Warner Chappell Nashville CEO Ben Vaughn Dies at 46

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ben Vaughn, President and CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the age of 46. Vaughn, a beloved figure in the country music industry, had led the company since 2012, overseeing its creative and commercial operations.

Warner Chappell co-leaders Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall announced Vaughn’s death in a memo to staff, describing him as an “extraordinary human being” whose enthusiasm and generosity left a lasting impact on colleagues and the broader music community. “His smile was huge, and his sense of humor was infectious,” they wrote. “The Nashville community has lost one of its greatest champions.”

Vaughn’s career began in his hometown of Sullivan, Ky., where he worked at local radio station WMSK. His passion for country music led him to Belmont University in Nashville, where he reconnected with a former teacher who introduced him to the music publishing industry. Vaughn started as an intern at Warner Chappell before rising through the ranks to become one of Nashville’s youngest publishing executives.

At 34, Vaughn was named Executive Vice President and General Manager of EMI Music Publishing, making him the youngest leader of a major Nashville publisher. After a brief sabbatical, he returned to Warner Chappell in 2012 to lead its Nashville office, where he achieved significant milestones, including the prestigious Triple Crown of Country Publisher of the Year awards from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in 2019.

Under Vaughn’s leadership, Warner Chappell Nashville’s songwriters earned 19 CMA, ACM, Grammy, or PRO Songwriter of the Year honors, 35 Song of the Year titles, and eight inductions into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His advocacy for songwriters and his dedication to the industry earned him widespread respect and admiration.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Colleagues and friends across the music industry are mourning the loss of a leader who was as passionate about people as he was about music.