time in that category.
An artist who has previously won an award in any category or been a finalist in any
category other than New Talent of the Year (one time) will not be eligible.
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Nominations will be accepted for country music audio and video recordings by
artists or composers who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
A permanent resident is defined as someone who:
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is not an Australian citizen or unlawful non-citizen and
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is usually resident in Australia and
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holds a permanent visa, a resident return visa, an authority to return or a
return endorsement.
Album Producers and Video Directors of nominated product who are not citizens
or permanent residents of Australia (as outlined above) are not eligible to win a
trophy. This does not preclude the album or video they worked on from being
eligible.
These requirements relating to residency and citizenship are waived for
nominations for Top Selling International Album of the Year.
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Nominations (both audio and video) featuring a significant proportion of material
recorded at events organised by or on behalf of the CMAA are not eligible.
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Eligibility and acceptance of nominations will be solely at the organiser’s
discretion.
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Eligibility criteria specific to each category is listed on the relevant category page.
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FURTHER INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS
1
The judging system for the 2015 Country Music Awards of Australia is explained on
the CMAA website. Please go to www.country.com.au/cmaa-awards/judgingprocess.
2
"Commercially Released" is defined as being available on a recognised DSP such
as iTunes or a professionally packaged CD that is and available for sale to retailers
and / or the general public. Product released only as a CD burn will not be
eligible.
3
All companies or persons nominating material for the 43rd Country Music Awards
of Australia hereby allow recording of the presentation of the Awards ceremony
by the organisers or their nominee/s for broadcast on radio, television, video and
internet or for transmission by any means whatever, in part or in full.
4
All owners of the audio / video recordings of material nominated in the 43rd
Country Music Awards of Australia hereby allow all or some of their nominated
track/s to be included on the CMAA Winners album should they become Finalists.
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All Finalists will be required to provide a current biography (100 words max) and
high resolution colour portrait (image must be scanned at minimum 600 dpi and
saved to JPEG format no larger than 5MB). An authorised representative of the
43rd Country Music Awards of Australia will contact you if additional material is
required.
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Finalists may be required to send an additional copy of their CD/DVD. An
authorised representative of the 43rd Country Music Awards of Awards will contact
you if additional product is required.
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Nominated CD's will not be returned.
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The advertised results of the judging of the awards will be final and no
correspondence will be entered into.
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In submitting a nomination, the nominating company or person agrees to be
bound by and comply with the General and Specific Rules of the 43rd Country
Music Awards of Australia as set out herewith.
10
In relation to Top Selling Album of the Year and Top Selling International Album of
the Year: Premium Sales are sales (or vouchers for redemption of digital copies) of
products (physical or digital) made under non-conventional terms, where product
is specially produced for another company that does not usually sell/distribute
recorded music for the purpose of distribution/dissemination to consumers as part
of a special promotion.
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Premium Sales may be summarised as follows: The product is sold to a retailer or
other selling company which does not normally engage in the business of selling
recorded music and at least one of the following is true:
i. The product has been specially produced for one particular offer/campaign
ii. The product sale is “one way” and returns will not be accepted at any time.
12
All matters relating to the conduct of the 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
remain under the total control of the 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
Committee or its nominee/s. The Committee will use its best endeavours to ensure
all requirements of nominations and conduct of the Awards are met, but cannot
be held responsible for any digression or non-compliance in any matter.
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Finalists in the judged categories will be announced at an event in Sydney in
November 2014. The details of this event will be announced in October 2014.
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Winners will be announced at the 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia
presentation at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on
Saturday 24th January 2015.
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CATEGORIES
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
This Award is for an Album as a whole unit and released in the current eligibility period.
The Album will be judged on all aspects including but not limited to song selection,
production, artist’s performance and musical performance.
An Album of the Year nominee cannot also nominate for Alternative Country Album of
the Year in the same awards year.
There is a requirement that the album contains 70% previously unreleased songs.
Trophy goes to the artist and producer.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD if available to 43rd Country Music Awards of
Australia, PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music that includes acts
that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music. It can be used to
describe artists who push the boundaries of country music from the inside by
incorporating influences ranging from roots rock, bluegrass, rockabilly, honky-tonk,
alternative rock and folk rock. It can also include outsiders who love the sound and
spirit of country music and reinterpret it in personal, contemporary, and idiosyncratic
ways.
The introduction of this award recognises artists who sit stylistically outside the
mainstream of country.
It serves to recognise fringe artists who operate partially or wholly within the country
music community and creates opportunities for artists who may have previously
considered themselves too far outside the mainstream to consider nominating.
Alternative country recordings by artists generally considered mainstream are
also eligible.
This Award is for an Album as a whole unit released in the current eligibility period. The
Album will be judged on all aspects including but not limited to song selection,
production, artist’s performance and musical performance.
There is a requirement that the album contains 70% previously unreleased songs.
An Alternative Country Album of the Year nominee cannot also nominate for Album of
the Year in the same awards year.
Trophy goes to the artist and producer.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD if available to 43rd Country Music Awards of
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Australia, PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Judged on an Album by the nominee that is entered in either the Album of the Year or
Alternative Country Album of the Year categories and released in the current eligibility
period.
A Male Artist of the Year nominee cannot also nominate for Group or Duo of the Year in
the same awards year.
Trophy goes to the artist.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD if available to: 43rd Country Music Awards
of Australia, PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Judged on an album by the nominee that is entered in either the Album of the Year or
Alternative Country Album of the Year categories and released in the current eligibility
period.
A Female Artist of the Year nominee cannot also nominate for Group or Duo of the Year
in the same awards year.
Trophy goes to the artist.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD if available to: 43rd Country Music Awards
of Australia, PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Judged on an Album by the nominee that is entered in either the Album of the Year or
Alternative Country Album of the Year categories and released in the current eligibility
period.
A Group or Duo is defined as an act, consisting of two or more people, all of whom
normally perform together and none of whom is known primarily as an individual
performing artist.
No member of the group or duo may have any featured or solo vocal performance in
their own right nominated in any category in the current awards year except APRA
Song of the Year, Instrumental of the Year or Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
Trophy goes to the group or duo.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD if available to: 43rd Country Music Awards
of Australia, PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
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VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album,
Under this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album must
contain no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album contains
70% previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period.
A Vocal Collaboration is defined as a recording by two or more people, each known
primarily as a performer in their own right, working together on a ‘one off’ or occasional
vocal collaboration. Each nominee must feature prominently as a lead vocalist, not as
a harmony or background singer and must be clearly identified as a featured vocalist
on any packaging and label copy.
Trophy goes to each artist.
BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album that is not also nominated for Heritage Song of the Year in the same year. Under
this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album must contain
no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album contains 70%
previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period.
A Bush Ballad is a lyrical narrative in song concerned with places, people, events and or
attitudes clearly identifiable with Australia.
It must be presented in a traditional manner which exhibits an understanding of the
genre’s musical and cultural values in the style established by Australia’s pioneer
performers.
The Bush Ballad of the Year must be a new composition first released during the current
eligibility period but may combine lyrics previously published as poems or ballads with
new music or vice versa, creating a substantially new song.
Please note: this category is dedicated to traditional bush ballads only. Please ensure
that before nominating a song in this category you carefully read and understand the
criteria above and the following explanation:
“A bush ballad nomination must be clearly related in lyrics, form, content, musical
arrangement, instrumentation and presentation to the traditional roots of Australian
country music as exemplified by pioneers and other early performers.”
Trophy goes to the artist/s and songwriter/s.
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HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album that is not also nominated for Bush Ballad of the Year in the same year. Under
this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album must contain
no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album contains 70%
previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period
A Heritage Song is an Australian composition that is defined as a being about Australia,
its people, history, geography, attitudes and ideals. The content and presentation must
be recognisable as being an Australian song about Australia.
The Heritage Song of the Year must be a new composition first released during the
current eligibility period.
Trophy goes to the artist/s and, the songwriter/s.
INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album. Under this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album
must contain no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album
contains 70% previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period and cannot include any featured vocal performance.
Trophy goes to the artist/s.
BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR (New category for 2015)
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album commercially released for the first time in the relevant eligibility period. Under
this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album must contain
no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album contains 70%
previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period.
A nomination for best bluegrass recording can be a vocal or an instrumental track. It
must be clearly related in form, musical arrangement, instrumentation, and
presentation to the traditional roots of bluegrass music as exemplified by pioneers such
as Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs. Nominations are not limited to traditional
bluegrass but so called progressive bluegrass styles must exhibit and build on an
understanding of the genre.
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If the nominated Bluegrass Recording is an instrumental only, then it cannot also be
nominated in the Instrumental of the Year Category.
NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album. Under this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album
must contain no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album
contains 70% previously unreleased songs does not apply.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period.
An artist who has not previously been a finalist in any category may nominate for New
Talent of the Year in up to three awards years.
An artist who has previously been a finalist in New Talent of the Year, but has not won
New Talent of the Year, may nominate one more time in that category.
An artist who has previously won an award in any category or been a finalist in any
category other than New Talent of the Year (one time) will not be eligible.
Trophy goes to artist/s.
Please note that New Talent of the Year category requires the submission of a short
biography (150 words max) on the nominating artist.
APRA SONG OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
album. Under this category, if the nominated track is taken from an album, the album
must contain no less than seven (7) songs however the requirement that the album
contains 70% previously unreleased songs does not apply.
A nominated track must be a newly written Australian composition first released during
the current eligibility period.
Trophy goes to songwriter/s.
VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR
Judged on the nominated video clip.
Video clips must be first released and available for broadcast or sale in the current
awards year and are treated as releases in their own right, not tied to the release date
of the associated audio track.
Video clips must be not more than ten minutes in duration, featuring the performance
of not more than one song or medley.
Trophy goes to the artist/s and director.
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SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Judged on one nominated track from an eligible commercially released single or
Album or solely as a commercially available digital download from CMAA recognised
DSP’s such as iTunes during the eligibility period.
The nominated track must be a new recording first released during the current eligibility
period.
A copy of the track must have been delivered to radio either digitally or on CD within
the eligibility period for the clearly stated purpose of gaining radio play as a single.
The eligibility period for Single of the Year is October 1st 2012 to September 30th 2014
inclusive (a two year period) but a Single can only be nominated in this category in one
awards year.
Trophy goes to the artist/s.
TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sales shall be net Australian physical and digital sales for any consecutive twelve month
period from June 1st 2012 to September 30th 2014 inclusive.
An Album can only be nominated in this category in one awards year.
Net sales exclude:
Direct export sales; promotional i.e. complimentary copies; premium sales (defined
under ‘Further Information and Definitions’ on page 7); returned product (returns
received during the sales period are deducted from sales in that period - no allowance
for returns is required).
Net sales may include Record Club sales.
Digital sales (full length permanent downloads) eligible for inclusion must be bundles
equivalent to the physical release or bundles equivalent to the physical release with
additional bonus tracks.
At the discretion of the CMAA you may be required to submit an auditor’s report.
An auditor’s report must confirm that the reported units sold agree with the books and
records of the company and have been correctly calculated in accordance with the
definition of Net Sales (see above), and that nothing has come to the auditor’s
attention that leads them to believe that the information is incorrect.
Trophy goes to the artist/s.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD to: 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia,
PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
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TOP SELLING INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sales shall be net Australian physical and digital sales for any consecutive twelve month
period from June 1st, 2012 to September 30th, 2014 inclusive.
An Album can only be nominated in this category in one awards year.
Net sales exclude:
Direct export sales; promotional i.e. complimentary copies; premium sales (defined
under ‘Information and Definitions’ on page 6); returned product (returns received
during the sales period are deducted from sales in that period - no allowance for
returns is required).
Net sales may include Record Club sales.
Digital sales (full length permanent downloads) eligible for inclusion must be bundles
equivalent to the physical release or bundles equivalent to the physical release with
additional bonus tracks.
At the discretion of the CMAA you may be required to submit an auditor’s report.
An auditor’s report must confirm that the reported units sold agree with the books and
records of the company and have been correctly calculated in accordance with the
definition of Net Sales (see above), and that nothing has come to the auditor’s
attention that leads them to believe that the information is incorrect.
Trophy goes to the artist/s.
Please also submit ONE (1) copy of the CD to: 43rd Country Music Awards of Australia,
PO Box 298 Tamworth NSW 2340
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