Criteria For Three CMA Awards Categories Updated For 2005

NASHVILLE, TN. (CMA/ www.cmaawards.com) - CMA announced several updates to the wording and criteria of three CMA Awards categories today including Single of the Year, Album of the Year and Musician of the Year.

"We routinely examine the criteria for all of our Awards and make recommendations to our Board of Directors when it is appropriate," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "Our goal is to maintain the standards of the CMA Awards and our balloting process. The Awards' criteria evolve as changes in the industry dictate."

CMA Single of the Year eligibility has previously been based on release dates. In a major change, singles now qualify by being on the charts during the eligibility period.

CMA SINGLE OF THE YEAR - NEW WORDING: This Award is for individual tracks only. The track must have reached the Top 50 of Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart or Radio and Records' Country National Airplay chart for the first time during the eligibility period. Award to artist and producer.

The updated criteria for CMA Album of the Year removes the reference to when the work was mastered.

CMA ALBUM OF THE YEAR - NEW WORDING: This Award is for an album as a whole unit. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist's performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. At least 60 percent of the product in the album must have been first released domestically during the eligibility period. Award to artist and producer.

In the CMA Musician of the Year category, CMA members no longer need to name the product for which a musician is being nominated. The CMA Awards and Recognition Committee will now confirm qualifying eligibility.

CMA MUSICAN OF THE YEAR - NEW WORDING: This Award is for a musician known primarily as an instrumental performer. In order to qualify, a musician must have played on at least one album or single that has appeared in the Top 10 of the Country Album or Singles Chart for Billboard or Radio and Records during the eligibility period. Award to the musician.

The 2005 CMA Awards, "Country Music's Biggest Night,d" will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The three-hour gala will once again be broadcast live by the CBS Television Network.
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