When the Country Music Assn. took its annual awards show to New York in 2005, it hoped the move would bring wider exposure for country music and its artists.

But it brought an unexpected bonus -- a newfound appreciation back in Tennessee. "Before we took off for New York, we took each other for granted," CMA chief operating officer Tammy Genovese said of Nashville's music and business communities.

"The CMA Awards had always been this industry thing . . . it was never something that Nashville related to," added CMA board president Mike Dungan, who is also president/CEO of Capitol Records Nashville. "It could have been anywhere."

The show had resided in Music City for all of its 38 years. When community leaders heard the CMA was planning the move, they asked the association to reconsider. While the CMA took its show on the road regardless, a committee of CMA board members and civic leaders was formed to address not only the show's return for its 40th anniversary, but "to eliminate the disconnect between the music industry and the general business community," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

"It was the first time, to my knowledge, that anyone on the city side said, 'You can't leave, this is a Nashville event, it belongs to us,"' Dungan said. "And I think it's the first time anyone on the CMA side said, 'Yeah, it should belong to the city, it should be a signature event, not just this little thing that happens for the music community."

The CMA, though, realized it lacked the expertise and resources to create a citywide event. The chamber of commerce, the CVB and local business leaders agreed to help out. The committee also helped the trade group secure sponsorships to cover the increased production costs created by doing the show at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in downtown Nashville.

In addition to the awards, which take place November 6, the CMA and the committee initiated "Nashville Celebrates Country," a week of public and private concerts and events leading to the show. While a similar event took place in New York last year, it was a first for Nashville. Among the highlights is "Rhinestones & Roses," an invitation-only fashion event where models and country artists walk the runway wearing clothes once owned by Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, among others.

One party will allow members of the business community, country artists and corporate sponsors to mix. Harper's Bazaar will do a spring photo shoot with the awards and party as a backdrop. Meanwhile, the "Broadway Meets Country" concert, a carryover from New York, will pair country artists with Broadway stars.

Because this year's awards are at the Gaylord -- which is substantially larger than its previous home at the Grand Ole Opry House -- ticket packages have been sold to tour groups, corporations and fans who might not have gotten in before.

Spyridon hopes the arrangement between the business and music communities will live on. "The goal is to continue this," he said. "Everybody has entered into it with the idea that we want this to be permanent." (Ken Tucker)