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CBS Reportedly Passes On Airing ACM Awards Amid $22 Million Price Tag, Declining Ratings

A report from The Wrap alleges that the ACM Awards just might have a new network home in 2022. Insiders…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

June 15, 2021

3:56 pm

Mickey Guyton, Keith Urban; Photo by Kevin Mazur, Getty Images for ACM

A report from The Wrap alleges that the ACM Awards just might have a new network home in 2022.

Insiders tell the publication that CBS, the home of the Academy of Country Music Awards since 1998, has declined to renew the show for 2022, leaving Dick Clark Productions scrambling to find a new network. According to the report, DCP is asking for $22 million to license the show, which has reportedly lost half of its viewership since 2018.

The Wrap reports that Dick Clark Productions is shopping the show to NBC and has looped the ACM Awards in with a deal with NBC to renew the Golden Globes.

CBS declined to comment to The Wrap, while DCP also did not confirm the price of the licensing fee.

According to Deadline, the 2021 ACM Awards hit an all-time low in ratings with 6.08 million viewers tuning in to the telecast. Hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the 2021 ACM Awards aired from iconic Nashville venues, including the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe.

In comparison, the 2020 ACM Awards raking in 6.60 million views and the 2019 show brought in 9.9 million viewers.

The ACM Awards are set to return to Las Vegas on April 24, 2022.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.