Kenny Chesney wins CMA Entertainer of the Year

Audio-Technica celebrates 15 Years of providing microphone solutions
for CMA Award

Audio-Technica endorser Kenny Chesney won country music’s top award, Entertainer of the Year, for the fourth time in five years, at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards November 12. Chesney, who has created such hits as "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven," and "There Goes My Life," also won the prize in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Chesney performed at show using Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, with the AEW-T3300 microphone/transmitter and AEW-R5200 true diversity frequency-agile dual receiver.

5000 Series wireless systems were used with the AEW-T5400 microphone/transmitter for front-line vocals by Brooks & Dunn and Audio-Technica endorser Jason Aldean. The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included the AE5400 for vocals; AT4040 and AT4050 on overheads and guitar cabinets; AT4047 on guitars; AE5100 on overheads; AE2500 and ATM250 on kick; AE3000 and ATM350 on toms, percussion; ATM450 on hi hat; and ATM650 on snare.

For the 15th consecutive year, Audio-Technica has supported the Country Music Association Awards by providing an extensive selection of vocal and instrument microphones for its annual awards show. The 42nd Annual CMA Awards aired live in 5.1-channel surround sound Wednesday, November 12th, on the ABC Television Network from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and featured over 250 hard-wired and wireless Audio-Technica microphones.

The team responsible for the audio at this year’s CMA’s included a who’s who of broadcast audio. The audio was supervised by award-winning Audio Producers Michael Abbott and Tom Davis; ATK/Audiotek provided the sound system with FOH (front-of-house) Production Mixer Patrick Baltzell and FOH Music Mixer Rick Shimer; the broadcast music mix was handled by Frenchtown, New Jersey-based Music Mix Mobile Music Mixers John Harris and Jay Vicari.

Music Mixer Jay Vicari said, “For many years, Audio-Technica has been, and continues to be, my go-to mic because of clarity, fidelity, overall reliability and consistency from microphone to microphone. With A-T, I don’t have to work as hard to get a great vocal sound, and that makes my life a lot easier. Plus, the quality of audio that comes through with A-T’s RF is not sacrificed because it’s a wireless — it’s transparent.”

Music Mixer John Harris echoed Vicari’s remarks: “For high-profile broadcast events like the CMA’s, I always turn to Audio-Technica because you don’t have any room for error. A-T gives me an unwavering level of confidence, as I know the mics will perform flawlessly regardless of the situation.”

The CMA Awards presentation is recognized as Country Music's Biggest Night™ and represents the pinnacle of achievement for those involved in country music.