NASHVILLE, TN (Dierks Bentley Official Website) - Country Gazette, The Netherlands' leading Country
Music publication for more than 30 years, was named the winner of the 2005 CMA
Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. The award was presented to Country
Gazette staff writer Rineke van Beek on behalf of the publication's editor, Hans van Dam, by Capitol Nashville recording artist
Dierks Bentley and CMA Chief Strategic Officer Ed Benson after the Capitol Nashville Lunch and Performance in the CMA Performance Hall during Country
Radio Seminar (CRS-37). The award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which contribute to the development of Country
Music outside the United States. Radio, TV and print outlets, journalists, authors, editors, television writers and producers who reside outside the United States are eligible to win this award.
"I'm overwhelmed," said a surprised van Beek, who had been brought backstage to meet Bentley after his performance. "On behalf of Hans and Janny van Dam, I want to thank everyone at CMA."
"Since the day the magazine started, Country Gazette has been a strong, consistent voice for Country Music in The Netherlands as well as a solid supporter of CMA events," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "In addition to reporting about Country Music for their readers each month, the Country Gazette staff travels to Nashville several times each year to cover the CMA Music Festival, CMA Awards and CRS."
Bentley has been a strong supporter of CMA's global outreach efforts, having performed as part of the 2006 CMA "New From Nashville" series of concerts in Dublin, Ireland; London, England; and Glasgow, Scotland earlier this year.
Past recipients of the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award include: Terry Wogan and Paul Walters, BBC Radio 2, UK (2004); Country Music People, UK (2003); CMT Canada, Canada (2002); Howard Bowles, HSB Media, UK (2001); Gill Robert, MusicCountry, Australia/Pacific Rim (2000); Trevor Dann, BBC Music Entertainment, UK (1999); "The Midday Show," Australia (1998); BBC Radio 2, UK (1997); Mark Hagen, VH-1, UK (1996); Georges Lang, RTL, Luxembourg (1995); Avril MacRory, BBC Television, UK (1994); Tony Byworth, Byworth-Wootton, UK (1993); Wally Whyton, BBC Radio 2, UK (1992); Richard Wootton, Byworth-Wootton, UK (1991); Mark Cooper, BBC Television, UK (1990).
