Damn Steak: Triple Tigers' Scotty McCreery with WUSN/Chicago's Marci Braun at Windy City Smokeout.
Pose In Different Area Codes: Music City Power Company's Six One Five Collective visits WKKT/Charlotte. Pictured (l-r) are the group's Aaron Goodvin and Nicole Whitt, the station's Ashley Wilson, the group's Michael Logen and Sarah Darling, and the label's Mitch Mills.
ME And Greet: Saddle Up's Tori Rose with WTHT/Portland, ME’s Jadd Naamani at the station's Nashville Newcomers Show.
Bet Sounds: Warner's Blake Whiten visits SiriusXM. Pictured (l-r) are the label's James Marsh, SXM's Lauryn Snapp, Whiten, SXM's Cody Alan, Not.Nrml's Reid Daroff and SXM's Victoria Alfonso and Jordan Hatton.
Sons Of Jolene: East Music Row Records' Belles with New Revolution's Joe Carroll and KSD/St. Louis' Dusty Panhorst (top) and Carroll and WIL/St. Louis' Marty Brooks.
Sacramemento: Wheelhouse's Chayce Beckham (c) with KNCI/Sacramento's Sonia Jimenez and Chad Rufer and the label's Steve Pleshe (front).
Belmont University Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business Dean Brittany Schaffer has been named CEO of the Country Music Association, succeeding the retiring Sarah Trahern. Schaffer joins CMA Sept. 8 and transitions to CEO Jan. 1 following Trahern's departure (Breaking News 1/14/2026).
"Our search committee set out to find a leader who understands the responsibility of representing this industry, not just the opportunity of it," says CMA Board Chair Jay Williams. "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."
"Country music meets people where they are, and it changes lives every day," says Schaffer. "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. 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."
Schaffer joined Belmont three years ago (CAT 3/13/2023) after more than five years as Head/Artist & Label Partnerships at Spotify. Prior to that, she was an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb.
