On The Move: Brittany Schaffer Named Next CMA CEO, Warner Music Expands ADA Across EMEA

Each week, NIF & ROSTR tracks all the industry moves you need to know about. Promotions, hirings, farewells — have one you want to share? Click here.

The Country Music Association has named Brittany Schaffer as its next CEO, succeeding Sarah Trahern, who is retiring after 13 years in the role. Schaffer currently serves as Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University, and previously spent five years as Spotify's Head of Artist & Label Partnerships for Nashville, shaping the streamer's country, Christian/gospel and Americana strategy. She joins the CMA on September 8 but won't take over as CEO until Trahern departs at the end of the year.

Warner Music Group is expanding its independent distribution and label services division, ADA, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with Howard Corner stepping into the newly created role of Head of ADA, EMEA. Corner retains his current post as Managing Director of ADA UK, a division he's led since 2013, and reports to Simon Robson, President of Recorded Music, EMEA.

Believe has unveiled a new unified structure across its Global Commercial and Product, Tech and Operations organizations. Elsa Bahamonde Bourgain, President of Artist Services and Label & Artist Solutions, will lead the combined commercial division reporting to Global Head of Music Romain Vivien, supported by Liubov Kevkhaian as VP of Label & Artist Solutions and Emmanuelle de Hosson, formerly General Director at Play Two, as VP of Artist Services. On the tech and ops side, Group COO Romain Becker will lead a unified Product, Tech and Operations structure reporting to Founder & CEO Denis Ladegaillerie, overseeing Group CTO Antoine Jacoutot, Global SVP Operations Sandrine Lalau-Keraly, and newly appointed Group CPO Luxi Huang.

Triple Tigers Records has promoted Raffaella Braun to Co-President, following last week's news that Kevin Herring was stepping down from the role ahead of retirement. Braun, previously the label's VP of Radio Promotion, will work alongside Co-President Annie Ortmeier and reports to Founder and Managing Partner George Couri. She joined Triple Tigers after stints as a CAA booking agent and event producer.

Sony Music Publishing has promoted Luis Pinilla to Senior Vice President, Global Head of Strategy, a newly expanded remit covering roster growth and emerging technologies like AI. Pinilla, who has spent more than 14 years across SMP and EMI Music Publishing, moves up from his prior post as SVP of Corporate Strategy & Financial Planning, and continues to report to SMP Chairman & CEO Jon Platt.

Legends Global has hired Tom Alexander and Jenn Sonick as Vice Presidents of Live Entertainment, joining the company's central booking team to help program its 450-venue network. Alexander joins after three decades in touring and arena booking, including stints at AEG and Live Nation, most recently as VP of Live Programming at OCVIBE; Sonick arrives from ATG Entertainment, where she handled talent buying for Kings Theatre and the Emerson Colonial Theatre. Both report to Jason Rio, SVP of Live Entertainment and Content Development.

Elsewhere in the industry…

• A2IM named Glen Barros (Exceleration Music) chair of its Executive Committee for 2026-27, with Louis Posen (Hopeless Records) as Treasurer and David Barnes (Rhymesayers Entertainment) as Secretary; new board members include Katie Garcia (Bayonet Records), Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop), Steve Kline (Better Noise Music) and Elliott Peters (EMPIRE).

• Alta Music Group launched a publishing arm, Alta Publishing, naming Zeb Berg (formerly Electric Feel) as Head of Publishing; Sony Music Publishing will administer the new division worldwide.

• Dan Nevin joins Merlin as VP, Industry Relations, a newly created role reporting to CEO Charlie Lexton, focused on the org's ties to independent trade associations and strategic partners.

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