The Shires - First UK Country act to win a CMA Award

Hi Everyone!
You all know I am a huge fan of the UK country duo The Shires! I'm delighted to announce that they are the first UK act to win a CMA award!
They won the Jeff Walker Global Artist Award which recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist outside of the UK.

The Shires stated: “We are completely thrilled to win the CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award. To win a CMA Award this early in our career and to be the first band from the UK to be acknowledged by the CMAs in this way is huge for us – thank you to everyone who voted for us and thank you to our fans who support our music and the UK country movement.”

Last week The Shires were presented with their second GOLD disc in just 12 months as they officially announced their hit album ‘My Universe’ had sold more than 100K copies in the UK. This unprecedented achievement further cements the band’s position as the UK’s most successful Country act. The Shires are the fastest selling UK country act ever – going Gold with two albums within a year of release as well as reaching this level of sales with ‘My Universe’ a mere 20 weeks after its release. The new album has not left the Top 60 since release in October last year, and has been back up in the Top 20 numerous times.

The Shires also recently announced the release of their next single ‘Drive’. The country-rock tinged single, with its delayed guitars and stadium sized drums is the latest single from the UK Country superstars who landed three consecutive A-list on BBC Radio 2 for previous singles releases including; ‘Beats To Your Rhythm‘, ‘My Universe‘ and 'A Thousand Hallelujahs’. Co-written with USA Country music star Kip Moore, the song has potential to break across the pound as well as the UK. Discussing the tracks potential Decca’s Managing Director, Rebecca Allen stated: “Drive is one of those tracks that has potential to break not just the UK, but it will no doubt resonate with USA Country Radio too. Kip and the band have written a modern country pop classic and I’m sure when the time is right the USA label Big Machine, will launch it into the stratosphere.”