THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION PRESENTS AEG’S JIM KING AND LIVE NATION’S ANNA-SOPHIE MERTENS WITH A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, ALONGSIDE MORGAN WALLEN, AT HIS AMERICAN EXPRESS PRESENTS BST HYDE PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL GIG IN LONDON
Honor Presented to King and Mertens Ahead of Morgan Wallen’s Headlining Performance Before 50,000 U.K. Fans
The Country Music Association was joined by Morgan Wallen at American Express presents BST Hyde Park in London to present Jim King (AEG Chief Executive Officer, European Festival Division) and Anna-Sophie Mertens (Live Nation Vice President, Touring) a token of appreciation on Thursday, July 4 commemorating contemporary Country Music on a mainstream music stage outside of North America.
“This is a milestone for the Country genre and it’s important that we acknowledge the promoters who are supporting Country Music’s rapidly growing and mainstream appeal in the U.K.,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “As the fastest-growing genre in the U.K., thanks to countless artists who are focused on building a global audience, we are grateful for the foundation that has been laid that has led to opportunities like BST Hyde Park, and we are more excited than ever to see what’s to come.”
Wallen took the stage later that evening as the first Country artist to headline the BST Hyde Park London music festival, while Country icon Shania Twain headlined the festival on Sunday, July 7.
About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music worldwide. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits music education through the CMA Foundation and is taped for a television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” CMA’s television properties are screened internationally in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the U.K. CMA brings music worldwide, by presenting live performances featuring artists and songwriters through its touring series Introducing Nashville and CMA Songwriters Series. CMA members are located around the globe. Through task forces represented in Australasia, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia and the U.K., industry leaders work to further Country Music in these territories. CMA presents six annual international industry awards to acknowledge the efforts of individuals working to develop Country Music in markets across the world.
Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development) and Morgan Wallen present Jim King (AEG Chief Executive Officer, European Festival Division) and Anna-Sophie Mertens (Live Nation Vice President, Touring) a token of appreciation during American Express Presents BST Hyde Park Musical Festival. (L-R) Anna-Sophie Mertens, Morgan Wallen, Milly Olykan and Jim King.
Photo Credit: David Lehr
