New faces at CMAs mark change in country music

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? There's a sea change going on in Music City and the Country Music Association Awards are right in the middle of it.

When country music's biggest stars take the stage Thursday night, you'll see many of your favorites from the last 10 years. But increasingly, new faces are dominating the genre as country's fan base shifts to a younger-skewing audience.

"I think it's great for the format because going forward you have this youth and vitality in the format, in the fan base," lead nominee Eric Church said. "It's a chance to grow a format that I don't think we've ever had in country. I don't know if it's ever been like it is now, especially with young people, in country music."

From Taylor Swift's army of empowered young women to the power-drinking party boys who prefer Church and Jason Aldean, country's audience is much different than it was 10 years ago and that's reflected in the awards. Church benefited with five nominations, including first-time appearances in the album and male vocalist of the year categories.

He's not the only one. Country performers who have tasted their most significant success within the last five years outnumber the more established stars who've counted hits for a decade or more. Those newer artists also received the lion's share of the nominations.

That may not be unusual in the pop, rock and hip-hop worlds. But country has long been a genre defined by listeners ? and often stars ? 35 and over.

The CMAs show that time may be over.

Swift and Aldean are nominated in the entertainer of the year category with Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton. Luke Bryan and Eric Church rewrote the script in two categories ? male vocalist where they elbowed out established stars like three-time winner Paisley and Chesney and album of the year. They join young acts Miranda Lambert and Lady A in that category with Dierks Bentley rounding it out.

The vocal group category also is stocked only with younger hitmakers ? Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, The Band Perry and Eli Young Band join industry veterans Little Big Town. And new acts The Civil Wars, Love and Theft and Thompson Square join Big & Rich and Sugarland in the vocal duo category.

Whether that new wave will go home with a majority of trophies remains to be seen. Paisley and Carrie Underwood co-host the awards show at 8 p.m. EDT, live on ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Winners were announced in two categories Thursday morning: Chesney and Tim McGraw's "Feel Like a Rock Star" won musical event of the year and Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" won video of the year.

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Online:

http://cmaworld.com

http://abc.go.com/shows/cma-awards

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For the latest country music news from the Associated Press: http://twitter.com. Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/faces-cmas-mark-change-country-music-115519273.html

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