TNN and Country Weekly Magazine Announce Date for Annual Fan-Voted Country Music Awards Show

Business Wire, Jan 11, 2000

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000

New Partnership with Fan Fair And Voting Categories Announced

CBS Cable's TNN and American Media's Country Weekly magazine announced today that their joint award show COUNTRY WEEKLY MAGAZINE PRESENTS THE TNN MUSIC AWARDS will be telecast live Thursday, June 15 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. For the first time, the Awards will also become an official part of the schedule for Fan Fair, the Country Music Association's unique annual gathering for fans, artists and the music industry.

"The partnership between TNN and the Country Music Association is very rewarding for the network," says Brian Hughes, Vice President, Programming, TNN. "It is a partnership whereby we are promoting and advertising Fan Fair and Fan Fair tickets and activities on the network in exchange for promotion and advertising for the award show as an official part of Fan Fair for several years to come. The partnership benefits both sides with increased marketing support and exposure to a broader base of country music fans."

"TNN and CMT will be known as the `Official Media Sponsors of Fan Fair,'" according to CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "As we strive to evolve Fan Fair in the new millennium, it is imperative to have marketing partners and sponsors to enhance the event. We are very pleased and excited to have the support of TNN and CMT along with Country Weekly since they are also committed to the long-term strength of Fan Fair and country music."

The awards will be determined by fans' votes cast in ballots published in Country Weekly magazine as well as by Internet votes on TNN's website, country.com and Country Weekly's Internet site, countryweekly.com; and 900 numbers announced on TNN. Voting begins in late-March for the final round.

TNN has produced and telecast an annual fan-voted country music awards show since April 1988 when it introduced the "Viewer's Choice Awards" in celebration of the network's fifth anniversary. In 1990, the "Viewer's Choice Awards" merged with the "Music City News Awards" to become the TNN MUSIC CITY NEWS COUNTRY AWARDS. TNN and Music City News produced an annual fan-voted awards show until June 1999 when their contract expired.

With their new partnership, TNN and Country Weekly announced several changes in the voting categories as well as the return of some familiar favorites, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Collaborative Event of the Year and the newly named CMT Video of the Year.

New this year will be the Fast Track Award which recognizes the country music artist (individual, group or duo) who has for the first time, demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development in overall chart and sales activity, live performance and critical media attention during the eligibility period. Nominees must have released more than two albums on a major record label during their professional career. Previous winners in the Entertainer, Male, Female or Group of the Year categories are not eligible. An artist cannot be nominated for this category if they have already won the Fast Track Award.

The Discovery Award recognizes the new country music artist who demonstrates the greatest promise in achieving star status and career longevity. Nominees in this category must have released no more than two albums on a major record label in their professional career.

The Impact Award recognizes the country music artist whose image, style and music has had the greatest impact in positively contributing to country music's presence in motion pictures, television, commercials, print and/or movie soundtracks.

The Country Weekly Career Achievement Award is presented to a living country music artist whose professional recording career has spanned 15 or more years and whose songs and performances have made a lasting contribution to the tradition and heritage of country music. The recipient of this award is selected by the writers and editors of Country Weekly Magazine and is based on fan nominations.

The Minnie Pearl Award, an award unique to TNN, is presented annually for outstanding humanitarian and community contributions. It is named after its first recipient, Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Cannon), who received the honor in 1988. The honoree is selected by a blue-ribbon panel comprised of individuals connected with the Minnie Pearl Foundation and TNN staff. Past recipients include last year's honoree Roy Clark, Reba McEntire (1998), Willie Nelson (1995), Dolly Parton (1994), Vince Gill (1993), Emmylou Harris (1992) and Barbara Mandrell (1991).

The semi-final round to select the final five nominees in each category begins in the Feb. 22 issue of Country Weekly. The close of all semi-final balloting is Wednesday, March 1. The final nominees in each category will be announced at a press conference in mid March. Voting for the final award winner begins in late March and lasts until June 1. The COUNTRY WEEKLY PRESENTS THE TNN MUSIC AWARDS will be presented live on TNN Thursday, June 15.