Academy of Country Music Awards Announces Multiple Upcoming Category Changes

The Academy of Country Music announces multiple upcoming category changes for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2024.

The Academy of Country Music has announced the submissions and ballot timeline for membership voting for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2024. With that, the Academy also announced multiple upcoming changes within numerous award categories.

The ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the Academy’s New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year, and New Duo or Group of the Year, extending charting for those categories to open eligibility for more artists. The Board of Directors also adopted criteria to require a minimum of three eligible submissions to award a category.

“The 59th ACM Awards cycle brings changes to awards categories that will allow more artists, groups, and duos the chance to qualify and be recognized with an ACM Award, which will benefit emerging artists and help put a spotlight on the future of the genre,” said Daniel Miller, Chair of the ACM Awards, Voting, and Membership Committee.

“I’d like to thank the Awards committee members, Board members, and Board Officers for their thoughtful contributions in expanding eligibility to reflect our evolving industry and the realities for new artists on their path to success.”

“ACM New Duo or Group of the Year is an illustrious category that has seen the likes of Brooks & Dunn and The Chicks win early in their careers, as well as both reigning ACM Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne and reigning ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion,” added Tommy Moore, ACM Vice President of Artist and Industry Relations, Governance, and Board Administration.

“The category hasn’t been awarded in recent years, and we’re hopeful these changes in category rules and minimum qualifying entrant levels will allow us to bring back this award, a fan favorite, as well as celebrate additional deserving emerging artists in the critical early years of their career,” Moore explained.

Submissions for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will open at 9 AM PT / 11 AM CT on Monday, January 8, 2024. The Academy will accept entries through Friday, January 26, 2024 at 5 PM PT / 7 PM CT.

Produced by Dick Clark Productions, the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will stream exclusively on Prime Video worldwide for a third consecutive year, as part of the ACM’s recently announced renewed partnership with Amazon. The awards ceremony will stream live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

The 58th ACM Awards, hosted by stars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, saw over 7.7 million viewers on Prime Video, additional viewership across Amazon Music, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and Amazon Live, making it one of the most watched awards shows of the year.