Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

CMA keeps a good thing going

Jeffrey Remz  |  June 12, 2013

The Country Music Association seems like it did its job in promoting the CMA Music Fest this past week. The longstanding Nashville event drew a record crowd of about 80,000 people over the course of the 4 days.

Hundreds of acts performed or were in booths hanging with fans, signing autographs and posting for pictures, pressing the flesh if you will.

And none of the performers are paid. As a result, the CMA gives money towards music education in the community. Hopefully and presumably, it's a win win. The artists gain new fans, obtain more exposure and solidify relationships with existing fans, which is ultra important in country music.

As for the CMA, it gets to promote country music and help all involved and ultimately give back to the local community.

The association has done a good job of branching out. For example, the CMA Songwriter Series is now a regular event in New York and Boston. Let's hope that continues because the idea of seeing songwriters (the folks behind the huge hits) and a country singer. Last year, for example, Carrie Underwood played a club show in Boston with the songwriters. The year before, Kenny Chesney did the same thing in a totally different setting than his regular stadium gigs. The intimate setting is quite special.

Foreign trips have been on the agenda of the CMA as well, another smart move because you have to go to the people to let them hear your music live if you're going to expand the market. Now through folks like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson and others, country is gaining more of a foothold in Australia, England, Scandinavia and other locales.

Congrats are due to the CMA (however, they didn't seem to be able to do anything about the not so great weather). The CMA may have set the bar high for itself for the future. Keep a good thing going.