Biography
Shannon Sanders is a singer-songwriter, producer and currently serves as the Executive Director of Creative at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in Nashville. In this role, he signs and develops top talent while supporting BMI’s songwriters and publishers. Through educational programs, networking, and showcase events, he fosters both emerging and established songwriters.
With over 25+ years in the music industry, Sanders is a three-time GRAMMY, two-time Emmy, and Dove Award-winning songwriter/producer. He released his debut album Outta Nowhere in 1999, featuring the song "In My Mind", which would later be famously covered by Heather Headley. He founded and served as Program Director of Nashville’s 102.1 The VILLE, a radio station dedicated to classic soul, R&B and local artists. He was also co-musical director for India.Arie and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. In 2024, Sanders received the Academy of Country Music's Lifting Voices Award.
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A respected industry advocate, Sanders is active in organizations like the Recording Academy and Leadership Music. He also sits on the boards of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation (NCVC), the Country Music Association (CMA), and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). In 2016, Black Enterprise named him one of its 100 Modern Men of Distinction.
An alumnus of Tennessee State University, Sanders was inducted into its Hall of Fame for Distinguished Alumni.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.