Songwriter Updates (8/16/2012)

Pictured (L-R): Curb Music Publishing's Drew Alexander and Colt Cameron, Katie Kessler and ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel

Katie Kessler has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Curb Music Publishing.

Kessler was discovered after participating in ASCAP’s Country Songwriters Workshop and The ASCAP Belmont Songwriter Series. She is also a recent graduate of Belmont University.

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Chris Stapleton, Sarah Zimmermann (Striking Matches), Morgane Hayes, Eric Paslay, Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall, Dave Berg and Justin Davis (Striking Matches)

Country songwriters and Napa Valley winemakers came together for ASCAP’s annual Nashville In Napa on August 11 at Baldacci Family Vineyards to benefit Notes for Education, founded by Frank Rogers and Debi Cali of Baldacci Vineyards.

This year’s event, featured songwriters including Jessi Alexander, Dave Berg, Morgane Hayes Stapleton, Eric Paslay, Jon Randall and Chris Stapleton. Prior to the main event, Radney Foster, Silverado Pickups and Striking Matches (Justin Davis and Sarah Zimmermann) entertained an audience on August 8, at the Napa Valley Opera House.

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SESAC has signed songwriter Jon Vezner for representation. Vezner has scored cuts by Martina McBride, John Mellencamp, and Faith Hill. He also co-wrote the Kathy Mattea classic “Where’ve You Been,” which went on to win Song of the Year honors at the CMA and ACM Awards and a Best Country Song Grammy.