And there were complaints that the fairgrounds were cramped and run-down. Last year, Fan Fair had a daily attendance of about 20,000, short of the 24,000 needed for a sellout. Because doing it like we'd always done it, we thought it would continue to decline. Canceling Fan Fair would have been a major blow to the country music industry. Only in Nashville do stars man autograph booths for hours at a time, or sacrifice a few days of the lucrative summer concert season.
Fans repay the favor with remarkable loyalty.
You're as close to the fans as you can get right there. This year, instead of relying mostly on word of mouth, the CMA is offering discounts to tour operators, sponsoring promotions with radio stations and placing print, radio and TV ads in 23 cities in the Southeast. A star-studded charity softball game, the TNN Awards for country music and autograph booths will remain, and the Grand Ole Opry will put on a special Saturday matinee at the downtown Ryman Auditorium. A carnival outside the football stadium for those who enjoyed the Opryland USA park. Afternoon shows on the banks of the Cumberland River featuring artists from independent record labels mixed in with country music stars.