CMA Announces Broadcast Awards Nominees for 2000; BradPaisley Announces Finalists at Nashville PressConference.

Entertainment Editors & Music Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2000

The best Country Radio air personalities and radio stations from across the US and Canada were recognized today when Arista/Nashville artist Brad Paisley announced the finalists for the 2000 CMA Broadcast Personality and Station of the Year honors during a press conference in Nashville, Tenn.

This year's winners will be recognized during "The 34th Annual CMA Awards," broadcast live Wednesday, Oct. 4 (8:00-11:00 PM, EDT) on the CBS Television Network from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

This was the first year the finalists were announced alongside artist nominees for the CMA Awards, which were announced by Lee Ann Womack and Lonestar.

"With the importance of Country radio to our format, it is appropriate for us to include these nominations in our announcements this year," said Ed Benson, CMA Executive Director. "These stations and on-air personalities are on the front line of our format building careers for artists and delivering their music to the fans."

The finalists for Broadcast Personality and Station of the Year are selected in four categories (Small Market, Medium Market, Large Market and Major Market). The categories are established by market size based on population as ranked by Arbitron. All interested full-time country on-air personalities and radio stations in the US and Canada were eligible to enter. A panel of broadcast professionals judged entries.

Entries for Broadcast Personality of the Year are judged on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and biographical information. Stations are judged on airchecks, ratings history, community involvement and leadership. Winners are determined by the aggregate score of the first round of judging and the final round, which is done by a different panel of judges. The international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP tabulated scoring by the judges.

NOMINEES FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:

    Major Market
    Danny Wright - WGAR, Cleveland, Ohio
    Harmon & Evans - WXTU, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Skip Mahaffey - WQYK, Tampa, Florida
    Tim & Willy - KNIX, Phoenix, Arizona
    Waking Crew - KYGO, Denver, Colorado


    Large Market
    Angie Ward - WTQR, Greensboro,