2012 CMA Music Fest A Big Hit

2012 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD WITH 71,000 FANS
Hundreds of Artists, New Stages, and More Music Attract Thousands of Visitors to Nashville

NASHVILLE – CMA Music Festival set a new attendance record in 2012 with daily attendance topping 71,000 fans, a 9.2 percent increase over the 65,000 in attendance in 2011 and a sell out for the third consecutive year at LP Field. Tickets for 2013 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday June 6-9, are on sale now.

The increase was attributed to expanded seating at LP Field for the nightly concerts and mild temperatures that drove increased attendance in the free event and concert areas downtown.

Week-long mild temperatures in Nashville resulted in increased attendance in the numerous free areas including The Buckle, Fan Alley, public events, and concert venues. In fact, there was record attendance on Friday and Saturday at Chevrolet Riverfront Park with more than 25,000 fans attending the free concerts throughout each day on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River. Crowds for the new BIC® Soleil Bella® Beach Stage were strong and attendance at the Bud Light Stage on the Bridgestone Plaza increased over 2011. The new BMI Stage at LP Field was bustling each evening as crowds entered the stadium for the nightly concerts.

Highlights of 2012 CMA Music Festival

The Eighth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade claimed Broadway from Tenth to First Avenue on Wednesday before an estimated 20,000 cheering spectators. Country Music Hall of Fame member Glen Campbell served as Grand Marshal. Little Big Town invited 40 lucky fans on their flotilla of four Premier pontoon boats and the Keep the Music Playing All Stars Marching Band, which is made up of high school musicians representing eight Metro Nashville Public Schools, made its second appearance in the parade.
Following the procession, the fun kicked into high gear with The Seventh Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party. An estimated 11,400 fans gathered at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage for the kick off with Little Big Town followed by full-tilt performances from Brazilbilly, Eric Lee Beddingfield, and LoCash Cowboys. Angie Johnson performed the national anthem.

Nightly Concerts at LP Field
The Nightly Concerts at LP Field featured 38 acts over four nights of star-packed shows.
Pre-show activities Thursday included pre-taped remarks from students who have benefited from the Keep the Music Playing program followed by a special performance with David Nail and the Nashville School of Arts Chamber Choir (under the direction of Walter Bitner). Nail and the students performed a moving version of Nail’s “The Sound of a Million Dreams” before the students performed the national anthem. Welcoming the audience was CMA’s Moore and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, who declared, “Welcome to Nashville…If you’ve come a short distance or a long distance, we are thrilled to have you in Nashville. I hope in the next few days you experience all that Nashville has to offer.”
Performing Thursday were Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band. Hank Williams Jr. made a surprise appearance, joining Paisley on “I’m Gonna Get Drunk and Play Hank Williams.” Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler delivered acoustic sets.
“I started way back there at the top,” said Lambert, pointing to the high seats at LP Field. “How are y’all doing up there? Slowly over the years, I made my way down. I can’t tell y’all how much it means to me to be here as an artist with y’all singing back to me.”
“The amazing thing about Country Music is that while it’s all about reality, it still has the ability, between our music and beer, to help you forget what you want to forget tonight,” said Paisley.
The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood performed on Friday. Randy Houser and Gwen Sebastian of “The Voice” performed acoustic sets and the national anthem was performed by the Oak Ridge Boys.
“Nashville, every single person that came from all over the country and the world, don’t think I can’t love you,” called out a jubilant Owen.
More reflectively, Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry told the audience, “You may not know this, but you have changed the lives of my brothers and me. Thank you, to each and every one of you.”
Performing Saturday were Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, and Kenny Rogers. Rodney Atkins made a surprise appearance, performing “Just Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Love and Theft and Kip Moore performed acoustic sets and the national anthem was performed by Julie Roberts.
“Nashville! Are you having the night of your life out there?” queried Bryan.
Church made his LP Field debut in 2012. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m having a really, really good time right now,” he exclaimed.
“What’s up, LP Field? I can’t tell you how cool it is that I can actually say that!” said Hayes, who also made his debut on the CMA Music Festival’s LP Field stage.
The Sunday lineup featured Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, The Mavericks, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, and Rascal Flatts. Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild made a surprise guest appearance with Bentley. Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson and Steel Magnolia performed acoustic sets and the national anthem was performed by Sarah Darling.
Dedicating his song “Home” to the fighting men and women of the U.S. armed forces, Bentley said, “When we think about those guys in Afghanistan who traveled west, they fly across that ocean and they see that eastern seaboard for the first time and have that American flag on their sleeve, those guys must be thinking, what’s that song? Well, this is ‘Home.’ Let’s sing this song for them.”
“You guys got me here today, voting me through ‘American Idol,’ so I owe this to you,” said McCreery.
“All I’ve ever wanted to do since I was 4 years old was sing,” said McBride, who closed the Festival Sunday night. “That’s all I wanted and that’s all I was good at. And you guys did this for me. Thank you for making my dreams come true.”
Thursday and Friday were hosted by GAC “Headline Country” host Storme Warren; Saturday was hosted by CMT “The Singing Bee” host/actress Melissa Peterman; and Sunday was hosted by CMT’s Evan Farmer.

Chevrolet Riverfront Stage
“The party is here, baby!” proclaimed Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry as the 2000 CMA Vocal Duo of the Year opened their set and four days of music at the popular Chevrolet Riverfront Stage in front of one of the biggest opening day crowds on record – 14,500.
AT&T U‐verse® with Cisco® Technology Fan Fair Hall
The state of continuous commotion that’s been the standard for Fan Fair Hall was back in force with more than 250 artists and celebrities appearing at the Nashville Convention Center. All exhibit booths were sold out in advance of the event. Artists meeting fans, posing for photos, and signing autographs in the AT&T U-Verse® with Cisco® Technology Fan Fair Hall included Lauren Alaina, Lynn Anderson, The Band Perry, Laura Bell Bundy, Easton Corbin, Bucky Covington, Billy Dean, Edens Edge, Eli Young Band, Sara Evans, Donna Fargo, actress Jennie Garth, Brantley Gilbert, Linda Gray and Josh Henderson from the upcoming TNT revival of “Dallas,” Hunter Hayes, Randy Houser, Brenda Lee, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, The Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Gwen Sebastian, Doug Stone, Josh Turner, Mark Wills, and Chris Young, who also did a virtual meet-and-greet with fans on Friday.

ABC Television Special
As previously announced, the Festival was filmed for a three-hour television special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” airing Monday, Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and hosted for the first time by Luke Bryan and The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer. The special was shot in high definition and will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
This is the eighth year the show will air on ABC. The primetime event debuted on the CBS Television Network in 2004. The special features stadium concerts and intimate club-like performances with behind-the-ropes access to the artists.

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