Damon Whiteside Named Academy Of Country Music CEO

Damon Whiteside

THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has selected current COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) Chief Marketing Officer DAMON WHITESIDE as its new CEO, effective MONDAY, JANUARY 6th. He will be splitting his time between NASHVILLE and the ACM headquarters in LOS ANGELES.

Former CEO PETE FISHER stepped down in MAY, and ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS Exec. Producer R.A. “RAC” CLARK has been filling the role as interim Executive Dir. since then (NET NEWS 5/20).

WHITESIDE has 23 years of experience in the music and entertainment industries, the last six spent at CMA, where he began as SVP/Marketing and Strategic Partnerships before being promoted to his current role. He previously worked at THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY and his own NOMAD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP.

“I am extremely proud of the monumental accomplishments that our dedicated team at CMA has been able to achieve these last six years thanks to the support and guidance of the CMA Board and SARAH TRAHERN,” said WHITESIDE. “It has been an honor to help shape the successes of this rich genre, and to be part of a respected organization like CMA and its mission to grow Country music globally while shaping positive perceptions about the industry and its artists.

"I am honored and humbled to now be given the responsibility to shape the future of the ACADEMY,” he continued. “I am excited to draw upon my deep passion, unique experience and important relationships across the Country music and mainstream entertainment media industries to reinforce the organization's mission, rejuvenate its influence, and redefine its purpose to benefit the entire Country music ecosystem."

"We are fortunate to welcome DAMON as the ACADEMY’s new CEO,” said ACM Board Chairman ED WARM. “His experience, commitment and enthusiasm in the Country music world are well documented, and we are confident that he will enhance the ACADEMY’s ability to bring together fans, artists and the industry while enabling the organization's charitable arm, ACM LIFTING LIVES, to impact more lives than ever before.”

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