Sarah Nagourney
Sarah Nagourney is a veteran songwriter, producer, and artist development strategist based in New York City. Beginning her musical journey at age nine, she became a professional singer-songwriter by thirteen, performing internationally as both a jazz vocalist and an original-music artist. Over the decades, Sarah has written songs with and for a remarkable roster of artists including Wynonna Judd, Wayne Brady, Chris Difford (Squeeze), and Polina (Eminem), with placements spanning television, film, and major record releases. Her work has consistently combined authentic storytelling with a keen understanding of melody, lyrics, and songcraft, earning her recognition across the industry.
In addition to her songwriting, Sarah has spent more than a decade mentoring and managing emerging talent, guiding artists through the complexities of the music business. She has worked with both major-label and independent artists, helping them develop their sound, navigate publishing, and achieve professional growth. Her commitment to mentorship extends through her involvement with programs like the Recording Academy’s Grammy U, She Is A Music, and her own initiatives to cultivate young songwriters and performers, ensuring that the next generation of artists receives guidance and support.
In 2025, Sarah launched She Creates Noise, a podcast celebrating women across the music industry. Now in its second season with over twenty episodes, the show features interviews with songwriters, producers, publishers, engineers, and executives, highlighting the creativity, leadership, and resilience of women shaping the music business today. With a rapidly growing catalog of hits, international collaborations, and a dedication to mentorship, Sarah Nagourney continues to leave a lasting mark on the music world, balancing her passion for songwriting with her drive to empower artists and amplify women’s voices in the industry.
• McGill University- B.A.
• University of Oxford
• ASCAP Awards
• International Acoustic Music Awards
• Various songwriting contest awards
• ASCAP (publisher and songwriter)
• BMI (publisher and songwriter)
• Recording Academy (voting member)
• NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International)
• AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers)
• NMPA (National Music Publishers Association)
• Impact 100 New York (founding member)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my over 40 years of experience in the field, starting from when I wrote my first song at age 9 and becoming a professional singer-songwriter at 13. I've always found ways to reinvent how I could stay in a business that I can't seem to get enough of. Whether it was performing all over the world, writing songs for major artists like Wynonna Judd and Wayne Brady, managing and developing talent, or mentoring young artists through programs like Grammy U and She is a Music, I've constantly evolved. I think my ability to stay authentic and unique in the way I look at the stories I tell through songs has been key. Now with my podcast She Creates Noise, I'm continuing that journey by highlighting women in the music industry and sharing how they navigated their paths to success. I've always loved working with women in the industry, and I believe that mentoring and helping others navigate this difficult business has been central to my own growth and success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can build a career you love while also inspiring others and making a meaningful difference in their lives.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I want young women to hear the stories of women who have accomplished so much in this industry, because it will maybe be less daunting for them to realize they can do it too. You can become a lowly receptionist or whoever and work my way up - I've interviewed women who got in the building at Sony Music or Chrysalis Records answering phones or whatever, and by sticking to it and finding a way to prove themselves along the way, they elevated themselves. Some of these songwriters talk about the 10,000 hours, literally writing thousands of songs before they succeeded, and I think songwriters ought to hear that. For young singer-songwriters who want to be performers, you just need to get out there and do it. Education helps too - being an educated person helps you research and find what you want, and where you want to go, and what you want to do. From that experience of learning how to learn, you can gain a lot more understanding of how to get to where you want to get to.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, my biggest challenge and opportunity is expanding awareness about my podcast, She Creates Noise. The podcast is not even a year old yet - it will be a year in June - but it's doing quite well and I'm getting really high-profile women to feature. I'm very interested in expanding my network for people to know about what I'm working on right now, because I think it's something that people should know about. There's not that many women doing podcasts, never mind not as many women in executive roles in the music industry. My goal is to become a 501c3 and to be able to have some charitable components, like giving a scholarship to women, though I'm not sure what it's going to be yet. It's early days, but that's coming. I think doing this podcast really is a public service - I want it to be heard by everyone, but especially young women who need to hear the stories of these women who accomplish so much.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being able to mentor and inspire others is most important to me. I started out so young in this industry and grew up in it, and I've always found myself being a mentor to the artists I work with, trying to help them navigate a difficult business. I do that through formal programs like Grammy U and She is a Music, but also just naturally with the 20-somethings I'm still writing with. I think having control over your image and sound and direction as an artist is important, because it gives you more ownership and authenticity. Through my podcast, I'm doing a public service by sharing stories of successful women in music so young women can hear how these women got to where they are. I also believe in giving back through organizations like Impact 100, where I'm a founding member. We've grown from 100 women to over 400 women who each donate $1,000, and we give that money to important causes. I think it's important to support smaller organizations that have a harder time getting money and attention, rather than just the bigger organizations that always get the funding.