The Proposed CMAA Awards Changes Are A Positive Step Forward

11/08/06 - The Proposed CMAA Awards Changes Are A Positive Step Forward

By Tim Holland

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) have proposed some changes to next year's Golden Guitar awards - changes that I believe are a step in the right direction. Essentially the CMAA have decided to scrap the Highest Selling Album award in it's current form, scrap the Single Of The Year award and broaden the boundaries of the Song Of The Year category.

I've got no dramas with a acknowledgement of the Highest Selling Album being made on the night in some form, but not in it's current form. This FACT should only be acknowledged by referring to sales figures from ARIA over the nominated time frame. Last year ARIA sales figures concluded that Keith Urban (not award winner John Williamson) was the highest selling country artist. Williamson won the award because you had to be nominated to win this award. But having to nominate for such an award is nonsense because the result is a matter of fact, not opinion.

If an artist qualifies for the ARIA Country Chart, they should automatically qualify for the highest selling award. It doesn't matter that this award has always been a part of the awards show. The fact is, in it's current form it often produces a result that isn't factually correct which reflects poorly on the awards and the organizers. The CMAA have acknowledged this fact and I believe this to be a step forward.

With so little country singles being released to retail, it also makes sense to scrap Single Of The Year category as well. And the broadening of the Song Of The Year category to allow songs co-written by international writers is a real step forward. Most of our leading artists now regularly write with overseas writers. It's a lot easier to do so these days. Artists should not be punished for taking the opportunity to improve their skills and their music by writing with people from other parts of the world. In fact, THIS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED! In it's current form, many of our top artists including Keith Urban, Adam Harvey, Melinda Schneider, Steve Forde, Adam Brand, Bella, Jake Nickolai and Catherine Britt have and would continue to be excluded from this award even they have co-written and performed recorded material themselves.

I understand that a group of people wish to oppose these changes. I'd suggest that these people are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the changing nature of the country music business and the music business in general. The awards should be about awarding our most talented artists, not restricting participation for the sake of preserving old-school mentality.

If changes like this aren't made, the artists will eventually lose interest in the awards. Why? Because they will feel that they are of little relevance to them. As a result of this, interest from the general public will also decrease which will not be in anyone's best interests.

With this in mind, the CMAA should be applauded for proposing these changes and seeing that they are in place for the next Golden Guitar awards in January.