OUR STORY

Founded in 2016, the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards were originally designed to showcase the best country music talent in Colorado and Wyoming. However, the first year went so well that other states wanted to be able to show how amazing their country music talent was also, so in 2017, Utah, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas were added to the RMCMAs. In 2018 New Mexico would join the party. And we are excited to announce that 2019 will see the addition of two new states, Montana and North Dakota. 

​

The show itself is much like you'd see on one of the big country music award shows on TV. It features performances from some of the regions best, celebrity presenters, laughter, and of course, the presentation of awards to the years best. 

DIERKS BENTLEY

Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019

STU HASKELL

Hadley Barrett Person of the Year, 2019

CLARE DUNN

Entertainer of the Year, 2019

LUCAS HOGE

Male Vocalist of the Year, 2019

STEPHANIE QUAYLE

Female Vocalist of the Year, 2019

"NEXT IN LINE," NED LEDOUX

Album of the Year, 2019

"WYOMING WIND," CHANCEY WILLIAMS

Song of the Year, 2019

CORB LUND & NED LEDOUX FOR "DANCE WITH YOUR SPURS ON"

Songwriter of the Year, 2019

CAITLYN OCHSNER

New Artist of the Year, 2019

BROOKE LATKA

Musician of the Year, 2019

NEBRASKALAND DAYS

Event/Festival of the Year, 019

WAREHOUSE25SIXTY-FIVE

Venue of the Year, 2019

SCOOTER BROWN BAND

Fan Army Award, 2019

MAC MCANALLY

Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018

BRIAN GARY

Hadley Barrett Person of the Year Award, 2018

NED LEDOUX

Entertainer of the Year, 2018

SAGEBRUSH, NED LEDOUX

Album of the Year, 2018

HORSES ARE FASTER, IAN MUNSICK

Song of the Year, 2018

SCOTT BROWN (SCOOTER BROWN BAND)

Male Vocalist of the Year, 2018

LEXI LARSEN

Female Vocalist of the Year, 2018

LANCE AND LEA

New Artist of the Year, 2018

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS

Songwriter of the Year, 2018

KW TURNBOW (DRUMMER, NED LEDOUX)

Musician of the Year, 2018

GREELEY STAMPEDE

Event of the Year, 2018

DEADWOOD MOUNTAIN GRAND

Venue of the Year, 2018

JAMES LEE BAND

Fan Army Winner, 2018

DOUG KERSHAW

Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017

SHAWN PATRICK

Hadley Barrett Person of the Year, 2017

CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND

Entertainer of the Year, 2017

RODEO COLD BEER, CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND

Album of the Year, 2017

FEELIN’ GOOD, JARED DANIELS

Song of the Year, 2017

NED LEDOUX

Male Vocalist of the Year, 2017

KELLI JONES (BELLES AND WHISTLES)

Female Vocalist of the Year, 2017

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS

New Artist of the Year, 2017

RYAN CHRYS

Songwriter of the Year, 2017

JOE PARR (TIM ZACH & WHISKEY BENT)

Musician of the Year, 2017

CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS

Venue/Event of the Year, 2017

AUSTIN WAHLERT

Fan Army Winner, 2017

CHRIS LEDOUX

Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016

SEAN CURTIS BAND

Entertainer of the Year, 2016

KIND OF LIKE WYOMING, SEAN CURTIS BAND

Album of the Year, 2016

DOWN WITH THAT, CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND

Song of the Year, 2016

KORY BRUNSON

Male Vocalist of the Year, 2016

CLARE DUNN

Female Vocalist of the Year, 2016

BRYAN THOMAS

New Artist of the Year, 2016

AUSTIN WAHLERT

Songwriter of the Year, 2016

TIM ELLIOT, SEAN CURTIS BAND

Musician of the Year, 2016

RULES

Who is eligible for the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards?

• Any band or artist based or having spent a significant amount of time in any of the nine state region, which includes; Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Utah, and New Mexico. All nominations are based on performance and products that have happened and/or been released within the 18 months prior to the date of the awards show date.

How are Rocky Mountain Country Music Award nominees chosen? 

• Nominees are selected by both a survey sent to all bands, artists, presenters from previous year’s Rocky Mountain Country Music Award shows, and by weighted votes from radio programmers, music executives, artists, publicists, songwriters, musicians, touring professionals and other industry professionals from all around the seven state region.

How are Rocky Mountain Country Music Award winners chosen? 

• Similar to the Oscars, the Grammy's, and the CMA Awards, the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards are voted on by panel of radio programmers, music executives, artists, publicists, songwriters, musicians, touring professionals and other industry professionals from all around the region. The results are calculated and sealed to be seen by no one outside of the panel until revealed at the show.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is for the band or artist displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voter should give consideration not only to recorded performance, but also to the live performance, staging, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.

SONG OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is for individual tracks only. This category will include both digital releases as well as physical releases. Track is eligible if released as an individual single, on an EP, or on a full length album. Track must meet date eligibility rules.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is for any full length album or EP as a whole unit. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist’s performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. Album must meet date eligibility rules. Awarded to artist and producer of album.

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is given to any female solo artist or the individual female who fronts a band, group, or duo. The Award is based on recorded performance, live performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is given to any male solo artist or the individual male who fronts a band, group, or duo. The Award is based on recorded performance, live performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is for a musician known primarily as an instrumental performer. In order to qualify, a musician must have played on at least one album, song, or with a band/artist that meets the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements.

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is to the artist, band, or duo, who is known primarily as a country artist, who has for the first time demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development within the following categories; music released, live performance, professionalism and/or media recognition related to the launch of their career. Any artist who has previously won a Rocky Mountain Country Music Award, or who has twice been a final nominee for the New Artist of the Year Award is ineligible for nomination.

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• This Award is to the individual or group of individuals who have displayed the best songwriting (both lyrically and musically) ability in the eligibility period. This award is based on their work featured on one single that has been released by a band or artist that meets the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements. **Note; A writer outside of the Rocky Mountain region can win this award if the song was recorded by an artist who meets eligibility requirements. 

VENUE OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• Any venue known primarily for their support of country music within the seven state region is eligible for this Award. Nominations should be based on overall consumer experience, support of Rocky Mountain Country Music artists, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image within the eligibility period.

EVENT OF THE YEAR CRITERIA

• Any event or festival known primarily for their support of country music within the seven state region is eligible for this Award. Nominations should be based on overall consumer experience, support of Rocky Mountain Country Music artists, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image within the eligibility period.

FAN ARMY AWARD CRITERIA

• This award does not have nominees, but instead is open to all bands and artists that meet the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements. The Award is based solely on fan votes on an online platform determined and setup by iHeartMedia. Each fan will be allowed to vote once per day during a two week period leading up to the show date that will be determined and revealed at a later date. The winner will be the band or artist that receives the most online votes, and will be revealed at the show.

HADLEY BARRETT PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD

• This award does not have nominees. It is given to the person in the region who, in the eligibility period, best displayed the characteristics of the late rodeo announcer Hadley Barrett. Those characteristics include, but are not limited to; charity work, humanitarianism, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.

CHRIS LEDOUX LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD

• This award does not have nominees. It is given to the person in the region who over the course of their career has contributed musically, and enriched the lives of country music fans and those involved in the music industry in the region, to the fullest extent.