'The 41st Annual CMA Awards' to be Broadcast Live November 7 on the ABC Television Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Country Music Association
and ABC Television Network have announced that "The 41st Annual CMA Awards"
will air live Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC from Nashville,
Tenn.
"The CMA Awards is 'Country Music's Biggest Night' and is one of the
most highly anticipated events for our industry each year," said CMA Chief
Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. "It's a night to applaud our best and
brightest performers, songwriters, record producers and music video
directors. And we are ready to make this the most outstanding Awards
broadcast to date."
The CMA Awards moved from September to November Sweeps in 2003 and the
placement right before the important holiday retail sales season has been
good for the Country Music industry. 2003 also marked the last time the
Awards were held on Wednesday. In 2007, the CMA Awards moves back to
Wednesday night.
"Some of our highest-rated programs have been on Wednesday and our
partners at ABC support the move based on the strength of the CMA Awards
and the configuration of the fall lineup," Genovese said. "We all feel that
the position at the start of Sweeps on a night that has been successful for
us in the past is the right move for the Awards, the industry, and ABC."
The 2006 CMA Awards, held in Nashville during November Sweeps (Nov. 6),
ranked behind only the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and GRAMMY Awards
during the 2006-2007 season for awards shows among total viewers. With "The
40th Annual CMA Awards," ABC won Monday evening in both total viewers (16.0
million) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13).
"The CMA Awards recognizes the best of our format. Our artists and
music resonate with people from all walks of life and that's what makes
this 'Country Music's Biggest Night,'" Genovese said.
The eligibility period for the 2007 CMA Awards is July 1, 2006 to June
30, 2007. All voting for "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" will be conducted
online. The first ballot and instructions will be e-mailed June 27 to CMA
members in good standing who are eligible to vote. Voting for the first
ballot closes at 5:00 PM/CT, July 12.
The second ballot will be e-mailed to CMA members Aug. 8. Voting for
the second ballot closes at 5:00 PM/CT, Aug. 22. The final nominees in each
of the 12 categories will be announced in late August. The third and final
ballot will be e-mailed to CMA members Oct. 9. Voting for the CMA Awards
final ballot ends at 5:00 PM/CT, Oct. 23.
The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000
industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade
organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958.
The first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" was held in 1967. The following
year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time --
making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network
television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television
Network from 1972 through 2005. The CMA Awards is traditionally one of the
highest-rated award programs of the year.
"The 41st Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music
Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer, Robert Deaton is
the Producer. Paul Miller is the Director. The special will be shot in high
definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV
format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA
Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American
Airlines is the official airline of the 2007 CMA Awards. Chevy: the
Official Ride of Country Music. Additional promotional partners include Crisco(R), Gibson Guitar(R), and Greased Lightning(R) Cleaning Products.