(CelebrityAccess News Service) – During the September meeting of the CMA Board of Directors, a contingent of representatives from New York City presented a proposal to host the annual CMA Awards in New York in 2005 for one year. "Nashville has and will always be home base for the CMA Awards," said CMA executive director Ed Benson. "Strategically, the possibility of periodically moving the awards has been looked at before, with several different cities in discussion, but only on a one-time basis to generate increased exposure and excitement for the format."
The New York proposal was viewed with interest by the CMA Board. The CMA staff was directed to study the proposal in depth and report back to the board at a later time. A final announcement won't be made until July 2004. It's important to stress that no decision has been made to hold the CMA Awards in another city at this time.
The NYC Host Committee had approached CMA earlier this year about the possibility of hosting the awards at a future date. Exploring opportunities to further the profile of the awards and country music is one of CMA's strategic initiatives determined by the board of directors in 2002.
"The spirit of country music described in CMA's vision statement — community, creativity, fun, celebrating success, willingness to take risks and embrace change, and patriotism — are the very same things that define New York City," said New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development &Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff. "So while at first glance New York might seem like an unusual choice to host the CMA Awards, New York is, in fact, the natural place for this prestigious event."
The CMA Awards was the first music awards special to be broadcast on network television in 1968. In 2002, "The 36th Annual CMA Awards" attracted more than 38 million viewers. In 2003, "The 37th Annual CMA Awards" will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network on November 5 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. –by Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
