Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS APRIL 6, 2020 | PAGE 1 OF 19 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] Jordan Davis Has COVID-19 Expands The Calendar A ‘Lot’ To Cheer >page 4 For First-Time ACM Nominees ACM Date Creates Awards Conflict It’s often said that you never forget your first time, and that’s “The ACM is looking at a variety of digital initiatives that >page 10 certainly true for a dozen inaugural Academy of Country Music can support some of the nominees during the summer, a ‘road Awards nominees. up to the ACMs,’ if you will,” says ACM CEO Damon White- Had things gone as planned, CBS would have telecast side. “We want to support the artists. In the long nominations the awards on April 5, and those artists making their debut window, our goal is to create some ways that we could get art- Ronnie Dunn Aces appearance on the academy’s ballot — including Morgan ists to engage with fans and lead up to the Sept. 16 broadcast. Amazon Ad Song Wallen, Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, Cody Johnson and It’s something on our radar, and we had some discussion with >page 10 Tenille Townes — our board.” would already know The ACM, of if they could move course, had plenty from first-time ACM of other issues Cadillac Three nominee to first- to address in the Fashion Statement time ACM winner. past few weeks >page 12 Instead, the due to the COVID- disruption of the 19 pandemic. COVID-19 corona- Safety and social- Makin’ Tracks: virus leaves those distancing directives Sam Hunt’s artists in limbo for forced a series of Webb Redesign an additional five alternate plans, >page 16 months, with most covered in depth in of them waiting until an April 2 Billboard TOWNES WALLEN BARRETT Sept.