Saving Country Music Named TCMA ‘Media Outlet of the Year’

Well darn. Going on 16 years in business, over 8,000 published articles, and Saving Country Music finally won something. On July 22nd, the Texas Country Music Association announced the winners for their 2023 industry awards in an event held in Carthage, Texas. The industry awards go a bit deeper than the artist-centric Texas Country Music Awards that will be held on November 12th at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.
Lo and behold, Saving Country Music won the TCMA award for “Texas Country Digital or Print Media Outlet of the Year.” This is a big honor. And I, Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos, founder and benevolent dictator of Saving Country Music, am very flattered to have been recognized by this important organization, and for this specific distinction.
“The Texas Country Music ‘Industry Awards’ is to recognize those that work hard behind the scenes to make an effective impact on today’s Texas music,” says TCMA Executive Vice President Richard Wilson, “There are so many moving parts to making music that the general public hears on radio or streaming outlets. These are individuals and businesses that TCMA, as the supporting organization for the Texas Country Music industry, must honor.”
TCMA President Linda Wilson adds, “This is an incredibly unique and special awards event since it’s voted on by the industry stakeholders and peers. It’s our goal to let these ‘behind the scenes’ individuals and entities know that the industry is paying attention – and grateful.”
The nominations for the industry awards took place between November 4, 2022, and January 15, 2023. The top 5 Finalists in each award category were then announced and went to a final round voting between February 4 and April 19, 2023. The winners were announced as part of the all-day Texas Country Music Summit on June 22nd.
To be honest, I had no idea Saving Country Music had been nominated, let alone that it was in contention for this award. Suffice to say, there was no lobbying or ballot stuffing on my part. So it’s great to confirm that I’m not just yelling into a void, and that the people in the Texas country music industry recognize my efforts. The focus at Saving Country Music has always been the music, not pushing some personality or brand on the public. It’s the artists who deserve the attention and credit.
Saving Country Music doesn’t just focus on Texas country, despite being based just outside of Austin. But often the focus trends towards Texas because the rest of the national media so underserve this rich region for country music, and the artists from Texas tend to come with an extra level of integrity, authenticity, and humility, while there is a sharper focus on quality songwriting that distinguishes the Texas version of country music from others.
Full List of the 2023 Texas Country Music Industry Awards Winners:
Artist Manager of the Year
Chuck Sweeney
Tour Manager of the Year
Manny Morales (Roger Creager)
Radio Promoter of the Year
Jennifer & Ray Redding (Jenerayte)
Publicist of the Year
Barry Rogers (Wayne Public Relations)
Social Media Manager of the Year
Courtney Ritter (Courtney Ritter Marketing)
Recording Studio of the Year
Rosewood Studios (Tyler)
Record Producer of the Year
Bart Rose (Fort Worth Sound)
Sound Recording Engineer of the Year (Studio)
Chad Mauldin (Mauldin Productions/KSIJ Studio)
Booking Agent of the Year
Holly Grant (Grant Entertainment)
Booking Agency of the Year
True Grit Management
Venue Talent Buyer of the Year
Steve Said (Dosey Doe)
Music Video of the Year (Released 2022-2023)
Wild Horses (Kin Faux ft Terry McBride)
Videographer of the Year
Trenton Johnson (613 Media)
Photographer of the Year
Ray Redding (TexasRedd Images)
Radio Station of the Year Terrestrial
KOKE 98.5/99.3 FM – Austin, TX
Radio Station of the Year Internet
RealTexasRadio.com
Radio Program Director of the Year
Shayne Hollinger (KFWR 95.9 FM The Ranch Fort Worth)
Lighting Engineer of the Year (Venue, Company, or Touring)
Jimmy Davidson (Texas Stage)
Music Festival of the Year
KOKEFest (Austin – Eric Rains)
Charitable Music Event of the Year
Concert in the Country (Boots for Troops – Jimmy Rogers)
Texas Country Podcast of the Year
Real Life Real Music (Kyle Hutton)
Texas Country Digital or Print Media Outlet of the Year
Saving Country Music (Kyle Coroneos)
Texas Country Syndicated Radio Show of the Year
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Mike “Crowman” Crow)
Best Band Merchandise of the Year
The Wilder Blue
Digital Distribution Platform of the Year
Smith Music Group
Music Teacher of the Year
Tom McKinney (Tom McKinney Vocal Studio – Houston)
Music School of the Year
Shawnda Rains Entertainment (Denison)
July 25, 2023 @ 6:24 pm
Congratulations, pal!
July 27, 2023 @ 7:43 am
: D Conrad,
You are JUST Too Much…
Laughing …
Hall of Famer, Dickey Lee, on the riding lawn mower, cutting grass at Ragamuffin Hall.
You boys are having too much fun, getting ready for the Malpass Brothers.
smh & smiling
July 28, 2023 @ 1:15 am
Trig also won “Blog Heartthrob” at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. He forgot to include that
July 25, 2023 @ 6:25 pm
Congrats. Know accolades aren’t why you do this but it’s an everyday read for me and an great site. So many artists I’ve discovered through here. Also sorry so many comment sections go off the wall here lately. Hope it stops.
July 25, 2023 @ 6:29 pm
Congrats!! Well deserved!! I have been following this page for years and thanks to you have discovered countless great artists! So happy for you!!
July 25, 2023 @ 6:35 pm
Congrats!!! Long overdue. Keep up the good work!
July 25, 2023 @ 6:36 pm
Nice work, Trig. Real music journalism.
July 25, 2023 @ 6:37 pm
Oh hell yes! Congrats Trigger! This is fantastic news. You and this site make a difference. Not that we needed this award as proof of how great it is, but I’m really happy you’ve been recognized.
July 25, 2023 @ 6:56 pm
Congrats Trigger! Very well-deserved.
July 25, 2023 @ 6:57 pm
Congrats! One of my favorite sites. Keep up the righteous work!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:04 pm
Congratulations Trigger on an award most deserved! Your efforts in championing TRUE country music are worthy of such a great honor! If this world had any sense of Justice, you should be in charge of the Ryman or one of the big labels to let the world know what TRUE country music is. Your articles always provide great insight and at times humor and tough but fair analysis of all things within the country spectrum. Our music is certainly not just limited to Texas or the US as a whole, but to the whole world! Thank you for being one of its greatest champions!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:25 pm
Congrats Trigger! You are absolutely deserving of the honor! I know many folks are probably like me…we come here every day multiple times a day looking for reviews, great journalism, and discovering new musicians who carry on the tradition of country music that we love. Your dedication and work to spread the music we love is invaluable. So many wonderful singers I have discovered through your work. A huge thank you for all you do!!! You are playing an integral part in helping all of us save and grow this music that we love!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:28 pm
Congratulations on the way overdue recognition.
You work harder than any of your peers and your passion and commitment to improving the genre and promoting new and independent artists is unwavering and meritorious.
July 25, 2023 @ 7:31 pm
And darn well you should. Some fine journalism here, Trig. You deserve it.
July 25, 2023 @ 7:33 pm
Boom.
Well deserved.
July 25, 2023 @ 7:45 pm
Congrats, Trigger! You the man! I never miss a day of your stories…you’re doing the right thing!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:47 pm
Wait, did you just report on…um….you? I bet that was surreal…lol. All kidding aside who else would do? Well deserved honor and very validating for your hard work. Congrats.
July 25, 2023 @ 7:48 pm
Way to go Trigger! My one and only stop to keep abreast of new music and artists!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:57 pm
Many congratulations!!!
July 25, 2023 @ 7:59 pm
got fuckin damn! Congrats triggosaurus rex!!!! Can’t thank you enough for the value you have added to my life through this site. You never needed an award but you got one anyways! Way overdue, so happy for you, and thanks for bein the hardest working dude in journalism.
SCM and jeremy pinnell rip.
July 25, 2023 @ 8:06 pm
All this universal agreement among the commenters is strange, maybe unheard of. But well deserved, man. I haven’t found another source of music information generally centered around the music I care for. Thanks!
July 25, 2023 @ 8:19 pm
Congratulations and well deserved!
July 25, 2023 @ 8:23 pm
Congrats Trigger! Well deserved.
July 25, 2023 @ 8:28 pm
I’m not sure the day I got here (7-8 yrs ago) but I remember the exact words I said to the “passive” Country music fans I knew at work something along the lines of “these people are living in an alternative Country reality to change the world and I get it”. The amount of shows and interactions I’ve had with our favorites is unparalleled. I see faces light up every time I say the words “Saving Country Music” to the artists we love and talk about on here daily. They know we’re on their side and they aspire to be covered here. Congratulations Trigger and everyone on here that makes this site unlike any other. It’s working !!!
July 25, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Congratulations Trigg. Your definitely a big shooter now!!
July 25, 2023 @ 8:45 pm
All that sucking up to the Red Dirt crowd finally paid off. Next award will be from the American Socialist Party or the Clinton Foundation. Just kidding, that’s an awesome thing.
July 25, 2023 @ 9:05 pm
Congratulations, Trigger! Thank you for all of the great reviews and journalism over the years!
July 25, 2023 @ 9:22 pm
I love your site, greatly appreciate your work, and love to see you got recognition from somewhere other than a few decent folks who I see regularly comment here. I had to wipe a tear from my eye after trolling and scrolling through your comments section to the bottom to post my token of appreciation and congratulations to not see one off topic comment or a pathetic excuse for a thought. This is truly a comments section for the record books
July 25, 2023 @ 9:22 pm
I was thinking Whiskey Riff would win this award. Awkward..
July 25, 2023 @ 9:22 pm
Never would have imagined from the Shooter Jennings/Hank III beginnings that this site would become as broad and all encompassing as it has, and still with what appears to be a staff of 1. Congratulations.
July 25, 2023 @ 10:12 pm
Wow! Congrats, Trig. 🙂
July 25, 2023 @ 10:13 pm
Congratulations, sir! Sounds like a well deserved honor!
July 25, 2023 @ 10:56 pm
What did Jason Aldean think about the awards?
July 26, 2023 @ 12:18 am
Congrats, Trig! Well deserved.
July 26, 2023 @ 2:52 am
The first of many! Well deserved. Congratulations.
July 26, 2023 @ 3:03 am
Great job.
July 26, 2023 @ 3:18 am
Congradulations Kyle, nice to see that your hardwork doesn’t go unnoticed!, I sure appreciate it !Here’s to the future!
July 26, 2023 @ 3:31 am
Congrats & bravo Trigger! Since finding this website, the broad scope of great Country Music that you have introduced me to has changed my musical listening habits forever! Thank you for all you do!
July 26, 2023 @ 3:34 am
Congratulations Trigger. Well deserved.
July 26, 2023 @ 4:04 am
You’ve never steered me wrong – congratulations, Kyle!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:09 am
Awesome news. Congrats!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:15 am
Congrats!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:44 am
Congratulations, well deserved!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:59 am
A well-deserved honor. Congratulations.
July 26, 2023 @ 5:16 am
congratulations, trigger!
July 26, 2023 @ 5:33 am
It’s the only site I read.
Congratulations, Trigger. You deserve this recognition, and even more. Maybe the best 1-person web site there is?
July 26, 2023 @ 5:47 am
Congrats Trig, couldn’t of happened to a more unscrupulous charecter ????
But all joking aside, you deserve it. I’ve been telling people For years that you have one of the best ears for country music. Keep it rolling.
July 26, 2023 @ 5:48 am
Congrats Trigger! Well deserved after all the work that has been put into this site over the years. This is the only place I read for my independent/country artist news and reviews.
July 26, 2023 @ 5:55 am
Congratulations. It’s well-deserved recognition for what you do.
July 26, 2023 @ 5:56 am
Nice work! I know you don’t do this for pat on the back, but it is cool
July 26, 2023 @ 6:03 am
Alright!
July 26, 2023 @ 6:04 am
Congratulations.
July 26, 2023 @ 6:10 am
Congratulations!
July 26, 2023 @ 7:01 am
Congrats! Well deserved and thanks for connecting me to a lot of the music that I love now!
July 26, 2023 @ 7:09 am
Congrats.
And thanks for all the hard work and information over all of these years!
July 26, 2023 @ 7:25 am
Congratulations!
July 26, 2023 @ 8:00 am
????????
July 26, 2023 @ 8:12 am
Good Job.. You deserve it.
KOKE FEST was cancelled this year.
I wonder how that station is actually doing.
July 26, 2023 @ 8:30 am
nice work
July 26, 2023 @ 8:44 am
…time to order that fireplace mantelpiece. congrats.
July 26, 2023 @ 8:47 am
Congratulations, Trigger!! So well deserved!! Saving Country Music is a treasure to our industry!!!
July 26, 2023 @ 8:50 am
I have to get a daily fix of the Award Winning Saving Country Music because I got a soft spot for the hard stuff.
July 26, 2023 @ 9:05 am
Congratulations! Well deserved.
July 26, 2023 @ 9:18 am
Congratulations! When you stay away from culture war bullshit, you are the best journalist for independent country music.
July 26, 2023 @ 9:23 am
Well-deserved. Congrats, Mr. Coroneos.
July 26, 2023 @ 10:18 am
Congrats, Thank you for putting the effort in to keep things going.
July 26, 2023 @ 10:41 am
Congratulations. I don’t comment much, but this site is a daily reader for me too. Thanks for all you do, man.
July 26, 2023 @ 11:31 am
Congrats!! Love SCM!
July 26, 2023 @ 11:53 am
So well deserved! Congratulations!
July 26, 2023 @ 11:54 am
Congrats well deserved. I applaud you for talking about issues most people would walk away from.
July 26, 2023 @ 12:18 pm
Congratulations, Trigger. You’ve done a LOT for artists and listeners alike, and it’s nice to see you get some recognition instead of the undeserved ration of shit you often get in the comments section.
July 26, 2023 @ 12:53 pm
Congrats, and well earned… Thanks for turning me onto Mike and the Moonpies!
July 26, 2023 @ 12:57 pm
Congratulations!! Well earned honor.
July 26, 2023 @ 1:26 pm
Congrats!
July 26, 2023 @ 2:05 pm
Well duh. This site has been two guns way up for going on 16 years.
July 26, 2023 @ 2:06 pm
Congratulations!
July 26, 2023 @ 2:48 pm
Ditto Kyle.
July 26, 2023 @ 3:27 pm
Well Done!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:42 pm
Congrats, Trigger! Just curious, and anyone can weigh in; do you have a favorite among the three radio stations honored?
July 27, 2023 @ 5:44 am
I’ve listened to several OK and TX stations using the Tune-In app and I always go back to 95.9 The Ranch out of Fort Worth. Like any radio station, they can overplay certain songs, and the ratio of songs by females versus the guys isn’t where it needs to be but the DJ’s are great and the station really supports local Red Dirt and TX artists. It’s my daily station for sure, but being in the Midwest I can certainly say it makes me jealous of all the great local shows they advertise that I can’t go to.
July 26, 2023 @ 4:43 pm
2 cows up ???????? from WI!
July 26, 2023 @ 4:51 pm
Congratulations. Such impressive output of top quality review and critique.
July 26, 2023 @ 5:18 pm
Overdue recognition for the tons of effort and hard work through the years. My heartfelt congratulations, Trig, for all your dedication and the enjoyment you have given me and untold numbers of other country music fans. Your blog is a daily and most welcome part of my life. Thanks for everything.
July 26, 2023 @ 8:40 pm
Congrats.
This site has introduced me to so much quality music over the years I would have never known about otherwise.
July 26, 2023 @ 9:18 pm
About damn time. Thanks for introducing me to so much good music! You’re the man Kyle.
July 27, 2023 @ 12:54 am
absolutely well deserved, the hardest working man in the business. . Love SCM, not just in Texas, not just in America but all over the country music loving community.
July 27, 2023 @ 5:40 am
Congratulations.
July 27, 2023 @ 5:52 am
Congrats! And thanks for everything.
July 27, 2023 @ 6:42 am
Well deserved Trigger. I know I have found so much good music that I would not have known about if I did not follow SCM. There are a lot of small, lesser known bands/musicians that owe a lot of their career success to you. As a humble guy you would never acknowledge that but you know it is true.
July 27, 2023 @ 7:50 am
I can’t think of a more deserving recipient!
July 27, 2023 @ 8:18 am
Congratulations, Trigger. Even though I’ve never met you personally, I feel like you’ve been a good friend to me over the years. When it comes to the actual music, there’s no critic I trust more.
July 27, 2023 @ 11:14 am
Congratulations!
July 27, 2023 @ 11:14 am
Congratulations! This site deserves recognition. It’s done more than any other outlet to turn me on to artists and albums, which has resulted in several purchases of concert tickets and Spotify spins.
July 28, 2023 @ 10:40 am
Thanks for the article! Congratulations — well deserved!
July 28, 2023 @ 11:23 am
awesome!! well deserved, if not only for the last 2 weeks (you know what i mean).
thanks for all you do, trig. even some of the ‘haters’ round here seem to have called a cease-fire…for now.
keep on truckin’…
July 28, 2023 @ 6:38 pm
What a nice honor. Well deserved and congratulations.
July 28, 2023 @ 6:57 pm
Wel congrats! I disagree with so many of your takes but this is still super cool to see/read. Keep it up buddy
July 29, 2023 @ 4:16 am
Ditto
July 30, 2023 @ 6:46 am
That is awesome! Congratulations, Trigger!
August 4, 2023 @ 3:24 pm
Congrats! Well deserved!
August 17, 2023 @ 8:44 am
I overlooked this post. Congrats Kyle on your accomplishments!!