Nashville’s country music leadership ranks are getting a shakeup as Brittany Schaffer, dean of Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, steps in as the next chief executive officer of the Country Music Association. The organization announced the move on Wednesday (July 8, 2026), saying Schaffer will shift from Music Row to the trade group's national headquarters in Nashville. Her transition will begin this fall and continue into 2027 so the CMA Awards, CMA Fest and other marquee programs stay on track.
Under a planned handoff, Schaffer will officially join the CMA on Sept. 8 as part of a structured transition period, then succeed Sarah Trahern as CEO on Jan. 1, 2027. The appointment follows a national search and a phased changeover meant to keep staff and member operations steady. According to CMAworld, the board reviewed candidates from across the entertainment industry before landing on Schaffer.
From Spotify To Belmont
Schaffer arrived at Belmont in 2023 after more than a decade working as an entertainment attorney and a Spotify executive in Nashville, where she led artist and label partnerships for country, Christian and Americana music, according to Belmont University. As dean, she has overseen the Curb College’s Music Row expansion and pushed curriculum built around experiential learning. The university says her mix of legal, streaming and academic experience strengthened industry engagement on campus and helped tighten ties between students and the business they hope to enter.
Belmont And CMA Already Intertwined
Schaffer will not be walking into an unfamiliar building. The move builds on an existing relationship between Belmont and the CMA: last year the organization donated $3 million to launch Belmont’s Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, a partnership that aimed to put mental health work at the center of Nashville's music ecosystem, Axios Nashville reported. As dean, Schaffer has publicly championed industry well being, and that focus is expected to follow her into CMA leadership. Those existing ties mean she steps into the role with working relationships across the CMA Foundation, campus leaders and Nashville institutions already in place.
Transition And Continuity
Current CEO Sarah Trahern announced earlier this year that she would retire at the end of 2026 after 13 years at the helm, and the CMA opened applications for her successor in February with executive search firm Buffkin Baker, MusicRow reported. The search committee ultimately went looking for a leader who could represent the industry and create new growth opportunities at the same time. CMA staff and members will be watching the staged handoff closely to see whether programming, sponsorships and awards balloting stay on schedule through the leadership change.
What Nashville Should Watch
Belmont President Greg Jones has praised Schaffer’s industry connections and practical approach, while CMA Board Chair Jay Williams called her "the leader to carry this organization into its next era," according to the CMA announcement. In the same release Schaffer said she intends to "reinforce the connectivity" within the country music community and look for new ways to bring artists and fans together, as reported by CMAworld. Belmont's profile of Schaffer and campus leaders has highlighted her record in industry partnerships and education, reinforcing why the Nashville community will be watching how a dean turned CEO balances education, mental health initiatives and streaming savvy from one of country music’s most influential seats.
