The academy adopted a sleeker, modern version of the "hat" trophy in 2003, which is now made by the New York City firm Society Awards.

In 2016, after an eight-year experiment intended to improve consumer engagement, the ACM announced its decision to abandon fan-voting for Entertainer of the Year and its three new-artist categories, thanks to the cost of participation and several rifts that had developed among artists.

The program was controversial from the start and included the web ballot stuffing encouragement infamous among awards of the same type presented in other ceremonies.

Kenny Chesney, after winning the first fan vote for entertainer in 2008, criticized the process backstage, complaining that instead of acknowledging artists' hard work, the vote had devolved into a marketing contest that rewarded people for "seeing how hard you can push people's buttons on the Internet."

There are a number of other awards to recognize male and female vocalists, albums, videos, songs, and musicians.

The Academy of Country Music Awards were originally held at various locations in Greater Los Angeles through 2002.

[12] In 2023, the ceremony moved to Texas, having been hosted by the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

In June 2021, it was reported that CBS would not renew its contract to air the ceremony, citing declining viewership and demands from Dick Clark Productions for a higher rights fee.