- Kate Stephenson has signed with Tommy Alexander of Ground Control Touring for worldwide live music and touring representation.
- She continues with Mendel Records for music management.
- The signing follows her 2026 album This Is What You Get, her third full-length release, and an upcoming September 2026 show in Milan.
Kate Stephenson, the 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Northern Illinois now splitting time between Chicago and Orange County, has signed with Ground Control Touring for worldwide live music and touring representation. Agent Tommy Alexander, who joined GCT’s Nashville office in March 2026 from Wasserman Music, will handle her bookings.
Stephenson grew up classically trained on violin, cello, piano, and voice before turning to songwriting, first releasing music as a teenager and dropping out of film school to pursue it full-time.
Her 2026 album, This Is What You Get, marked her third full-length project and has been credited with establishing her as one of the more distinctive new voices in American singer-songwriter music, blending indie-pop melodies with candid, diary-style lyrics. She’s set to bring that material overseas with a September 16, 2026 show at Spazio Teatro 89 in Milan.
On the business side, Stephenson continues with Mendel Records for management.
The deal adds Stephenson to a Ground Control Touring roster that’s been especially active this summer. The agency recently reunited with longtime client Miniature Tigers, brought on hyperpop artist Joey Cash for worldwide bookings outside Europe and the UK, and added Dirty Projectors for North and South America.
Alexander’s own roster is heavier on Americana and folk names like Anna Tivel, Willi Carlisle, and Humbird, making Stephenson’s indie-pop sensibility a slightly different flavor for his client list.
Takeaways
This looks like a straightforward first step into professional touring infrastructure rather than a shake-up; Stephenson keeps Mendel Records in place and simply adds an agent as her live footprint grows internationally.
Landing with Alexander, whose roster leans folk and Americana, is a bit of a stylistic departure and could hint at GCT positioning her alongside genre-adjacent labelmates rather than strictly indie-pop peers.
Does this signing suggest a bigger 2027 touring push behind This Is What You Get? Could pairing Stephenson with Alexander’s Americana-leaning clients open unexpected co-bill opportunities? Will Mendel Records’ hands-on, artist-first approach scale as Stephenson’s international dates grow?
