It’s Time For A Name Change For Country Music’s Highest Honor

The 2014 CMA Nominees have been revealed and while most of the nominees were predictable, some names are noticeably absent from the list of award hopefuls. The CMA award winners are based on voting that occurs for a few weeks prior to September. Members of the CMA are given ballots to write in their choice for the top act(s) and the names are whittled down after a few rounds of voting.Is it time to change the system? According to some fans and family of some of the stars, the answer is yes.Two names that you won't find on the list of nominees are Brad Paisley (who will co host the show in November) and Jason Aldean. Aside from his personal life, Jason has had quite a successful year. His fans are clearly upset that he was left out and his father was open about his feelings regarding Aldean not getting any nominations. The fact that he is not on the list for ANY award had me thinking that perhaps the system needs a review.

I'm not saying either way that Jason should or shouldn't be on the short list of 5 that are in the running for a particular award. I am trying to make a point about the way we look at who should win.

For example, the Entertainer Of The Year Award, the highest award that any artist can get from The Country Music Association, needs to be reviewed in that the name is misleading to some.

The term "Entertainer" suggests that the award should be given to an artist who shows the best ability to perform in a live setting. An artist that night after night, city after city puts on an award winning type of show that gives people more than what they paid for. Neal McCoy, Garth, Luke Bryan and yes, even Taylor Swift (who I think gives her live audience 110% every night regardless of her shortcomings vocally) are just a few names that, based solely on the word "entertainer," could be considered every year!

But if you look at the criteria those that vote take in to account to make their decision, it's beyond just a live performance and I think that's where the CMA needs to make an adjustment.

I am probably the world's biggest fan of George Strait. If you look at what fans traditionally expect from a live show, Strait falls a little short of "entertaining." That being said, I think Strait fans get more than their money's worth from him musically at a show even if he isn't an over the top style showman. Strait has won the Entertainer award a few times and for good reason. He represents the format perfectly (at least the way it used to be). From album sales, to hit songs to selling out stadiums, there is a reason we call him the King Of Country Music.

The critics question The CMA when he wins the Entertainer of The Year Award because, as I said, he is not over the top entertaining in person.

The CMA should rename the EOTY award...Country Music's MVA-Most Valuable Artist. If we are looking for a group or individual that encompasses the true meaning of what it is to be Country Music's best, we need to let the name of the award indicate that there is more than just a live show performance that we grade on.

I think fans (and even industry reps) would have a better understanding of what this award means and why it is so valuable to artists and their teams. Perhaps there are artists we are missing in the category year after year that are left behind merely because those voting don't look at the entire body of a years worth of work.