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September 16, 2013 | News Articles

Rising Supertsar Hunter Hayes Lends His Voice to the Give The Gift Of Music Campaign, Launching 3rd Annual 'Countdown to the CMA Awards' Contest

Winner Will Receive Two Tickets to “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” and $1,000

MARLTON, N.J./WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kicking off the third annual “Countdown to the CMA Awards” contest as part of its industry-wide Give The Gift Of Music (GTGOM) campaign, music business association NARM, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), today debuted a brand new video from Hunter Hayes. Hayes performed his hit song “Wanted” and took home the prestigious honor of being named the CMA Awards New Artist of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards, and this past August performed his current smash hit, “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” with Jason Mraz on CMA’s Music Festival Special on ABC. The video spotlights the significance of giving and receiving music as a gift and launched exclusively in a featured “Countdown to the CMA Awards” section of the givethegiftofmusic.info website.

Hunter credits receiving instruments as gifts with sparking his love for music. “All of my musical instruments, up until about three years ago, were gifts. They were more than just instruments. They were more than just something to do with my free time. They were a place. I found myself. I found what I was going to be. I found who I was through music. … Music is very powerful and it’s one of the most powerful gifts you can give someone,” he said.

To watch the full video, visit www.givethegiftofmusic.info.

The site also contains video contributions from 2013 CMA Awards nominees such as Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town among others.

The 3rd annual GTGOM “Countdown to the CMA Awards” contest asks fans to share how Hayes or a particular 2013 CMA Awards nominee’s music (song, lyrics, performance, etc.) has inspired them. The grand prize winner will receive two tickets to attend “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” in Nashville on Wednesday, November 6, and a cash prize of $1,000. Special Country music gift packages will go to the second- and third-place winners. Specific details on the new gifting contest, including deadlines, rules, and regulations, can be found at givethegiftofmusic.info/2013-countdown-to-the-cma-awards-contest/.

Hayes will be succeeded as New Artist of the Year by one of this year’s New Artist of the Year nominees: Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Kacey Musgraves, Kip Moore, and Lee Brice. A full list of awards and nominees can be found at cmaworld.com/cma-awards/nominees/categories/.

In the weeks leading up to “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” – airing live on Wednesday, November 6, at 8|7c on the ABC Television Network – music fans and consumers can further connect with the GTGOM campaign, and its featured Country and other popular artists, on social media sites including Facebook (facebook.com/givethegiftofmusic) and Twitter (twitter.com/agiftofmusic).

NARM and RIAA oversee the GTGOM campaign, which reminds consumers that they can now give the gift of music in more ways than ever, including physical, online, and mobile options.  A variety of industry organizations and more than 70 top musicians support the initiative and have helped spread the gifting message. Artists contribute original anecdotes to the givethegiftofmusic.info website that allow consumers to hear how music gifts have touched the lives of their favorite performers. Visitors can also share their own gifting memories, discover new music gift ideas, and share their music wish list with friends and loved ones all year long. In addition, industry groups have supported the campaign by using the GTGOM logo and website URL on their products, in advertisements, and on their websites.