News & Publications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 7, 2002
SHEDAISY AND RASCAL FLATTS TO ANNOUNCE NOMINEES FOR "THE 36TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" IN NASHVILLE
Steve Azar, Chris Cagle, Tammy Cochran, Andy Griggs and Blake Shelton Slated To Announce Broadcast Award Finalists During Press Conference
NASHVILLE – Trios collide as the multi-platinum selling SHeDAISY and the platinum-plus Rascal Flatts announce the final nominees for “The 36th Annual CMA Awards” during a press conference at 9:00 AM/CDT Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Coliseum’s West Club Level Lounge in Nashville. Joining in the fun to present the CMA Broadcast Award finalists will be five of the hottest rising acts in Country Music – Steve Azar, Chris Cagle, Tammy Cochran, Andy Griggs and Blake Shelton.
The CMA Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) Wednesday, Nov. 6 from the world famous Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. MCA Nashville star Vince Gill will host “Country Music’s Biggest Night” for the eleventh consecutive year.
“The announcement of the final nominees kicks off the very exciting run up to the CMA Awards and brings attention to the incredible depth of talent Country Music currently enjoys,” said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. “Like all of us in the industry, millions of fans are anxiously awaiting to see who the top nominees will be.”
The announcement of the finalists in the 12 categories for the CMA Awards is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The CMA Broadcast Awards are among the most coveted by those working in Country Radio. Winners are selected in four market categories (Small, Medium, Large and Major) for both Broadcast Personality of the Year and Station of the Year along with a single outstanding National Broadcast Personality of the Year. All full-time, Country air personalities and radio stations in the US and Canada were eligible to enter.
The press conference will be available via satellite as a video news release. More than 38 million viewers saw footage of last year’s press conference. Contact CMA’s Media Department at 615/244-2840 for information about the video news release.
Last November, “The 35th Annual CMA Awards” on CBS was seen by more than 39 million viewers, up 1.2 million viewers over the previous year’s ceremony. The three-hour telecast, which featured a record 25 musical performance segments, marked the first time the CMA Awards was broadcast during the competitive Fall sweeps period, winning the night in viewers.
The CMA Awards became the first music awards on network television in 1968. Walter C. Miller will produce this year’s special. Paul Miller will direct. MJI Programming, a Division of Premiere Radio Networks, will again be the official radio packager of the CMA Awards beginning with complete coverage of the nominee’s press conference. Radio stations interested in audio satellite service for the press conference may contact MJI at 212/896-5285.