CMT’s Integration With MTV Group Results in Reorganization, New Initiatives
Big news afoot for the CMT network: Its parent company, Viacom, has announced a restructuring as CMT integrates with its Music group, which currently fully encompasses MTV, VH1, and Logo.
This integration started in late 2018, moving CMT into Viacom Media Networks’ music group portfolio in New York. Although the network's Nashville headquarters will remain, the New York office will fully integrate the marketing, music, scheduling, communications and event production departments. This shuffle has resulted in a number of Nashville-based employees exiting the company, including Anthony Barton, head of CMT marketing; and, Suzanne Norman, head of the Nashville office.
That will still leave a significant number of staff in Nashville, supporting not only the network's mission—which remains focused on Nashville personalities and the Music City lifestyle—but also an expanded role working across all of the group's brands.
"By integrating our departments across brands, removing silos and developing best-in-class creative teams, we are building a stronger group together," noted Chris MicCarthy, who is in charge of Viacom's Music Group. "More to come," he promised, hinting at initiatives that would further the growth plan for CMT moving forward as part of the collective.
CMT is, of course, already helming such collaborative efforts such as the popular cross-genre "Crossroads" series, which mixes country artists with those outside of the country world. Hopefully the new initiatives will include more innovative programs combining all the best the music world has to offer, which would be a win for fans who enjoy various types of music.
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