CMA Music Festival
| CMA Music Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Country music |
| Dates | June |
| Location(s) | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Founded by | Country Music Association |
| Website | |
| http://www.cmafest.com | |
The CMA Music Festival is a four-day music festival centered on country music hosted each June by the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee. Beginning in 1972 as Fan Fair, the event now draws over 400 artists and celebrities who hold autograph sessions and perform in one of the many concerts offered throughout the festival.
In 2011, total combined attendance for the four-day event was estimated to have exceeded 250,000 people at ticketed events and in free areas. Visitors came from 41 different nations, and all 50 states.
The CMA Music Festival, hosted by the Country Music Association, encompasses four days of country music concerts and musician and fan interactions. Over 400 artists attend the event each year to hold up to 30 hours of autograph sessions and "meet-and-greet" sessions with their fans at the Nashville Convention Center. Many artist fan clubs also hold gatherings in the area during the festival.
During the festival, attendees can choose from over 151 hours of concerts that are offered on stages at Riverfront Park and LP Field. Until 2001, the evening concerts were organized by record labels, with each label choosing which of their artists would be able to perform, and for how long. Beginning with Fan Fair 2001, these main concerts were grouped instead by record distribution group. This allowed for four main concerts, for Sony, WEA/EMI, UNI, and BMG. Artists are held to very strict timeframes for their performances, with Martina McBride noting in 2007 that she was expected to be on stage for exactly 34 minutes, "[n]ot 30, not 35, but 34." The artists are not paid to attend the festival or for their performances during the festival.
Half of the proceeds from the festival each year (estimated at US$200,000 in 2001) are donated to charity, while the other half are earmarked by the CMA for "the advancement of country music."
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