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"How are the winners chosen?"
Any mention of the CMA Awards elicits the question, "How are the winners chosen?" The answer to that query does much to explain why the CMA Awards are so highly regarded and coveted by the recipients.
CMA award winners are chosen in voting by industry professional members of the Country Music Association. Thus, award winners are honored by their peers in the music industry. The staff of the CMA does not participate in the voting process.
The awards criteria, rules of election and balloting procedures are established by CMA's Board of Directors. The eligibility period for the 2004 CMA Awards span from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. Singles, albums, music videos, and qualifying products for the vocal event must have been first released during the eligibility period. The election is conducted in three rounds as follows:
Each CMA member may nominate one act in each category on the first ballot. Any eligible act, record or song receiving 10 or more eligible nominations on the first ballot will become an official nominee and will then be submitted to the entire CMA membership on the second ballot.
On thesecond, ballot CMA members must vote for five nominees in each category. The results are tabulated, and the five receiving the most votes in each category are listed as finalists on the third ballot.
On the final ballot, members vote for one in each category to determine the winners.
The entire balloting process is conducted and certified by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP.