Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside to Step Down After Six Years, Citing Success and Growth

Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, will step down in June after six years leading the organization, the ACM announced Tuesday. Whiteside will remain in his role through June 30 and then serve as CEO Emeritus for the remainder of 2026 to assist with the transition. A search committee has been formed by the ACMs board of directors to identify his successor. During his tenure, Whiteside achieved significant milestones including increasing ACM membership to the largest and most diverse in the organizations history while strengthening profitability, with 2025 profits increasing 150 and projected 2026 profits growth of 140. His most notable decision was transitioning the annual ACM Awards from traditional broadcast television to a streaming-only format through an exclusive global partnership with Amazon Prime Video starting in 2022. The 60th anniversary edition of the awards in 2025, hosted by Reba McEntire, achieved 70 percent year-over-year live viewership growth on Prime Video. The ACM credited Whiteside with expanding the organizations franchises and events, including ACM Our Country, ACM 60th Gala, and ACM Party for a Cause Nashville. ACM Lifting Lives, the organizations philanthropic arm, generated over 1.3 million dollars in annual fundraising during his leadership. Prior to joining the ACM, Whiteside served as CMO of the Country Music Association and spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company.