| The CMA Music Festival, hosted by the Country | | | | charity, while the other half is earmarked by the CMA |
| Music Association (CMA), encompasses four days of | | | | for "the advancement of country music". |
| country music concerts, as well as musician and fan | | | | The inaugural Fan Fair was held in April 1972 in |
| interactions. Despite its emphasis on country music | | | | Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, and 5000 fans |
| and country music artists, the festival also showcases | | | | attended. The following year, the event was moved |
| selected artists in other musical genres. In 2007, rock | | | | to June in the hope of finding better weather |
| 'n' roll revivalists Los Lonely Boys and '70s heavy rock | | | | conditions, and attendance doubled to 10000 fans. In |
| legends Lynyrd Skynyrd made appearances. | | | | the third year, the first non-country musician, Paul |
| Over 200 artists attend the event each year to hold | | | | McCartney, was invited to perform, and Dolly Parton |
| up to 30 hours of autograph sessions and | | | | and Porter Wagoner performed a duet for the last |
| "meet-and-greet" sessions with their fans at the | | | | time. |
| Nashville Convention Center. Many artist fan clubs also | | | | In 1991, singer Kathy Mattea attended Fan Fair |
| hold gatherings in the area during the festival. The | | | | despite being under doctor's orders not to speak so |
| festival usually begins the day after the Tnn/CMT | | | | that her injured vocal cords could heal. She used a |
| Country Music Award show, the only fan-voted | | | | computer to type messages for her fans to read as |
| country music awards. During the festival, attendees | | | | she held "conversations" with them. Two years later, |
| can choose from the 100 hours of concerts that are | | | | Shania Twain met her future husband, producer Mutt |
| offered on stages at Riverfront Park and LP Field. | | | | Lange, at the festival. |
| Up until 2001, the evening concerts were organized | | | | Fan Fair underwent large changes in 2001. For the |
| by record labels, with each label choosing which of | | | | first time, the event was held over a long weekend |
| their artists would be able to perform, and for how | | | | instead of during the week. At the same time, the |
| long. However, beginning with Fan Fair 2001, these | | | | festival moved from its long-time home at the |
| main concerts were grouped instead by record | | | | Tennessee State Fairgrounds to several sites |
| distribution group. This allowed for four main | | | | clustered in downtown Nashville. In 2004, CMA |
| concerts, for Sony, WEA/EMI, UNI, and BMG. | | | | renamed the festival the CMA Music Festival in order |
| Artists are held to very strict timeframes for their | | | | to change negative perceptions, embrace the CMA |
| performances, with Martina McBride noting in 2007 | | | | brand and to expand the appeal of the event. |
| that she was expected to be on stage for exactly | | | | In 2008, the CMA Music Festival will take place from |
| 34 minutes. The artists are not paid to attend the | | | | the 5th to the 8th of June, and tickets are available |
| festival or for their performances during the festival. | | | | now. Hotels in Nashville are expected to get booked |
| Half of the proceeds from the festival each year | | | | up quickly, so if you're keen to get you dose of |
| (estimated at US$200,000 in 2001) are donated to | | | | country, make sure you book ahead. |