CMA Awards Country Music Recognition

The CMA Awards is known as the Country Music Association Awards and are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The CMA Awards should not be confused with the Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as ACM Awards. This Award debuted its presentation at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967. That night the entertainer of the year award went to Eddy Arnold.

The CMA Awards is worldwide recognized as Country Music's Biggest Night, that represent the pinnacle of achievement for Country Music artists, musicians, producers, publishers, songwriters, video directors and industry executives who work in America's most popular music genre.

CMA Awards presented its second annual night in October 1968. The presentation of the ceremony was broadcasted a few weeks later by NBC. Beginning with the year 1969, the awards were broadcasted on television live, usually during October or November of each year. The broadcast continued on NBC until switching to CBS in 1972, where they remained until 2005.

The Annual CMA Awards are televised on ABC, starting in November 2006. Almost always, the Awards ceremonies have taken place at Nashville's Grand Ol' Opry. Initially at the Ryman Auditorium, but from 1974 on, at the Opry's new location in Opryland, with only two exceptions: The 1967 awards were presented at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, and the ceremony of 2005 took place in New York at Madison Square Garden.

The industry professional member of the Country Music Association chooses the CMA Awards winners by voting. Thus, their peers in the music industry honor award winners. CMAs Board of Directors establishes the awards criteria, rules of election and balloting procedures. The eligibility period for the award spans from July 1 to June 30. The entire process of balloting is conducted and certified by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP. The awards are credited in the annual awards ceremony for the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Horizon Award, Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, Music Event, Music Video, and Musician.

The election is conducted in three major rounds for the CMA Awards. They are; Firstly, each CMA member may nominate one act in each category on the first ballot. Any eligible act, record or song receiving 10 or more eligible nominations on the first ballot will become an official nominee and will then be submitted to the entire CMA membership on the second ballot. On the second, ballot CMA members must vote for five nominees in each category. The results are tabulated, and the five receiving the most votes in each category are listed as finalists on the third ballot. On the final ballot, members vote for one in each category to determine the winners.

The 41st Annual CMA Awards will be broadcasted on on ABC Television, starting at 7/8c, live from Sommet Center in Downtown Nashville. It will take place on Monday, Nov. 7, 2007 featuring a wide variety of exceptional talent and is sure to provide outstanding entertainment and excitement throughout the three-hour live broadcast. Wikipedia