Ratings Jump 26 Percent for 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Strong Performance Drives Record Sales, Underlines Consumer Demand for
Country Music & Country Music-Themed Television Programming

LOS ANGELES, May 30 -- The 43rd Annual Academy of Country
Music Awards drew 11.7 million viewers and was the second-highest rated
program throughout the full three hours it aired on Sunday, May 18th on CBS
-- an increase of 26 percent from the previous year.

The show reversed the trend of declining awards show ratings and posted
across-the-board increases during a week in which total viewership of the
five major networks was 13 percent less than the same time a year ago,
according to Nielsen Media Research.

The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards also had a positive
impact on record sales for artists who performed at the event. According to
Nielsen Soundscan, Carrie Underwood's sales increased 58 percent, Rodney
Atkins' sales increased 73 percent, Miranda Lambert's sales increased 52
percent, Garth Brooks' sales increased 33 percent and Brooks & Dunn's sales
increased 19 percent, among others. Sugarland had a 72 percent increase and
notched the highest country chart debut of their career at #27 with their
current single "All I Want To Do," which they performed live during the
show. Their previous best was #36 with "Want To."

The strong performance of the show and increased consumer appetite for
country is good news for Dick Clark Productions and the Academy of Country
Music, which recently announced an exclusive partnership agreement to
develop new concert specials, multiple country music-themed reality and
competition series, as well as artist profiles and other programming
initiatives that will air on both music-oriented networks and other
broadcast and cable networks. The partnership is also developing both
repurposed and original country music-themed programming for new media
platforms.

"This is a terrific accomplishment, particularly when you consider the
current television environment," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the
Academy of Country Music. "If viewer erosion from the writer's strike was
taken out of the scenario, I think our ratings increase would have been
even more significant. At the end of the day, the success of our show this
year really demonstrates the appeal of country music and viewer's
investment in the format."

Romeo credits the ratings success to the growing popularity of country
music, and points to the first-ever fan-voted Entertainer of the Year
category as one reason consumers were potentially more engaged this year.

Orly Adelson, President of Dick Clark Productions, added "CBS's strong
support of the program and the contributions made by our partners, such as
Great American Country (GAC), Westwood One, The Home Depot and Six Flags,
all provided added exposure to millions of consumers through advertising,
signage and promotions. We have a lot of people to thank for this success."

In fact, media partner GAC's exclusive "ACM Orange Carpet Live"
pre-show special in conjunction with the 43rd Annual Academy of Country
Music Awards reached more than 1.1 million viewers on show day, an increase
from last year of 82 percent for viewers ages 25-54 and 24 percent for
female viewers ages 25-54.

"The incredible line-up of performances is a tribute to the Academy of
Country Music's unique access and support in the country music world," said
Adelson. "The ratings performance is a shot in the arm for our partnership
with the Academy of Country Music. We are very excited about what lies
ahead and are accelerating development of country themed original
programming."

Romeo added, "Dick Clark Productions has always known how to put
together first-rate television programming and we're enthusiastic about the
ideas being developed for our partnership -- we all believe that further
success is right around the corner."

About the Academy of Country Music

Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and
industry-driven organization, that provides the financial resources to
ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The Academy
of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and
humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its
charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards promoting Learning Through
Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more than
4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is
headquartered in Encino, Calif.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, please visit
http://www.acmcountry.com. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY
MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit http://www.acmcf.org.

About Dick Clark Productions, Inc.

Founded in 1957, Dick Clark Productions, Inc. ("DCP") is a leading
independent producer of television programming. DCP produces perennial hits
such as the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, Dick Clark's
New Year's Rockin' Eve and the Academy of Country Music Awards. DCP also
produces popular weekly television programming, including So You Think You
Can Dance, and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and
extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of
American Bandstand, among other things. For additional information, please
visit http://www.dickclarkproductions.com.




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