Organization
History
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA, originally consisting of only 233 members, now has more than 6,000 organizational and individual members in 41 countries. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enhance the development of Country Music throughout the world; to demonstrate it as a viable medium to advertisers, consumers and media; and to provide a unity of purpose for the Country Music industry.
Initially, CMA's Board of Directors included nine directors and five officers. Wesley Rose, president of Acuff-Rose Publishing, Inc., served as CMA's first chairman of the board. Broadcasting entrepreneur and executive Connie B. Gay was the founding president.
Originally there were nine individual membership categories. The current 15 categories represent all facets of the music industry. Organizational memberships are also available. CMA membership is composed of those persons or organizations that are involved in Country Music, directly and substantially.
CMA’s Board of Directors is made up of leaders from all segments of the music industry. There is a maximum of two Directors elected to represent each membership category and 3 Lifetime Directors. The Directors elect Directors At Large each year for a one year term. CMA’s Board of Directors meets four times annually. The Board of Directors receives no salary or compensation from CMA. They serve the organization gratis, paying all of their own expenses. The following is a list of CMA’s past Presidents and Chairpersons:
| YEAR | PRESIDENT | CHAIRPERSONS |
| 1959 | Connie B. Gay | Wesley Rose |
| 1960 | Connie B. Gay | Wesley Rose |
| 1961 | Ken Nelson | Steve Sholes |
| 1962 | Ken Nelson | Steve Sholes |
| 1963 | Gene Autry | Wesley Rose |
| 1964 | Tex Ritter | Frances Preston |
| 1965 | Tex Ritter | Frances Preston |
| 1966 | Bill Denny | Hal Cook |
| 1967 | Paul Cohen | Roy Horton |
| 1968 | Hubert Long | Jack Loetz |
| 1969 | Bill Williams | Bill Gallagher |
| 1970 | Harold Hitt | Ben Rosner |
| 1971 | Wade Pepper | Dick Broderick |
| 1972 | Bill Farr | Hubert Long |
| 1973 | Frances Preston | Joe Talbot |
| 1974 | Wesley Rose | Joe Talbot |
| 1975 | Jerry Bradley | Bill Denny |
| 1976 | Ron Bledsoe | Jim Foglesong |
| 1977 | Dan McKinnon | Norman Weiser |
| 1978 | Joe Talbot | Don Nelson |
| 1979 | Ralph Peer II | Tom Collins |
| 1980 | Ralph Peer II | Tom Collins |
| 1981 | Tandy Rice | Bruce Lundvall |
| 1982 | Ken Kragen | Rick Blackburn |
| 1983 | Joe Galante | Sam Marmaduke |
| 1984 | Dick McCullough | Ralph Peer II |
| 1985 | Dick McCullough | Sam Marmaduke |
| 1986 | Rick Blackburn | Joe Galante |
| 1987 | Al Greenfield | Jim Foglesong |
| 1988 | David Conrad | Jack Eugster |
| 1989 | Connie Bradley | Roger Sovine |
| 1990 | Roger Sovine | Connie Bradley |
| 1991 | Thom Schuyler | Roy Wunsch |
| 1992 | Roy Wunsch | Thom Schuyler |
| 1993 | Paul Corbin | Dan Halyburton |
| 1994 | Dan Halyburton | Paul Corbin |
| 1995 | Tony Conway | Kitty Moon |
| 1996 | Kitty Moon | Tony Conway |
| 1997 | Tim DuBois | Donna Hilley |
| 1998 | Tim DuBois | Donna Hilley |
| 1999 | Lon Helton | Bud Wendell |
| 2000 | E.W. Wendell | Lon Helton |
| 2001 | Luke Lewis | Lon Helton |
| 2002 | Ron Baird | Luke Lewis |
| 2003 | Charlie Anderson | Ron Baird |
| 2004 | Kix Brooks | Charlie Anderson |
| 2005 | Victor Sansone | Kix Brooks |
| 2006 | Mike Dungan | Victor Sansone |
| 2007 | Clarence Spalding | Mike Dungan |
| 2008 | Randy Goodman | Clarence Spalding |
| YEAR | PRESIDENT | CHAIRPERSONS |
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
The Board of Directors of CMA established the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to immortalize Country Music's greatest contributors. The first home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was erected at the head of Nashville's Music Row in 1967. In June 2001 the museum moved from its Music Row home to a new state-of-the-art $37 million facility in Downtown Nashville. The Country Music Foundation continues to operate the first class facility, which has been called "America's favorite music museum." CMA continues to conduct the annual selection and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The official induction is made each year on the CMA Awards.
CMA Timeline
1958
Country Music Association established, with 37 lifetime and 160 annual members. Connie B. Gay elected president; Wesley Rose, chairman.
1961
CMA's anniversary celebration features Homer & Jethro, the Jordanaires, Hank Thompson and Wanda Jackson.
CMA board approves establishment of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1963
CMA presents "The Sound of Country Music", an all-star Country Music show, at the NYC Sales Executive Club Luncheon. Door prize was a Tennessee Walking Horse. Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Don Gibson, Leon McAuliffe and Flatt & Scruggs performed.
1964
CMA celebrates the first National Country Music Month.
1965
CMA proposes Walkway of Stars for Hall of Fame.
Leroy Van Dyke makes a presentation on behalf of CMA at the annual ADVERTISING AGE Workshop in Chicago.
1966
CMA membership reaches new high of 1517 in May.
1967
In response to requests by many Country performers, CMA develops a "CMA Code of Ethics" for use by performing artists.
1968
The second annual CMA Awards becomes the first music awards ceremony to be telecast on a national television network.
CMA dues: $15 annual, $150 lifetime
1970
CMA presents Apollo XII astronaut Pete Conrad, the third man to set foot on the moon, with a lifetime membership in CMA for broadcasting Country Music on his 1969 space flight.
October is proclaimed as Country Music Month via presidential proclamation for the first time.
1971
CMA sponsors its first International Show during the Grand Ole Opry's 46th birthday celebration.
1972
CMA distributes public service announcements to promote Country Music Month.
1973
CMA CLOSE UP includes a story on how to spot a bootleg tape as part of the industry's ongoing fight against tape piracy.
CMA establishes first disc jockey awards.
1975
President Gerald Ford congratulates CMA on its 17th anniversary by telegram: "Country Music's roots are deep in the land and in the daily experiences of our people. In its simplicity, there is eloquence and appeal, in its words and melodies, there is a wealth of sensitivity and feeling."
1976
CMA initiates the CMA Speakers Bureau, a network of individuals who take the Country Music story to civic, educational and social organizations.
1977
CMA annual dues: $20
International Show becomes part of Fan Fair.
CMA's Arbitron study reveals Country listeners as a growing and more dynamic consumer group.
1978
First radio simulcast of the CMA Awards.
Member Ken Kragen receives a lifetime membership for recruiting CMA's 5000th member, Gene Golden.
1979
CMA honors President Jimmy Carter with a special award for his continued support of Country Music. Willie Nelson and Charley Pride make the presentation.
1980
CMA CLOSE UP reports that Country Music is the second-largest selling format behind rock, ahead of pop, soul and disco, according to NARM.
1981
Membership reaches 5,750.
CMA Board establishes Horizon Award.
1982
Opening of CMA European market development office in London.
Fan Fair moved to Tennessee State Fairgrounds.
CMA radio survey reports that almost half of all radio stations in the United States play Country Music.
CMA and NARM launch annual point-of-purchase campaign to promote CMA Awards.
1983
CMA urges members to contact Congress in support of legislation to block record rentals and levy royalty fees on blank audio and video tape.
1984
CMA begins presenting certificates to member composers for number-one songs.
1985
CMA Board establishes Mueives RIAA Cultural Award for its efforts to heighten awareness of Country Music worldwide and for support of legislation for protection of sound recordings.
CMA initiates its unique strategic marketing campaign targeting ad agency execs and corporate marketers with presentations about the selling power of Country Music.
1990
Ground is broken for new CMA headquarters. CMA starts Project Literacy campaign under the guidance of songwriter Don Schlitz.
1991
President and Mrs. George Bush attend CMA Awards, the first incumbent President to attend a music awards telecast.
CMA moves into new headquarters.
CMA Awards second only to the Oscars as the highest-rated network special.
1992
Fan Fair sells out three months in advance. CMA launches the "America's Sold On Country" advertising campaign in AD WEEK, BRAND WEEK and ADVERTISING AGE magazines.
1993
CMA marks its 35th Anniversary with a CBS Television special "A Country Music Celebration".
1995
Former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1996
CMA and ADVERTISING AGE present Marketing with Country Music, a three-day conference to familiarize corporate marketers and ad agency decision-makers about opportunities available with Country Music to meet brand marketing objectives.
The "30th Annual CMA Awards" was the second highest-rated special out of 212 aired during the 1996-1997 television season, ranking only behind the Oscars.
1997
CMA debuts MINT (Music Industry & New Technologies), a one-day conference featuring top industry leaders who share their expertise on the Internet, websites, software technology, intellectual/copyright issues and on-line transactions.
For the first time, a CMA Awards Collection CD is offered to readers of RADIO TIMES, the UK's largest television/radio and entertainment listings magazine with a circulation of 1.4 million.
1998
CMA continues to tour the country with America's Sold On Country, a half-day entertainment and educational event targeting major advertising markets with information on the role Country Music can play in their advertising campaigns.
The "32nd Annual CMA Awards" handily wins the ratings against season premier competition on Wednesday, September 23rd.
The "32nd Annual CMA Awards" was televised via tape around the world, including the UK by BBC2 and Australia by the NINE NETWORK.
1999
A sold-out audience of more than 500 registrants turned out as CMA held its first Town Meeting in more than a decade. The topics focused on the impact that corporate consolidation and the Internet continue to have on the music industry.
CMA teamed with Warner/TBA to produce “CMA Awards Backstage Pass,” the first-ever pay-per-view special to center on production of a music awards telecast. Viewers were treated to the year’s rehearsal footage, plus special live performances and past Awards highlights.
2000
CMA launched an online charity auction through Yahoo! Auctions, in which Country Music artists donated various items in connection with “The 34th Annual CMA Awards.” Donated items included guitars, clothing, autographed memorabilia and more. All proceeds from the auction were donated to charities designated by participating artists.
2001
The 30th Annual Fan Fair made a triumphant return to Downtown Nashville, Tenn., where it originated in 1972. The event was held in four venues and for the first time in history featured the stars of NBC daytime dramas “Days of Our Lives” and “Passions.” CMA donated $100,000 to charities designated by artists who participated in Fan Fair 2001 as part of a new “Cause for Celebration!” charitable benefit program.
CMA inducted a record-setting 12 musical acts into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
CBS moved “The 35th Annual CMA Awards” from its traditional fall premiere week timeslot to the November sweeps period. The gala event attracted over 38 million viewers and won the night in ratings.
2002
Fan Fair drew its biggest crowd in history in 2002, with an estimated aggregate attendance of 126,500. The continued growth of The World’s Biggest Country Music Festival brought in an astonishing $17 million to the Nashville area economy.
“The 36th Annual CMA Awards” continued its November sweeps winning streak, winning the night in viewers and beating heavy competitors such as NBC’s “The West Wing” and ABC’s “The Bachelor.”
2003
More than 45 hours of live concerts took place at CMA’s 32nd Annual Fan Fair in June. The four-day event featured 42 artist performances at the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; 82 artist performances on the daytime Riverfront Park Stages; and more than 500 artists appearing in the fan-favorite Exhibit Hall.
In September, a delegation of New York City officials attended the CMA Board of Directors meeting in Chicago, where they proposed hosting the 2005 CMA Awards for one year only. A decision is to be announced in July 2004.
CBS and CMA continued their winning partnership when “The 37th Annual CMA Awards” won its night during November sweeps. The show, which featured 26 performances including a tribute to Johnny Cash, attracted more than 40 million viewers and ranked third for the week, its highest ranking in 11 years.
2004
Attendance at this year’s CMA Music Festival, formerly known as Fan Fair, took a healthy jump from 124,000 in 2003 to a record-setting 132,000 fans over the festival’s four-day duration. More than 40 acts participated in the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; more than 80 acts from both major and independent record labels performed at the Greased Lightning® Riverfront Park Stages; and a total of 346 artists appeared at Wrangler® Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) with 37,000 in fan attendance throughout the four days. The CMA Music Festival was filmed for its first ever two-hour television special, which aired on CBS Television on July 14 and was the #16 show of the week.
In October, it was officially announced that the 2005 CMA Awards would be held in New York City for one year only. Also in October, CMA announced that the Awards would return to Nashville in 2006 for the show’s 40th anniversary.
Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn debuted as hosts for “The 38th Annual CMA Awards,” which aired nationally on CBS Television. The three-hour program continued the CMA Awards streak of winning the night for the television network, drawing an estimated audience of 37 million and coming in #7 for the week. “The 38th Annual CMA Awards” was the third-highest rated awards show in the 2004-2005 television season, behind the Academy Awards and in a statistical tie with the Grammy Awards.
2005
In 2005, CMA Music Festival broke the attendance record with more than 145,000 Country Music fans attending. Thirty-five acts participated in the star-studded Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum while the riverfront dual stages bustled with a rich array of more than 100 acts from both major and independent record labels performing nearly 30 hours of concerts. A total of 373 acts and celebrities appeared in the Wrangler® Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) at the Nashville Convention Center for the autograph and photo sessions. New in 2005 was the CMA Music Festival Kick Off Parade, which traversed four blocks on Broadway before ending at Riverfront Park for the launch of the Festival. Fourteen Downtown Nashville clubs participated in CMA Music Festival After Hours™. NBC Daytime and CMA continued their successful partnership for the fifth consecutive year with stars of “Days of our Lives” and “Passions” making several appearances. A two-hour primetime television special “CMA Music Festival: Country Music’s Biggest Party” aired nationally Aug. 2 on the ABC Television Network, featuring highlights from the event.
In 2005 “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” took a trip outside of Nashville for the first time in history. The gala event, hosted for the second time by duo Brooks & Dunn, was broadcast live on CBS Television from Madison Square Garden in New York City. A week of events, dubbed “Country Takes NYC,” led up to the Nov. 15 broadcast. The CMA Awards was first in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.73m), adults 18-49 (5.4/13) and adults 25-54 (6.7/15). “The 39th Annual CMA Awards” was Tuesday's No. 1 program in households, viewers and adults 25-54. CBS Research estimates more than 36 million viewers watched all or part of the ceremony. “The 39th Annual CMA Awards” was the top-rated music awards show of the 2005-2006 season, beating the Grammy Awards.
2006
CMA Music Festival set a new attendance record, again, in 2006 with 161,590 people attending the four-day Festival, June 8-11, in Downtown Nashville. Surprise appearances at LP field included Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban (who joined Brooks & Dunn during their set) and Kenny Chesney. New this year was the “CMA Music Festival Block Party” following “The Second Annual CMA Music Festival Kick Off Parade,” featuring special guests Big & Rich and a variety of artists, celebrities, and athletes riding in classic Chevy vehicles and the newest model cars.
The CMA Music Festival was filmed for a two-hour television special scheduled to air on the ABC Television Network Monday, July 24 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET).
To date, CMA has donated more than $800,000 to worthy causes on behalf of the artists who participated at CMA Music Festival and in 2006, CMA launched “Keep the Music Playing,” which earmarks music education in public schools for this important initiative through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. CMA anticipates contributing $300,000 toward music education for Metro Nashville’s 73,000 public school students in 2006.
CMA and the ABC Television Network announced in 2005 that the CMA Awards will move to ABC in 2006, as the CMA Awards celebrates its 40th Anniversary. “The 40th Annual CMA Awards” will be broadcast live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 6.