The Academy of Country Music has released its final nominees for the 61st annual awards, recognizing several stations in smaller markets for their local impact. Among the finalists for Small Market Radio Station of the Year are WCKK in Walnut Grove, Mississippi; KCLR in Columbia, Missouri; and KFGE in Lincoln, Nebraska. This year’s list also features WXFL in Florence, Alabama, and WYCT in Pensacola, Florida.
Individual honors are also being contested, with Brian “B-MO” Montgomery of WCKK receiving a nomination for Small Market On-Air Personality of the Year. The nominations, announced on March 3, highlight the continued relevance of local personalities in an era of increasing automation. The winners are scheduled to be revealed during the upcoming Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.