CMA Songwriters Series Expands to Toronto

NASHVILLE – Leading into
the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience – 2015 CMA Music Festival – CMA
presented international trophies to two industry standouts: Morgan Evans,
the recipient of the CMA Global Country Artist Award, and CMA Board member and
CEO of Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta, who received
the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The trophies were presented Tuesday
by CMA Board leaders on the stage of CMA World GlobaLive!, which was hosted by Evans.

“We announced our International
Award recipients earlier this year, but this was the perfect opportunity to present
Morgan and Scott with their trophies with so many international fans, press, and
artists in Nashville for CMA Music Festival,” said Sarah Trahern,
CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Advancing Country Music around the world is an
important part of CMA’s mission, so being able to celebrate two of our most
deserving honorees at GlobaLive! was very meaningful.”

Presenting the trophies were CMA Board Chairman Frank
Bumstead; with Jeff Walker, executive producer of CMA
World GlobaLive!; Rob Potts, Vice Chairman of the CMA International
Committee; and CMA Board member David Ross.

Evans received the Global Country
Artist Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist
originally signed outside of the United States – in both furthering the popularity
of Country Music and bringing attention to the format in their foreign-based territory.

An Australian, Evans is
the winner of a record three Country Music Channel Music Awards this year.
He was recently signed as a presenter, host, and ambassador for the Country Music
Channel in Australia. He has toured with Country superstars including Alan
Jackson and Taylor Swift, as well as headlining his own tours in Australia and
New Zealand. Evans was recently signed to William Morris Endeavor. 

“Country Music has exploded
in Australia over the last few years as more and more U.S. superstar acts are
coming to play our CMC Rocks Festival and tour,” said Evans. “To be involved
in Country Music during this time, both through my own music and through my work
with the Country Music Channel, has been a great privilege. This award and the
general welcoming of what I do here in Nashville is an incredible honor and I
accept it with the intention to work harder, play louder, and enjoy it all as
much as ever! Sincerest thanks to CMA for this acknowledgement, and to the Country
Music fans around the world for making our genre what it is today!”

Named for the Country Music
Hall of Fame member and longtime Executive Director of CMA, the Jo Walker-Meador
International Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company
in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.

As the founder and CEO
of Big Machine Label Group, Scott Borchetta has supported artist development internationally
early in artists’ careers. His philosophy has been a major force in changing
the perception of Country Music internationally. Borchetta, who is member
of the CMA Board of Directors, previously won the Jo Walker-Meador International Award in 2012. 

“From very early on in
the life of Big Machine Records, I had a huge desire for our artists to take their
music around the world. Ten years and so many world tours later in the life of
the Big Machine Label Group, I am so proud of our artists for embracing a global
vision and so grateful for the fans of our music the world over,” said Borchetta.
“This award belongs to all of the artists and executives that call the Big Machine Label Group ‘home.’”

CMA World GlobaLive!, which
began in 2004 as the Global Artist Party, serves as a showcase for overseas talent
leading up to the Festival. Each year, the concert attracted standing-room-only
crowds of enthusiastic fans, which prompted CMA to move the event from a club
setting to a larger outdoor stage in Walk of Fame Park with its largest crowds to date.

This year, CMA Music Festival
will play host to fans, media, and artists from 20 countries including: Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel,
Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.

CMA also used the GlobaLive!
event to announce the expansion of the popular CMA Songwriters Series into Canada.
CMA announced it will partner CMT Canada to film a CMA Songwriters Series to be aired on CMT Canada. 

The taping will take place
in Toronto at The Great Hall, a historic venue located in the thriving music and
arts district of Toronto’s Queen Street West. This will be the first time CMA
and CMT Canada have partnered to present a television event.  

“This is an exciting
opportunity to partner with CMT Canada and present Country Music’s finest songwriting
talent in a beautiful setting to an international TV audience,” said Trahern.
“The reaction to the Songwriters Series in the U.K. and Europe has been really
outstanding and we are sure that Canada will be another homerun for the Series internationally.”

Currently scheduled artists
and songwriters appearing at the taping include Kristian Bush,
Ashley Monroe, Deric Ruttan, with other songwriters
to be announced soon. This evening of songs and songwriters, which will be filmed
in front of an exclusive invite-only audience of industry movers and Country Music
super fans, will presented as a one-hour broadcast on CMT Canada in October 2015
as well as a syndicated radio special. 

The CMA Songwriters Series has been presenting the
very best of Country Music’s songwriters, whose hits are known worldwide, since
2005. CMA Songwriters Series shows are intimate presentations where songwriters
can exhibit their craft and share many of the stories behind the songs they have penned.

Through international honors
and events including CMA World GlobaLive! and the expansion of the CMA Songwriters
Series in Canada, Dublin, London, and Paris, CMA seeks to recognize and empower
its international membership and Country Music fans globally.