As is the case with all the music categories, country music faces an ever changing world. Whereas modern country music can easily trace itself directly to its roots, other music categories have fractioned off into splinter groups and in many cases are unrecognizable as to original form. For these past 40 years, the CMA has faced challenging obstacles by the changing face of music, yet, still, it has succeeded in its goal in making country music the most listened-to type of music in the United States. And crucial to the success of the CMA is the dedicated member support and involvement. The CMA is a very dynamic association, conducting activities throughout the year such as educational activities, industry honors, national and international promotion of country music facts and figures which show just how popular country music has become.
Country music is the most popular form of music on the radio.
In 1961, the CMA's Board of Directors established the Country Music Hall of Fame . The greatest contributors to country music are immortalized here in this great edifice. The first inductees that year were Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Fred Rose . Some of the later inductees include Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Ray Price , just to name a few. The building that houses the Hall of Fame was completed in 1967.