Country musicians tip their hats to 2007 Achievers

Written by Ferris Davies PRM

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Country music’s most respected performers and industry movers and shakers were there to tip their hats to the Achiever Awards’ Class of ’07 which included those musicians, performers and organizations who have flown the country music flag over the previous 12 months.

The gala ceremony was held under the Sydney Harbour Bridge with performances by this year’s Entertainer of the Year winner (taking his total Achiever Award wins is five) and crowd favourite Troy Cassar-Daley. Troy’s non stop touring as well as his appearances on the last two seasons of “It Takes Two” have cemented him in the hearts and minds of fans and the industry alike.

Taking her 3rd Independent Entertainer of the Year Award in a row was the beautiful Felicity Urquhart, fresh from her performance before US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Howard during APEC week in Sydney.  Felicity performed tonight with her partner and collaborator Glen Hannah, who also took home his 3rd Achiever Award in 2007 in the Cover Art of the Year category (for Ring Around the Moon by James Blundell).

In the industry awards categories, ABC Music Publishing solidified their standing as Publishing Company of the Year winning the Award for the 6th consecutive year and Shock Records took out their 2nd Record Company of the Year – Independent Award.

Also winning consecutive Awards were The Pub, Tamworth (Entertainment Venue of the Year) and John Nutting (Media Achiever of the Year – Individual). Sydney based label Compass Bros Records also returned to the podium for the 4th time as Record Company of the Year – Major Distribution.

In its 2nd year in the Achiever Awards calendar, the CMAA Board was proud to present the Musician of the Year Award to James Gillard who’s long musical career has seen him move from the rock ‘n roll stage (Mondo Rock), to work with some of country music’s most respected bands (The Fargone Beauties, The Flood, The Stormwater Boys). 

Each year, the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) acknowledges the Australian country music recording artist who has received that highest radio airplay during the previous year.  The recipient of the PPCA Most Broadcast Australian Country Music Artist Award for 2006 was Keith Urban.

The full list of 2007 CMAA Australian Country Music Achiever Awards are: