2014 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL ENGAGES SOCIAL MEDIA TO ANNOUNCE PERFORMERS FOR THE NIGHTLY CONCERTS AT LP FIELD 

– CMA will utilize social networks to announce LP Field performers for the 2014 CMA Music Festival starting Monday, March 3. Every weekday from March 3-18, CMA will post clues on its social media platforms allowing fans to speculate and anticipate who will be performing during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

A full announcement of the LP Field lineup will follow the #CMAFestGuess social media campaign on Wednesday, March 19.

“We have a very strong, dedicated, and loyal social media audience,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “They are the ones who are constantly engaged with the Festival, so of course we want to let them be the first to find out who will be performing this year. Their passion for the music makes CMA Music Festival the world’s premier Country Music festival.”

A mock movie trailer announcing the campaign will be released on CMA’s social pages Sunday during the Oscars ceremony. “As the Oscars will be one of the largest nights of the year for social engagement, we felt it the perfect time to announce this innovative social campaign to our fans,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships.

Followers can use #CMAFestGuess to track the virtual clues. With more than two million followers across CMA’s social media platforms, Country Music fans are proving that they are digitally engaged and Internet savvy. The 2013 CMA Awards, which aired Nov. 6 on ABC, was the most tweeted-about television event of that week.

“We know Country fans are hungry to engage with their favorite artists through social media, and this campaign will allow them to be a part of the conversation with artists and other fans,” said Whiteside. “This Festival is centered around the fan experience, and this is generating the excitement and anticipation for fans before they even get to Nashville.”

Since its inception in 1972, CMA Music Festival has been famous for fostering a unique connection between Country Music fans and artists. CMA is now using social media platforms to further that bond and tradition. Clues will be revealed each weekday via Facebook (Facebook.com/CMA), Twitter (@CountryMusic), and Instagram (@CMA). Subscribers to CMA Exclusive, CMA’s fan newsletter, will be among the first to see the list of performers.

The 2014 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 5–8, in downtown Nashville.

While tickets to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field are sold out, there are numerous other entertainment and music stages, special events, and activities throughout downtown Nashville to enjoy during CMA Music Festival.

CMA Music Festival’s newest attraction, AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X at the Music City Center, features artist performances, celebrity Q&A sessions, and more. Fans can play paparazzi and snap photos of the stars, shop the Fan Fair X Marketplace, and more. Fan Fair X tickets are $10 a day or $25 for four days. Children 8 and under are admitted free. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) (price includes handling fees). Visit CMAfest.com for details.

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, bringing 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. More than 40 years later, the now legendary festival has become the city’s signature music event. In 2013, CMA Music Festival attracted more than 80,000 daily visitors from every state and two dozen foreign countries.

For all the latest info on CMA Music Festival visit CMAfest.com. To stay connected with CMA visit Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, and Instagram.com/CMA or text FESTIVAL to 66937.

CMA Music Festival will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network. This is the 11^th consecutive year that the event has been filmed for a network television special, a feat no other music festival has achieved. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" will be executive-produced by Robert Deaton.  

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. Bud Light is the Official Beer of the CMA Music Festival. Pepsi is the Official Soft Drink of the CMA Music Festival. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the CMA Music Festival. Bad Boy Buggies are the Official UTV of the CMA Music Festival.