* RIAA launched the Digital Sales Awards in 2004, reflecting singles sales downloaded from legal online music sites. Single tracks are awarded Gold (100,000 downloads), Platinum (200,000) and multi-Platinum (400,000+) certifications. The first Country artist to earn an RIAA Digital Gold sales award was Big & Rich for their single "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy." Gretchen Wilson also earned a Digital Gold certification for "Redneck Woman."
* Wilson's debut album Here For The Party was certified triple Platinum, tying her with pop artist Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography as the highest certified debut album by a female artist in 2004.
* Brad Paisley (Mud on the Tires), Rascal Flatts (Melt), Keith Urban (Golden Road) and Gretchen Wilson (Here for the Party) received their first multi-Platinum album certifications in 2004. Big & Rich (Horse of a Different Color), Josh Turner (Long Black Train) and Wilson (Here for the Party) received their first Platinum album certifications in 2004. Dierks Bentley (Dierks Bentley), Big & Rich (Horse of a Different Color), Pat Green (Wave on Wave), Buddy Jewell (Buddy Jewell), Julie Roberts (Julie Roberts), Turner (Long Black Train) and Wilson (Here for the Party) received their first Gold album certifications in 2004.
* In addition, the RIAA certified 13 Gold, 9 Platinum and 2 multi-Platinum Country Longform Videos.
* For more information on album, single and video certifications, visit the searchable database on www.riaa.com
Touring Events
* Listed below are the Top 10 all-genre tours and the Top 10 Country tours based on attendance and gross sales, according to Pollstar magazine for shows played between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2004:
COUNTRY TOP 10 (attendance)
- Kenny Chesney - 1,143,909
- Toby Keith - 913,520
- Tim McGraw - 764,100
- Alan Jackson/Martina McBride - 660,040
- Jimmy Buffett - 580,829
- Shania Twain - 525,930
- George Strait - 391,167
- Brooks & Dunn - 366,121
- Rascal Flatts - 344,827
- Alabama - 304,311
COUNTRY TOP 10 (gross sales)
- Kenny Chesney - 50.8 million
- Toby Keith - 43.7 million
- Tim McGraw - 40.1 million
- Jimmy Buffett - 34.6 million
- Shania Twain - 34.5 million
- Alan Jackson/Martina McBride - 34.0 million
- George Strait - 24.8 million
- Brooks & Dunn - 15.0 million
- Alabama - 14.4 million
- Rascal Flatts - 11.1 million
In addition to the tours listed above, notable touring events in 2004 included:
* The legendary Alabama ended 25 years of relentless touring with "The American Farewell Tour." MuzikMafia leaders Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson launched their "American Revolution Tour." Reba McEntire returned to touring after a three year hiatus. And, Country Music Hall of Fame member Willie Nelson joined Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bob Dylan on his "Still on the Road" summer tour for 21 dates.
* Keeping a Country Music tradition alive, several Country artists performed separate Christmas tours in December 2004 including: Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, Lonestar, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Martina McBride and Kenny Rogers.
CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair®
· Attendance at the 2004 CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair® took a jump from 124,000 in 2003 to a record-setting 132,000 fans throughout the four-day event in June. In its 33rd year, "Country Music's Biggest PartyT" featured more than 40 artists performing during the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; more than 80 artists performing on the Daytime Concerts at The Greased Lightning® Riverfront Park Stages; and a total of 346 artists appearing in the Wrangler® Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) at the Nashville Convention Center, which featured the new Acoustic Corner. Also new, CMA's Sports Zone included the first annual Fisher's ATV World Celebrity ATV Rodeo, "The Third Annual Andy Griggs Celebrity Archery Tournament," The BASSMASTER TOUR EXPO and more. The Bush's® Baked Beans Family Zone was buzzing with activities for family members of all ages. Returning in 2004 were CMA Celebrity Close Up, CMA Music Festival After HoursT, and the stars of NBC Daytime dramas "Days of our Lives" and "Passions."
· For the first time, the 2004 CMA Music Festival was filmed for a two-hour television special that aired July 14 on the CBS Television Network. The special was second in households (6.1/11), viewers (9.19m), adults 25-54 (3.4/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/08). CBS won the night in households (8.0/14), viewers (11.68m), adults 25-54 (4.7/13), adults 18-49 (3.9/13) and adults 18-34 (3.0/11). CBS won every half-hour in households and viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. "CMA Music Festival: Country Music's Biggest Party" was ranked the No. 16 show of the week ending July 18, 2004.
