AEG’s Moore To Top CMA

AEG Live’s Steve Moore has been named chief executive officer of the Country Music Association, a position he’s had as an interim since January, effective immediately. He resigns his position as chairman of the board, which will be filled by Steve Buchanan.

A longtime member of the CMA board of directors, Moore was elected president of the association in 2008 and chairman in 2009 before being asked to fill in as interim director after former CEO Tammy Genovese resigned in December.

“We conducted a coast-to-coast search to find the best possible candidates and there were many,” Buchanan said in a statement. “But I think it should come as no surprise that the best person was right here in Nashville. Steve developed a tremendous affinity and acumen for the position while serving on an interim basis. We are thrilled that he was ultimately interested in making that a permanent role.”

Moore started his own ticketing business after graduation from college in Texas, and was hired by Pace Concerts in 1984 to book theme parks. He moved to Nashville a year later to open Starwood Amphitheatre and launched Moore Entertainment in 1992. He entered a multi-year deal with AEG Live in 2005.

Concerts West/AEG Live President and co-CEO John Meglen said the CMA board’s “selection of Steve Moore as its new CEO is the right choice to protect and continue the history, legacy and tradition of country music around the world. Steve’s knowledge and respect of that history is paramount. His passion lives in country music.”