Sam Kling is SVP of Creative Operations for SESAC Holdings, a performing rights organization. Kling oversees the company’s growth strategies for artist affiliations, music publishers and new business opportunities within the creative community. He also manages the Creative Services team in London, New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. Kling has installed an innovative client services structure in addition to elevating the company’s affiliate roster by collaborating with some of the industry’s most significant artists, music publishers and managers. He has led the department’s strategic effort to secure songwriter and composer affiliations such as Adele, Rosanne Cash, Green Day, Kesha, Kings of Leon, Shawn Stockman, Robin Thicke, and more.

Kling also spearheaded the partnership signing of publishing company Universal Publishing Production Music. He is responsible for bridging the gap between Mint Digital Services and U.S.-based music publishers to ensure a smooth rollout within the U.S. Mint Digital Services administers licenses to use musical compositions in multi-territorial online music services on behalf of music publishers. Kling is a T.J. Martell Foundation Los Angeles board member, a voting member of The Recording Academy, and a board member of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP). He is a member of the Academy of Country Music, Americana Music Association, and Country Music Association.

Prior to his current role, Kling served as VP of Peermusic, where he oversaw the independent music company’s US Pop A&R as well as Film & Television creative operations. Kling also served as VP of Film & Television for BMG Music Publishing where he managed their U.S. synchronization operations.