BILL MAGANN WINS ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD HIGHLIGHTS THE 2007 SEASON !

Local man wins Academy of Country Music award - by Holly Richards, Staff Writer

ZANESVILLE- When Bill Magann started working with a local entertainment agency almost 35 years ago, he never expected to win a prestigious award from the music industry.

Tonight, Magann, an entertainment consultant and concert producer for Variety Productions, will receive the Talent Buyer of the Year Award from the Academy of Country Music.

The awards ceremony will be televised live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. on CBS. But unlike stars like Toby Keith or Kenny Chesney, viewers won't catch a glimpse of Magann approaching a podium or giving a heartfelt acceptance speech. He is one of the off-camera winners receiving their awards backstage.

Nevertheless, Magann said he is proud of the achievement.

"It's very humbling," he said. "To be judged by your peers and given an award by people you work with in the industry is much-appreciated. I'm thankful for the award."

Magann said about 2,700 members in the industry, ranging from record label representatives to other big-name stars, vote on the awards. "I'm surprised I won it," he said. "It's a competitive, challenging award. It's at the level of the Academy Awards for movies."

Even though he won't be part of the televised action, he'll get a chance to experience a backstage celebration.

"We'll be at Studio 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and they'll call us backstage about 45 minutes before the ceremony to present us with the awards," he said. "We'll get to mingle, talk, have some finger foods and drinks and enjoy some of the festivities behind the scenes."

Magann will also have a chance to rub elbows with major country music heavyweights like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood, among others. However, Magann has already met the vast majority of these stars.

Since beginning his career with Variety Attractions in early 1973, he has worked with a multitude of country talents including Willie Nelson, Alabama, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and newcomer Rodney Atkins. He has also worked with rock and pop acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pappa Roach, NSync, Destiny's Child and Daughtry.

In his line of work, Magann sells entertainment and lines stars up for various concerts and events, mostly county fairs. Scheduling about 300 fairs a year, he said he works within a 20-state region that includes Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and some of the Carolinas.

Though this award is the first of its kind for Magann, it isn't for the company. He said George Moffett, president of Variety Attractions, has won it a few times, as well as other awards.

"Our operation is probably the best-kept secret in Zanesville," Magann said. "We don't really seek out publicity. We're east of town, and we like it this way."

This will also be Magann's first trip to this particular awards ceremony. He said for a number of years, he and fellow consultants attended the Country Music Association's awards in Nashville. The CMAs cover the eastern U.S. and the ACMs cover the west.

"I've never been to this show before, but I'm looking forward to it," he said. "Over the years this show has gotten bigger and bigger and bigger."