ABOUT THE BOARD
CMA’s original Board of Directors in 1959 featured 15 members including Wesley Rose and Connie B. Gay as CMA Board Chairman and President, respectively.
Eddy Arnold and Harold Moon were Vice Presidents, Hubert Long was named Treasurer and Mac Wiseman was chosen to be Secretary. Gov. Frank Clement and Albert Gore served as honorary Co-Chairman. Bob Burton, “Cracker” Jim Brooker, Oscar Davis, Dee Kilpatrick, Charlie Lamb, Vic McAlpin and Ken Nelson were also part of the first Board.
In 1960, Paul Ackerman, Len Ellis, Pee Wee King, Joe Lucas, Don Pierce and Cindy Walker joined the Board.
Today, more than 80 leaders from all segments of the music industry volunteer their time and work tirelessly serving on the CMA Board, which meets four times annually. Board members receive no salary or compensation from CMA; they serve the organization gratis.
There is a maximum of two Directors elected to represent each of the 17 membership categories and three Lifetime Directors. The Directors elect Directors At Large each year for a one year term.
CMA is governed by its Board and managed by its professional staff following the balanced Board/staff model prevalent among the most successful and effective trade organizations. This partnership integrates Board knowledge, expertise and influence with professional staff experience and capabilities to achieve results.
Role of the CMA Board: Governance
CMA Board sets the strategic framework and makes decisions of highest importance to the Association (values, vision, mission, innovation, policy and accountability).
Role of the CMA staff: Management
CMA staff implements and executes the Association’s programs and initiatives, as well as supporting the Board’s planning and governance process.
Collaboratively, the Board and staff plan initiatives, set goals and evaluate results.
CMA Board Structure
- Two Directors serving two-year terms for each membership category as long as the number of members in the category meets the requirement.
- Directors may not succeed themselves after serving their two-year term.
- Lifetime Directors (Board members who served full terms as both Chairman and President) include Bill Denny, Ralph Peer II and Frances Preston. Lifetime Directorships were discontinued in 1985.
- Directors At Large are elected annually by the Directors to serve one- year terms. Succession restrictions do not apply for Directors At Large.
CMA Board Approves Member Applicants
The Board is required to approve any new CMA member applicants and their membership category.
Individual CMA members are presently or formerly active, directly and substantially, in the field of Country Music. Only these members have voting rights for CMA Awards, Election of Directors, etc.
17 CMA Membership Categories
- Advertising Agency/Public Relations/Marketing
- Affiliated
- Artist
- Broadcast Air Talent
- Composer
- Entertainment Services
- International
- Music Publisher/PRO
- Musician
- Personal Manager
- Producer/Engineer/Studio
- Radio
- Record Company
- Record/Video/Online Merchandiser
- Talent Agent/Promoter
- Talent Buyer/Venue
- Television/Video/Media
Organizational CMA Members are companies, corporations or organizations directly and substantially involved in Country Music. Organizational memberships carry no voting rights. Platinum members must be invited to apply with a recommendation letter from three current Directors or Directors At Large and be approved by the CMA Executive Committee.
Election Procedures
Each year an accounting firm will be named to receive the properly completed and executed proxy designations and to tabulate the ballots. All domestic CMA members in good standing may vote either via proxy or in person at the Annual Election Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the Meeting). CMA members in the International Category may vote either in person at the Meeting or by official ballot when returned to the designated accounting firm by mail in time to be received not later than by the specified date.
Ballots to be cast by persons receiving proxies will not be marked with the name either of the person granting or receiving the proxy or in any manner other than that utilized for all ballots.
Proxies must be received by a fixed time which cannot be less than one week prior to the opening of the Meeting.
The accounting firm will prepare a separate sheet for each member receiving proxies, upon which the names of each person granting a proxy to that member will be listed. This sheet will be signed by each member receiving proxies at the time the ballots are received by such Member, and the receipted lists will be retained by the accounting firm.
Prior to the Meeting, a system should be approved by the Board for the registration of current membership at the place of election. Those entitled to vote will receive appropriate category ballots and an At-Large ballot. An envelope will be prepared in advance with his/her name inscribed thereon containing the proxies, if any, directed to him/her.
Envelopes containing proxies will be available at the place of the Meeting at least one hour prior to the opening thereof and will be delivered to CMA members only upon their presentation of a valid membership card, other form of identification or their initialing a current membership list.
A CMA member appointed as Proxy may designate an alternate attorney, agent and proxy by completing an alternate proxy form provided by CMA. This form must be duly notarized and presented by the alternate to election officials not later than the opening of the Meeting.
Upon completion of balloting during the Meeting, the accounting firm responsible for tallying the ballots will receive all ballots, seal them in a container, and remove them to be counted outside of the presence of any Officer, Director, paid employee of the Association, or any other person not responsible for the tallying of the ballots.
The accounting firm will then certify in writing to the Board of Directors of the Association the names of those persons elected as Directors of the Association.
After counting the ballots, proxies and proxy receipt sheets, the tally sheets will be retained by the accounting firm until after the next Meeting.
The Board of Directors will elect a President-Elect and Directors at Large to serve for the coming year at a meeting to be held within 45 days after the election of the Board Members.
Nominations for Directors at Large will be presented by the Chairman of the Leadership Development Committee. These nominees may be elected by a majority vote of the Board by secret ballot.
Nominations for Directors at Large may be made from the floor by any Director.
No recommendation will be made officially by the Board of Directors or Officers, as a body, for the election of any Director at Large or Director prior to the Election Meeting or the Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Anyone nominated as a Director at Large or a Director must be a CMA member in good standing and willing to serve in the capacity for which nominated.