The Academy of Country Music Names Andy Schuon New CEO: ‘Country Music is Having a Global Moment’
Categoria: Musica
Seasoned executive Schuon has held leadership roles at MTV, CBS Radio, Universal Music Group and more.
Por Billboard | 21/07/2026
The Academy of Country Music has named Andy Schuon as its new chief executive officer. Though Schuon has not held country-specific positions before, the music industry veteran comes to the job with a broad history of leadership roles at such companies as MTV, VH-1, Warner Brothers Records, Universal Music Group, Ticketmaster and CBS Radio. He also was on the front lines of then-new platforms and technologies through executive positions at MTV2, Farmclub.com, Pressplay and REVOLT TV. Related Country Music Association Names Brittany Schaffer as Next CEO Desiigner Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge in South Carolina DJ Quik Says His Son 'Made a Mistake' Following Murder Conviction, Pleads With Fans to Stop Asking About It Schuon succeeds outgoing CEO Damon Whiteside , who has led the organization for more than six years and stepped down on June 30 , transitioning to CEO emeritus for the rest of the year. Under Whiteside, the ACM Awards, which held their 61 st annual ceremony in May, were the first major awards show to transition from broadcast to streaming, first airing on Amazon’s Prime Video in 2022. Its current deal with Prime Video, which streams the show in 240 countries and territories, runs through 2028. Among the highlights in Schuon’s more than three-decade career include program director at KROQ-FM Los Angeles, where he launched two renowned programs, the “Kevin & Bean” morning show and “Loveline” with Dr. Drew, as well as executive vp/head of programming and production at MTV, MTV2 and VH-1 in the mid-‘90s. He then shifted to record labels, serving first as executive vp/general manager at Warner Records and then CEO of Pressplay (the precursor to Napster), which was a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Sony Music. He returned to radio as president of programming and marketing at CBS Radio, overseeing 185 stations. Most recently, he served as president of entertainment networks and digital for Anthem Sports & Entertainment, where he handled the company’s FAST television networks and digital entertainment businesses, included AXS TV and HDNET Movies. In exclusive comments to Billboard , Schuon says he’s a quick learner who is comfortable taking on new challenges. “The learning curve is real, and I respect it, but it’s really the hallmark of my career,” he says, of segueing into country music community. “I was the album rock radio programmer from Denver, Colorado, who showed up at the home of alternative rock, KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, and didn’t know who Depeche Mode was — ‘Personal Jesus’ was the No. 1 song on the station the week I took over. I was the radio guy who went to MTV and had to figure out television fast. I was the TV guy who went to run Warner Bros. Records with zero label experience. And the analog guy who built a team to create the first digital music streaming service for Sony Music and Universal Music Group before iTunes and Spotify.” Schuon says he’s also learned that