2009 CMA Broadcast Awards Winners Announced

2009 CMA Broadcast Awards Winners Announced

Four-Time 2009 CMA Award Nominee Jamey Johnson Notifies CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year Winners On Air

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Jamey Johnson recently received word of his own nominations for "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," but this time he was the one delivering the good news to radio stations and broadcast professionals across the United States.

The CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year and CMA Radio Station of the Year recipients will be recognized during the "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," airing live Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The CMA Broadcast Personality and CMA Radio Station of the Year winners were contacted on the stations' studio lines by Johnson. The CMA Broadcast Awards finalists were announced in September live on Premiere Radio Networks by Chuck Wicks.

"It was really cool to get to call those guys and congratulate them," said Johnson. "They have played such an important part in helping my career and helping me get recognized for my music. I'm happy that I got to be the one to let them know they got such a great recognition from the CMA. It was fun, early -- but still a lot of fun!"

"This year's winners are a mix of familiar faces as well as first time recipients," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "It's great to see established radio personalities and stations recognized while fresh faces are entering the ranks. It is especially fitting that Jamey, who also received several first-time nominations this year, would deliver the good news."

Kix Brooks, host of Citadel Media's American Country Countdown, receives his first National Broadcast Personality of the Year Award. Brooks, who was first nominated in 2008, is the first Country artist in history to claim a CMA Broadcast Awards trophy.

"When Jamey Johnson walked in our ACC studio today, I wasn't sure what was going on -- thought maybe I'd forgotten about an interview or something. Next thing I know, he's telling me that we won the CMA National Air Personality of the Year Award," said Brooks. "The whole ACC team was in here screaming and jumping around! Everyone works hard and puts their all into making ACC the best it can be. I'm shocked, humbled, and extremely honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire American Country Countdown staff."

2009 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Winners:

National - Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown, (Citadel Media)

Major Market - Cornbread, Pat James, Annie Henson, Harry Schroeder, Mac "Captain Mac" Douglas, "The Cornbread Morning Show featuring Cornbread, Pat James, Producer Annie, Father Harry, and Captain Mac," WIL, St. Louis, Mo. (Bonneville International)

This marks the show's first nomination and win. Cornbread and Pat James also shared a win for Medium Market Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2003 for their work at KFDI in Wichita, Kan..

Large Market - Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman, "Jim Denny and Friends," WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind. (Cumulus Media). The show was also a winner in 2007 and a nominee in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Denny and Freeman were also nominated for their work together in 1998.

Medium Market - Jack Ryan, "WIVK at Night with Jack Ryan," WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Citadel). After four previous nominations in the category, this marks Ryan's first win in the category.

Small Market - Gator Harrison, Greg "StyckMan" Owens, "Gator & The StyckMan," WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn. (Cookeville Communications). The show was also a winner in 2007.

2009 CMA Radio Station of the Year Winners:

Major Market - KYGO, Denver/Boulder, Colo. KYGO has been a finalist seven times, and including the 2009 win, has won the category three times.

Large Market - WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio. After being named a finalist ten times, this will be WUBE's second CMA Award. The station won Large Market Station of the Year in 1998.

Medium Market - KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif. KUZZ has been named a finalist 13 times and received the Award in 1998 and 2002.

Small Market - WKSF, Asheville, N.C. WKSF is a first time nominee and winner.

Five finalists are selected for Broadcast Personality of the Year and Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large, and major market). The categories are established by market size based on population as ranked by Arbitron. Entries for Broadcast Personality of the Year are judged on aircheck, ratings, community involvement, and biographical information. Candidates for Station of the Year are judged on airchecks, ratings history, community involvement, and format leadership.

Three finalists are selected for National Broadcast Personality of the Year. To be eligible for National Broadcast Personality of the Year candidates must be syndicated, short-form, hub voice-tracking, and satellite personalities heard in at least three markets with a minimum of 40 shows per year.

CMA members who are full-time, on-air personalities and CMA member radio stations in the U.S. and Canada were eligible to enter. The entries are judged by a panel of distinguished broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions. An aggregate score of the first round of judging and the second round, which is done by a different panel of judges, determines the winners. The international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP tabulates scoring by the judges. CMA Broadcast Award winners are not eligible to enter in consecutive years; therefore, those who received trophies in 2008 were not eligible in 2009.

"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music.

Visit www.CMApress.com for CMA Awards history, photos, press releases, logos and on-line media credential registration for the CMA Awards. This is a protected site for the media only with restrictions on use. The public should be directed to www.CMAawards.com.

Source: Country Music Association

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

Web Site: http://www.cmaawards.com/

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