Music Biz Whiz Kids

Pictured at the finalists meet and mingle (L-R): Jensen Sussman, Mandy Gallagher, SESAC's Justin Levenson, David Plyler, and Katy Brown.

There are several familiar names on Music Row among the finalists for the 2009 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards (NELAs), given out annually by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville. The organizations say the awards are proof of the demographic’s strong leadership, community impact and success. Many of the nominees are members of music business organization SOLID.

In the Arts, Entertainment, and Music Business category, the finalists are Jessica Baum, Bluewater Music Services Corporation; Katherine Beakes, Universal Music Group; Lucia Folk, CMT; Danny Ray Martin, East Nashville School of Music and Jensen Sussman, Sweet Talk Publicity.

Other finalists with strong ties to the music business are Katy Brown of Musicians On Call, who is nominated in the Community Service Nonprofit category; and Mandy Gallagher of SunTrust Bank, nominated in the Financial Services section.

SESAC President/COO Pat Collins has already been announced as the 2009 Sage Award Winner, given out in conjunction with the honors to one of Nashville’s top leaders who has made a significant impact on the city’s young professional demographic.

The 2009 NELAs Awards Ceremony will be 7-9 PM, Thurs., July 30 at Lipscomb University, with a pre-event reception at Cabana from 5-6:30 PM.