COUNTRY STARS CHOOSE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSIC ARTISTS IN "CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40: ARTIST'S CHOICE," BEGINNING MARCH 15

CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40 Will Be Revealed in the Network's Flagship Program CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN

NASHVILLE - February 14, 2014 - Country artists will have their chance to recognize the music that shaped their lives each week, beginning Saturday, March 15, with CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40: ARTIST'S CHOICE. The incredible list of musical acts will be revealed one by one every week on CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN, beginning with No. 40 and concluding with No. 1 this December. Each influential musician or band will be ranked based on an artist poll conducted by CMT among the biggest stars in country music. CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN airs every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT.

The ballot isn't limited to just country artists, so over the course of 2014, CMT ALL TIME TOP 40 will highlight artists from all genres that influence country's biggest names. Nearly 100 artists are participating in CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40, from legends like Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton to today's superstars like Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan.

"When you let the artists decide - the people that make country music for a living - that's something you can't argue with," said Quinn Brown, CMT executive producer. "And if you think these will be the same 40 music legends you always hear about, you are in for a surprise - and lots of them. Sure, it's a safe bet that Elvis and Hank Sr. will make it, but I can also tell you that the entire modern era of popular music, country and otherwise, is well represented."

Participating artists include: Trace Adkins, Alabama, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Bobby Bare, Dierks Bentley, Brooks and Dunn, Luke Bryan, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Charlie Daniels, Florida Georgia Line, Merle Haggard, Hunter Hayes, Wanda Jackson, Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves, Jennifer Nettles, Jake Owen, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Travis Tritt, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam and many more.

Ratings for CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN are at an all-time high - up 20 percent year-over-year in 2013. In addition to airing CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40, look for HOT 20 COUNTDOWN on the road in 2014 as the show goes on location to more music festivals and events than ever.

CMT ALL-TIME TOP 40: ARTIST'S CHOICE is executive produced by Quinn Brown for CMT.

CMT, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 92 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.