Country Music Has Strong Year in 2004 With Double Digit Sales Increase Over 2003

Country Music Has Strong Year in 2004 With Double Digit Sales Increase Over 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Early predictions of increased album sales of Country Music in 2004 proved true with 77,912,000 units sold from Jan. 5, 2004, through Jan. 2, 2005 -- a 12 percent increase over 2003, which had sales of 69,311,000 units, according to figures released today by Nielsen SoundScan.

The news was promising with a 1.6 percent rebound of the total music industry following a four-year period of steady decline, which was stemmed slightly in 2003 once Internet and digital track sales were factored into the equation by Nielsen SoundScan research. Overall music purchases in 2004 exceeded 800 million for the first time since 2000. And while the bulk of the industry slumped since that time, Country Music pushed to develop the next round of Country hitmakers. By mid 2004, the outlook was promising when for the first time in five years, Recording Industry Association of America shipments for the first half of the year increased (RIAA tabulates store shipments which are expected to be future sales to consumers and Nielsen SoundScan tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product).

"Country Music held its own and even enjoyed growth during a very tumultuous period for the music industry over the past five years," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "The vision of our industry leaders, the loyalty of our fan base, the caliber of our artists community and the breakthrough success of some of our bright new talent all contributed to this achievement."

Driving Country Music's gain in 2004 was the phenomenal success of Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw, who all had albums in the Top 10 Selling Albums of the Year - Chesney's "When The Sun Goes Down" (No. 4 - 3,072,224); Wilson's debut "Here For the Party" (No. 5 - 2,931,097); and McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" (No. 6 - 2,786,840). Shania Twain's "Come on Over" continues to reign supreme atop the Top Ten Selling Albums of the SoundScan era with 15,267,050 units sold.

Rounding out the list of the Top 10 Country Albums of the Year according to Nielsen SoundScan were No. 4 Shania Twain "Greatest Hits" (2,336,048); No. 5 Toby Keith "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" (1,916,897); No. 6 George Strait "50 Number Ones" (1,878,295); No. 7 Big & Rich "Horse of a Different Color" (1,778,247); No. 8 Toby Keith "Shock 'N Y'All" (1,649,358); No. 9 Jimmy Buffett "License To Chill" (1,260,380); No. 10 Brad Paisley "Mud on the Tires" (1,163,292). Together, the Top 10 Country albums of the year accounted for 20.8 million units or 27 percent of all Country album sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Album Sales

* Albums making simultaneous No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200 and
Country Albums chart included Kenny Chesney's "When the Sun Goes Down,"
Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," Alan Jackson's "What I Do,"
Rascal Flatts' "Feels Like Today" and George Strait's "50 Number Ones."
Jimmy Buffett's Country-oriented "License to Chill" topped the
Billboard 200 in its first week of release to become his first No. 1 on
any chart.

* Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn's album "Van Lear Rose"
premiered at No. 24 on the all-inclusive Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on
the trade publication's Country Albums chart as her highest-debuting
album since the start of her recording career in 1959. Jack White of
The White Stripes produced the critically acclaimed album. Lynn wrote
all 13 tracks.

RIAA Album Sales Certifications

* The RIAA certified 30 Gold, 19 Platinum and 28 multi-Platinum
(including 1 Diamond) Country albums. Gold indicates sales of 500,000
units; Platinum indicates sales of 1 million units; multi-Platinum is
for each successive million units sold; and Diamond indicates sales of
10 million albums. The RIAA continues to award these rankings
throughout the life of the album; an album does not have to be released
in the same year it achieves one or more of these rankings.

* Shania Twain's 2003 album "UP!" received the Diamond Award for reaching
10 million units sold in 2004. The album continued to appeal to music
buyers, as later in the year it was certified for sales of 11 million
units. Of special note is that Twain's 1997 album "Come On Over" was
certified for sales of 20 million units this year, remaining the best
selling Country album of all time.

* George Strait's recently released album "50 Number Ones" was certified
five times Platinum, making it the second highest certified recording
of any genre (behind Usher's "Confessions") and the highest certified
Country title of 2004.

* RIAA launched the Digital Sales Awards in 2004, reflecting singles
sales downloaded from legal online music sites. Single tracks are
awarded Gold (100,000 downloads), Platinum (200,000) and multi-Platinum
(400,000+) certifications. The first Country artist to earn an RIAA
Digital Gold sales award was Big & Rich for their single "Save A Horse,
Ride A Cowboy." Gretchen Wilson also earned a Digital Gold
certification for "Redneck Woman."

* Wilson's debut album "Here For The Party" was certified triple
Platinum, tying her with pop artist Ashlee Simpson's "Autobiography" as
the highest certified debut album by a female artist in 2004.

* Brad Paisley ("Mud on the Tires"), Rascal Flatts ("Melt"), Keith Urban
("Golden Road") and Gretchen Wilson ("Here for the Party") received
their first multi-Platinum album certifications in 2004. Big & Rich
("Horse of a Different Color"), Josh Turner ("Long Black Train") and
Wilson ("Here for the Party") received their first Platinum album
certifications in 2004. Dierks Bentley ("Dierks Bentley"), Big & Rich
("Horse of a Different Color"), Pat Green ("Wave on Wave"), Buddy
Jewell ("Buddy Jewell"), Julie Roberts ("Julie Roberts"), Turner ("Long
Black Train") and Wilson ("Here for the Party") received their first
Gold album certifications in 2004.

* In addition, the RIAA certified 13 Gold, 9 Platinum and 2 multi-
Platinum Country Longform Videos.

* For more information on album, single and video certifications, visit
the searchable database on http://www.riaa.com/ .

Touring Events

* Listed below are the Top 10 all-genre tours and the Top 10 Country
tours based on attendance and gross sales, according to Pollstar
magazine for shows played between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2004:



ALL GENRE TOP 10 (attendance) COUNTRY TOP 10 (attendance)

1. Prince 1,431,454 1. Kenny Chesney 1,143,909
2. Kenny Chesney 1,143,909 2. Toby Keith 913,520
3. Metallica 1,054,238 3. Tim McGraw 764,100
4. Dave Matthews Band 951,488 4. Alan Jackson/
Martina McBride 660,040
5. Toby Keith 913,520 5. Jimmy Buffett 580,829
6. Tim McGraw 764,100 6. Shania Twain 525,930
7. Sting 749,988 7. George Strait 391,167
8. Kid Rock 723,163 8. Brooks & Dunn 366,121
9. Van Halen 710,504 9. Rascal Flatts 344,827
10. John Mayer 690,462 10. Alabama 304,311

ALL GENRE TOP 10 (gross sales) COUNTRY TOP 10 (gross sales)

1. Prince 87.4 million 1. Kenny Chesney 50.8 million
2. Celine Dion 80.4 million 2. Toby Keith 43.7 million
3. Madonna 79.5 million 3. Tim McGraw 40.1 million
4. Metallica 60.5 million 4. Jimmy Buffett 34.6 million
5. Bette Midler 59.4 million 5. Shania Twain 34.5 million
6. Van Halen 54.3 million 6. Alan Jackson/
Martina McBride 34.0 million
7. Kenny Chesney 50.8 million 7. George Strait 24.8 million
8. Sting 50.1 million 8. Brooks & Dunn 15.0 million
9. Toby Keith 43.7 million 9. Alabama 14.4 million
10. Elton John 43.3 million 10. Rascal Flatts 11.1 million




In addition to the tours listed above, notable touring events in 2004 included:

* The legendary Alabama ended 25 years of relentless touring with "The
American Farewell Tour." MuzikMafia leaders Big & Rich and Gretchen
Wilson launched their "American Revolution Tour." Reba McEntire
returned to touring after a three-year hiatus. And, Country Music Hall
of Fame member Willie Nelson joined Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member
Bob Dylan on his "Still on the Road" summer tour for 21 dates.

* Keeping a Country Music tradition alive, several Country artists
performed separate Christmas tours in December 2004 including: Clint
Black, Suzy Bogguss, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Martina McBride and
Kenny Rogers.

CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair(R)

* Attendance at the 2004 CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair(R) took a jump from
124,000 in 2003 to a record-setting 132,000 fans throughout the four-
day event in June. In its 33rd year, "Country Music's Biggest
Party(TM)" featured more than 40 artists performing during the Nightly
Concerts at The Coliseum; more than 80 artists performing on the
Daytime Concerts at The Greased Lightning(R) Riverfront Park Stages;
and a total of 346 artists appearing in the Wrangler(R) Fan Fair
(Exhibit Hall) at the Nashville Convention Center, which featured the
new Acoustic Corner. Also new, CMA's Sports Zone included the first
annual Fisher's ATV World Celebrity ATV Rodeo, "The Third Annual Andy
Griggs Celebrity Archery Tournament," The BASSMASTER TOUR EXPO and
more. The Bush's(R) Baked Beans Family Zone was buzzing with activities
for family members of all ages. Returning in 2004 were CMA Celebrity
Close Up, CMA Music Festival After Hours(TM), and the stars of NBC
Daytime dramas "Days of our Lives" and "Passions."

* For the first time, the 2004 CMA Music Festival was filmed for a two-
hour television special that aired July 14 on the CBS Television
Network. The special was second in households (6.1/11), viewers
(9.19m), adults 25-54 (3.4/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/08). CBS won the
night in households (8.0/14), viewers (11.68m), adults 25-54 (4.7/13),
adults 18-49 (3.9/13) and adults 18-34 (3.0/11). CBS won every half-
hour in households and viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults
18-34. "CMA Music Festival: Country Music's Biggest Party" was ranked
the No. 16 show of the week ending July 18, 2004.

* CMA Music Festival is also an opportunity to help raise money for
charities supported by the participating artists with its "Cause for
Celebration!" charitable benefit program. The artists appear pro bono
but are able to designate charities to receive funds from the
Festival's net proceeds on their behalf. In 2004, 241 participating
artists selected 94 separate charities as beneficiaries of the "Cause
for Celebration!" program. In the four years of the "Cause for
Celebration!" program, a total of $400,000 has been donated to causes
important to the artists.

* CMA Music Festival returns to Downtown Nashville, Thursday through
Sunday, June 9-12, 2005. Tickets are on sale now.
Visit http://www.cmafest.com/ for more information. CMA Music Festival's
popular Gold Circle ticket option is already sold out.

CMA Awards

* Airing during the crucial November sweeps period, "The 38th Annual CMA
Awards" gave the CBS Television Network its most watched and highest
rated Tuesday in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since November 2001,
according to final national Nielsen ratings for Nov. 9. The CMA Awards
was first in households (11.5/18), viewers (18.46m), adults 18-34
(4.3/12), adults 18-49 (5.9/15) and adults 25-54 (7.3/17). CBS won
every half-hour in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.
Those numbers placed "The 38th Annual CMA Awards" at No. 7 in the Top
10 Nielsen shows for the week. CBS Research estimates more than
37 million viewers watched all or part of "Country Music's Biggest
Night.(TM)"

* The gala event lived up to its reputation, as the viewers liked what
they saw enough to go out and invest in the music. In the week
immediately following the CMA Awards broadcast, the Billboard Top 75
Country albums chart reflected a 166 percent increase according to
Nielsen SoundScan, factoring in new releases from Shania Twain
(529,567) and Toby Keith (435,489) who performed on the CMA Awards.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, more than 30 other artists who either
performed or presented trophies on the CMA Awards also enjoyed sales
spikes.

* For the first time, Brooks & Dunn hosted the CMA Awards with special
guest Shania Twain. Kenny Chesney won his first two CMA Awards,
including Album and Entertainer of the Year. Keith Urban fulfilled the
promise of his Horizon Award win in 2001 when he was named Male
Vocalist of the Year in 2004. Martina McBride was named Female Vocalist
of the Year for the fourth time, tying the record set by Reba McEntire.
And the year's biggest new success story, Gretchen Wilson, took home
the Horizon Award. During the Awards broadcast, former music industry
executive Jim Foglesong and legendary singer/songwriter Kris
Kristofferson were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of
Fame.

* For the first time, the nominees for the CMA Awards were jointly
announced on both CBS's "The Early Show" and "CMT Insider" in August.

* On Oct. 5, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and CMA President
Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn announced that the 2005 CMA Awards will be
held at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 15, 2005. This
one-year move is designed to increase the awareness for Country Music
in the media capital of the world. That same day, Brooks and Nashville
Mayor Bill Purcell announced in Nashville that the CMA Awards will
return to Music City, USA in 2006 for the CMA Awards 40th Anniversary
celebration from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.

Country Radio

* Country continued to be the dominant radio genre in 2004 with 2,021
stations across the U.S., according to Inside Radio/M Street.

* For the spring ratings period, Country stations captured their largest
share of national listeners 12 and older since spring of 2000.
Country's national market share of 13.7 far outdistanced the second
place urban genre, which had an 8.9 share.

* Billboard's Top Five Hot Country Singles & Tracks included: No. 1-Tim
McGraw, "Live Like You Were Dying;" No. 2-Alan Jackson, "Remember
When;" No. 3-Keith Urban, "You'll Think Of Me;" No. 4-Kenny Chesney
featuring/Uncle Kracker, "When The Sun Goes Down;" and No. 5-John
Michael Montgomery, "Letters From Home."

* Radio & Records' Top Five Country Songs included: No. 1-Alan Jackson,
"Remember When;" No. 2-Kenny Chesney featuring/Uncle Kracker, "When the
Sun Goes Down;" No. 3-John Michael Montgomery, "Letters from Home;" No.
4-Rascal Flatts, "Mayberry;" and No. 5-Tim McGraw, "Live Like You Were
Dying."

Television

* Julie Roberts performed atop "Tom Turkey," the first float in the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, watched by an estimated 55 million
television viewers on the NBC Television Network. The float, sponsored
by Big 3 Entertainment, featured signs promoting "The 39th Annual CMA
Awards" in New York City in 2005.

* Tim McGraw raked in the ratings for his second NBC television special
"Here and Now," which featured appearances by R&B artist Nelly, Green
Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and McGraw's wife Faith Hill. The
McGraw special won its time period in 18-49, total viewers and other
key categories. Toby Keith and Willie Nelson kicked off the Super Bowl
pre-show; Rascal Flatts performed on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin'
Eve;" Kenny Rogers appeared on the ABC special "The Nick & Jessica
Variety Hour;" Alison Krauss performed two songs from the movie
soundtrack "Cold Mountain" on the Academy Awards; Kid Rock, Merle
Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards
paid tribute to Willie Nelson on the USA Network special "Outlaws and
Angels;" and Kenny Chesney performed on NBC's "Christmas at Rockefeller
Center."

* Sitcoms were a good place to find Country artists in 2004. Trace
Adkins, John Hiatt and Travis Tritt appeared on CBS's "Yes Dear;"
Adkins' voice also made a repeat appearance on the animated FOX series
"King of the Hill;" Comics Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the
Cable Guy brought the success of their stand-up tour to the WB with the
variety program "Blue Collar TV;" Country comedian Rodney Carrington
landed his own show "Rodney," on ABC; and Reba McEntire celebrated the
fourth season of her WB show "Reba."

* Country artists hit the talk show circuit with Shania Twain taking over
Nashville's Lower Broadway for ABC's "Good Morning America" live
concert series. While in Music City, USA, the morning show toured the
homes of Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes and Joe Don Rooney
of Rascal Flatts. "60 Minutes" taped a segment in Nashville
spotlighting the meteoric rise of MusikMafia members Big & Rich and
Gretchen Wilson; and "The Oprah Winfrey Show" featured Kenny Chesney
and Martina McBride performing at Oprah's huge baby shower for the
wives of U.S. soldiers. Clint Black, his wife Lisa Hartman Black and
Wynonna also appeared on "Oprah."

* Reality television had its share of Country cameos in 2004. LeAnn
Rimes, Randy Travis and Lee Ann Womack performed for families on
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition;" Travis Tritt played poker for charity
on Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown;" Brad Paisley and Wynonna's
nuptials were covered on "In Style: Celebrity Weddings;" and Trace
Adkins, Clint Black, Terri Clark, Rodney Crowell, Buddy Jewell, Willie
Nelson, Joe Nichols and LeAnn Rimes all appeared on the second season
of "Nashville Star," with Rimes being announced as the new host for the
2005 season. CMT gave the Warren Brothers their own reality series with
"Barely Famous."

* Brooks & Dunn rolled the dice on NBC's new drama "Las Vegas;" Blue
County and Lonestar made guest appearances on the NBC daytime drama
"Days of our Lives."

* Country stars heard but not seen include Trace Adkins, whose single
"Rough & Ready" was featured on the ABC drama "Desperate Housewives,"
and Travis Tritt whose "Girls Gone Wild" single played in the
background of promos for the FOX reality show "Simple Life 2."

* Country Music Television (CMT) continued to show strong ratings with
original programming hits including "CMT Crossroads" and "CMT Outlaws."
CMT celebrated the biggest viewing month in its history during
November. Meanwhile, Scripps Networks added Great American Country
(GAC) to its cable network family, which includes The Food Network and
Home & Garden Television (HGTV). GAC continued to expand its
programming with "Country Music Across America" and "Lorianne Crook's
Celebrity Kitchen."

Commercials/Advertisements/Business Ventures

* Trace Adkins was chosen as the voice for KFC's new national television
commercial campaign throughout North America in 2004. Adkins appeared
in several of the ads as well. Pepsi tapped Jessi Alexander; "Nashville
Star 2" winner Brad Cotter; Buddy Jewell; and Montgomery Gentry as
spokespersons for the summer's Pepsi Smash Country campaign. While Big
& Rich's hit single "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" was featured in
ESPN's 2004 World Series of Poker on-air promos on all ESPN networks.

* Clint Black, along with members of the U.S. House of Representatives,
helped announce the landmark formation of the Recording Arts and
Sciences Congressional Caucus. The caucus will work to advance and
protect the rights of musicians, songwriters, singers, producers and
other recording professionals.

* Toby Keith continued to appear and perform in Ford Truck commercials
while also opening I Love This Bar and Grill in Las Vegas. Reba
McEntire and LeAnn Rimes appeared together in a Dr. Pepper commercial;
McEntire also appeared in a Habitat for Humanity commercial. Tim McGraw
appeared with L.A. Laker Rick Fox in a 30-second ad for Budweiser,
which premiered during the television broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVIII.
McGraw's second commercial for the corporation marked the debut of the
new alcohol awareness tagline "Responsibility Matters," promoting the
use of designated drivers. In addition, McGraw purchased a minority
interest in the Nashville Kats arena football franchise.

* For the second consecutive year, Willie Nelson was featured in a new TV
commercial for financial advisors H&R Block that also made its debut
during the broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Brad Paisley endorsed
TracFone Wireless' prepaid wireless cell phones, promoting them during
the weekly "American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley" national
radio show. Paisley also completed a series of public service
announcements on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Julie
Roberts was featured in a promotional television spot for the Tennessee
Titans NFL Team.

* Shania Twain signed on to promote Febreze's Scentstories, a CD-player-
like device that allows you to enjoy a variety of refreshing scents.
Gretchen Wilson was one of the first artists featured in the Sony
Music/Bank One campaign to offer consumers the Sony Card.

Motion Pictures

* Country stars continued to appear on the big screen in 2004. Mark
Collie appeared in the action thriller "The Punisher" and Billy Ray
Cyrus had a short role in "Elvis Has Left the Building." Faith Hill
played a dysfunctional robot in the remake of "The Stepford Wives."
Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson reprised his role
as Abraham Whistler in "Blade: Trinity" and also appeared in the
political satire "Silver City." In the football drama "Friday Night
Lights," Tim McGraw portrayed an alcoholic father living his life
through his son. Shania Twain made a cameo in the romantic comedy "I
Heart Huckabees," and Trisha Yearwood voiced a character in Disney's
animated "Home on the Range." In addition, Natalie Maines of the Dixie
Chicks, Robert Earl Keen, Charlie Robison and George Strait all
appeared in the western-themed family film "Grand Champion." Kenny
Chesney's tour documentary, "Roadcase: The Movie," debuted in Regal
Cinema theaters across the nation. "The Portrait of Billy Joe,"
director Luciana Pedraza's documentary on singer-songwriter Billy Joe
Shaver hit the independent film festival circuit.

* Country Music was also heard in national promos for movies. The Bellamy
Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow" was featured in the promos for the Ben
Stiller/Jennifer Anniston film "Along Came Polly." Phil Vassar's
"American Child" played in the promos for "Jersey Girl" starring Ben
Affleck.

Soundtracks

* Chet Atkins' instrumental version of "Jingle Bell Rock" appeared on the
"Surviving Christmas" soundtrack. Johnny Cash's "A Satisfied Mind" was
featured on the "Kill Bill Vol. 2" soundtrack. "If I'm Not In Love" by
Faith Hill (from her Breathe album) was featured in the Mandy Moore
film "Chasing Liberty." Tim McGraw contributed to the soundtrack for
the animated Disney feature "Home On the Range." Kristyn Osborn of
SHeDAISY recorded "Whose Life Am I In?" for the soundtrack of the Kate
Hudson film "Raising Helen." Asleep at the Wheel, the Dixie Chicks,
Willie Nelson and George Strait contributed songs to the soundtrack for
"Grand Champion." In conjunction with the DVD release of Francis Ford
Coppola's 1982 film "One From the Heart," a newly remastered edition of
the soundtrack album was released featuring music from Crystal Gayle
and Tom Waits.

Books and Magazines

* Tim McGraw's No. 1 hit "Live Like You Were Dying" inspired two books.
CMA Song of the Year winners Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman wrote the
first book based on their song and Michael Morris wrote the second, a
fictional story. McGraw contributed forewords for both books.

* Country stars turned authors in 2004 included Naomi Judd, who penned
the inspirational Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform
Your Life; Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall wrote G.I. Joe & Lillie, a
biographical tale about his parents' relationship, and a 30-year
chronicle of the band in An American Journey: The Oak Ridge Boys; and
LeAnn Rimes and husband Dean Sheremet penned Jag's New Friend, a sequel
to the popular children's book.

* CMT and Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books created a new imprint, CMT
Books, and released "Cash: An American Man by Bill Miller" and "Music
Row Dogs and Nashville Cats: Country Stars and Their Pets" by Karen
Will Rogers and Laura Lacy. The Johnny Cash biography "The Man Called
CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend" by Steve Turner
was released in September on the first anniversary of the Country Music
Hall of Fame member's death. Kristine M. McCusker and Diane Pecknold
examined sociological aspects of Country in "A Boy Named Sue: Gender
and Country Music" and Aaron A. Fox spotlighted the socio-economic side
in "Real Country: Music and Language In Working-Class Culture."
"Country Music Changed My Life" by Ken Burke included interviews with
Country legends on how the music shaped their lives growing up. Country
Music history books released in 2004 included "Smile When You Call Me
Hillbilly: Country Music's Struggle for Respectability, 1939-1954" by
Jeffrey J. Lange; "Bristol Sessions: Writings About the Big Bang of
Country Music" by Charles K. Wolfe and Ted Olson; "Country Music
Records: A Discography, 1921-1942" by Tony Russell and Bob Pinson; and
"Country Music's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Cheatin' Hearts,
Honky-Tonk Tragedies, and Music City Oddities" by Francesca Peppiatt.

* Dierks Bentley was named one of People magazine's Most Eligible Men.

USO Tours/Patriotism

* In a year of continued military activity, Country stars did their parts
to entertain soldiers at military bases at home and around the globe
including Iraq and Afghanistan. A partial list of stars included
Sherrie Austin, Jeff Bates, Brooks & Dunn, Tracy Byrd, Kenny Chesney,
Billy Ray Cyrus, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Martina
McBride, Neal McCoy, John Michael Montgomery, Craig Morgan, Collin
Raye, Sawyer Brown, SHeDAISY, George Strait, Travis Tritt, Mark Wills,
Darryl Worley, Chely Wright and Wynonna.

Tributes/Accolades

* Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs and more helped
celebrate Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs' 80th birthday
at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

* Friends of Ray Charles paid tribute to the late singer with a joyful
funeral in Los Angeles including Willie Nelson's tearful rendition of
the Charles signature hit, "Georgia on My Mind." Kenny Chesney
performed on the CBS television special "Genius: A Night to Remember"
that aired in October saluting Charles' life and career.

* PBS broadcasted "George Jones: 50 Years of Hits," a star-studded
special salute featuring Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Wynonna, Trace
Adkins, Vince Gill, Trick Pony, Joe Diffie, Harry and Merle Haggard,
among others. The event was taped in Nashville at the BellSouth Acuff
Theatre and aired on Thanksgiving.

* Terri Clark and Del McCoury were inducted as the newest members of the
Grand Ole Opry. Clark was the first Canadian female to receive such an
honor.

In Memoriam

* Music legend Ray Charles, 73, died June 10 at his Beverly Hills, Calif.
home. Charles went blind at age 8 and was performing in dance halls by
the age of 15. His music was a gumbo of classical, Country, jazz, big
band, gospel and blues. Charles released two volumes of Modern Sounds
in Country and Western Music in the early 60s. Those albums produced
some of Charles' biggest hits, including "Born to Lose," "Take These
Chains From My Heart (And Set Me Free)" and "I Can't Stop Loving You."
Charles shared a 1985 CMA Award nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year
with Willie Nelson.

* Country Music lost these contributors in 2004: Julian Aberbach; Charles
Bailey; Max D. Barnes; Ernie Ball; Kenny Buttrey; Ray Condo; Albert F.
Crockett; Skeeter Davis; Roy Drusky; Dave Dudley; Al Dvorin; Jack
Emerson; Melvyn Endsley; Joe P. "Pat" Ethridge; Hank Garland; Albert
"Big Al" Gore; Walt Grealis; Sam Hogin; Bobby Lee House; David Earl
Hughes; Gene Hughes; Jim Hurt; Dave Kirby; Katz Kobayashi; Grelun
Landon; Bill Lowery; Rusty Mac; Jeff Newman; Bob Paisley; Rick Rentz;
Tom Rivers; Rick Smith; "Pappy" Dave Stone; Joyce Triplett; Kyle
Tullis; Charlie Waller; Tommy Vaden; Randy VanWarmer; L.E. White; and
William "Lum" York.



For more information, visit CMA on the Internet at http://www.cmaworld.com/ . For high-resolution, downloadable photos from CMA events, visit http://www.cmapress.com/ , a password-protected, non-public site for media representatives.


Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Wendy Pearl or Scott Stem, both of CMA, +1-615-244-2840

Web site: http://www.cmaworld.com/
http://www.cmapress.com/
http://www.cmafest.com/
http://www.riaa.com/


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