Country Radio Broadcasters create Garth Brooks No Fences Award

Brooks to discuss criteria and selection process during CRS 2023

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced the establishment of a new industry honor, the Garth Brooks “No Fences” Award. Presented by CRB and inspired by the influential career of Garth Brooks, and his groundbreaking 1990 No Fences album release, the newly established honor will recognize an individual in the country music industry who has boldly demonstrated innovation, creativity, and tenacity.

Recipients of the award will have defied traditional standards and practices, positively changed the face of the industry, and established higher standards for measuring success. Additionally, their achievements will have expanded the country music industry’s profile on a national level, not only for their benefit but for the industry as a whole, for a sustained duration and with proven significant impact.

The inaugural recipient of this newly established award will be honored at a future CRS, with a blue-ribbon committee comprised of CRB board members and representatives of Brooks’ team evaluating candidates based on the criteria articulated above. Additionally, Brooks will appear at CRS 2023 on Monday, March 13th for an exclusive and rare conversation to discuss the collaboration with CRS and the last several years.

The award’s namesake, No Fences, comes from his historic album release that further catapulted his remarkable career. With over 18 million copies sold worldwide, No Fences exhibited musical foresight, shattered sales and airplay records, and spear-headed country music’s historic expansion, decade-long dominance, and era-defining catalog of country music that continues to entertain fans around the world.

“We all know about Garth’s monumentally successful career, which established this genre as popular, sustainable, and mainstream,” shares CRB/CRS executive director RJ Curtis. “What many don’t know, however, is that concurrent with his many personal accomplishments, Garth Brooks has given unwavering support for CRS during the past 30 years by showing up to CRS annually and creating innovative ways to engage, entertain, and educate CRS attendees that perfectly match the ‘Growth through sharing’ mission of CRS. It’s fitting that we honor Garth’s innovative, tenacious spirit with this newly established award bearing his name.”

Country Radio Seminar will take place Monday, March 13th through Wednesday, March 15th at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration for CRS 2023 is open and is $649 per person. Unlike previous years, New Faces of Country Music Showcase tickets are sold separately for $100 per ticket. New Faces of Country Music Showcase tickets are limited and nearly sold out.