.o The Country Music Associa sales kit N D Prodiirfinn ntd fion ou out growth of the cary Ll which includes information of lier Country Music Disk Jockey Williams ' Histo ry Of C country music and its audi U Association, was organized in The kit contains facts Most Active Trade Organization ente. November 1958 by a group of 'hard core executives America's and general information on country music. and is used by By BILL WILLIAMS No one person can be credited with its founding it was member stations as a sales aid in gaining new advertising something a leans In beginning were dollars of effort. the there 200 Billboard's late southern editor Bill Williams worked tee regular Production of a 15 minute color film with soundtrack trac members and 33 lifetime members lessly the the CMA. as well toward growth and development of ing the history of country music and its growth through the Originally there were nine directors and fiveotticers Connie as chronicling the achievements of the organization years In addition the film features the demographics of Williams served on its board of directors and. in 1969, was B Gay, broadcasting executive and entrepreneur, served as country music and cites examples of its popularity to na- president of CMA during its first two years During the same president of the CMA tional advertisers and its effectiveness in moving products. His unique perspective offered both a subjective and ob period Wesley Rose, president of Acuff Rose Publications. An international country music month (chaired each year jecbve view the association Inc., served as chairman of the board of directors of by Roy Horton). Radio and television stations compete for the The following story was written by Williams for a 1971 At the first annual meeting in November 1959 the board best promotional effort on behalf of country music. and goy Billboard tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame was extended to 18 directors and the slate of officers was in ernors of all states now issue proclamations encouraging the creased to nine There were nine original cate recognition of this music form _ gones of membership: artist-musician. artist An international seminar, held annually by CMA, at which , manager. booker. promoter, agent and ballroom CMA has, over the years. presented special time panels from the country music field with interests in the aspects of the trade make presentationsdeaiing 6 operator. composer, disk Jockey, music pub - country music shows and sales presentations international fisher; radio TV personnel. record company per to viewers in seven key areas New York Sales with a wide range of practices. The session is taped and made Radio Television available to members ,`o sonnet; trade publication representatives. and Executive Club. Canadian and E non affiliated persons actively engaged in some Executive Society, Nashville Area Chamber of A country broadcasters meeting, utilizing top broadcast who m form of country music. (Later categories were Commerce. Detroit Adcraft Club. Sales, Mar. and advertising personalities speak on current topics of a added for international representation. toi keting Executives of Chicago; Los Angeles Ad interest to this media In addition. the CMA arranges speakers

record merchandiser and for advertising vertising Market. and the International Radio (Continued on page CLf.a -- ,. agency. ) and TV Society of New York City Two years at ter the inception of CMA, Ken Nel This year. taking one more giant step. CMA son of Capitol Records served as CMA's presi prepared and presented a filmed selling'show dent and Steve Sholes of RCA Victor became to the National Association of Record Merchan chairman of the board Subsequent presidents Bill W illiams disers at their convention in Beverly Hills over the years have been Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Going still another step beyond, CMA took it; Bill Denny of Cedarwood Publishing, Paul Cohen of Kapp Rec board of directors and officers meeting this year to England. ords, Hubert Long of Hubert Long International. Bill Williams working for the promotion of country music abroad. of Billboard. Harold Hitt of Columbia. and the current presi CMA. in 1967, established its first country music awards dent, Wade Pepper, of Capitol. and they were presented to the winners at the ninth anniver Subsequent chairmen of the board have been Wesley cary banquet and show on Oct. 20 Rose, Frances Preston of BMI, Hal B. Cook of Billboard. Roy In 1968, primarily through the of Horton of Peer, Int Jack Loetz of MCA, William P Gallagher torts of Irving Waugh, president of cc (then of MCA), Ben Rosner, Golden Bough Enterprises. and WSM. Inc . and Jack Stapp. president MCA. of Tree, Int., Awards a0 the current chairman, Dick Broderick of the CMA Show m The Country Music Association has been, since its begin was televised on the Kraft Music Hall rang, devoted to the promotion of country music, its exposure on NBC. Each year this pact has been m in all areas of the world, its attractiveness to advertisers, its renewed v spread through radio station formats, its distribution. CMA Achievements Known as -America's most active trade association," Some of the achievements of CMA Artist Bill Rains donates his work on CMA's members come from all of the listed categories, and over the years include the following the late Country Music Hall of Fame od each member is involved in some way with the music busi great Jim Reeves to the Hall of = ness. Fame, From left are Bill Ivey. Fronk o CMA has sought to encourage the highest ethics in every Wesley Rose, center, and Joe Talbot gift Jones and Mary Reeves Davis. who phase of the industry and, indeed, established a code of eth- Dorothy (Mrs. Tex) Ritter with the CMA's commissioned the work. g ics primarily through the work of Johnny Bond Ambassador of Country Music award.

nL %n L/]L LJ L [1 Z ó U UU ó Q LJl] "REDNECK MOTHER"

WILL BARNES NEW YORK

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