McGraw picked up two of the year's top awards, Song of the Year and Single of the Year. McGraw and his band, long-time users of Sennheiser RF gear, adopted Evolution 500 Series wireless systems with e865 capsules and Sennheiser personal monitoring systems earlier this year.
The hybrid Sennheiser SKM5000 handheld RF transmitter with Neumann KK105-S capsule microphone has become a staple on televised music and entertainment events, and the three-hour 2004 CMA Awards broadcast was no exception. In addition to the top-of-the-line combination being used by presenters, the hybrid, which offers unequalled Neumann sound quality together with rock-solid Sennheiser wireless performance, was used by guest stars such as Faith Hill, Reba McIntyre, Willie Nelson, Big & Rich and Shania Twain.
But the most talked-about microphone in the show was Gretchen Wilson's 1949 vintage Neumann M49. The classic microphone, on loan from producer John McBride, whose Blackbird Studios - co-owned with wife, country star, and multiple CMA Award-winner, Martina McBride - is home to a collection of over 250 vintage tube microphones, including many Neumanns, made such an impact that it was even singled out in mainstream press reports of the show. Wilson, who took home the Horizon Award for best new artist, has sold three million copies of her debut album, 'Here For The Party'. Her fellow nominees, Julie Roberts and Josh Turner, made use of the Sennheiser/Neumann hybrid RF mic during their performances on the broadcast.
Rascal Flatts, winners of the Vocal Group of the Year Award for the second year running, performed their new single 'Bless The Broken Road' with the aid of Sennheiser evolution series microphones and personal monitoring systems. Gary LeVox uses an evolution series 865 capsule on the evolution SKM 500 wireless handheld, and Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney both use Sennheiser evolution EK500 bodypack transmitters, with evolution 600 series microphones used extensively on the drums.
(Lee Baldock)
