Brittany Schaffer Appointed New CEO of Country Music Association

The Country Music Association (CMA) has appointed Brittany Schaffer as its next CEO, effective January 1, 2027.

Backstory:

• Schaffer is currently Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, a role she will leave upon joining the CMA.

• Prior she spent five years as Head of Artist & Label Partnerships for Nashville at Spotify, shaping the strategy for the streaming giant’s country, Christian/gospel and Americana operations and partnerships.

• Before Spotify she was an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP.

Strategic transition:

• On January 14 CMA CEO Sarah Trahern announced her decision to retire at the end of the year, concluding her 13-year leadership tenure.

• Schaffer will join the CMA on September 8 but will not take up the CEO role until Trahern departs.

What they said:

• Brittany Schaffer: “Country music meets people where they are, and it changes lives every day. That starts with songwriters and artists and everyone who carries this music to fans around the world. Serving them is the honor of a lifetime.”

• She added: “Sarah Trahern will leave CMA and this community stronger than she found it. I’m grateful for her mentorship and friendship, and for a transition marked by the same professionalism and intentionality that defined her tenure. Together with CMA’s talented staff and members, we’ll build on that foundation. We’ll reinforce the connectivity within this community, bring renewed energy to our signature events, and find new ways to connect country music with fans around the world. And if we get that right, somewhere a song will find somebody who needs to hear it. That’s the heart of this work, and I can’t wait to get started.”