Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2009
CMA ANNOUNCES CATEGORY AND VOTING PROCEDURAL CHANGES FOR COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME BALLOTING, BEGINNING 2010
Songwriter Category Added Every Third Year
NASHVILLE - The Country Music Association announced category and voting procedural changes for the Country Music Hall of Fame today, effective with the 2010 ballots. These changes were approved by the CMA Board of Directors during the Feb. Board meeting in Orlando, Fla. earlier this week.
Three inductees will continue to be announced as new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame annually, each selected from a different category. Beginning in 2010, the categories will be renamed and defined as follows
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Modern Era - An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 20 years after they first achieve national prominence. They will remain eligible for that category for the next 25 years. This replaces the former "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category.
- Veterans Era - An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 45 years after they first achieve national prominence. This combines the former "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" (which was voted on annually) and "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II" (which was voted on every third year in rotation) categories into one.
- Rotating Categories - The third slot will continue to be a rotating category, with each group in the spotlight every third year. The Recording and/or Touring Musician and Non Performer slots will remain, joined by a new Songwriter category.
"Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor anyone can receive in the Country Music industry," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "In the past, songwriters and industry executives shared the same category that rotated every three years. With these new changes, the songwriters and non-performers now have their own rotating categories. This allows these talented and influential men and women a more frequent opportunity to join this intimate fraternity."
For the first time, the Veterans Era and Modern Era categories will have separate Nominating Committees, each madeup of 12 industry leaders who serve three-year terms. The Modern Era Nominating Committee will also oversee the Rotating Categories as well. Each committee will meet twice to prepare the slate of nominees for the Hall of
Fame balloting. Names will be presented and discussed for nomination during the first meeting, and the candidate list will be finalized during the second meeting. The final list will consist of no less than 10 names and no more than 20.
Two separate Panels of Electors will be established, both made up of historians and industry professionals that have a historical perspective on Country Music. One Panel will vote for both the Modern Era and the Rotating Categories, while a second Panel will vote for the Veterans Era category. Both Panels will be updated annually by the CMA Awards and Recognition Committee. Individuals can serve on both panels. All panelists will remain anonymous.
Finally, there will be two rounds of voting. The first ballot will contain the previously mentioned listing of between 10-20 candidates. Each voter will be required to vote for five nominees. The second ballot will contain the top five nominees from the first ballot. Each voter will be required to vote for one candidate from this listing.
"We constantly monitor the voting procedures, and update them as necessary," said Genovese. "We believe these changes will further protect the integrity of the nominating and balloting process."
CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize and honor noteworthy individuals for outstanding contributions to the advancement of Country Music. When 2009 recipients Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell, and Charlie McCoy are officially inducted in May, the Hall will be home to 108 artists, musicians, and industry leaders.
For a complete list of Country Music Hall of Fame members, visit www.CountryMusicHallofFame.com. The bronze plaques of all the members are on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
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