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ACM CEO Exits, Paving Way for Streaming Future
3 Mar
Summary
- ACM CEO Damon Whiteside departs June 30 after six years.
- Whiteside championed ACM Awards' move to streaming.
- ACM Awards return to Las Vegas after Texas residency.
Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, will depart his role on June 30, concluding a six-year tenure. He will continue to serve as CEO Emeritus through the end of the year, assisting with the leadership transition. The ACM's board of directors has formed a search committee to find his successor.
Whiteside's most impactful decision was making the ACM Awards a streaming-exclusive event on Amazon Prime Video since 2022, a move away from its nearly 25-year run on CBS. This strategic shift has seen significant viewership growth on the streaming platform.
Meanwhile, the 61st annual ACM Awards are scheduled for May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This marks a return to the city after a three-year partnership in Texas. The ACM itself relocated its headquarters to Nashville in 2022.
During Whiteside's leadership, the ACM expanded its initiatives with new events and programs. ACM Lifting Lives, the organization's philanthropic arm, raised over $1.3 million annually in the past year. Whiteside previously held a CMO role at the Country Music Association.
