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Academy of Country Music appoints Andy Schuon, ex-MTV and REVOLT TV exec, as new CEO
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has named Andy Schuon as its new Chief Executive Officer, with the media executive taking up the post on 1 September 2026 at the organisation's Nashville headquarters. He succeeds Damon Whiteside, who stepped down on 30 June after six and a half years in the role, and the appointment follows a nationwide search led by an ACM board committee alongside search firm ZRG Partners.
Schuon brings decades of experience across radio, television and music, having started as programme director at LA station KROQ-FM before holding senior roles at MTV, VH1, Warner Bros. Records, Universal Music Group, Ticketmaster and CBS Radio; he also co-founded REVOLT TV with Sean "Diddy" Combs and helped launch MTV2 and the Pressplay service that became Napster. He joins from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, where he led AXS TV and HDNet Movies, and arrives as country music enjoys strong global growth, with Whiteside remaining as CEO Emeritus through the transition and the rival Country Music Association also recently naming a new chief executive, Brittany Schaffer.
In short
- Andy Schuon named ACM's new CEO, starting 1 September 2026
- Succeeds Damon Whiteside; move follows a nationwide executive search
- Ex-MTV, REVOLT TV co-founder, joins amid country music's global growth
Explained simply
The Academy of Country Music is a US organisation that represents parts of the country music industry and presents the annual ACM Awards. It works with artists and industry professionals, and its leadership helps set the organisation’s priorities and oversee its events and business.
Andy Schuon has worked across radio, television, music and live entertainment, including senior roles at MTV and music companies. He is joining the Academy as country music reaches audiences beyond the United States, making the organisation’s plans and industry relationships relevant to a wider market.
The Academy’s chief executive leads its operations and represents it in the music business. Schuon succeeds Damon Whiteside, who had held the post for six and a half years; the Country Music Association, a separate organisation, has also recently appointed a new chief executive.
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