NECM Awards Nominees Announced

We’re proud to announce the nominees for the New England Country Music Award, presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum. The nominees are recognized for the 2017 calendar year. In the second year of the awards, we have extended the categories to include the national artists, that we all know and love, for their contributions to country music, in New England, and beyond.

The NECM Awards are 100% fan voted. The awards can be voted on here, starting today until March 26th. All voting ends on March 27th. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Make sure to vote for all of your favorites and you may just find a great giveaway on the page!

Here are the nominees:

National Entertainer of the Year
Chris Stapleton
Eric Church
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt

National Male Artist of the Year
Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett

National Female Artist of the Year
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Kelsea Ballerini
Lauren Alaina
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert

National Group/Duo of the Year
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

New Artist of the Year
Carly Pearce
Devin Dawson
Jordan Davis
Luke Combs
Midland
Morgan Wallen

Album of the Year
From A Room: Volume 1‘ – Chris Stapleton
Happy Endings‘ – Old Dominion
Life Changes‘ – Thomas Rhett
Slowheart‘ – Kip Moore
This One’s For You‘ – Luke Combs
Unapologetically‘ – Kelsea Ballerini

Single of the Year
‘Body Like A Backroad’ – Sam Hunt
‘In Case You Didn’t Know’ – Brett Young
‘It Ain’t My Fault’ – Brothers Osborne
‘Losing Sleep’ – Chris Young
‘Drinkin’ Problem’ – Midland
‘When It Rains It Pours’ – Thomas Rhett

Tour of the Year
15 In A 30 Tour – Sam Hunt
Holdin’ My Own Tour – Eric Church
Huntin’ Fishin’ Lovin’ Every Day Tour – Luke Bryan
The Smooth Tour – Florida Georgia Line
Soul2Soul World Tour – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
You Look Good Tour – Lady Antebellum

Venue of the Year
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (Gilford, NH)
Cape Cod Melody Tent (Hyannis, MA)
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion (Bangor, ME)
Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (Hampton Beach, NH)
House of Blues (Boston, MA)
Maine State Pier (Portland, ME)
Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT)
Xfinity Center (Mansfield, MA)
Xfinity Theatre (Hartford, CT)

Venue of the Year – Large Capacity
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (Gilford, NH)
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion (Bangor, ME)
Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
Xfinity Center (Mansfield, MA)
Xfinity Theatre (Hartford, CT)

Venue of the Year – Medium Capacity
Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (Boston, MA)
Cape Cod Melody Tent (Hyannis, MA)
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (Hampton Beach, NH)
House of Blues (Boston, MA)
Indian Ranch (Webster, MA)
Maine State Pier (Portland, ME)

Venue of the Year – Small Capacity
Aura (Portland ME)
Higher Ground Ballroom (South Burlington, VT)
Mohegan Sun Wolf Den (Uncasville, CT)
Paradise Rock Club (Boston, MA)
The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
The Strand (Providence, RI)

Venue of the Year – Theatre
Capitol Center for the Arts (Concord, NH)
Chevalier Theatre (Medford, MA)
Foxwoods Grand Theatre (Mashantucket, CT)
Lowell Memorial Auditorium (Lowell, MA)
Oakdale Theatre (Wallingford, CT)
Orpheum Theatre (Boston, MA)

Venue of the Year – Arena
DCU Center (Worcester, MA)
Dunkin Donut Center (Providence, RI)
Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT)
SNHU Arena (Manchester, NH)
TD Garden (Boston, MA)
Tsongas Center (Lowell, MA)

Venue of the Year – Fair
Brooklyn Fair (Brooklyn, CT)
Champlain Valley Fair (Essex Junction, VT)
Durham County Fair (Durham, CT)
Fryeburg Fair (Fryeburg, ME)
The Big E (West Springfield, MA)
Washington County Fair (Richmond, RI)

Venue of the Year – Bar
Bonfire (Portland, ME)
Loretta’s Last Call (Boston, MA)
Rascal Flatts (Stamford, CT)
The Cadillac Ranch (Southington, CT)
The Whiskey Barrel (Haverhill, MA)
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar (Foxborough, MA)

Radio Station of the Year
101.7 The Bull (Boston, MA)
97.7 WCTY (Norwich, CT)
99.9 The Wolf (Portland, ME)
Cape Country 104 (Hyannis, MA)
Cat Country 98.1 (Providence, RI)
Country 92.5 (Hartford, CT)
Country 102.5 (Boston, MA)
KIX 100.9 (Springfield, MA)
WOKQ 97.5 (Dover, NH)
WPOR 101.9 (Portland, ME)

Morning Show/Personality of the Year
Brian and Amanda (Cat Country 98.1)
Cat Wilson (Cape Country 104)
Damon & Cory (Country 92.5)
Jackson and Hannah (Country 102.5)
Jimmy and Shelly (97.7 WCTY)
The Big Breakfast (WOKQ 97.5)

Midday Show/Personality of the Year
Annie Snook (103.7 The Peak)
Carolyn Kruse (Country 102.5)
Jessica Callahan (101.7 The Bull)
Karen Kiley (97.5 WOKQ)
Meredith Thompson (Cat Country 98.1)
Ralph Marino (Cape Country 104)

Afternoon Show/Personality of the Year
Amanda Jo (KIX 100.9)
Andy Austin (97.5 WOKQ)
Colton Bradford (101.7 The Bull)
Dave Elder (97.7 WCTY)
Kevin Kennedy (Country 102.5)
Kevin Lawrence (Cat Country 98.1)

Night Show/Personality of the Year
Corey Roberts (WPOR 101.9)
Jeremy Daniels (99.9 The Wolf)
Josh Matty (97.7 WCTY)
Lance Houston (101.7 The Bull)
Maddie Grimaldi (Cat Country 98.1)
Tad Stephens (Froggy 100.9)

Local Male Artist of the Year
Jimmy Connor
Kevin Herchen
Mickey Lamanta
Tim Buono
Timmy Brown

Local Female Artist of the Year
Annie Brobst
April Cushman
Caroline Gray
Paige Davis
Wildee

Local Group/Duo of the Year
Back Rhodes
Dalton and the Sheriffs
Martin and Kelly
Scarlett Drive
Southern City Band

You can vote once every 24 hours at www.ne-countrymusic.com/awards.