The Country Music Association (CMA) has unveiled its 2025 CMA International Awards recipients, recognizing a distinguished group of artists, journalists, and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the expansive reach and influence of country music across the globe. The CMA International Awards, presented in conjunction with “The 59th Annual CMA Awards,” highlight the genre’s growing international appeal and the dedicated efforts behind its global success, solidifying their place among significant music industry awards.
CMA International Awards: A Commitment to Global Country Music
The CMA International Awards serve as a cornerstone of the association’s commitment to honoring excellence and fostering a robust, inclusive global community within the country music industry. These accolades underscore the widespread impact of country music, which continues to transcend borders and resonate with diverse audiences worldwide. CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern emphasized that this year’s honorees “embody the extraordinary ways Country Music continues to transcend borders,” whether through radio, touring, media, or artist development. Their work, she noted, not only broadens the genre’s reach but also deepens its impact, solidifying country music as a truly global phenomenon and showcasing the CMA International Awards’ significance.
The honorees were celebrated at a special reception in downtown Nashville on November 19, 2025, and were also recognized on stage during the pre-telecast ceremony of the 59th Annual CMA Awards. This annual recognition reinforces the CMA’s mission to advance the growth of country music worldwide and build strong international partnerships, a key aspect of the CMA International Awards.
Industry Architects and Visionaries Honored by CMA International Awards
Among the prominent recipients is Scott Borchetta, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, who was presented with the prestigious 2025 CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence. This award is bestowed upon individuals whose ideas and actions have dramatically broadened and improved country music’s influence on a national or international level, a testament to the spirit of the CMA International Awards. Borchetta, known for his pivotal role in shaping modern country music and championing emerging talent, was surprised with the honor on the red carpet by three-time 2025 CMA Award winner Riley Green. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern lauded Borchetta’s “remarkable clarity and conviction” in navigating the industry, stating, “His influence stretches across decades, and honoring him with the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence feels both meaningful and well-deserved.” Borchetta expressed his humility, thanking the CMA Board and acknowledging Irving Waugh as a “true visionary.”
The 2025 CMA Media Achievement Award was presented to Chris Willman, Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic at Variety. This award celebrates outstanding achievements by print and online journalists, authors, and media professionals in their coverage of country music, a vital component of the CMA International Awards ecosystem. Willman, a veteran journalist with over four decades of experience, was surprised by CMA Awards nominees Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. He is recognized for his significant role in shaping national conversations around country music, his extensive work with publications like Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, and the Los Angeles Times, and his acclaimed book, “Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music.” Willman was one of two recipients of the Media Achievement Award for 2025, underscoring the broad impact of country music impact globally.
Championing Global Music Advancement through CMA International Awards
Lynette Garbonola, Vice President, International at BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, received the CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award. This award recognizes an individual’s outstanding advocacy and support for country music’s marketing development outside the United States, a core objective of the CMA International Awards. With 30 years in the music industry, Garbonola has been instrumental in expanding the genre’s global reach, particularly in Europe, Australia, and Asia, demonstrating the global music trends emerging from the genre.
Shannon Saunders, Agent and Head of Nashville International at WME, earned the Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award. This honor celebrates significant contributions to the live music industry, specifically in extending performance opportunities and building audiences for country music internationally, a key focus for the CMA International Awards. Saunders has been a driving force in WME’s global touring operations, significantly growing its reach and revenue.
Justin Thomson, National Content Director at iHeartCountry Australia, was honored with the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. This award acknowledges outstanding media achievements related to country music outside the U.S., reflecting the global nature of the CMA International Awards. Thomson is recognized as an influential global ambassador, producing extensive original programming and traveling extensively to cover major international country music events.
Broadening Horizons in Country Music with CMA International Awards
Mattias Hansson, Radio Producer/Presenter at P4 Country, Sveriges Radio, received the International Country Broadcaster Award. This award highlights broadcasters who have made significant contributions to the development of country music in their respective countries, with Hansson being a key figure in popularizing the genre in Scandinavia and a recipient celebrated by the CMA International Awards.
In the artist categories, Morgan Wallen was honored with the International Artist Achievement Award, recognizing his significant creative growth and promotion of country music outside the U.S. as a U.S.-based artist, a significant achievement for international country artists. Cameron Whitcomb, a Canadian artist, received the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award, celebrating his international achievements and contributions to country music as an artist based outside the United States, further highlighting the CMA International Awards’ reach.
The Ever-Expanding Global Footprint of Country Music and the CMA International Awards
The recognition of these individuals underscores the broader trend of country music’s increasing global popularity. Evidence from streaming data, international tours, and burgeoning festivals like C2C (Country to Country) and CMC Rocks QLD indicates a robust and growing appetite for country music in markets across the UK, Australia, Germany, and Scandinavia. Digital platforms and diverse collaborations continue to break down geographical barriers, making country music more accessible to new audiences than ever before. This expansion signifies a dynamic future for the genre, rooted in its core storytelling and musical traditions while embracing a worldwide audience, all amplified by the prestigious CMA International Awards.
The 2025 CMA International Awards not only celebrate past achievements but also look towards the future, acknowledging the vital role these professionals play in shaping the ongoing global narrative of country music. The continuous efforts of individuals like those honored are instrumental in solidifying country music’s position as a diverse and influential genre on the world stage, reflecting the vibrant state of the country music industry and the profound country music impact being made globally by music industry leaders.
