The Country Music Association knows how to throw a party. Just ask the 3,000 to 4,000 people who attended the CMA Post Awards Party at the Marriott Marquis Hotel Tuesday.
The invitation-only party, open to CMA sponsors and their guests, fans and sweepstakes winners, kicked off following the 39th annual CMA Awards at Madison Square Garden. Brands, including Crème Savers and Kmart, ran sweepstakes and gave away tickets to the CMA Awards. The awards show took place in New York for the first time in CMA history.
The CMA supported the show with $4.5 million in sponsorships by 14 leading brands. NYC Marketing and sister agency, NYC Big Events, Inc., secured and managed the partnerships.
To conclude the night Nashville-style, the CMA gave guests a VIP after-party experience. CMA staff members ushered guests to the gala via subway. The association dedicated a shuttle from Madison Square Garden to the event, shutting down a portion of subway system to non-partygoers.
Hot hors d’oeuvres, including steamed wasabi dumplings, sushi, sautéed mushrooms, oven-roasted tomato spinach tarts and cheese ravioli and an open bar, greeted guests when they arrived at the hotel.
The highlight of the night came when country icon Wynonna Judd made a guest appearance. Judd, fresh from the CMA Awards show and an arm’s distance away from fans, treated attendees to their very own private concert.
The CMA after-party carried on through the early morning hours. Even before the event wrapped, the association was quick to plug the 2006 CMA Awards, which will return to Nashville for its 40th anniversary.
Already, brands are jumping to back the program. Crisco, a 2005 CMA Award sponsor, is giving consumers a chance to win a country music vacation. Consumers who enter the Crisco sweepstakes will vie for the chance to win a trip for four to Nashville to attend three CMA events: the CMA Music Festival from June 8 to 11, the CMA Music nominations in August 2006 and the 40th annual CMA Awards in November 2006. Five hundred first-place winners get a country music prize pack with Crisco and artist merchandise.
Consumers can enter online at Crisco.com. The sweepstakes ends Feb. 28, 2006.
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