(Nashville, TN - April 14, 2008) - The 25th Annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC), co-chaired by James Akenson and Don Cusic, will be held at Belmont University from May 22 to 24, 2008. The annual conference is a premier event for country music scholars and enthusiasts alike, celebrating the diverse history of country music through educational and entertaining presentations and panels.
 
"The International Country Music Conference is the premier academic event for those studying and writing about country music," stated conference co-chair Don Cusic. "It is appropriate that ICMC is held at Nashville's Belmont University. Chet Atkins, one of the 'fathers' of Music Row and the Nashville Sound, once said about country music, 'they should study this in college.' Well, now we do and the ICMC is the center of that universe."
 
Conference presenters span all facets of the country music community, including representatives from academic institutions, the media, historians, public libraries and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
 
The conference will feature several special presentations over the course of the three days, including the keynote presentation on Thursday evening, "In Honor of the 80th Anniversary of the First Cajun Recording" by Ryan Brasseaux of Yale University and Kevin Fontenot of Tulane University.

The Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel Discussion on Friday morning will honor the 40th anniversary of the publication of Bill Malone's seminal work, Country Music U.S.A. Mr. Malone will be a special guest for the presentation and participate as a panelist. The Belmont University Curb Music Industry Awards and the Charlie Lamb Excellence In Country Music Journalism Awards will also be presented on Friday. Friday will conclude at the Legendary Quonset Hut with a presentation recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Louisiana Hayride.

On Saturday, a special panel will honor the 75th anniversary of Jimmie Rodgers death by examining his historical impact on the genre and the future influence of his music.
 
Registration for ICMC is $100 and includes breakfast and lunch. Registration materials must be received by Friday, May 16, 2008. Checks should be sent to James Akenson, Box 5042, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505.

For more information on the conference, visit www.internationalcountrymusic.org.

The full conference program is available online at www.internationalcountrymusic.org/schedule.html.