Academy Of Country Music Taps Damon Whiteside As CEO

Courtesy ACM / John Shearer – Damon Whiteside

Damon Whiteside becomes the third Chief Executive Officer in the 55-year history of the Academy of Country Music when he takes the helm Jan. 6, the Los Angeles-based organization announced today (Dec. 9).  The 23-year music and entertainment veteran was appointed after most recently serving six years as the Country Music Association’s chief marketing officer.

Whiteside will split time between Nashville and Los Angeles.

“We are fortunate to welcome Damon as the Academy’s new CEO,” Ed Warm, Chairman of the ACM Board of Directors, said in a statement. “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.”

While at the CMA, Whiteside has been responsible for overseeing development of multimillion-dollar marketing and media campaigns for the association’s three annual television properties, in partnership with ABC Television and the Walt Disney Company as well as dedicating efforts to identify and build strategic partnerships with mulit-platform media partners, digital companies, and Fortune 500 brands.

“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,” Whiteside said in a statement. “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.”

Whiteside’s career begain with The Walt Disney Company in 1996. In 2011, Whiteside formed Nomad Entertainment Group in Hollywood, where he represented multi-genre music artists, producers and songwriters, and developed marketing and digital campaigns, brand strategy, and partnerships for entertainment brand clients.

Whiteside’s professional affiliations have included Leadership Music, NARAS, Music Business Association, Digital LA, CMO Club, LA Office, American Marketing Association and Promotion Marketing Association. His current Board positions include the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Nashville Cares and the TJ Martell Foundation. In 2013 he completed the Executive Program at the renowned UCLA Anderson School of Management.