Bear Family ~ An independent record label in Germany that specializes in reissuing music by classic country artists such as Jimmy Dickens, the Bailes Brothers, and Mac Wiseman. Bear Family web site
HNC ~ An abbreviation for "hot new country," a name commonly given to today's "pop-country."
IBMA ~ The International Bluegrass Music Association. IBMA web site
MCN ~ An abbreviation for Music City News, the now-defunct country music magazine once owned by Faron Young.
MJ ~ The Midnite Jamboree, America's 2nd longest-running radio show. The Midnite Jamboree is broadcast on WSM from the Texas Troubadour Theater at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop every Saturday night after the Opry®.
NSAI ~ Nashville Songwriters Association International. NSAI web site
RIAA ~ Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA web site
SPBGMA ~ The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. The acronym is pronounced spig' ma. SPBGMA web site
TTCB ~ An abbreviation for Takin' the Country Back, this web site, one of the first traditional and classic country music sites on the Internet (started in spring 1997).
WSM ~ The call letters for 650 WSM-AM in Nashville, the legendary radio station that has broadcasted the Grand Ole Opry® for nearly 80 years. When the radio station was owned by an insurance company, the call letters stood for "We Shield Millions." WSM-AM web site
