Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Auditorium Chosen for 2018 Texas Country Music Awards

CARTHAGE, TX (February 20, 2018) – The Texas Country Music Association, Inc. announced today that the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards will be held at the historic Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth on Monday, October 15.  Linda Wilson, Founder and President of TCMA says, “I can’t express how excited we are about this year’s Awards ceremony that will be held in Fort Worth.  The folks at the Will Rogers Center and the City of Fort Worth have made it a very easy decision.  The facility is historic and acoustics are fabulous.  We look forward to working together with them to not only top last year’s fabulous Texas Country Music Awards by honoring the artists, musicians and those involved in Texas Country Music, but also to shine a light on Fort Worth and the impact that the City has in the music industry.”

“We’re honored to be selected as the site of the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Fort Worth was recently recognized as the first certified music-friendly city in Texas by the Texas Music Office in the Office of the Governor. This is a great opportunity to share the city’s rich music history and burgeoning musical talent with Texas Country’s top stars.”

Texas Country Music artist, Brandon Rhyder, is not only TCMA’s Spokesperson for 2018 forward, but will again Host and perform at the ceremony. Co-hosting the Awards along with Rhyder is well known East Texas area entertainer Jenn Ford.  Live performances and awards presenters from at least four decades of Country music artists will include not only Brandon Rhyder and Jenn Ford, but also Curtis Grimes, Brian Black, Doug Supernaw, Red Steagall,  Holly Tucker, Bri Bagwell, Cody Wayne and Christian Country Artist Del Way.  Several more performers and Award presenters will be announced later as their schedules are confirmed.  Popular Record Producer Chad Mauldin with Mauldin Productions will produce the Awards again for 2018.

Twenty-four awards will be presented at the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards.  Country music superstar Mark Chesnutt served as TCMA Spokesperson for 2016-2017 and received the first ever prestigious TCMA Trailblazer Award. The Trailblazer Award recipient for 2018 will be announced later.

Award nomination ballots will be released online beginning May 1 and ending June 15, 2018.  The top 5 nominees become Finalists and will go to vote beginning June 20 and end July 31.  The TCMA Awards Committee will then determine the winners based on the scoring system of fan, TCMA Member and Awards Committee votes.  Finalists will be announced early August, and the results of the final round voting will be announced at the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards ceremony on Monday, October 15.

There will be several events and special appearances by Texas Country Music artists on TCMA Awards weekend (October 12 – 15) in Fort Worth and the DFW area, and will be announced as schedules are confirmed.  Tickets will go on sale for the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards beginning mid to late June and will be handled by outhousetickets.com.  To find out more about local events and amenities, go to www.fortworth.com.

The Awards show will be filmed by The Country Network and produced for broadcast to about 15 million households across the United States.  Several broadcast and internet radio stations will record and live stream the event.

The TCMA’s genres cover primarily Country Music and Christian Country Music.   “We have members not only from Texas but all over the United States and around the world.” says Wilson. “The Texas Country Music Association’s growing membership as well as the directors and advisory council members continually work together to assist, promote and support the industry and its artists by creating opportunities, marketing and promotion of its members and the Texas Country Music industry as a whole.  TCMA has become an energizing and influential force in the industry over the past 5 years, and together with the artists, musicians, businesses and industry professionals, we’re getting bigger and stronger every day.”

She goes on, “TCMA has many plans and projects on the horizon all to benefit the artists and all of those behind the scenes to make it happen.”  A big project in the wings is TCMA Fest, a multi-day festival showcasing newcomers as well as providing top-notch entertainment for the fans.  Other projects include TCMA’s Compilation CD’s, Texas Country Music Radio, Texas Country Music Television and the Texas Country Music Showdown vocal competition.  The 2018 TCMA Songwriter contest is currently open.  Songwriter winners perform at the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards.

For more information about the Texas Country Music Association, it’s mission, goals and how to join, or to become a Sponsor of the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards, visit www.texascountrymusic.org