The Americana Music Association is a not-for-profit trade organization advocating for American Roots Music globally, and supporting professionals within the field.
 | |
| Formation | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Type | not-for-profit music organization |
| Headquarters | Nashville, TN |
Official language | English |
Executive Director | Jed Hilly |
| Website | americanamusic.org |
Purpose
editThe Americana Music Association was founded in order to advocate and provide a network for Americana artists and industry professionals.[1] The Association produces the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, known as AMERICANAFEST, and the Americana Music Honors & Awards, typically held together in the fall.[2] The association also manages and publishes radio airplay charts,[3] publishes newsletters, conducts market research, and disseminates information about events in the Americana community.
History
editFounded in 1999, the association held its first convention at the Hilton Suites in downtown Nashville in September 2000, featuring performances by Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent, Rodney Crowell, and Jim Lauderdale.[1] The Americana Honors and Awards were added to the convention the following year. Americana icons Emmylou Harris, Billy Joe Shaver, and T-Bone Burnett were given lifetime achievement awards for performing, songwriting, and executive achievement, respectively.[4] The 2001 convention also featured a surprise performance by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, with members of the Cash family. After being awarded the association's first "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award, Cash gave a recitation of his song-poem "Ragged Old Flag," before performing with June and their family.[5][6] This was the last public performance the Cashes would ever give together.[7]
Over time, the fall event attracted larger groups of fans and industry conferees,[8] and the organization formally changed the name of its event to the Americana Music Festival and Conference. By 2008, the event had expanded to four days and moved its Awards Show to the historic Ryman Auditorium.[9]
Previous musical performances at the conference have included Levon Helm's Ramble at the Ryman, John Fogerty, Grace Potter, The Avett Brothers, The Civil Wars, Bonnie Raitt, Booker T. Jones, Richard Thompson, Alabama Shakes, Punch Brothers, John Fullbright, and Robert Plant with Buddy Miller.[10][11]
The Association’s capstone event, the Americana Music Honors & Awards, aired live nationally on September 12, 2012, via AXS TV, broadcast via SiriusXM, WSM radio, and streamed by NPR.org. Musical segments of the awards show also appeared on PBS nationwide during the special presentation "ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2012". Additional international radio broadcasts via BBC2 and Voice of America began airing September 23 2012.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Americana Music Association Kicks Off First Convention at BMI Nashville". BMI.com. 2000-11-28. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "AMA". Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ "AMA Chart". Archived from the original on May 26, 2002. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ Billboard Staff (2002-09-16). "Americana Awards Honor Music Greats". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ Rogers, Richard. "The Americana Honors & Awards show over the years". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "Johnny Cash Surprises Americana Awards Crowd". CMT. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Americana Music Association History". AMA Press Kit. 2012-10-31.
- ^ "AMA's Jed Hilly On Growth of Americana Music Festival & Conference". MusicRow.com. 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Show History". Ryman Auditorium. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Americana Music Awards recap". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "Americanafest Sets Attendance Records, 2012 Dates". MusicRow.com. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Americana Celebrates Most Successful Event Yet". Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.