Hunter Hayes, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Thompson Square, Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft, Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves and Sunny Sweeney are all starting their new year off with something exciting in common. Each of these artists has been nominated for an ACM Award.
The Academy of Country Music announced this week that fan voting will open for New Artist categories on Monday, January 21st at noon Eastern Time. According to the ACM's eligibility requirements, these artists must have met the following criteria:
“Gained either initial fame or significantly greater recognition through their efforts during the prior calendar year of December 1st to November 28th. The duo or group must have success in digital media, charted a single in the Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs (BDS) or Country Aircheck (Mediabase) country charts; and/or sold 100,000 album units reflected in Nielsen SoundScan during the qualifying period.”
Fans may vote for the following semi-finalists through 3:00 p.m. Eastern on February 4th:
NEW MALE VOCALIST
Lee Brice (A Woman Like You, Hard to Love, I Drive Your Truck)
Brantley Gilbert (Country Must Be Country Wide, You Don't Know Her Like I Do, More Than Miles)
Hunter Hayes (Storm Warning, Wanted, Somebody's Heartbreak)
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
Jana Kramer (Why Ya Wanna, Whiskey)
Kacey Musgraves (Merry Go 'Round)
Sunny Sweeney (From A Table Away, Drink Myself Single)
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP
Florida Georgia Line (Cruise, Get Your Shine On)
Love and Theft (Angel Eyes, Runnin' Out of Air)
Thompson Square (Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not, I Got You, Glass, If I Didn't Have You)
Of these semi-finalists, only Thompson Square already holds an ACM title. The Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not duo snagged the ACM for Top Vocal Duo in 2012. Additionally, Hunter Hayes and Brantley Gilbert are nominated for New Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year. In 2012, Hunter Hayes and Brantley Gilbert competed against American Idol's Scotty McCreery, who ultimately won the ACM New Artist award.
Beginning on Monday, fans may vote for their favorite artists in each category at www.VoteACM.com or www.GACTV.com/ACM. The finalists will be announced in February and a second round of voting will begin in March to determine the overall winner for New Artist of the Year.
In addition to voting for their favorites, country music fans can check out these new artist on the GAC special, ACM Showcase, which will air on January 21st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and again throughout the initial voting period.
The 48th annual ACM Awards will air on Sunday, April 7th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
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