2005 CMA AWARDS MOVES TO NEW YORK CITY

�THE 39TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" TO BE BROADCAST TUESDAY, NOV. 15 FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

This Marks the First Time That a Country Music Awards Show Will Be Broadcast From New York City

THE 39TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS will move to New York City for the first time in 2005 and be broadcast from Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The announcement was made today by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CMA Board President Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn and CBS Senior Vice President of Specials Jack Sussman.

The press conference announcing THE 39th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS took place at City Hall and was attended by prominent music industry and business leaders, representatives from the State of New York and members of the city's diverse cultural community. They were joined in the announcement by CMA Board Chairman and CEO of Anderson Merchandisers Charlie Anderson, CMA Executive Director Ed Benson, New York City Chief Marketing Officer Joseph M. Perello, Executive Vice President Entertainment Madison Square Garden Joel Peresman, Mayor for Economic Development Dan Doctoroff and New York City Chief Operating Officer Maureen Reidy. CMA Board Member Trace Adkins, 2004 CMA Awards Horizon nominee Julie Roberts, two-time CMA Horizon Award nominee Phil Vassar and CMA Awards Producer Walter C. Miller also attended.

This marks the first time that the CMA Awards will be broadcast from New York City from the famed Madison Square Garden. The 40th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS will return to Nashville in 2006.

�When we created NYC Big Events, our goal was to attract big events never before held in New York City, and today I am proud to announce that the 2005 CMA Awards will be in the Big Apple,� said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. �The Country Music Association is a true pioneer in the music industry, having successfully established Country Music as a leading genre, and we�re going to take this event to a whole new level. New York City has a proven track record of hosting the biggest and most-watched events around the globe including the 2002 NFL Kick-off in Times Square, the 2003 Grammy Awards and most recently the 2004 Republican National Convention. New York City is the #1 media market, which will not only strengthen country music�s worldwide recognition, but also showcase a whole new audience worldwide to everything that makes New York City the �World�s Second Home.��

�This will be country music�s biggest night on the world�s biggest stage,� said Kix Brooks, President of CMA�s Board of Directors and half of multi-platinum duo Brooks & Dunn. �Make no mistake, we are not leaving our traditional home behind and we are taking Nashville with us to the city of New York,� added Brooks. �Country music in New York City is not a farfetched novelty � just ask anyone who saw Garth Brooks in Central Park in August 1997.�

�We�re extremely excited to partner with the CMA's and the City of New York to bring the best of country music to Manhattan,� said Sussman. �New York and Madison Square Garden have long established themselves as the premiere destinations for the biggest events in entertainment and we�re confident that having the city as the backdrop of next year�s CMA Awards will add even more excitement, energy and glamour to what is already one of the most anticipated events of the season.�

�We are proud to welcome �The 39th Annual CMA Awards� to the World�s Most Famous arena for the first time,� said Madison Square Garden Executive Vice President Entertainment Joel Peresman. �Madison Square Garden has been synonymous with some of the most defining, one-of-a-kind moments in musical history, and we have no doubt that our legendary setting will be the perfect venue to celebrate the year�s greatest Country Music.�

More than 40 million viewers (12.8/20) watched all or part of the 2003 CMA Awards broadcast, which ranked rank No. 3 for the week, placing it among the top awards broadcasts for the year. THE 38TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, with hosts Brooks & Dunn, will be broadcast Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

THE 39TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the producer. Paul Miller will direct the special from a script by David Wild.