It’s that time once again for the always amazing CMA Festival. For those of you that are viewing this publication for the first time – welcome to the family. New Music Weekly has been a part of what we call a “new music revolution” and has been going strong since 1999. In fact as the music industry has suffered from cutbacks and consolidations, our publication has only grown stronger each and every year. As many artists, bands and labels come to grips with the fact that the major labels don’t actually hold all the cards, NMW provides a voice for both in the major and independent arena.  In our world all stations are treated as equals regardless of market size and all of our artists get top priority here.

No one treats their fans better than Country artists. With this “fan faire” event there is really nothing like that in radio today. You don’t find pop artists setting aside a weekend to meet and great fans. It’s a way of giving back to all of those in support of artists and groups and the event has been proven a winner time and again. This event has become so pivotal that you can now see all of the top name acts in the industry taking part in this weekend celebration.  Through this extravaganza our New Music Weekly cameras will be rolling and we hope to bring you some cool shots of all the action in up and coming issues.

The music year seems to start on the right foot with the Country Radio Seminar (CRS). It was during our first times there we got a real glimpse into what Country artists are all about. Some of us remember a tall guy in a ten gallon hat being one of the first for an interview. He was so shy we could barely get many words out of him. We were impressed to find out that he was just signed to Warner Brother Records and it was only years later that we realized that Blake Shelton shared some special times with us during our visit at that event.

 Not only do major artists get the chance to show their stuff off at CMA, but a good many of the independent artists get to shine as well. Nashville comes alive every evening with some of the best music on the planet, most of it coming from the small clubs from Tooties to the Doc Hollidays.  Even some of the major stars can be seen sitting in and becoming part of the music landscape. We’ve witnessed some amazing get-togethers in these small honky-tonks and the spirit and excitement of what music is all about is revealed during these times.  I’m sure many of you in the Music City area can tell of your own sightings.

 One of the things that we have come to realize about this and other events in Nashville is that this town and it’s people “love to rock”.  Some of the events around town come off more like a rock concert than anything else. For our mainstream friends, artists and bands, you are well represented. Many artists are influenced by the rock/pop culture and even today’s Country music sounds more aggressive and as powerful as any rockers out there. You can see it in the visits from the likes of Kid Rock to Sammy Hagar. Even pop super stars from Sheryl Crow to former Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker have bridged that gap from pop to Country. It’s all becoming one big happy musical family.

 New Music Weekly continues to offer the best “tools of the trade” for labels, artists and bands. Each week our radio charts provide the information combining both major and independent artists that truly make up what the music industry is today. Through print and our massive on-line delivery system the work is getting out to the masses and industry professionals are watching all of your moves and activity.  We will continue to provide all of the elements to help your favorite artists or band get to the top of the charts.