Last week it was announced a new best album category was being introduced to the awards.

With the introduction of an award for best traditional album, it will see awards presented for that category along with best contemporary and best alternative album.

One of those winning albums will then be presented with another Golden Guitar for Album of the Year.

“We were just going to have the three album categories, but there was some reluctance to let the category that is called Album of the Year, which is basically the big kahuna award, to let that go after so many years,” CMAA vice president Roger Corbett told Talkin’ Country.

“It gives the awards that crowning moment.”

Since the awards were first held in 1973, the Album of the Year Golden Guitar has provided that climax to the night.

The change comes after concerns were raised that the music of many of our country artists did not fit into either Album of the Year, which has gone to contemporary artists most years, or Alternative Album of the Year.

But Mr Cornett indicated the move has not been free from criticism.

“For people who want to criticise it, I’m just not sure what the criticism is. We think it is a great thing to bring to the table,” Mr Corbett said.

“It’s our job in the CMAA to stimulate diversity, and stimulate opportunity. That’s what we exist to do, and we do that through the Academy of Country Music, and through judging the awards in a fair and measured manner, and making sure that everybody gets the opportunity to enter their music into the Golden Guitars and have it judged by their peers.

“I think that’s a really positive move forward. So we’re pretty chipper about it.”

Following the introduction of Alternative Album of the Year in 2013, when it was won by Camille & Stuie for Big Days & Little Years, it has given the rockier edge of category its own award, while the contemporary albums have dominated Album of the Year.

“We’ve had a lot of people who fall between those two categories, who like country music the way it was 25 years ago,” Mr Corbett said. “They don’t want to be cutting edge rock ‘n’ roll or pop, and just want to make great country music.

“Not that the other stuff isn’t great, but they want to make country music in the more traditional way.

“We put it to our members. It wan’t unanimous, but they were very strongly in favour of the third album category being adopted.”

Nominations for the 2018 awards close on October 1.