Events > Past Events: CMA@40 Celebration > CMA@40 Timeline

1958

Country Music Association established, with 37 lifetime and 160 annual members. Connie B. Gay elected president; Wesley Rose, chairman.

1961

CMA's anniversary celebration features Homer & Jethro, the Jordanaires, Hank Thompson and Wanda Jackson.

CMA board approves establishment of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1963

CMA presents "The Sound of Country Music", an all-star Country Music show, at the NYC Sales Executive Club Luncheon. Door prize was a Tennessee Walking Horse. Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Don Gibson, Leon McAuliffe and Flatt & Scruggs performed.

1964

CMA celebrates the first National Country Music Month.

1965

CMA proposes Walkway of Stars for Hall of Fame.

Leroy Van Dyke makes a presentation on behalf of CMA at the annual ADVERTISING AGE Workshop in Chicago.

1966

CMA membership reaches new high of 1517 in May.

1967

In response to requests by many Country performers, CMA develops a "CMA Code of Ethics" for use by performing artists.

1968

The second annual CMA Awards becomes the first music awards ceremony to be telecast on a national television network.

CMA dues: $15 annual, $150 lifetime

1970

CMA presents Apollo XII astronaut Pete Conrad, the third man to set foot on the moon, with a lifetime membership in CMA for broadcasting Country Music on his 1969 space flight.

October is proclaimed as Country Music Month via presidential proclamation for the first time.

1971

CMA sponsors its first International Show during the Grand Ole Opry's 46th birthday celebration.

1972

CMA distributes public service announcements to promote Country Music Month.

1973

CMA CLOSE UP includes a story on how to spot a bootleg tape as part of the industry's ongoing fight against tape piracy.

CMA establishes first disc jockey awards.

1975

President Gerald Ford congratulates CMA on its 17th anniversary by telegram: "Country Music's roots are deep in the land and in the daily experiences of our people. In its simplicity, there is eloquence and appeal, in its words and melodies, there is a wealth of sensitivity and feeling."

1976

CMA initiates the CMA Speakers Bureau, a network of individuals who take the Country Music story to civic, educational and social organizations.

1977

CMA annual dues: $20

International Show becomes part of Fan Fair.

CMA's Arbitron study reveals Country listeners as a growing and more dynamic consumer group.

1978

First radio simulcast of the CMA Awards.

Member Ken Kragen receives a lifetime membership for recruiting CMA's 5000th member, Gene Golden.

1979

CMA honors President Jimmy Carter with a special award for his continued support of Country Music. Willie Nelson and Charley Pride make the presentation.

1980

CMA CLOSE UP reports that Country Music is the second-largest selling format behind rock, ahead of pop, soul and disco, according to NARM.

1981

Membership reaches 5,750.

CMA Board establishes Horizon Award.

1982

Opening of CMA European market development office in London.

Fan Fair moved to Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

CMA radio survey reports that almost half of all radio stations in the United States play Country Music.

CMA and NARM launch annual point-of-purchase campaign to promote CMA Awards.

1983

CMA urges members to contact Congress in support of legislation to block record rentals and levy royalty fees on blank audio and video tape.

1984

CMA begins presenting certificates to member composers for number-one songs.

1985

CMA Board establishes Mueives RIAA Cultural Award for its efforts to heighten awareness of Country Music worldwide and for support of legislation for protection of sound recordings.

CMA initiates its unique strategic marketing campaign targeting ad agency execs and corporate marketers with presentations about the selling power of Country Music.

1990

Ground is broken for new CMA headquarters. CMA starts Project Literacy campaign under the guidance of songwriter Don Schlitz.

1991

President and Mrs. George Bush attend CMA Awards, the first incumbent President to attend a music awards telecast.

CMA moves into new headquarters.

CMA Awards second only to the Oscars as the highest-rated network special.

1992

Fan Fair sells out three months in advance.

  CMA launches the "America's Sold On Country" advertising campaign in AD WEEK, BRAND WEEK and ADVERTISING AGE magazines.

1993

CMA marks its 35th Anniversary with a CBS Television special "A Country Music Celebration".  

1995

Former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1996

CMA and ADVERTISING AGE present Marketing with Country Music, a three-day conference to familiarize corporate marketers and ad agency decision-makers about opportunities available with Country Music to meet brand marketing objectives.

The "30th Annual CMA Awards" was the second highest-rated special out of 212 aired during the 1996-1997 television season, ranking only behind the Oscars.

1997

CMA debuts MINT (Music Industry & New Technologies), a one-day conference featuring top industry leaders who share their expertise on the Internet, websites, software technology, intellectual/copyright issues and on-line transactions.

For the first time, a CMA Awards Collection CD is offered to readers of RADIO TIMES, the UK's largest television/radio and entertainment listings magazine with a circulation of 1.4 million.

1998

CMA continues to tour the country with America's Sold On Country, a half-day entertainment and educational event targeting major advertising markets with information on the role Country Music can play in their advertising campaigns.  

The "32nd Annual CMA Awards" handily wins the ratings against season premier competition on Wednesday, September 23rd.

The "32nd Annual CMA Awards" was televised via tape around the world, including the UK by BBC2 and Australia by the NINE NETWORK.