Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside will step down in June after six years at the helm of the organization, ACM announced Tuesday.
Whiteside will remain in his role until June 30, after which he will serve as CEO emeritus for the remainder of the term and work to support the company’s transition after he steps down, according to the announcement. A search committee has been established by the ACM Board of Directors to find his replacement.
In a statement, ACM praised Whiteside for his “six-and-a-half years of influence, growth, and accomplishments that have positioned the Academy for a bright and promising future as one of the premier country music organizations.” “We will grow ACM’s membership to the largest and most diverse in history and strengthen the organization’s profitability, with 2025 profits expected to increase by 150% and 2026 profits by an additional 140%,” he said, according to the announcement.
The most notable change during Whiteside’s tenure was the seemingly radical move to make the annual ACM Awards the first major awards ceremony to be televised as a streaming-only event, ditching the traditional broadcast network and cable base. The live show has been available through an exclusive global partnership with Amazon Prime Video since 2022. It previously aired on CBS for nearly a quarter of a century. Whiteside served as executive producer of kudocast, which hosted a 60th anniversary edition in 2025 hosted by Reba McEntire. This year’s webcasts increased Prime Video’s live viewership by 70% year over year, according to the announcement.
Coincidentally, the investigation committees of country music’s two biggest organizations will both be busy. The Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association are expected to undergo relatively simultaneous leadership changes, with CMA CEO Sarah Trahern announcing in January that she would step down at the end of 2026 after 14 years at the helm of the organization.
“Damon’s forward-thinking vision and leadership have not only strengthened ACM’s connections to the country music community and industry, but also helped us reach new audiences around the world,” said Chris Lacy, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “The ACM Board of Directors is extremely grateful for his partnership, dedication, and passion that has led to the organization’s continued success and long-term impact.”
“I am proud of all we have accomplished together during our time at the Academy of Country Music,” Whiteside said. “I am grateful to the incredible team I have coached and learned from, to the many strategic partners who have helped us continue to innovate, and to ACM and the ACM Lifting Lives Board for their leadership in guiding the Academy into a bright future. I believe I will be leaving ACM in a better place with the stability and security that will allow me to continue to grow and reach new heights. I am excited about my next move as I continue to explore my passions, continue to learn, and continue to impact the entertainment industry. ”
The 61st ACM Awards will be held on May 17th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will once again be available to watch on Prime Video or the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. The host, talent lineup, and nominations have not yet been announced. ACM’s three-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys moved it to Texas from 2023 to 2025, but this marks a return to its longtime home in Las Vegas.
The Academy itself will relocate in 2022, leaving Los Angeles, where it was founded in 1966 and its longtime home, and settling in Nashville, where most country music organizations are based.
ACM credits Whiteside with expanding the organization with other franchises, events and shows, including “ACM Our Country,” “ACM 60th Gala,” “ACM Party for a Cause Nashville,” “ACM Wine & Country” at Hearst Castle and the annual Charley Pride Inclusion Brunch. The “ACM Honors” show, which he served as executive producer, also returned to broadcast events.
ACM’s philanthropic partner, ACM Lifting Lives, has raised more than $1.3 million annually over the past year, the organization said.
Prior to ACM, Whiteside was CMO of the Country Music Association, which hosts the CMAs, the industry’s other big awards show. He joined the Walt Disney Company after spending 15 years there, where he is credited with helping launch the company’s tween music business and touring division.
