The Academy of Country Music has named Andy Schuon, a media veteran whose path took him from program director at L.A.’s KROQ in its glory days to top leadership roles at MTV, Warner Records, Pressplay and many other companies, as its new CEO.
His first day will be Sept. 1. Schuon, who has not worked out of Nashville in his previous roles, will operate from the org’s Music City office.
Schuon succeeds Damon Whiteside, who stepped down on June 30 after announcing his intention to leave prior to this year’s ACM Awards. Whiteside is set to continue with the organization in a transitional emeritus role through the end of 2026. He had led the Academy since January 2020. ZRG Partners led the executive search along with the ACM board in the interim.
“Andy Schuon’s remarkable career reflects a lifelong commitment to innovation, creativity, and serving artists,” Cris Lacy, chair of the ACM board, said in a statement. “The ACM Board of Directors are excited to partner with Andy as we continue to strengthen the Academy’s impact, expand its reach, and create even greater value for our members and the country music community.”
Said Schuon; “The most rewarding moments of my career have come from building for the future and embracing innovation while honoring the artists and creative communities that make music so powerful. Throughout every chapter, from radio and television to streaming, digital media and the music business, the constant has been the transformative power of music to bring people together. … The organization has a remarkable legacy of celebrating the artists, songwriters, and industry professionals who define Country Music. As the genre continues to reach new audiences around the world, I see an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the Academy’s impact, deepen engagement with our members, artists, partners and fans while ensuring the organization continues to lead the industry through its next era of growth and innovation and help shape an even brighter future for country music.”
Schuon has held top roles at MTV, VH1, Warner Bros. Records, Universal Music Group, Ticketmaster, and CBS Radio, and been integrally involved in the development of new media initiatives such as MTV2, Farmclub, Pressplay and Revolt TV.
Schuon comes to the Academy of Country Music from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, where in February 2024 he was appointed to oversee all aspects of AXS and HDNet.
Schuon first rose to prominence at KROQ, where he was behind such franchises as “Loveline” as well as the station’s innovative music programming. He made the leap from radio to the label world when he took a role as executive VP and general manager of Warner Bros. Records, before moving into television as executive VP, head of programming and production for MTV, MTV2 and VH1, where he worked on specials like the VMAs and MTV Movie Awards as well as those networks’ reality shows. The exec’s long list of media roles also includes positions at CBS Radio, Live Nation, UMG, Loop Media Studios and LiveXLive.
With Shuon’s appointment, the leadership succession is complete at both of country music’s top membership organizations, after a period of near-simultaneous turnover. The Country Music Association named Brittany Schaffer as its incoming CEO on July 8, succeeding Sarah Trahern, who similarly announced her retirement in advance to allow time for a search committee to find that org’s new leader. Shaffer starts her role at the CMA on Jan. 1, 2027.
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