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ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® OPENS 2026 MEMBERSHIP WINDOW, ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS AND RENEWALS

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® OPENS 2026 MEMBERSHIP WINDOW, ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS AND RENEWALS

December 1, 2025: Deadline to Apply for New Memberships & Renew Memberships to Gain or Maintain Voting Eligibility for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards™ in 2026

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(High-resolution digital assets can be found HERE)

Nashville, TN (October 13, 2025) – The window to become a member or renew membership for the Academy of Country Music® leading into the 61st ACM Awards opened today, October 13. New this year, membership applications and renewals will remain open year-round. However, to maintain voting eligibility for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, you must apply by December 1, 2025. The 61st ACM Awards date and location will be announced in the coming weeks.

Accepted Academy members gain access to a suite of benefits, including early access to tickets for ACM events, discounts on industry partner events, industry data insights, monthly educational and networking events, and more. In addition, new membership tiers and expanded benefits have been introduced for 2026. Details can be found at www.acmcountry.com/membership.

The Academy also announced two key updates to the membership process:

  • All companies and members must now be approved through a double board approval process 
  • Qualified companies are no longer limited to 30 members

Individual members can apply HERE. Corporate members can apply HERE.

"I can't think of a more exciting time to join the Academy of Country Music," said Ken Tucker, Chair of the ACM Membership Committee. "The coming year will be one of the most significant in our long history. Our current constituents play a vital role in shaping the future of Country Music, and we look forward to embracing a new group of members that is more diverse, engaged and invigorated than ever before."

A multi-platform recruitment and awareness campaign with “Get Closer, Get Connected, Get Country” catchline will run in the weeks ahead. ACM members receive the privilege of casting votes for the ACM Awards, which celebrate excellence across the industry and reach millions of fans all over the world, through a pioneering partnership with Amazon’s Prime Video. Members also gain admission and access to an invaluable lineup of programming and development opportunities, including exclusive events, panels, and initiatives – essential resources for industry leaders of both today and tomorrow. The ACM boasts a long-standing history as a welcoming organization for all, with a community-leading commitment to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in Country Music, from the boardroom to the stage. We invite applicants to join us as we work towards change.

About the Academy of Country Music 
Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown over the past 60 years into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Headquartered in Nashville, TN and boasting record-high membership of more than 5,000 worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2025 continues to be a landmark year for the Academy with the success of the 60th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, which returned to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas for a third consecutive year and streamed live for a global audience on Prime Video. The Academy also remains relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in Country Music, from the boardroom to the stage, and proudly presents ACM Level Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, among other initiatives. For more information, visit ACMcountry.com or ACMLiftingLives.org.