We love hearing our favorite artists on the radio, but nothing quite beats seeing them in the flesh (okay, on TV) at a big red carpet event. With that in mind, when are the 2012 CMA Awards?

Surprisingly, the CMA Awards will be on a Thursday night this year, airing on ABC on Nov. 1, 2012. For the last several years, the broadcast has been live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on a Wednesday night. The venue and 8PM ET start time will remain the same for the 2012 CMA Awards.

“The CMA Awards is one of the most highly anticipated events for our industry each year," Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said in the announcement. "It’s a night to honor our finest performers, songwriters, record producers, musicians, and music video directors.”

Winners of the CMA Awards are determined by the over 11,000 industry professionals who are eligible to vote. The eligibility period is from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, meaning songs and albums released after that will be considered for the 2013 ceremony.

The 2012 CMA Country Christmas special will tape in the days following the 2012 CMA Awards as usual, this time on Nov. 3 at the Bridgestone Arena. Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland has hosted the event the previous two years. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have hosted the CMA Awards for four straight years.

More From Taste of Country