| The CMA Music Festival, hosted by the Country | | | | year (estimated at US$200,000 in 2001) are |
| Music Association (CMA), encompasses four | | | | donated to charity, while the other half is |
| days of country music concerts, as well as | | | | earmarked by the CMA for "the advancement of |
| musician and fan interactions. Despite its | | | | country music". |
| emphasis on country music and country music | | | | |
| artists, the festival also showcases selected | | | | The inaugural Fan Fair was held in April 1972 |
| artists in other musical genres. In 2007, | | | | in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, and 5000 |
| rock 'n' roll revivalists Los Lonely Boys and | | | | fans attended. The following year, the event |
| '70s heavy rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd made | | | | was moved to June in the hope of finding |
| appearances. | | | | better weather conditions, and attendance |
| | | | doubled to 10000 fans. In the third year, the |
| Over 200 artists attend the event each year | | | | first non-country musician, Paul McCartney, |
| to hold up to 30 hours of autograph sessions | | | | was invited to perform, and Dolly Parton and |
| and "meet-and-greet" sessions with their fans | | | | Porter Wagoner performed a duet for the last |
| at the Nashville Convention Center. Many | | | | time. |
| artist fan clubs also hold gatherings in the | | | | |
| area during the festival. The festival | | | | In 1991, singer Kathy Mattea attended Fan |
| usually begins the day after the Tnn/CMT | | | | Fair despite being under doctor's orders not |
| Country Music Award show, the only fan-voted | | | | to speak so that her injured vocal cords |
| country music awards. During the festival, | | | | could heal. She used a computer to type |
| attendees can choose from the 100 hours of | | | | messages for her fans to read as she held |
| concerts that are offered on stages at | | | | "conversations" with them. Two years later, |
| Riverfront Park and LP Field. | | | | Shania Twain met her future husband, producer |
| | | | Mutt Lange, at the festival. |
| Up until 2001, the evening concerts were | | | | |
| organized by record labels, with each label | | | | Fan Fair underwent large changes in 2001. For |
| choosing which of their artists would be able | | | | the first time, the event was held over a |
| to perform, and for how long. However, | | | | long weekend instead of during the week. At |
| beginning with Fan Fair 2001, these main | | | | the same time, the festival moved from its |
| concerts were grouped instead by record | | | | long-time home at the Tennessee State |
| distribution group. This allowed for four | | | | Fairgrounds to several sites clustered in |
| main concerts, for Sony, WEA/EMI, UNI, and | | | | downtown Nashville. In 2004, CMA renamed the |
| BMG. | | | | festival the CMA Music Festival in order to |
| | | | change negative perceptions, embrace the CMA |
| Artists are held to very strict timeframes | | | | brand and to expand the appeal of the event. |
| for their performances, with Martina McBride | | | | |
| noting in 2007 that she was expected to be on | | | | In 2008, the CMA Music Festival will take |
| stage for exactly 34 minutes. The artists are | | | | place from the 5th to the 8th of June, and |
| not paid to attend the festival or for their | | | | tickets are available now. Hotels in |
| performances during the festival. | | | | Nashville are expected to get booked up |
| | | | quickly, so if you're keen to get you dose of |
| Half of the proceeds from the festival each | | | | country, make sure you book ahead. |