About the Country Music Association of Australia Inc. (CMAA)
The CMAA was formed in 1992 to represent and promote all aspects of the Australian country music industry.
As the national peak industry body the CMAA has a responsibility to:
- Foster the growth of the Country Music industry in Australia to ensure a long – term, popular and viable industry through the delivery of professionally planned and designed initiatives;
- Grow the demand for and popularity of Australian Country Music both domestically and internationally;
- Encourage, develop and promote the interests of all professionals in the Australian country music industry;
- Promote knowledge of, interest in and respect for the heritage of Australian Country Music and the people who create it and perform it;
- Encourage, develop and promote Australian Country Music to the world;
- Grow, manage and maintain the values and standards of the annual Country Music Awards of Australia and the annual Australian Academy of Country Music;
- Develop partnerships and alliances to achieve the goals listed above
Funding
The CMAA is a national organisation made up of a Board comprising of people from all sectors of the industry that are elected each year to set policy and consider issues relevant to the Australian country music industry.
Apart from some specific project grant money, the CMAA runs entirely on funds generated by the commercial success of our own activities and initiatives.
Support of the organisation by way of membership from people working in the Australian country music industry (professional members) is vital to the continuing operation and success of the organisation.
The CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia
The Country Music Awards of Australia are the nation’s longest running Awards ceremony and the pinnacle event of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Presented annually in January before a live audience of 5,000 fans, artists, industry people and visitors, the Awards are the biggest night in the Australian country music calendar.
The Awards recognise and promote excellence in Australian country music songwriting, performance and recording.
The Awards are the number one vehicle for the promotion and exposure for Australian country music receiving national and international exposure positioning country music artists in the spotlight for many months each year.
Since they began in 1973, the Awards have played the key role in developing and promoting Australian country music. Under the CMAA, they continue to grow and develop as the primary focus for country music in Australia.
The Awards presentations are accompanied by a star-studded gala concert featuring the cream of Australian country music and some of our newest rising stars.
The Winners
Each year the CMAA has produced, with EMI, an annual Winners CD and DVD. This features the Awards finalists and winners from that year’s Country Music Awards of Australia. Each year the Winners is well received in the market place with strong sales and exposure. This in turn provides a good financial return to the artists and songwriters involved. Likewise this is a premium product in promoting emerging artists and a showcase for Australian country music.
Golden Guitar Winners' Concerts
In 1999, the CMAA launched a Golden Guitar Winners' Concert in Sydney showcasing country music in a major metropolitan market. Concerts have also been held in Wollongong and Devonport. In the years following this concept has been further developed to include Sydney, Central Coast and Lismore.
The Academy of Country Music
Planning for the CMAA's Australian College of Country Music began in 1995 with the inaugural College getting underway in 1997, and ran until the concept was further developed with the launch of the Australian Academy of Country Music in September 2009. IN June 2010 the inaugural Australian Academy of Country Music will be held.
The Australian Academy of Country Music provides an innovative residential program that offers Australia’s and New Zealands talented and promising emerging country artists and specialist musicians the opportunity to broaden their horizons and skill levels via close interaction with industry's leading specialists.
Whilst the program concentrates on the country music genre and encourages the tuition of traditional country music instruments such as dobro, mandolin, lap steel, pedal steel and banjo, the Academy recognises and encourages students to expand into areas of new country and crossover styles of music that will be attractive to new and expanding audience bases.
The Academy is unique. No other program of this nature exists for the music industry in Australia, or in fact worldwide.
The Academy utilises the skills and resources of leading mentors, songwriters, musicians, producers and music business personnel.
Lobbying & Presentation
The CMAA maintains a close relationship with other industry bodies (including APRA, AMCOS, ARIA and the PPCA.)
