People's Choice flooded with votes
Organisers
of the annual Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards have been
inundated with votes for the 2014 presentation. 
The voting, which closed only a few weeks ago, has been the strongest
in the Awards' 14-year history with well over 90,000 individual votes
cast for hundreds of different artists, groups, songs, albums, videos,
radio presenters, stations and/or programs.
"We've been working on validating, sorting and counting the votes since
the voting closed," said Bob Kirchner, spokesman for the Country Music
Bulletin, organisers of the scheme that provides a means for members of
the public to vote for their favourites.
"Normally we would have announced our finalists by now," Bob said, "but
we will need to work through some of the Christmas/New Year break to
make sure everything is right."
He said it was expected finalists would now be announced on or near New Year's Day.
"To say we are delighted with this result is an understatement," Bob said.
"And what a great reflection this is on the country music industry. For
so many people to take the time to reflect on and vote for their
favourites tells me the grassroots support for country music in
Australia is huge.
"It also speaks volumes for the work artists are putting in on the ground, recording, touring and promoting their music.
"Not to forget Australia's hard-working broadcasting sector, too," Bob said.
"Dozens and dozens of individuals and stations are recognised through
the People's Choice Awards scheme for what they do in bringing the music
to the people and supporting our artists."
The Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards, sponsored by the
Trans-Help Foundation, recognises finalists and winners in 11 categories
and will be staged in Country Music Capital's Capitol Theatre at 10am
on Wednesday, January 22.
William Edwin "Ed" Bruce, Jr. (born December 29, 1939) is an American country music songwriter and singer. He is known for penning the 1975 song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and recording the 1982 country number one hit "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had". He also co-starred in the television series Bret Maverick with James Garner during the 1981-82 season. 
