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 in 2019 we saw the addition of two new states, Montana and North Dakota. 

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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. 

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.