Country Music Association facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | CMA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1958 |
| Type | Music organization |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Sarah Trahern | |
The Country Music Association (CMA) is an American organization that helps promote and develop country music around the world. It started in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. The CMA was the first group created to support a specific type of music. It's best known for its yearly CMA Fest and the Country Music Association Awards. These awards are shown live on TV each fall, usually in October or November.
About the CMA
When the CMA first started, it had a Board of Directors with nine directors and five officers. Wesley Rose, who was the president of Acuff-Rose Publishing, Inc., became the CMA's first chairman. Connie B. Gay, a business leader in broadcasting, was the first president. Mac Wiseman was the first secretary. He was also the last original member of the CMA to be alive. The CMA was formed because many people in the music industry were concerned about rock and roll becoming very popular and changing country music.
CMA Membership
The CMA first had nine different types of memberships for individuals. Now, there are 15 categories that include all parts of the music industry. Organizations can also become members. To be a CMA member, you need to be directly involved in country music.
Harry Stone was the first executive director from 1958 to 1960. Jo Walker-Meador was the first full-time employee of the CMA. She took over as executive director in 1962 and worked there until 1991.
CMA Awards
The very first CMA Awards ceremony happened in 1967 in Nashville. Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry hosted the event. It was not shown on television. The first "Entertainer of the Year" award went to singer Eddy Arnold. Jack Greene won "Male Vocalist of the Year," and Loretta Lynn won "Female Vocalist of the Year."
In 1968, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans hosted the awards at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This ceremony was filmed and shown on NBC a few weeks later. The first time the show was broadcast live on TV was in 1969.
The CMA gives out awards in twelve main categories each year. These include:
- Entertainer of the Year
- Male Vocalist
- Female Vocalist
- New Artist of the Year (this used to be called the Horizon Award)
- Vocal Group
- Vocal Duo
- Single
- Album
- Song
- Music Event
- Music Video
- Musician
The CMA also gives "CMA Broadcast Awards" to country radio stations every year. These awards are given based on the size of the radio market. A station cannot win the award two years in a row.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards, MCA Nashville released a song called "Forever Country".
In 2017, the CMA faced some criticism. Days before the 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards, they announced that reporters who asked about certain sensitive topics would lose their access to the event. After many people, including singer Brad Paisley, spoke out, the CMA apologized and removed these restrictions for the press.
In June 2021, the CMA announced that they would continue their TV contract with ABC until 2026.
Fun Events
The most important time for the CMA is "Country Music's Biggest Week." This week includes the CMA Awards in early November.
CMA Country Christmas
CMA Country Christmas is a special holiday concert. Country artists perform holiday songs at this event. The concert is usually recorded and then edited to be shown later on ABC.
CMA Fest
The CMA Fest is the longest-running country music festival in the world. It happens every summer in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Hundreds of thousands of fans come to hear hundreds of artists perform on many stages. Fans also get a chance to meet their favorite country music artists at Fan Fair X. The four days of events are later edited into a three-hour TV special, which also airs on ABC during the summer.
See also
In Spanish: Asociación de Música Country para niños
- Academy of Country Music – a different organization from the CMA
- Academy of Country Music Awards
- CMT – a TV channel for country music
- Grand Ole Opry
