Brittany Schaffer
The Country Music Association has named Belmont University Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business dean Brittany Schaffer as its next CEO.
Music industry leader has overseen Music Row-based association as CEO since 2014
Schaffer succeeds Sarah Trahern, who announced her retirement in January after leading the organization for 13 years. CMA said in a press release that Schaffer will join CMA on Sept. 8 and will officially succeed Trahern on Jan. 1, 2027.
Prior to working at Belmont, Schaffer served as head of artist and label partnerships for Nashville at Spotify. There, she co-led the Nashville music team, shaping strategy for country, Christian/gospel and Americana genres. She began her career as a music and entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb, rising to senior legal counsel in 2017.
In 2023, Schaffer began her role as dean, leading initiatives such as the 90,000-square-foot Curb College on Music Row expansion and the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment. Her last day at Belmont will be Aug. 6.
As CEO of CMA, Schaffer will oversee the organization's operations and public outreach. Her appointment follows a national search led by a committee formed by CMA's board of directors, in partnership with independent executive search firm Buffkin/Baker.
“Our search committee set out to find a leader who understands the responsibility of representing this industry, not just the opportunity of it,” Jay Williams, CMA board chairman and WME Nashville partner and co-head, said in the release. “We met with an exceptional group of candidates, and we believe Brittany is exactly the leader to carry this organization into its next era, and to make sure Country Music's influence continues to expand well beyond Nashville.”
Schaffer also sits on the St. Jude Country Cares Advisory Board and previously served on the Country Music Association Board and CMA Foundation Board.
This article was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.
