The 2014 CMA Music Festival contributed a record-setting $39.3 million in direct visitor spending to the local community according to numbers released by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. (NCVC).
According to the NCVC, the estimated number of room nights for Festival attendees was 150,000 and the average length of their visit was 5.6 days, up from 5.2 days in 2013.
Originally started as Fan Fair™ in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in the format. What started with 5,000 fans in the Municipal Auditorium has grown to a daily attendance of more than 80,000, representing every state and two dozen foreign countries.
“Since moving to downtown Nashville in 2001, CMA Music Festival has experienced amazing growth, which has benefited our city in numerous ways,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The Festival is a showcase for Music City that drives tourism, benefits music education, and generates a strong base of local revenue, with a significant impact on our community at large.”
In 2001, the Festival generated $15.5 million in direct visitor spending; in 2013, that figure had grown to $31.5 million.
The Festival also benefits music education through The CMA Foundation’s Keep the Music Playing campaign. To date, CMA and The CMA Foundation have contributed more than $9 million to supply instruments and musical equipment for every Metro Nashville Public School – providing a strong incentive for students to stay engaged and graduate.
The reach of Country Music and the format’s broader audience has had an impact on the Festival’s attendee base, according to research collected by CMA during the event in June:
50 percent of attendees were attending for the first time (48 percent in 2013)
Among first-time attendees, 52 percent were visiting Nashville for the first time
76 percent of attendees traveled more than 250 miles
The average distance traveled to attend the festival was 665 miles
96 percent of attendees indicated plans or interest in returning next year
48 percent have an annual household income of $75,000 or more
The numbers are based on CMA’s onsite/in-person surveying of 437 attendees over the four days.
Worldwide interest in the event is burgeoning. This year, four-day ticket packages sold out a record 15 weeks in advance. Tickets for the 2015 CMA Music Festival are outpacing sales for 2014 with nearly 80 percent of available seats already sold.
As previously announced, the Festival was filmed for a three-hour television special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” airing Tuesday, Aug. 5 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and hosted for the second time by reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town.
The special debuted on network television in 2004 and this is the 10th year the special will air on ABC. The primetime event features stadium concerts and intimate club-like performances with behind-the-ropes access to the artists.
Fans can stay in the loop with CMA Music Festival by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive enews. Fans can also connect with CMA at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Instagram.com/CMA, and by texting FESTIVAL to 66937 (message & data rates may apply).
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