THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION RETURNS TO
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
2023 CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award Presented to Natalie Waller During CMC Rocks Festival
CMA Brings Introducing Nashville Lineup Back to New Zealand with Performances by
Cooper Alan, Priscilla Block and Megan Moroney
The Country Music Association, the premier trade association of the Country Music industry, visited Australia and New Zealand this past week, where the organization awarded its 2023 Jo Walker Meador Award, returned as a sponsor of the CMC Rocks Festival in Australia, and brought its Introducing Nashville lineup back to New Zealand.
At the CMA Bar at CMC Rocks, CMA hosted an industry reception on Saturday, March 16. During the event, Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development) presented Natalie Waller (President, ABC Music and CMA Board member) with the 2023 CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award. This award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.
Additionally, CMA’s international touring series, Introducing Nashville, returned to New Zealand with performances by Cooper Alan, Priscilla Block and Megan Moroney with support from Arun O’Conner and hosted by 2023 CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award Winner, Kaylee Bell, at The Tuning Fork in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday, March 19. The acoustic, intimate showcase of Nashville’s emerging talent was a hit with the territory’s growing population of Country Music fans. Each artist displayed a unique side of the current Country Music scene and brought the signature sound of Nashville. Prior to the show, CMA hosted an industry reception for attendees to engage and build connections with the professionals who are furthering Country Music in New Zealand.
CMA will present its remaining international award, the 2023 Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award, later this year.
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, Germany, 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.
(L-R) Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development), Natalie Waller (President, ABC Music and CMA Board member) and Susan Heymann (Chief Operating Officer, Frontier Touring) during the CMA Reception at the CMA Bar during CMC Rocks in Australia on Saturday, March 16. Waller was presented with the 2023 CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award.
Photo Credit: Maclay Heriot/CMC Rocks
Natalie Waller (President, ABC Music and CMA Board member) was presented with the 2023 CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award at the CMA Reception at the CMA Bar at CMC Rocks in Australia on Saturday, March 16.
Photo Credit: Maclay Heriot/CMC Rocks
(L-R) Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development), Megan Moroney, Kaylee Bell, Priscilla Block, Brent Eccles (Founder, Eccles Entertainment) and Cooper Alan backstage at CMA’s Introducing Nashville set at The Tuning Fork in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday, March 19.
Photo Credit: Chontalle Musson/CMA
