'The 43rd Annual CMA Awards' to be Broadcast Live November 11 on the ABC Television...

'The 43rd Annual CMA Awards' to be Broadcast Live November 11 on the ABC
Television Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Country Music Association and ABC
Television Network have announced that "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" will air
Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC live from the Sommet Center in
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
Executive 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 2008 CMA Awards, held in Nashville during November Sweeps (Nov. 12),
ranked behind only the Academy Awards and Grammy Awards during the 2008-2009
season for awards shows among total viewers. With "The 42nd Annual CMA
Awards," ABC won Wednesday night in both total viewers (15.9 million) and
adults 18-49 (5.0/13). Nearly 35 million viewers watched all or part of the
ceremony. The 2008 CMA Awards came in No. 7 for the week in the 18-49 demo
and No. 9 for the week in total viewers, according to Nielsen.

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.

Winners of "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" will be determined in a final round of
voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards
balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte &
Touche LLP.

"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 2009 CMA Awards is July 1, 2008 to June 30,
2009. All voting for "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" will be conducted online.
The first ballot and instructions will be e-mailed June 30 to CMA members in
good standing who are eligible to vote. Voting for the first ballot closes at
5:00 PM/CT, July 16.

The second ballot will be e-mailed to CMA members Aug. 11. Voting for the
second ballot closes at 5:00 PM/CT, Aug. 24. The final nominees in each of the
12 categories will be announced in early September.

The third and final ballot will be e-mailed to CMA members Oct. 16. Voting for
the CMA Awards final ballot ends at 5:00 PM/CT, Nov. 3.

"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association.
Robert Deaton is the Executive 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.

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.

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 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: the Official Ride of Country
Music.

SOURCE Country Music Association

Wendy Pearl, +1-615-244-2840, or Scott Stem, +1-615-244-2840, both of CMA; or
Mozell Miley of ABC Media NY, +1-212-456-6444