Dave Cobb Announced as the ACM’s 2016 Producer of the Year

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The accolades won’t stop pouring in for many of the artists he works with, including but not limited to Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and many more. And now the country music industry is beginning to wake up to the contributions producer Dave Cobb has made to completely reshaping the landscape of country music, first in the independent side of things, and now in the mainstream with the widespread success of Chris Stapleton.

Announced Tuesday (3-29), the Academy of Country Music, or ACM’s have handed out their 2016 awards for studio work, including awarding the Producer of the Year honor to Dave Cobb for his efforts with Chris Stapleton and many others. The distinction comes ahead of the televised awards on Sunday, April 3rd where Stapleton is up for another five awards, including Album of the Year for the Dave Cobb-produced Traveller. Chris Stapleton has also already walked away with an ACM, being named New Male Artist of the Year on March 23rd.

Other studio awards handed out on Tuesday by the ACM’s include:

  • BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Michael Rhodes
  • DRUMMER OF THE YEAR: Shannon Forrest
  • GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Derek Wells
  • PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jim ‘Moose’ Brown
  • SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Danny Rader
  • STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paul Franklin
  • AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Justin Niebank

Ross Cooperman also won Songwriter of the Year.

Dave Cobb’s win for Producer of the Year speaks to just what kind of inroads more independently-minded and organic country music is making in the industry. Compared to the heavy-handed production practices that prevail throughout the country music industry, Dave Cobb took a very relaxed approach to producing Chris Stapleton’s Traveller, and you can’t argue with the results. The album has now sold over 1 million copies, and is the best-selling album in all of country music in the last 18 months.

Meanwhile Dave Cobb has just released a compilation album featuring many the artists he works with, and major country superstars like Miranda Lambert and Zac Brown called Southern Family. The album debuted at #5 on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart this week, and has received much critical acclaim.

Dave Cobb’s ACM award also sets up well for Chris Stapleton to have a big night on Sunday, April 3rd for the televised portion of the ACM’s. It was Stapleton’s massive night at the CMA’s in November that set him on the path to his overwhelming success.

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