CMA Awards Nominations Will Be Announced Over Two Days in Two Cities

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- "Country Music's Biggest Morning" is too big for one day! CMA announced today that the final nominees for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" will be announced over two mornings, from two cities.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert will announce the final nominees in five CMA Awards categories live from the "Good Morning America" studios in the heart of New York City's Times Square on the ABC Television Network. The announcement will air in the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour segment of the morning news program.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Justin Moore and Chris Young will announce the finalists in seven CMA Awards categories from Nashville at a press conference at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

In Nashville, Steel Magnolia will announce the finalists for the 2010 CMA Broadcast Award Personality and Radio Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large, and major markets), as well as the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality.

"CMT Insider Special Edition: 2010 CMA Awards Nominations," featuring in-depth coverage of all the nominations, artist interviews, and more, will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 1 (11:00 AM/ET).  The 30-minute special will re-air on Saturday, Sept. 4 (1:30 PM/ET), and again on Sunday, Sept. 5 (11:00 AM/ET).

CMA's official radio partner, Premiere Radio Networks, will carry the Awards and Broadcast Award nominations live to Country Radio as they are announced each day.  

"The CMA Awards final nominations are the most anticipated annual announcements in Country Music," said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. "By making the announcements over two days, we hope to focus even more attention on all the deserving nominees and their accomplishments."

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards," known as "Country Music's Biggest Night™," will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC.

Capitol Nashville recording artist Bentley recently released his critically acclaimed album Up on the Ridge, featuring his new single "Draw Me a Map." He has sold more than five million albums and scored seven No. 1 hits since the release of his self-titled debut. Bentley won the CMA Horizon Award (now New Artist of the Year) in 2005, and was named CMA's International Artist of the Year in 2009.

Revolution, the Gold-certified third album from Columbia Nashville singer/songwriter Lambert, continues with back-to-back No. 1 singles "White Liar" and the four-week No. 1 song "The House That Built Me." Her current single is the tongue-in-cheek "Only Prettier." Following a year of impressive accolades and her first ever headlining tour, she will hit the road again this fall as the headlining act for "CMT on Tour: Miranda Lambert Revolution."

The Valory Music Co. recording artist Moore was named Billboard's New Country Artist of 2009. He has earned consecutive smashes from his self-titled debut album including the No. 1 gold single, "Small Town USA," the Top 5 "Backwoods," and his brand new Top 25 and rising hit, "How I Got To Be This Way." Moore's debut was lauded as one of the "Best Albums of the 2009" by The New York Times. He is touring alongside Brad Paisley on the "H20 World Tour" thru the end of the year.

Big Machine's Steel Magnolia broke a decades-old Billboard record and garnered a million downloads with their Top 5 break-out hit, "Keep On Lovin' You." Steel Magnolia is earning acclaim from fans and critics alike having been nominated for four major industry awards so far this year. The duo are currently performing on Paisley's "H20 World Tour" and their new single, "Just By Being You (Halo & Wings)," is already Top 40 and rising. Steel Magnolia, comprised of Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones, will release their self-titled, debut album on Sept. 21.

RCA Nashville recording artist Young recently earned his second consecutive No. 1 single when "The Man I Want to Be," the title track to his current album, spent three weeks at the top of the chart. The album also includes his first No. 1 smash, "Gettin' You Home," and his new single, "Voices."  Young is currently touring with Rascal Flatts.

The audio announcement of the CMA Awards nominees and CMA Broadcast Awards finalists will be available via satellite and FTP from CMA's official radio partner Premiere Radio Networks. Premiere has provided outstanding radio coverage of the CMA Awards nominations since 1997.

As part of their comprehensive 2010 CMA Awards radio package, Premiere Radio Networks will offer the 2010 CMA Awards Nominations Special hosted by Senior Producer of Country Programming Rosemary Young, a preview special, Red Carpet features, a live feed of the Awards gala, backstage wrap up show and a "CMA Awards, Look Back" weekend special. Any Country radio station interested in receiving the radio package, including the nominations feed, may contact Premiere Affiliate Relations at (818) 377-5300.

Historically one of the top-rated awards specials of the year, the 2009 CMA Awards ranked third for the week in the 18-49 demographic and was ranked fourth for the week in total viewers during a very competitive Sweeps period. It was ABC's biggest Wednesday audience with a non-sports program in more than four years and the Awards' highest Adult 18-49 rating in two years. According to Nielsen research, 35.8 million unique viewers ages 2+ watched six minutes or more of the program.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 plus 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 were 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 before moving to ABC in 2006.  

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. 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.

Bentley, Lambert, and Moore are among the performers featured on "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," a three-hour special that airs on Wednesday, Sept. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. The special is hosted by Tim McGraw and spotlights the first network television performance of Taylor Swift's new single, "Mine.  Additional performers include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.

ABC News' "Good Morning America" is anchored by Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, and Juju Chang. The Emmy Award-winning morning news broadcast airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 AM/ET on the ABC Television Network. Jim Murphy is the senior executive producer and Tom Cibrowski is the executive producer of ABC News' "Good Morning America."

"CMT Insider" is a weekly magazine show that explores all things in the world of entertainment that interest the Country Music audience -- star interviews and news, chart action, new CD releases, new videos, what's new in movies, fashion and fun and behind-the-scenes reports. Hosted by Katie Cook, "CMT Insider" premieres weekly on Saturdays at 1:30 PM/ET/PT on CMT. Lewis Bogach and John Hamlin serve as Executive Producers. Ray Sells serves as Supervising Producer. Jennifer Meyer serves as Senior Producer.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2010 CMA Awards. Chevrolet, Proud Sponsor of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music

SOURCE Country Music Association