The 17th annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) will be held Thursday evening through Saturday, 1-3 June 2000 in The Massey Business Center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Belmont University is located at the south end of Music Row.

ICMC solicits proposals in all disciplines related to all aspects of the history and contemporary status of Country Music. ICMC broadly defines Country Music to include variants from Precommercial, Old Time Country, Cajun, Cowboy, Western Swing, and the Nashville Sound to Bluegrass, Honky Tonk, Country Rock, New Traditionalist, Hot New Country, and Alternative Country. Proposals on the educational applications of Country Music from Kindergarten through the collegiate curriculum are also welcome. ICMC is truly international with papers having been presented by scholars from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Japan.

All presenters will be expected to pay the $60.00 (U.S.) registration fee. Proposals should include: 1. Title of paper. 2. A 75-100 word abstract. 3 Name of presenter(s). 4. Institutional affiliation(s). 5. Complete address(es). 6.Phone and fax numbers. 7. E-Mail address(es). Proposals may be submitted by E-Mail to JAkenson@tntech.edu or sent by conventional mail to James E. Akenson. Box 5042. Tennessee Technological University. Cookeville, TN 38505. U.S.A. Deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday, 29 October 1999.

Thursday evening, 1 June 2000 will provide an opportunity for attendees to gather and socialize informally and to hear a keynote talk on the state of country music. Friday and Saturday, 2-3 June 2000 will provide a wide variety of presentations dealing with the history and contemporary status of country music. ICMC will also feature intriguing panel discussions moderated by persons such as Mr. Ronnie Pugh of the Country Music Foundation. The Friday, 2 June 2000 luncheon will feature the Belmont University Country Music Book Of-The-Year Award.