Ratings Jump 26 Percent for 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Ratings Jump 26 Percent for 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Strong Performance Drives Record Sales, Underlines Consumer Demand for Country Music & Country Music-Themed Television Programming

LOS ANGELES, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards drew 11.7 million viewers and was the second-highest rated program throughout the full three hours it aired on Sunday, May 18th on CBS -- an increase of 26 percent from the previous year.

The show reversed the trend of declining awards show ratings and posted across-the-board increases during a week in which total viewership of the five major networks was 13 percent less than the same time a year ago, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards also had a positive impact on record sales for artists who performed at the event. According to Nielsen Soundscan, Carrie Underwood's sales increased 58 percent, Rodney Atkins' sales increased 73 percent, Miranda Lambert's sales increased 52 percent, Garth Brooks' sales increased 33 percent and Brooks & Dunn's sales increased 19 percent, among others. Sugarland had a 72 percent increase and notched the highest country chart debut of their career at #27 with their current single "All I Want To Do," which they performed live during the show. Their previous best was #36 with "Want To."

The strong performance of the show and increased consumer appetite for country is good news for Dick Clark Productions and the Academy of Country Music, which recently announced an exclusive partnership agreement to develop new concert specials, multiple country music-themed reality and competition series, as well as artist profiles and other programming initiatives that will air on both music-oriented networks and other broadcast and cable networks. The partnership is also developing both repurposed and original country music-themed programming for new media platforms.

"This is a terrific accomplishment, particularly when you consider the current television environment," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "If viewer erosion from the writer's strike was taken out of the scenario, I think our ratings increase would have been even more significant. At the end of the day, the success of our show this year really demonstrates the appeal of country music and viewer's investment in the format."

Romeo credits the ratings success to the growing popularity of country music, and points to the first-ever fan-voted Entertainer of the Year category as one reason consumers were potentially more engaged this year.

Orly Adelson, President of Dick Clark Productions, added "CBS's strong support of the program and the contributions made by our partners, such as Great American Country (GAC), Westwood One, The Home Depot and Six Flags, all provided added exposure to millions of consumers through advertising, signage and promotions. We have a lot of people to thank for this success."

In fact, media partner GAC's exclusive "ACM Orange Carpet Live" pre-show special in conjunction with the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards reached more than 1.1 million viewers on show day, an increase from last year of 82 percent for viewers ages 25-54 and 24 percent for female viewers ages 25-54.

"The incredible line-up of performances is a tribute to the Academy of Country Music's unique access and support in the country music world," said Adelson. "The ratings performance is a shot in the arm for our partnership with the Academy of Country Music. We are very excited about what lies ahead and are accelerating development of country themed original programming."

Romeo added, "Dick Clark Productions has always known how to put together first-rate television programming and we're enthusiastic about the ideas being developed for our partnership -- we all believe that further success is right around the corner."

About the Academy of Country Music

Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and industry-driven organization, that provides the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards promoting Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, please visit http://www.acmcountry.com/. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit http://www.acmcf.org/.

About Dick Clark Productions, Inc.

Founded in 1957, Dick Clark Productions, Inc. ("DCP") is a leading independent producer of television programming. DCP produces perennial hits such as the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the Academy of Country Music Awards. DCP also produces popular weekly television programming, including So You Think You Can Dance, and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of American Bandstand, among other things. For additional information, please visit http://www.dickclarkproductions.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero of Academy of Country Music, +1-818-788-8000,
ext. 213, brooke@acmcountry.com; or Terry Fahn, tfahn@dickclark.com, or Kari
Creighton, kcreighton@dickclark.com, both of Dick Clark Productions, Inc.,
+1-310-255-4600

Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/
http://www.dickclarkproductions.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment