This boxed set has achieved Wal- Mart’s highest volume of
sales ever for the first day of a musical release. As a result, Garth
Brooks: The Limited Series achieved Gold status, more than half a
million copies sold, the first day it was available for purchase in
Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB locations.

Brooks, named the Recording Industry’s Artist of the Century before
retiring from performing in 2001, unveiled his new boxed set on Nov.
10th during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
Preorders on Walmart.com  reached record-breaking results on the site prior to its launch in stores.

Garth Brooks: The Limited Series boxed set is exclusive to Wal-Mart and
SAM’S CLUB locations around the U.S. and Canada. The boxed set is being
released as a limited edition set and only limited quantities are
available.

"Garth
Brooks’ fan appeal is tremendous," said David Porter, Wal-Mart vice
president for merchandise. "And for Wal-Mart to be able to bring our
customers a unique set of music that includes one CD of music that’s
never been released before plus so much more … it doesn’t get much
better than this for Garth fans! And since this is a limited series
set, once it’s gone; it’s gone … and it’s going fast!"

Garth Brooks: The Limited Series boxed set features five and one-half
hours of music on five CDs including a Lost Sessions CD with 11
previously unreleased Garth recordings and a 90 minute all-access DVD
with behind-the- scenes footage and a gallery of more than 150 photos.
Seventy tracks are featured from Sevens, Scarecrow and a 2-disc Double
Live CD that is packaged with one of three new commemorative double
live collector covers. In addition, the boxed set also contains a
68-page booklet with lyrics and color photos. The boxed set retails for
$25.00 and is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, SAM’S CLUB,
Walmart.com and GarthBrooks.com.

The boxed set also includes Brooks’ recent Billboard Country Chart hit,
"Good Ride Cowboy," written to honor Brooks’ good friend, Chris LeDoux.
"Good Ride Cowboy" was released at radio in October and is currently at
#5 on the Billboard Country Charts in the U.S. and #2 in Canada.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and SAM’S CLUB locations in the United States. The
company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company’s
securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under
the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by
visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/ . Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com/ and http://www.samsclub.com/ .

Popularity: unranked

The
40 TH  ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will honor the Academy’s 40
extraordinary years  as an organization supporting, promoting and
enhancing the advancement of the country music  industry worldwide. 
The two-hour special will look back into the history of the Academy
and  commemorate the strides the organization has made with a special
nod to the Academy’s  founders, and acknowledge artists who have
achieved Academy-related milestones in their  careers.    

It
is amazing to watch country superstars such as Kenny Chesney, Reba
McEntire, Montgomery  Gentry, Rascal Flatts, Lee Ann Womack &
Trisha Yearwood paying tribute to their idols by  performing some of
their hits,” said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of
Country  Music. “These are artists whose influence transcends them.
These songs have impacted not only  these artist’s careers and lives
but their fans lives as well.”   

Country
music’s finest will guide viewers through the career achievements of
artists who have  earned the Academy’s most prestigious accolades. 
Additionally, the Academy will present its  Triple Crown Award, given
to artists who have previously won ACM Awards in all three of the 
following categories:  Top New Male/Female Vocalist and/or Duo/Group;
Top Male/Female  Vocalist and/or Duo/Group; and Entertainer of the
Year. Those eligible to be honored for the  Triple Crown include Brooks
& Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Mickey Gilley, Merle  Haggard
and Barbara Mandrell. 

The
special will also acknowledge artists who have unique and outstanding
individual Academyrelated achievements, including those who lead a
category with the most number of wins.   

Each
award recipient on the 40 th  ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will be honored
with a  trophy that has been specially jeweled by Johnathon Arndt
Gallery of Jewels in Beverly Hills.  This one-of-a-kind trophy contains
13.38 ct weight of rubies and 3.2 ct weight of diamonds.   

The
Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support,
promote, and  enhance the advancement of the country music industry
worldwide.  The Academy, which is  comprised of more than 3,800
professional members and a newly established Associate  Membership, is
headquartered in Burbank, Calif.  For more information on the ACADEMY
OF  COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please
visit  www.acmcountry.com.   

THE
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC’S 40 TH  ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION is  produced
by dick clark productions.  Dick Clark and R.A. Clark are the executive
producers.   Barry Adelman is the producer, and Jeff Margolis is the
director. The executive in charge of  production is Bob Bardo, and the
executive in charge is Fran LaMaina. 

Popularity: unranked

If you pick up the December 5 issue of People magazine (on stands now),
Sugarland is featured as "Country’s Buzz Band." The trio of
singer/songwriters from Atlanta talk about the ingredients for their
sweet success.

Look for a performance of their current hit single, "Just Might (Make Me
Believe)" on the 2005 Radio Music Awards, which will be broadcast LIVE
from the Aladdin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Monday, December 19
on NBC from 9:00-11:00pm EST. Sugarland will also appear on Dick Clark’s
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special December 31, which airs on NBC from
11:30pm-2:00am EST. They will perform their smash hit "Something More"
and the rockin’ tune "Down in Mississippi (Up To No Good)," both off
their Platinum-selling debut album Twice The Speed of Life.

Popularity: unranked

“CMA is very excited to present the second ‘New from Nashville’
program featuring two very talented artists,” said CMA Executive
Director Ed Benson. “With the success of last year’s
tour and its warm reception in London and Glasgow, we’re expanding this
year to include a performance in Dublin where Country Music is already
very popular.”

On Jan. 16, 2006 Bentley and Everett will be performing at Whelan’s
in Dublin; on Jan. 17, 2006 they will perform in Glasgow as part of the
Celtic Connection; and on Jan. 19, 2006 they will showcase at the
Carling Academy in Islington, London. Paul Fenn of Asgard Promotions
will produce the shows for the CMA. All shows will be open to the
public on a limited basis.

Dierks Bentley
Bentley’s reputation as a
Country renegade, blending traditional Country with a newer edge, has
garnered the attention of fans and critics alike. Consistently ranked
at the top of the charts, his self-titled debut CD spawned the hit
singles "What Was I Thinkin’." "How Am I Doin’?" and "My Last Name" and
was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). His sophomore album, Modern Day Drifter, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard
Charts in 2005 and was recently certified Gold by the RIAA, taking him
from talented newcomer to chart-topping Country mainstay.

The Phoenix native moved to Nashville at 19, paid his dues playing
the famous honky tonks of Nashville’s lower Broadway and from those
early days while a researcher at cable network TNN he developed a deep
admiration for the Opry and its members. He joined the ranks of some of
his heroes recently when he was inducted in to the Grand Ole Opry as
the youngest current member. Bentley’s long and varied list of awards
and accolades includes 2005 CMA Horizon Award, CMT’s Breakthrough Video
Award, Top New Artist of the Year by Billboard and R&R, Breakout Artist of the Year by Music Row magazine and one of the Top 10 Breakout Artists of the Year by “Access Hollywood.”

Jace Everett
Growing up in Grapevine,
Texas, the sounds of Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings and
other Texas legends were in heavy rotation in Everett’s house. The bass
player/sideman’s career literally took him from his hometown church to
Nashville and around the world. In addition to garnering material for a
wealth of songs, his travels forced him to learn different languages.

“I speak English fairly well,” he said. “My French is good enough to
get by and my Spanish is good enough to get an ass-kickin’ handed to me
on the north side of Ft. Worth.”

By the time he made it back to Nashville he was the frontman –
playing guitar, performing songs he had written. Eventually he secured
a major deal with Sony Nashville’s Epic Records label. Produced by Mark
Wright and Greg Droman, Everett’s self-titled debut album is a musical
biography of hell-raising rockers and soul-baring ballads, including
the current self-penned single "Bad Things."

“Last year’s NuNV [“New From Nashville”] tour featuring Jessi
Alexander, Jamie O’Neal and Jon Randall, received critical acclaim from
many media and industry executives within the United Kingdom,” said Jeff Walker,
Chairman of CMA’s Global Markets Task Force. “We feel that we will
capitalize on the momentum generated from last year’s event with a
strong follow up with two of Country Music’s hot young artists. The
NuNV tour is opening doors to a global audience for Country Music.”

For information about CMA and its initiatives visit www.CMAworld.com.

Popularity: unranked

Artist of the year:

50 Cent
Mariah Carey
Kelly Clarkson
Green Day

Group of the year:

The Black Eyed Peas
Destiny’s Child
Green Day
The Killers

Album of the year:

50 Cent, "The Massacre"
Mariah Carey, "The Emancipation of Mimi"
Eminem, "Encore"
Green Day, "American Idiot"

Hot 100 song of the year:

Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
Mario, "Let Me Love You"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"

Top selling single of the year:

American Idol Season 4 Finalists, “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”
Bo Bice, “Inside Your Heaven”
The Pussycat Dolls, featuring Busta Rhymes, “Don’t Cha”
Carrie Underwood, “Inside Your Heaven”

Digital song of the year:

Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
Green Day, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"

New artist of the year:

Fantasia
The Game
Gwen Stefani
Rob Thomas

R&B/hip-hop album of the year:

50 Cent, "The Massacre"
Mariah Carey, "The Emancipation of Mimi"
Destiny’s Child, "Destiny Fulfilled"
Eminem, "Encore"

R&B/hip-hop artist of the year:

50 Cent
Mariah Carey
Destiny’s Child
Fantasia

R&B/hip-hop song of the year:

Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Fantasia, "Truth Is"
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris, "Lovers & Friends"
Mario, "Let Me Love You"

Female R&B/hip-hop artist of the year:

Mariah Carey
Ciara
Fantasia
Alicia Keys

Rap artist of the year:

50 Cent
The Game
Ludacris
T.I.

Rap album of the year:

50 Cent, "The Massacre"
Eminem, "Encore"
The Game, "The Documentary"
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, "Crunk Juice"

Rap song of the year:

50 Cent featuring Olivia, "Candy Shop"
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris, "Lovers & Friends"
Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, "Drop It Like It’s Hot"
The Game featuring 50 Cent, "How We Do"

Rock artist of the year:

Breaking Benjamin
Green Day
Papa Roach
Velvet Revolver

Modern rock artist of the year:

Foo Fighters
Green Day
The Killers
Nine Inch Nails

Modern rock song of the year:

Foo Fighters, "Best of You"
Gorillaz, "Feel Good Inc."
Green Day, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
Nine Inch Nails, "The Hand That Feeds"

Country artist of the year:

Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Rascal Flatts
Gretchen Wilson

Country album of the year:

Toby Keith, "Greatest Hits 2"
Rascal Flatts, "Feels Like Today"
Shania Twain, "Greatest Hits"
Gretchen Wilson, "Here for the Party"

Country group of the year:

Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

Ringtone of the year:

50 Cent featuring Olivia, "Candy Shop"
Ciara featuring Missy Elliott, "1, 2 Step"
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris, "Lovers & Friends"
Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, "Drop It Like It’s Hot"

Popularity: unranked

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched the
"Amazon.com A-List For Hurricane Relief" – a partnership between
Amazon.com and more than a dozen celebrities and former president Bill
Clinton to raise awareness and funds for non-profit organizations
helping victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The program will begin
on Amazon.com tomorrow, November 30, with the exclusive premiere of a
recently recorded unreleased song entitled "Louisiana" by superstar Tim
McGraw and will continue every weekday through December 20 with a new
celebrity partner’s gift of exclusive content. Amazon.com customers
will have the opportunity to make donations to the hurricane relief
non-profit organization selected by each celebrity.

Tim McGraw is visiting the St. Bernard Parish City Hall today near New
Orleans to kick off the project and meet with hurricane victims. In
addition to hearing his song, beginning tomorrow Amazon.com customers
will see a personal message from McGraw and be able to donate to his
designated charity, Habitat For Humanity. Other non-profit
organizations selected by Amazon.com’s celebrity partners to receive
donations include the American Red Cross, Save The Children, UNICEF,
Sidewalk Angels, and the Bush Clinton Katrina Funds.

"People in my home state of Louisiana still desperately need our help
after their lives were changed forever by Hurricane Katrina. To help us
all remember that the losses caused by the hurricane remain, me and
some of my fellow artists have partnered up with Amazon.com," said
McGraw. "As a special way of saying thank you for making a donation to
one of the many worthy causes in the affected areas, each of us is
making something special available. I just ask that people find it in
their hearts to help any way they can. It is very much needed and will
be appreciated."

Amazon.com’s partners include former president Bill Clinton and
celebrities Clay Aiken, David Beckham, Blondie, Bon Jovi, Kelly
Clarkson, Faith Hill, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Rob
Thomas, Christy Turlington, and Trisha Yearwood. Content made available
these partners ranges from unreleased songs to behind-the-scenes tour
footage to drawings. Examples include never-seen-before videos of the
making of music videos by Faith Hill and Kelly Clarkson, tour footage
from Clay Aiken and Bon Jovi, and a drawing by Rob Thomas.

Amazon.com provides a safe and secure platform for making financial
contributions to non-profit organizations. Amazon.com customers have
demonstrated their willingness to use this platform and their
generosity towards worthy causes, evidenced by contributing more than
$12.5 million to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina and $16 million
for tsunami relief efforts.

"Rebuilding the Gulf Coast has just begun," said Kathy Savitt,
Amazon.com Vice President for Strategic Communications, Content, and
Initiatives. "Amazon.com is happy to give customers a convenient way to
continue their support while celebrating the season with exclusive
content from their favorite stars".

Popularity: unranked