1. Nominee/Nominee Representative must complete the online E-mail Authorization Request Form and submit it to CMA for approval. Click here to access the E-mail Authorization Request Form. At that time, Nominee/Nominee Representative can make payment to CMA via check or credit card.
2. Upon approval from CMA, Nominee/Nominee Representative will be contacted by Hi-Fi Fusion (the authorized e-mailing house for 2008) directly to work out the logistics of the mailing and to determine the fees for sending and creating the e-mail (as applicable).
3. After the mailing is completed, Hi-Fi Fusion will invoice the Nominee/Nominee Representative directly for the e-mail distribution and creative design (as applicable).
   

As the authorized e-mailing house, Hi-Fi Fusion will handle the actual distribution (aka “blasting” or “sending”) of your e-mail. The cost of the blast alone (to the CMA membership database) will run a flat fee of $1,000.

As for creating your e-mail and/or e-card message, Hi-Fi Fusion is CMA’s preferred provider of all e-mail/e-card creative. Hi-Fi Fusion’s fee to create an e-mail and/or e-card message can run anywhere from $1000 (for an HTML e-mail only) to $2,500 (for an e-mail and an e-card that includes edited video) depending on the level of difficulty. As needed, Hi-Fi Fusion can even shoot high-quality video (interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, etc.) to satisfy your e-card vision (note: video shoots will likely require additional fees).

So, what are you looking at as far as total costs? By way of example, let’s say that you are a Bronze Level Organizational Member of CMA. And, let’s say that you’ve asked Hi-Fi Fusion to create an e-mail and an e-card for you that is of medium difficulty. Given that scenario, the following costs would apply:

If you chose not to use Hi-Fi Fusion for the creation of your e-mail and/or e-card, you must still provide outside creative to Hi-Fi Fusion so that your e-mail can be distributed. In that case, you will need to adhere to the specific technical requirements as outlined in the following section.

E-cards should be designed in Flash 5 or greater, have a preloader and be no larger than 1MB in file size (preferably closer to 500KB to cut down on the time needed to load the file). The e-card’s physical size should be no larger than 600x450 pixels and if the e-card includes video, it must be able to stream on high bandwidth. The e-card’s .swf file will need to be sent directly to Hi-Fi Fusion (CMAAwards@HiFiFusion.com).

First Ballot
Monday, June 30 - First ballot e-mailed to eligible CMA Voting Members
Tuesday, July 18 - First ballot return deadline

Second Ballot
Wednesday, August 13 - Second ballot e-mailed to eligible CMA Voting Members
Tuesday, August 26 - Second ballot return deadline

Final Ballot
Finalists for “The 42nd Annual CMA Awards” announced - TBD
Friday, October 17 - Final ballot e-mailed to eligible CMA Voting Members
Tuesday, November 4th- Final ballot return deadline

If Hi-Fi Fusion is creating the e-mail/e-card, the Nominee/Nominee Representative will need to provide all artwork, specific copy points, music, etc. to Hi-Fi Fusion at least two weeks before the desired e-mail distribution date. As a general rule, more time yields better results, so it is recommended that you contact Hi-Fi Fusion as soon as you decide to utilize the CMA Awards E-mail Service.

If Hi-Fi Fusion is not creating the e-mail/e-card, the Nominee/Nominee Representative will need to deliver all required items (outlined above under “technical requirements”) to Hi-Fi Fusion a minimum of three business days before the desired e-mail distribution date.

Nominee/Nominee Representative approved for using this service is responsible for dealing directly with Hi-Fi Fusion regarding all logistics and all additional charges incurred.

Hi-Fi Fusion is responsible for the distribution and scheduling of e-mails going to the current CMA Awards Voting Membership e-mail list. As desired by the Nominee/Nominee Representative, Hi-Fi Fusion may also be responsible for the creation of the e-mail and e-card message.

CMA and Hi-Fi Fusion are not responsible for any e-mail distribution delays due to the limitations, inefficiencies and/or security protocols of recipients’ e-mail software and/or e-mail service providers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the CMA Voting Membership e-mail list as well and the technological universality of the e-mail distribution system. In addition, Federal Law guarantees e-mail recipients the right to “unsubscribe” from e-mail distribution lists and accordingly, the CMA and Hi-Fi Fusion will provide this “unsubscribe” option on every e-mail distributed through the CMA Awards E-mail Service.

Payment for e-mail distribution and e-mail/e-card creative (as applicable) must be sent to Hi-Fi Fusion, the authorized e-mailing house and preferred provider of all e-mail/e-card creative. Payment (check or money order) is due upon completion of the e-mail “blast” and you will be invoiced directly from Hi-Fi Fusion.