THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS

HISTORY
In the 1960s, in the thriving inland city of Tamworth, NSW, local Radio 2TM, still smarting from the introduction
of TV, tried a country music program at night. "Hoedown" as it was called, flourished. The station saw the potential
of country music and set about branding Tamworth as Australia’s Country Music Capital by extending their broadcasts
and running concerts and other activities.
By the early '70s, artists and industry people were recognising Tamworth’s country music credentials and on January 1973,
2TM launched the Australasian Country Music Awards.
In late 1991, the then organisers of the Australasian Country Music Awards decided to to discontinue the traditional
Awards night, and instead various Golden Guitars were to be presented at a number of different venues during the Festival.
This actually occurred in January 1992 and was deemed a failure by the industry. The decision to change the format was taken
by 2TM (through it's subsidiary BAL Marketing) without consultation with the industry.
Artists, record companies, songwriters and other industry people were incensed by the change to our long established "night of nights".
A small group comprising Slim Dusty, John Williamson, Joy McKean, Phil Matthews and Max Ellis decided to start an organisation which would fight
for the interests of the Australian country music industry particularly in regard to the Awards. The Country Music Association of Australia Inc
was launched in Tamworth in January 1992 with Slim Dusty at the helm as Chairman, John Williamson as Vice Chairman, Joy McKean as Treasurer,
Max Ellis as Secretary and Phil Matthews as Public Officer. A Board of 18 industry members was appointed and funding was generated by a huge concert
at the Rodeo Arena in January 1992 with virtually all the industry’s major artists performing for free, raising over $40,000. In addition, APRA gave a $10,000 grant as well as legal assistance.
By June 1992 the CMAA had achieved it’s first of many achievements. After lengthy negotiations,
Radio 2TM generously agreed to hand over the Awards without charge to the new body.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GUITARS
The Country Music Awards of Australia (the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards) recognise, celebrate and honour excellence
and outstanding achievement in Australian country music.
The Awards presentations are accompanied by a star-studded gala concert featuring outstanding Australian country music
and some of our newest rising stars.

 The Country Music Awards of Australia is the nation's longest running music
awards concert and the pinnacle event of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Awards were first held in 1973, around the same time that the city of Tamworth became known as Australia's Home
of Country Music. Since they began the Awards have played the key role in developing and promoting Australian country
music. Under the guidance of the CMAA, the awards continue to grow and develop, reflecting the current country music
scene in Australia.
Originally, the Awards were staged in the historic Tamworth Town Hall with a capacity audience of around 1,000.
Over the years, the Awards venue has ranged from school halls to a giant 'big top' and a converted factory.
Since 1999, they have been presented each year at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC)
in front of an audience of 5,000 fans, artists, industry professionals and visitors.
Back in 1972, 2TM‘s Mr Hoedown, John Minson and 2TM Station Manager, Max Ellis agreed that the country music awards
trophy should be "rock solid and truly representative of country music". After deciding on the concept of a bronze
guitar, local artist Harry Frost was commissioned to produce a detailed design based on a semi cut-away, dual pick-up,
hollow-bodied guitar - in recognition of both traditional design and the modern, amplified electric guitar.
The trophies stand 24cm tall and weigh 1.5kgs. In the early years, country music legend John Minson personally
prepared each and every Golden Guitar; grinding, smoothing and polishing the rough casts and mounting them on their
carefully finished bases.
Today the famous Golden Guitar trophy is recognised all over the nation as a symbol of country music and Tamworth.