Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams Highlight Sampler to be Released on August 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Americana Music Association has announced the artist roster for the first NARM/Americana CD Sampler, to be released August 3, 2004. The artists include Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Lucinda Williams, the Jayhawks, Ralph Stanley, Shelby Lynne, Jay Farrar, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash featuring Johnny Cash, BR549, Tift Merritt, Danny Barnes and more.
In addition to the established artists featured on the CD Sampler, slots were awarded to new and emerging artists in an effort to help create awareness of upcoming talent. Artists include Anne McCue, Arthur Godfrey, Fairfax, King Wilke, and Lori McKenna among others. The full track listing and sequence will be announced in the coming weeks.

Some of the tracks selected to be featured on the Americana CD Sampler -- including those by Lucinda Williams, the Jayhawks, Ralph Stanley, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Kris Kristofferson -- are from yet-to be released projects which are scheduled to come out after the release of the CD Sampler. The remaining tracks appear on the artists’ current release. The NARM/Americana CD Sampler is the first industry-wide effort to help raise the profile and sales of Americana music at retail.

The CD, which will be distributed by Ryko Distribution, has a street date of August 3, 2004, and will sell for a suggested list price of $1.98 list price. The CD Sampler will be placed in counter displays next to registers across the country and in high-traffic areas. POP will be available to help create greater visibility for the artists on the sampler and the sampler itself. The target sales goal is expected to be 75,000 – 100,000 units within the first 12 months

The Americana CD Sampler is an essential part of a comprehensive marketing strategy designed by the Americana Music Association to help raise awareness and sales of Americana artists. NARM & AMA are also launching Americana Music Month in September 2004, providing additional high visibility opportunities for participating artists & labels on the CD Sampler. In addition, the Americana Music Association is presently creating a consumer database using both physical and digital bounceback cards. Participating labels will have the ability to communicate with those consumers
For additional information, please contact JD May at the Americana Music Association, (615) 438-7500 or jd@americanamusic.org