The Country Music Association (CMA) has named Brittany Schaffer as its next chief executive, effective January 1, 2027. She will succeed Sarah Trahern, who announced her retirement on January 14 after 13 years leading the organization.
Schaffer currently serves as Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, a position she will vacate. She will join the CMA on September 8 and work alongside Trahern until the end of the year before assuming the CEO role.
Prior to her academic role, Schaffer spent five years as Head of Artist & Label Partnerships for Nashville at Spotify, where she shaped the streaming platform’s strategy for country, Christian/gospel, and Americana music. Earlier, she practiced as an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP.
In a statement, Schaffer said:
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.
