Speaker Friday, October 2, 2026

Have you ever wondered how the CMA Awards and CMA Fest are produced or what makes these signature events so successful? Behind the performances, television broadcasts, and crowds of country music fans is an organization bringing together artists, industry professionals, and audiences. Todd Hartley, Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at the Country Music Association, will take us behind the scenes to explain how these major events come together and share insights into the broader role the CMA plays in supporting and promoting country music.

Join the Green Hills Rotary Club at 7:15 a.m. on October 2, 2026, at the Boy Scout Service Center on Hillsboro Road for “CMA 101 – The Country Music Association.” Hartley will provide an insider’s introduction to country music’s premier trade association and discuss the work involved in producing two of its best-known events, the CMA Awards and CMA Fest.

As Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs, Hartley serves on the CMA’s senior leadership team and oversees the organization’s legal, business affairs, risk, IT, insurance, international, and philanthropic functions. He manages legal and strategic matters related to major CMA television and music ventures, including the CMA Awards, CMA Fest, and CMA Country Christmas. He also leads a Business Affairs team responsible for more than 1,000 transactions annually involving leading talent, major brands, venues, record labels, and entertainment unions.

Hartley’s involvement in Nashville extends beyond the CMA. He serves as Vice Chair and Commissioner for the Nashville Fairgrounds, helping oversee the more than 100-acre entertainment complex that includes GEODIS Park and the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Hartley and his wife, Laura, also own Nashville Clubs LLC, a local business focused on providing high-quality after-school programs for children in Nashville.

For those who see the CMA Awards on television or experience CMA Fest in downtown Nashville, this meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the organization, planning, partnerships, and business operations that make those familiar events possible.

For more information see https://www.cmaworld.com/

Recent and Future Speakers

9/18/26	Halim Genus, Nashville Alliance (Police and Public Safety)
9/25/26	Laurie Lovett Novak, Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Practical Use of AI
10/2/26	Todd Hartley, Senior VP of Legal and Business Affairs at CMA
10/9/26	Alfred Degrafinreid, President & CEO of Leadership Tennessee
10/16/26	Matt Greci, SVP and Manager of Nashville Superspeedway
10/23/26	Rodger Dinwiddie, CEO of STARS Nashville
10/30/26	Teresa Broyles-Aplin, President & CEO at Nashville Electric Service (NES)