Saturday, 15 March 2025

UK Falls In Love With Country Music But Homegrown Acts Need To Be Embraced Too – Enter The UK-CMA

UK FALLS IN LOVE WITH COUNTRY MUSIC BUT HOMEGROWN ACTS NEED TO BE EMBRACED TOO – ENTER THE UK-CMA 

·         The UK-CMA launches on 10th March 2025

·         Membership organisation for UK artists, musicians, and industry professionals

·         Founded to ‘Unite, Promote and Develop’ UK Country Music 

“We are fighting the cause for the UK country music industry,” says John Finch, Chair of the newly founded UK Country Music Association (UK-CMA) which launches on 10th March 2025.

The UK-CMA was founded to support the 2,000+ artists, musicians and industry professionals who strive to make a living from writing and performing country music. The timing is right. According to IQ Live Music Intelligence, in the last five years there has been an increase in the consumption of country music by 380%, while, in 2024, The Economist reported that country overtook easy listening to become one of the five most popular genres of music in the UK.

When it comes to the UK country scene, it is artists from the US that dominate the limelight. John Finch says, “American artists get all the plaudits! The UK Country Radio Airplay Chart is packed with Nashville artists but rarely includes any UK-based acts. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the comparative size of UK and US markets. However, UK acts are as good as, and in some cases better than, many of their US counterparts.

“We believe that greater awareness of the UK scene, especially in other markets like the US, Canada and Australia, will propel more tracks by UK artists into key playlists, which will increase streaming consumption and ticket sales.’”

There are four key elements that underpin the plans of UK-CMA: 

1.     Promote UK artists and their music with information on the scale and quality of the scene to the media, both in the UK and around the world.

2.     Help these artists form alliances with the wider country music community, including those in Scandinavia, mainland Europe, Canada and Australasia, to improve awareness of the undeniable quality within UK country music.

3.     Develop existing talent, from grassroots up, and foster collaboration among artists to equip them with industry knowledge, write even better songs and improve concert performances.

4.     Unite the UK Country Music community, from north to south and east to west.

No matter your age, background or experience, it has never been a better time to catch country music live across the UK: 

·         At revue shows and club nights like Buck N Bull Saloon, the new Lil’ Nashville venue and ‘London’s first and only honky-tonk and country music bar’, the Dukes Head.

·         At listening rooms like York’s FortyFive Vinyl Café and regular songwriters’ nights, such as Nashville Sounds in the Round at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

·         At festivals across the UK, with the inaugural Roadhouse Weekender in July set to complement Country2Country in March, Highways in May, and The Long Road in August. There are also wonderful boutique festivals like Country on the Coast, Buckle & Boots and The British Country Music Festival. 

The UK Country Music Association (UK-CMA) is led by a team of professionals with experience across music, business, education, and communications.

Each board member plays a key role in supporting and developing UK country music.

 Meet the UK-CMA Board:

 John Finch – Chair
With over 50 years in the industry as a musician, promoter, and producer, John also has a 40-year background in investment. He leads UK-CMA and oversees outreach and sponsorship.

 Morag Finch – Finance & Operations
A finance and operations expert, Morag ensures UK-CMA’s policies and expenditure align with its mission. She is a passionate supporter of live music.

Geoff Meads – Technology
An artist, musician, studio engineer, and industry instructor, Geoff manages UK-CMA’s website, IT, and technical training for the Academy.

 Hannah Roper – Education
An artist, radio presenter, festival director and coach, Hannah oversees the UK-CMA Academy, curating educational resources and organising industry-focused events.

Together, they are working to promote, support, and develop UK country music.


























MEMBERSHIP

The annual fee for ARTISTS is £25 per person, per year.
The annual fee for INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS is £50 per person, per year.
As a FAN (non-voting) member, the annual fee is £15. (Fan Members will receive access to the UK-CMA blog, regular news releases and playlist of UK country artists updated with their latest releases on a regular basis.  You will also have the knowledge that you are helping us to promote UK country music, develop existing and up-and-coming talent and grow the UK country music scene to its full potential). 
APPLY HERE

UK Country Music Association (UK-CMA) have a SPOTIFY playlist with over 7 hours of UK Country Music. In future UK-CMA members will be able to submit their tracks for inclusion. Volunteer and CMA Nashville’s British Country Music Show presenter Mark Dare (See PROFILE | FACEBOOK) curated the playlist. “A rolling playlist of Country, Americana and related genres....all UK artists, and those who now call the UK home”. - Mark Dare

129 songs, about 7 hr 30 min Listen to it HERE or below: 

****   USE the Playlist play control 2nd left from top of the screen to see the playlisted..tracks and select one to play from the drop down menu  ***  👇

For further information or interviews, contact:

John Finch, Chair: john.finch@uk-cma.com

Jonny Brick, Communications Director: jonny.brick@uk-cma.com

For more reading & information read the Blog Post: The UK Country Music Association A Country Way of Life, by Jonny Brick 

#ukcountry #ukcountrynews #ukcountrymusic #countrymusicuk #countrymusician #countryartist

The UK Country Music Association The Olde Barn, Broad Oak Lane, Bury UK

The UK Country Music Association (UK-CMA) is a membership organisation that, as a collective, seeks to promote, develop, and build community within UK Country Music. The UK-CMA is a registered Community Interest Company no. 16054122.

CONNECT with UK-CMA – The Voice of UK Country:
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