CMA Chief retirement, TuneCore CEO steps down

Photo Credit: Sarah Trahern by John Russell for CMA

The new year sees a pair of C-suite shakeups as CMA CEO Sarah Trahern announces her retirement, and TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson steps down.

Country Music Association (CMA) CEO Sarah Trahern has announced her decision to retire at the end of 2026 after leading the organization since 2014. Her announcement comes alongside that of Andreea Gleeson, CEO of digital music distributor TuneCore, who announced in an internal memo that she will be stepping down.

During the incredible rise in the popularity of country music over the course of Sarah Trahern’s time at the helm, the CMA has advanced its mission to “heighten the awareness of country music and support its ongoing growth, both domestically and internationally.”

“Under her leadership, CMA has deepened its commitment to its members—artists, songwriters, touring personnel, and all professionals across the creative and business sectors—ensuring the association remains grounded in service to the people who power country music,” the CMA’s announcement reads.

“The association’s flagship television properties, including the CMA Awards, ‘CMA Fest,’ and ‘CMA Country Christmas,’ have not only become globally recognized cultural events but have also played a crucial role in music discovery, providing a platform to showcase talent and connect fans with the music that defines the genre.”

“Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career,” says Trahern. “I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together in service of this industry and its people, and deeply grateful for the community that makes country music what it is.”

The CMA’s Board of Directors has formed a search committee and retained independent executive search firm Buffkin Baker to create a “comprehensive process” by which to appoint Trahern’s successor. The organization will announce additional details regarding the search in February.

Meanwhile, TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson has announced her intention to step down from her post in an internal company memo. According to a company spokesperson, Gleeson’s role will not be filled, and she will remain as a strategic advisor for parent company Believe. Believe’s Global Head of Music, Romain Vivien, will oversee TuneCore’s leadership alongside senior executives including Brian Miller, Chief Revenue Officer, and Luxi Huang, Chief Technology and Product Officer.

“After ten years at TuneCore, and with the company well-positioned for continued success, Believe and I have mutually agreed that the time is right for me to transition,” writes Gleeson.

Gleeson has been with TuneCore since 2015, serving as the company’s chief marketing officer. She was promoted to chief revenue officer in 2020, and became CEO the following year.

Under her leadership, TuneCore shifted focus into artist development, commissioning a study on gender-based inequalities in music in 2023, and developing initiatives around educating independent artists, like TuneCore Accelerator. She was among those honored at Variety’s Power of Women: New York celebration in 2022.

News of her departure comes amid TuneCore and Believe’s legal battle with multiple labels, including Universal Music Group, Concord Music Group, and ABKCO Music in the form of a $500 million copyright infringement lawsuit. The filing claims that the companies knowingly distributed infringing copies of recordings from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Justin Bieber.