"The 45th Annual CMA Awards" to be Broadcast Live November 9 on the ABC Television Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Country Music Association and ABC Television Network have announced that "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" will air Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

"The CMA Awards recognizes the best in the format – that's what makes this 'Country Music's Biggest Night'," said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "The CMA Awards is one of the most highly anticipated events for our industry each year. It's a night to honor our finest performers, songwriters, record producers, musicians, and music video directors."

The 2010 CMA Awards was the No. 1 entertainment show for the week among the key advertising Adults 18-49 sales demographic. The special beat its nearest competition by 5.7 million viewers and by 74 percent in Adults 18-49, according to Nielsen.

Held during November Sweeps (Nov. 10), "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" on ABC, dominated the night winning all six of its half-hours. With a primetime sweep, ABC finished No. 1 on Wednesday in Viewers across all key demos including Adult, Men, and Women (18-34/18-49/25-54), as well as finishing as the top broadcaster with Teens (12-17) and Kids (2-11). In Total Viewers (17.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.7/13) it was ABC's strongest Wednesday in 12 months with an estimated 33.8 million viewers watching at least some portion of the three-hour gala.  

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 45th 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 eligibility period for the 2011 CMA Awards is July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. All voting for "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" will be conducted online. The first ballot and instructions will be e-mailed June 27 to CMA members in good standing who are eligible to vote. Voting for the first ballot closes at 5:00 PM/CT, July 13.

The second ballot will be e-mailed to CMA members Aug. 9. Voting for the second ballot closes at 5:00 PM/CT, Aug. 23. 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. 14. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends at 5:00 PM/CT, Nov. 1.  

"The 45th 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 Awards aired on NBC through 1971, on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005, and has aired on ABC since 2006.

Premiere Radio Networks is the Official Radio Broadcaster. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music.

SOURCE Country Music Association

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED