By Roy Trakin. He was Vaughn joined Warner Chappell Nashville in , rising to the top post at the satellite office which built a reputation for nurturing songwriting talent in country music and beyond.
Vaughn grew up in the small Kentucky town of Sullivan. At 34, he was one of the youngest executives in Nashville to head a major publishing company when he became EVP and GM at EMI, signing multiple newcomers β like country star Thomas Rhett β to their first publishing deals and working with staff songwriters. Following a six-month sabbatical, Warner Chappell tapped him to lead its Nashville office, returning to the company where he began as an intern.
Vaughn was a fierce advocate for songwriters, speaking of rights protection initiatives and the economic challenges of the craft and lending his expertise to those in the community.
Read the memo sent by Moot and Marshall in its entirety below:. Our deepest condolences are with his family and many friends. Ben has led our Nashville team since , and we know that many of you around the world got to know him over the years.
Anyone who had the pleasure of working with him will be as shocked and saddened as we are. First and foremost, Ben was an extraordinary human being. He met everyone with enthusiasm, warmth, and generosity. His smile was huge, and his sense of humor was infectious. He was always a passionate advocate of songwriters and a topflight music publisher. The Nashville community has lost one of its greatest champions, and he will be profoundly missed by so many across our company and the entire industry.
