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Country Music Association Names Brittany Schaffer CEO, Set to Succeed Sarah Trahern in 2027
In a move that signals a new era for Nashville’s heart of country music, the Country Music Association (CMA) announced on June 8 that Brittany Schaffer will become its next chief executive officer.
Schaffer will join the CMA on September 8, 2026, as part of a carefully planned transition, and will assume full responsibilities on January 1, 2027, succeeding Sarah Trahern, who announced her retirement earlier this year.
A native of the Nashville music scene, Schaffer has served as dean of Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business since 2023. In that role, she guided the college’s expansion of its Music Row campus into a 90,000‑square‑foot complex, financed by a $58 million gift from Mike and Linda Curb. The new facilities include state‑of‑the‑art audio engineering suites, content‑creation studios, podcast production rooms, and the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment.
Before her academic appointment, Schaffer spent more than a decade in the industry. She began her career as an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP, rising to senior legal counsel. In 2018 she joined Spotify as head of artist and label partnerships for Nashville, a position she held until 2022. During that time she helped shape Spotify’s strategy for country, Christian/Gospel, and Americana genres.
The CMA, founded in 1958, is a trade association that promotes country music worldwide. It is best known for its annual CMA Fest and the Country Music Association Awards, which are broadcast each fall. The organization has a membership of more than 400 industry stakeholders, including record labels, publishers, and broadcasters.
Sarah Trahern, who led the CMA since 2013, announced her intention to retire in early 2026 after 13 years of service. Her departure marks the end of a period that saw the CMA expand its digital footprint and increase its focus on diversity and inclusion.
Schaffer’s appointment follows a structured transition plan approved by the CMA Board of Directors. The plan allows her to familiarize herself with the organization’s operations before taking the helm, ensuring continuity for staff, board, and members.
Industry observers note that Schaffer’s blend of legal expertise, partnership experience, and academic leadership positions her to address the CMA’s evolving priorities. Her work at Belmont has already demonstrated a commitment to building industry connections and expanding educational opportunities for students in Nashville’s Music Row.
The CMA’s decision to name a dean from a local university as its CEO reflects the organization’s long‑standing ties to Nashville’s music community. Schaffer’s familiarity with the city’s ecosystem, her experience in artist relations, and her track record of leading large‑scale projects such as the Curb College expansion were cited as key factors in her selection.
While Schaffer’s first official day as CEO will be January 1, 2027, she will begin working with CMA staff in September 2026. The CMA has not yet released a detailed agenda for her tenure, but the organization has emphasized that continuity and sustained growth will remain priorities.
In summary, the CMA has named Brittany Schaffer as its next chief executive officer, with a transition that begins in September 2026 and culminates in January 2027. Schaffer brings a blend of legal, partnership, and academic experience, and her appointment underscores the CMA’s ongoing commitment to Nashville’s music industry.
Schaffer will join the CMA on September 8, 2026, as part of a carefully planned transition, and will assume full responsibilities on January 1, 2027, succeeding Sarah Trahern, who announced her retirement earlier this year.
A native of the Nashville music scene, Schaffer has served as dean of Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business since 2023. In that role, she guided the college’s expansion of its Music Row campus into a 90,000‑square‑foot complex, financed by a $58 million gift from Mike and Linda Curb. The new facilities include state‑of‑the‑art audio engineering suites, content‑creation studios, podcast production rooms, and the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment.
Before her academic appointment, Schaffer spent more than a decade in the industry. She began her career as an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP, rising to senior legal counsel. In 2018 she joined Spotify as head of artist and label partnerships for Nashville, a position she held until 2022. During that time she helped shape Spotify’s strategy for country, Christian/Gospel, and Americana genres.
The CMA, founded in 1958, is a trade association that promotes country music worldwide. It is best known for its annual CMA Fest and the Country Music Association Awards, which are broadcast each fall. The organization has a membership of more than 400 industry stakeholders, including record labels, publishers, and broadcasters.
Sarah Trahern, who led the CMA since 2013, announced her intention to retire in early 2026 after 13 years of service. Her departure marks the end of a period that saw the CMA expand its digital footprint and increase its focus on diversity and inclusion.
Schaffer’s appointment follows a structured transition plan approved by the CMA Board of Directors. The plan allows her to familiarize herself with the organization’s operations before taking the helm, ensuring continuity for staff, board, and members.
Industry observers note that Schaffer’s blend of legal expertise, partnership experience, and academic leadership positions her to address the CMA’s evolving priorities. Her work at Belmont has already demonstrated a commitment to building industry connections and expanding educational opportunities for students in Nashville’s Music Row.
The CMA’s decision to name a dean from a local university as its CEO reflects the organization’s long‑standing ties to Nashville’s music community. Schaffer’s familiarity with the city’s ecosystem, her experience in artist relations, and her track record of leading large‑scale projects such as the Curb College expansion were cited as key factors in her selection.
While Schaffer’s first official day as CEO will be January 1, 2027, she will begin working with CMA staff in September 2026. The CMA has not yet released a detailed agenda for her tenure, but the organization has emphasized that continuity and sustained growth will remain priorities.
In summary, the CMA has named Brittany Schaffer as its next chief executive officer, with a transition that begins in September 2026 and culminates in January 2027. Schaffer brings a blend of legal, partnership, and academic experience, and her appointment underscores the CMA’s ongoing commitment to Nashville’s music industry.