Kelli Turner Exits SESAC, Scott Jungmichel Appointed President/COO, Sam Kling Promoted, Shannan Hatch Returns [Exclusive]
Pictured (clockwise from top left): Shannan Hatch (VP, Creative Services, SESAC Performing Rights), Scott Jungmichel (President and COO, SESAC Performing Rights), Kelli Turner (outgoing President and COO of SESAC), Sam Kling (Chief Creative Officer, SESAC Performing Rights)
John Josephson, Chairman and CEO of SESAC, announced today (Sept. 8) the departure of Kelli Turner, President and COO of SESAC, as well as several recent promotions within SESAC Performing Rights. Turner is leaving SESAC to pursue a new opportunity outside of the music industry.
“Kelli and I joined SESAC at the same time, and I want to say how grateful I am to her for all that she has done to help shape and build SESAC over the past seven years. Her departure will of course be a loss for SESAC, but it’s a tribute to her leadership and hard work that we feel confident about the future. She has helped us build a strong, seasoned management team, and together we will continue on the successful path that SESAC has followed for many years,” says Josephson, “We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Scott Jungmichel, previously EVP, Royalty Distribution and Research Services and CIO, has been appointed President and COO of SESAC Performing Rights. During his 28 years with the company, Jungmichel has been responsible for all Royalty Distribution and Research Services, as well as SESAC’s technology infrastructure and IT operations. Scott will continue to be based in Nashville.
Sam Kling, who previously served as SVP, Creative Operations, has been appointed Chief Creative Officer of SESAC Performing Rights. Since joining SESAC in 2014, Kling has created an effective client services operation across the New York, Nashville, London and Los Angeles offices, as well as elevated the company’s affiliate roster by collaborating with some of the industry’s most significant songwriters, music publishers and managers. Kling will continue to be based in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Shannan Hatch has returned to SESAC Performing Rights as VP, Creative Services, where she will lead the Nashville-based creative services team in supporting the company’s affiliated songwriters and publishers. Hatch previously worked in this role until September 2019.
Jordan Fletcher Inks With Triple Tigers Records
Pictured: (back row, L-R): Triple Tigers’ Kevin Herring, Triple 8’s Cara Kozulak, Sea Gayle Music’s JD Groover, Triple Tigers’ Laura Hostelley; (front row, L-R): Triple Tigers’ Norbert Nix, Jordan Fletcher, Triple 8’s George Couri. Photo: Courtesy of Triple Tigers Records
Rising artist Jordan Fletcher has signed with Triple Tigers Records. His debut single with the label, “Rather Be Broke,” is set for release this Friday, Sept. 10.
The Florida native dropped out of college and moved to Nashville in 2016. He soon began writing songs and cutting his teeth in bars, clubs, and honkytonks throughout the Southeast.
One the the newest “Highway Finds” on Sirius XM’s The Highway, Fletcher is signed to a worldwide publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music and is managed by Triple 8 Management. He also became a first-time dad recently, welcoming son Maverick with his wife Kelly in November 2020.
“We are very excited to begin the journey with Jordan and Triple Tigers Records,” says Triple Tigers Records President Norbert Nix. “Jordan is a consummate songwriter and experienced artist ready for the ride.”
Fletcher joins Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery, and Cam on the roster at Triple Tigers, who have yielded No. 1 hits with seven of the first eight songs taken to radio by their artists.
“I’m so honored to join the incredible roster of artists and the great team behind the scenes at Triple Tigers,” Fletcher shares. “I write my own life into every song I sing, so it means the world to have this platform to share those personal stories with even more fans.”
Caroline Watkins Signs With SMACKSongs
Pictured (L-R): Brenner McDonald (Lackey McDonald PLLC), Caroline Watkins, Robin Palmer, Carly Sater. Photo: Molly Bouchon
SMACKSongs has signed a worldwide publishing deal with singer-songwriter Caroline Watkins.
Watkins was born and raised in Nashville. After landing her own round at the legendary Bluebird Café when she was only 16, she signed her first publishing deal right out of high school with Warner Chappell. She attended Belmont University, where she received the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Scholarship.
Watkins has opened for Brett Eldredge, Walker Hayes, and Willie Nelson. In 2018, one of her songs was featured in the film Forever My Girl.
“Caroline’s songwriting talents and abilities make her a natural fit for our roster” says SMACKSongs Chief Creative Officer, Robin Palmer. “Our entire team couldn’t be more excited to work with her. We feel like this is perfect timing for the next chapter in her career.”
“I could not be more excited to start working with SMACK. Shane [McAnally] has been an incredible mentor and friend to me over the years, so it’s a dream come true to get to work with his team” adds Watkins. “I’ve always been a fan of SMACK, but when I met Robin, Carly [Sater], and the rest of the team, they immediately made me feel so at home and like part of the family, and I could not imagine a better place to get to write songs every day. I am just so thankful to them for believing in me and my songs and am so excited for my future with them!”
AIMP Unveils Nashville Songwriter Series Class of 2021
The AIMP’s Nashville Chapter has announced its 7th Annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series Class of 2021, which includes Rocky Block, Ben Chapman, Jonathan Hutcherson, Jenna LaMaster, Jared Scott, and Dan Wilson.
The new class will perform in a live songwriters’ round at The Listening Room Café on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT, which will be free for AIMP members and $5 for non-members. Members can register for the event at the AIMP website, and non-members can purchase tickets at The Listening Room Café website.
“While our 2020 Songwriter Series performances were delayed until March 2021, they will always hold a special place in our hearts as the first in-person event we were able to safely hold since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says John Ozier, AIMP National Chair and President of the Nashville Chapter. “We are thankful to be able to host our Class of 2021 at the Listening Room Café as well. These songwriters represent the very best of the Nashville independent songwriting community, and we can’t wait to see where their careers take them.”
“Huge congratulations to the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series Class of 2021, a snapshot of the names to remember as you scan the credits of future chart-topping tracks,” adds Ree Guyer, Vice President of the AIMP Nashville Chapter. “We were blown away by the sheer talent on display this year, and as always, had a difficult time narrowing the Class down to these final artists. We know they will put on an amazing show!”
All members of the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series Class of 2021 were selected by a special committee made up of industry professionals, based on submissions from current AIMP Nashville members. Each writer must not have had a song charting higher than a Top 20 on the Billboard or Mediabase charts.
The Class of 2020 included Ryan Beaver, Dillon Carmichael, Ian Christian, Colin Elmore, Jeff Garrison, LJ, and Tiera. Other former honorees include Brinley Addington, Luke Dick, Jameson Rodgers, Hailey Whitters, Ash Bowers, Hannah Ellis, Ross Ellis, Hardy, Ashley McBryde, Kassi Ashton, Nicolette Hayford, Kylie Morgan, Ben Goldsmith, and more.
Past performers at the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series have gone on to score chart-topping hits both as performers and as writers for prominent artists like Maren Morris, Florida Georgia Line, Little Big Town, Jimmie Allen, and Matt Stell, as well as win prestigious awards and reach No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.