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Tag: CMA

  • Google Reportedly Pays Apple for Chrome Search Revenue on iOS

    Google Reportedly Pays Apple for Chrome Search Revenue on iOS

    In what is sure to be a problem for both companies, an alleged secret non-compete agreement has come to light involving Chrome on iOS.

    According to The Register, Google pays Apple a portion of the revenue it receives from searches in the iOS version of its Chrome web browser. This arrangement is above and beyond what Google pays Apple to be the default search provider on the iPhone and iPad.

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a 356-page report in mid-June 2022 detailing the relationship between Google and Apple. Below is an excerpt from that report:

    Google pays Apple a share of the search revenue it earns from browser traffic on iOS in the following contexts: in return for being the default search provider on Safari, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from Safari search traffic; and pursuant to various commercial arrangements, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from [x] search traffic.

    The Register’s sources have told the outlet that the redacted “x” in the above text stands for “Chrome.”

    Such an arrangement would be relatively unusual since Apple doesn’t actually do anything worthy of receiving a portion of Google’s Chrome search revenue. A clue to the reasoning behind the deal may rest in a private antitrust lawsuit brought against both companies by the Alioto Law Firm in San Francisco.

    “Because more than half of Google’s search business was conducted through Apple devices, Apple was a major potential threat to Google, and that threat was designated by Google as ‘Code Red,’” the complaint argues. “Google paid billions of dollars to Apple and agreed to share its profits with Apple to eliminate the threat and fear of Apple as a competitor.”

    The Register reached out to attorney Joseph M. Alioto, who was not surprised by this report. He did, however, point out the legal issues if such a secret non-compete agreement truly exists.

    “The division of the market is per se illegal under the antitrust laws,” said Alioto.

    If The Register’s sources are correct, and the two companies have colluded to the degree reported, it could be exactly the smoking gun regulators need to take more definitive action against Apple and Google specifically, as well as Big Tech in general.

  • UK Regulators Say Microsoft/Activision Deal Could Hurt Gamers

    UK Regulators Say Microsoft/Activision Deal Could Hurt Gamers

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has weighed in on Microsoft’s proposed Activision purchase, saying the deal could hurt gamers.

    Microsoft announced its intention to purchase Activision Blizzard for some $69 billion. The deal met hurdles and criticism almost immediately, with regulators and competitors claiming the deal could hurt the gaming market, as well as the overall PC market.

    The CMA has been investigating the deal for months, upgrading its investigation from Phase 1 to Phase 2 after discovering reasons for concern. The CMA has now concluded that the deal would negatively impact gamers and the gaming market.

    The CMA provisionally found that being able to offer popular games will be important for cloud gaming providers to attract users as the market continues to grow and develop. The evidence available to the CMA currently indicates that Microsoft would find it commercially beneficial to make Activision’s games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service (or only available on other services under materially worse conditions). Microsoft already accounts for an estimated 60-70% of global cloud gaming services and also has other important strengths in cloud gaming from owning Xbox, the leading PC operating system (Windows) and a global cloud computing infrastructure (Azure and Xbox Cloud Gaming).

    The CMA provisionally found that buying one of the world’s most important game publishers would reinforce this strong position and substantially reduce the competition that Microsoft would otherwise face in the cloud gaming market in the UK. This could alter the future of gaming, potentially harming UK gamers, particularly those who cannot afford or do not want to buy an expensive gaming console or gaming PC.

    The CMA’s findings are just the latest challenge Microsoft is facing in its efforts to close the deal. The EU is challenging the deal and the FTC has sued to block it.

    Given this latest setback, the chances of Microsoft completing its acquisition are looking increasingly slim.

  • UK Regulators Investigating Apple and Google’s ‘Mobile Duopoly’

    UK Regulators Investigating Apple and Google’s ‘Mobile Duopoly’

    The UK is launching a market investigation into Apple and Google’s dominance in the mobile market, especially cloud gaming and web browsing.

    Apple and Google have an undisputed duopoly in the mobile market. Blackberry, Palm, Nokia, Microsoft Windows, and others have all fallen by the wayside, unable to compete with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the companies’ duopoly following complaints from developers “that the status quo is harming their businesses, holding back innovation, and adding unnecessary costs.”

    A market investigation is an in-depth investigation that will look at the state of the market and see if competition is being negatively impacted. The CMA has the authority to impose rules on how a business operates, or can even force a company to sell off some of its businesses if they are deemed anti-competitive.

    “We want to make sure that UK consumers get the best new mobile data services, and that UK developers can invest in innovative new apps,” said Sarah Cardell, interim Chief Executive of the CMA.

    “Many UK businesses and web developers tell us they feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and Google,” Cardell added. “When the new Digital Markets regime is in place, it’s likely to address these sorts of issues. In the meantime, we are using our existing powers to tackle problems where we can. We plan to investigate whether the concerns we have heard are justified and, if so, identify steps to improve competition and innovation in these sectors.”

  • UK Regulators Will Review Broadcom/VMware Deal

    UK Regulators Will Review Broadcom/VMware Deal

    UK regulators have said they will review Broadcom’s planned purchase of VMware, creating a potential obstacle to the deal.

    Broadcom announced in May its plans to purchase VMware for $61 billion. The news sparked a wave of resignations, as well as general angst, with no one really knowing what to expect.

    According to a notice on its website, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) plans to conduct a review of the deal over competition concerns:

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

    The UK has already proven itself more willing to undo deals and acquisitions over competitive concerns, such as forcing Meta to sell off Giphy after buying the company for $400 million. Only time will tell if the Broadcom/VMware deal will survive regulators’ scrutiny.

  • Microsoft to Challenge Apple and Google With Xbox Mobile Gaming Store

    Microsoft to Challenge Apple and Google With Xbox Mobile Gaming Store

    Microsoft is getting into the app store game with an Xbox mobile gaming store that will challenge Apple and Google.

    Microsoft is in the process of purchasing Activision Blizzard, although the deal is undergoing intensive scrutiny by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). According to The Verge, Microsoft has filed documents with the CMA outlining its plans to launch an Xbox mobile game store.

    The filing outlines the company’s goals and vision:

    The transaction will improve Microsoft’s ability to create a next generation game store which operates across a range of devices, including mobile as a result of the addition of Activision Blizzard’s content. Building on Activision Blizzard’s existing communities of gamers, Xbox will seek to scale the Xbox Store to mobile, attracting gamers to a new Xbox Mobile Platform. Shifting consumers away from the Google Play Store and App Store on mobile devices will, however, require a major shift in consumer behavior. Microsoft hopes that by offering well-known and popular content, gamers will be more inclined to try something new.

    Microsoft clearly sees the opportunity as a major potential money-maker:

    The transaction gives Microsoft a meaningful presence in mobile gaming. Mobile gaming revenues from the King division and titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile, as well as ancillary revenue, represented more than half of Activision Blizzard’s … revenues in the first half of 2022. Mobile customers account for around three-quarters of its MAU. Microsoft currently has no meaningful presence in mobile gaming and the Transaction will bring much needed expertise in mobile game development, marketing and advertising. Activision Blizzard will be able to contribute its learnings from developing and publishing mobile games to Xbox gaming studios.

    Microsoft faces significant challenges to its Activision deal, with the CMA looking closely at the acquisition. Should the deal go through, however, it looks like Apple and Google may have some major competition on their hands.

  • It’s Official: Meta Must Sell Giphy

    It’s Official: Meta Must Sell Giphy

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ordered Meta to sell Giphy after it acquired the company for $400 million in 2020.

    Meta announced the acquisition in May 2020 and was planning to integrate the service into Instagram. The CMA has ruled that Meta must divest itself of Giphy, ruling the acquisition would limit consumers’ social media options.

    The CMA had initially ruled Meta must sell Giphy in November 2021, but the company appealed the decision.

    The CMA published its original Phase 2 decision on this case in November 2021, finding that the deal could harm social media users and UK advertisers, and ordering Meta to sell Giphy. Meta subsequently appealed that decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). In July 2022, the CAT upheld the CMA’s decision on 5 of the 6 challenged grounds. In particular, the CAT said it had “no hesitation” in concluding the CMA’s finding – that the merger substantially reduced dynamic competition – was lawful.

    The one point Meta won was purely a procedural issue, but that was enough to prompt the CMA to reconsider its decision, using an independent CMA panel. After further review, however, the panel upheld its initial decision, ordering a sale.

    Stuart McIntosh, Chair of the independent inquiry group carrying out the remittal investigation, said:

    “This deal would significantly reduce competition in 2 markets,” said Stuart McIntosh, Chair of the independent panel. “It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media.

    “The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy.”

    This case will likely serve as a warning to companies that try to circumvent regulation. Despite the regulatory scrutiny Meta is under, the two companies used a legal loophole to push the deal through. Prior to the deal being announced, Giphy paid a dividend to investors, temporarily lowering its value so the deal would fly under the radar.

  • UK Launches Competition Probe of Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition

    UK Launches Competition Probe of Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a probe into Microsoft’s plans to purchase Activision Blizzard.

    Microsoft made headlines in January 2022 when it announced a deal to purchase the video game company for $68.7 billion. Needless to say, a deal of that size was sure to draw regulatory scrutiny, and it certainly has. The FTC launched a review of the deal, US senators asked the FTC to investigate further, and now the CMA has launched its own probe of the deal.

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

    CEO Satya Nadella originally framed the deal in the context of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to further metaverse development and the role games will play in that future. Like Apple, Meta, Google, and others, Microsoft is working to help develop the metaverse and ensure it is a major player moving forward.

    It remains to be seen if the CMA will challenge the acquisition. The agency has previously blocked major acquisitions, including Meta’s purchase of Giphy.

  • Google Faces Another UK Competition Probe

    Google Faces Another UK Competition Probe

    Google is facing another probe from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over whether the company illegally favors its own services.

    Google has been under increasing pressure in multiple jurisdictions, with probes and lawsuits over how it conducts business. The CMA was already investigating Google over its ad deal with Facebook, but BBC News is reporting the watchdog is now investigating whether Google illegally used its dominance in the ad business to push its own services.

    The investigation is focused on the “ad-tech stack,” of which Google dominates all aspects. In fact, Google’s control of the entire ad stack has been a growing concern in the US as well. Senators recently introduced a bill that would prohibit a company of Google’s size from owning more than one part of the ad ecosystem.

    In the meantime, BBC News quoted a Google spokesperson saying the company welcomes the opportunity to work with the CMA:

    “We will continue to work with the CMA to answer their questions and share the details on how our systems work.

    “Advertising tools from Google and many competitors help websites and apps fund their content – and help businesses of all sizes effectively reach their customers.

    “Google’s tools alone have supported an estimated £55bn in economic activity for over 700,000 businesses in the UK – and when publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue.”

  • Google and Facebook Face Tougher Rules in the UK Over Ad Dominance

    Google and Facebook Face Tougher Rules in the UK Over Ad Dominance

    According to Reuters, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) delivered a mixed bag of news for Google and Facebook.

    On the one hand, the CMA indicated a reluctance to subject the two tech companies to more in-depth investigations, saying that ‘big’ did not necessarily equal ‘bad.’ On the other hand, the agency did indicate more regulation was in order to prevent abuses, especially given how much the two companies dominate the UK online ad market.

    The CMA found that “Google earned more than 90% of all revenue for search advertising in Britain in 2018, with revenue of about 6 billion pounds, and Facebook accounted for almost half of all display advertising last year.”

    Facebook indicated it was “fully committed” to working with the CMA and touted its tools to give people control over their data.

    “We agree with the CMA that people should have control over their data and transparency around how it is used,” according to a company spokesman.

    Of course, in the U.S., Facebook just admitted to senators that it continues to track individuals even if they have location tracking turned off and uses that information to sell ads. In view of that, it would seem the CMA’s concerns about more regulation being required is well-founded.

  • Carrie Underwood And Brad Paisley Confirmed To Host 49th CMA Awards In November

    The hosts of the upcoming Country Music Awards (CMA) are revealed and they are none other than Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. Underwood and Paisley will team up for the eighth time in eight years!

    The two country singers will host the Country Music Awards in November as hinted during the airing of ABC’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock special. The special featured Underwood and Paisley’s best hosting moments from the previous years.

    The hosts are both Country Music Awards winners since they began their careers. In fact, Underwood bagged five CMA Awards since winning the reality singing contest American Idol. Her awards include Female Vocalist of the Year for three consecutive years- 2006, 2007 and 2008. She also won Single of the Year in 2007 and took home the Horizon Award in 2006.

    Paisley, 42, has an impressively long list of CMA Awards. He has won Male Vocalist of the year in three straight years-2007, 2008 and 2009. He also bagged the Horizon Award in 2000, Music Video of the Year  for four different music videos he produced and Musical Event of the Year for several titles including “Start a Band” a collaboration with Keith Urban. He also won Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted in 2006 and in 2010 was hailed Entertainer of the Year. He has a total of 14 CMA awards to date, making him number 5 on the list of CMA winners in the history.

    Expect the announcement of the nominees on Wednesday, Sept.9 . The 49th annual Country Music Awards will be airing live from Nashville on Nov. 4, 8 pm on ABC.

  • Idina Menzel Clears Rumors About Frozen Sequel

    Idina Menzel Clears Rumors About Frozen Sequel

    Idina Menzel who voiced Princess Elsa in last year’s hit Disney pic Frozen remains unsure about the status of the sequel to the original film. In an interview with Here & Now, the 43-year-old singer-actress backtracked her claims that a sequel is in the works. “I said ‘I’m sure something’s in the works,’” she explained her Telegraph interview that was made headlines last week.

    “I just assume that because it’s so successful that that’s what they’re up to.”

    The former Broadway star reiterated that it’s up to Disney if they want to create a follow-up to the massively successful 3-D animated film. Frozen captured the hearts of children everywhere and ended up earning more than $1.2 billion dollars at the box office, making it the highest grossing animated film of all time.

    Even if there’s no confirmation about the sequel yet, Menzel expressed her interest in returning for the sequel to voice one of the princesses featured in the film. “We’ll see. I’m just going along for the ride,” she said during her appearance on The Today Show.

    The Academy Award winning film will be translated into a Broadway show next year. Analysts from the House of Mouse reported that the film is now considered as one of the company’s top 5 franchises. Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger said that fans should expect that Disney would take advantage of the popularity status of the series.

    Menzel performed the hit song “Let It Go” at the CMA Country Christmas show that aired on ABC. She shared the stage with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles who also hosted the program. Menzel is busy promoting her new Christmas album called “Holiday Wishes” which she had dedicated to her lovely five-year old son. “The holidays were always a weird time for me, so now that I have a little boy, it’s sort of an opportunity to rewrite that.”

  • Taylor Swift Is The Artist Of The Year

    Taylor Swift Is The Artist Of The Year

    Taylor Swift has had one of the most successful years in her music career this year. Not only did she release her top-selling album, Red, she also was awarded the Pinnacle Award during the CMA Awards and was awarded the American Music Awards artist of the year for the third time on Sunday night.

    Swift also won the country album of the year for her hit album, Red, and favorite female country and pop/rock artist.

    “‘Red’ is very different than any album I’ve made before and the reason I was able to do that was because of the fans,” Swift said. “I cannot believe what you’ve done in the last year. This album came out almost exactly a year ago and the fact that 6 million of you went out and bought it is crazy.”

    Since its release in October 2012, Red has sold 3.8 million copies. Swift talked to Billboard backstage during the AMAs and said that her fifth album may be coming a lot sooner than expected.

    “We got a lot already,” says Swift. “There are probably seven or eight [songs] that I know I want on the record. It’s really ahead of schedule for me. I’m just stoked because it’s already evolved into a new sound, and that’s all I wanted. And I would have taken two years to make that happen, but it just kind of happened naturally, so that’s all I could really ask for.”

    Are you excited for Swift’s 5th album to be released? Leave your comments below.

    Image via Twitter

  • CMA Awards 2013 Notable Winners

    CMA Awards 2013 Notable Winners

    The 47th Country Music Association Awards celebrations were held on Wednesday, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and broadcasted live by ABC Television Network. Newcomers were among the biggest winners of this year’s event. Notable among them was the 25 year old Kacey Musgraves, who was also nominated for a total of six awards. The Texan singer walked away with the Artist of the Year award. Clutching her trophy, the excited singer was at a loss for words “I can’t even put it into words”, she said. The singer then thanked her family and fans for the support and encouragement.

    The trophy for the Best Male Vocalist of the Year went to Blake Shelton, and Best Female Vocalist of the Year went to his wife Miranda Lambert. The duo made history as the first married couple to ever win the trophy in four consecutive years. While accepting the trophy of the Best Female Vocalist of the Year, Lambert said “Well, hell! I really didn’t think this was going to happen this year.” She also thanked Blake Shelton for being superbly supportive as a husband. Shelton also had very kind words for her.

    (image)         (image)

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    The coveted trophy of the Entertainer of the Year went to George Strait. The last time Strait won the trophy was in 1990. Holding his hand over his heart, Strait did not hide his amazement. “Thank you so much to the CMA. I mean, this blows me away. I cannot believe it. With such powerful entertainers, I’m just thrilled to even be nominated again.”

    The winner of the Album of the Year is Shelton’s Based on a True Story – an album he made with the help of producer Scott Hendricks. After receiving the trophy, Shelton joked, “My phone is blowing up all of a sudden. If there was one award that would mean the most to me tonight, it would be Album of the Year.”

    Other winners include: Music Video of the Year (Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban), Single of the Year (Florida Georgia Line), and Musician of the Year (Mac McAnally)

    (images from usatoday.com and today.com)

  • Miranda Lambert Love Floods Twitter

    Miranda Lambert Love Floods Twitter

    MIranda Lambert made a huge splash last night at the CMA’s looking toned and healthy for her big win!

    She won her fourth Female Vocalist of the Year Award, as well as the admiration of many fans when she debuted her new look. Lambert was worried about a milestone coming up that would make now the time to go for it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29hXrVL-5u8

    “I’m going to be 30 in like four days, so I’m like, ‘I need to get ahead of this thing!’” she said. “They say when you hit 30 it doesn’t get easier.” Whoever “they” are, they are right! Good for her.

    She looks healthy and doesn’t worry about weight, but focuses on her health, according to Today.

    She said, “I don’t care about being stick-thin. I don’t want stuff to jiggle. Really skinny actresses make me hungry.”

    “I see them and think, Honey, you need to eat! I’m lucky I don’t have to live like that,” she added. “I feel my best when I’m a toned, not flabby, size 8. Women come up to me and say, ‘You’re beautiful and confident,’ and that makes me feel I can be, too.”

    Lambert also garnered a ton of attention on the gauge of society that we know as Twitter:

    Image via youtube

  • CMA Awards: George Strait and Taylor Swift

    CMA Awards: George Strait and Taylor Swift

    The 47th annual Country Music Association Awards were in full swing last night with many great performances from our country music superstars. Hosting this year’s CMA awards again were Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood who kept us laughing most of the night with their jokes about Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Obama Care, and the many country music feuds.

    There were many highlights during the awards ceremony last night, but the two that stood out the most were, Taylor Swift accepting her Pinnacle Award and George Strait receiving the award for the Entertainer of the Year.

    Although Taylor knew she would be receiving the award, she did not know that all of the performers that she had opened for, at one time or another, were going to be presenting it to her. They also had a video montage made to document and highlight her achievements. Swift is only the second person to ever receive the Pinnacle Award. The first was Garth Brooks in 2005. She was overwhelmed while accepting the award and said, “You’ve made me feel so special right now, thank you.” She later took to Twitter to say, “I’m never going to forget this. Ever ever ever.”

    http://youtu.be/rNoit4mACZc

    George Strait was definitely riding away in style last night with one of the biggest awards of the night. Strait won Entertainer of the Year, his third ever, and first since 1990. It was a very touching moment as Strait made his way to the stage with all of his fellow singers rising in a standing ovation. This year, Strait did his last tour before retiring, “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour”.

    “When I first started out this year, the first few shows, I about lost it every night, you know, leaving the stage … thinking, ‘This might be the last time I ever play on this stage again,’” Strait said. Even if he never plays again, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest country music singers of all time.

    None of the other nominees were disappointed that they did not win the award and felt Strait was the most deserving. “That’s how it needs to be because he’s not just entertainer of the year, he’s entertainer of the last three decades, I guess, or four decades,” Blake Shelton said. “I don’t know who’s keeping score. I mean, it’s George Strait. He’s King George. I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out.”

    The complete list of winners is listed below:

    Musical Event of the Year – “Highway Don’t Care” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

    Music Video of the Year – “Highway Don’t Care” Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

    Single of the Year – “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line

    Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line

    Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally

    New Artist of the Year – Kacey Musgraves

    Album of the Year – Blake Shelton “Based on a True Story”

    Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town

    Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert

    Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton

    Entertainer of the Year – George Strait

    Image via Twitter

  • George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away with Awards

    Wednesday night, country crooner George Strait will be the elder statesman among this year’s annual Country Music Association Awards nominees for entertainer of the year. Strait’s competitors at the 47th annual event are Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan (37), Jason Aldean (36) and Taylor Swift (24) and all of them got their music city breaks in the 2000’s. The 61-year-old, on the other hand, has been racking up chart toppers since his first single hit the Top Ten in 1981.

    The awards spotlight is not restricted to Strait, who was presented with the Founder’s Award at this week’s American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ceremony; it graces those around him. Tonight, Broadcast Music, Inc., honored longtime songwriter Dean Dillon, who penned over 50 songs for the Texan, including The Breath You Take, which garnered Dillon a GRAMMY nomination.

    Tom Roland, editor of Billboard Country Update says that in this year of, “turnover,” from seasoned to newer artists, and figuring in Strait’s farewell tour which ends next year, King George’s nomination for the CMAs is, “a case of the industry saying, ‘Hey, we love you. We appreciate what you did’… A lot of the people who vote on the CMA Awards still have this great appreciation for traditional country music, and that’s very important to them even though that’s not necessarily what’s driving the ship for them right now in country music.”

    But if it’s a sign of farewells for the long-hailed troubadours of country music, this is Strait’s only nomination for this year’s CMAs as opposed to Swift’s six nominations (three for Highway Don’t Care with main vocals by Tim McGraw and also featuring Keith Urban), Shelton’s five nods, and Bryan and Aldean’s three nods (one each for The Only Way I Know with Eric Church). Shelton, Bryan and Aldean are also competing for the Male Vocalist of the Year award.

    Strait insists that he is not retiring, but rather that his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour will be his last, so-structured tour.
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    [Image via George Strait official Facebook.]