Rhett Akins, Warner/Chappell Music and BMI Celebrate Rhett’s 24 No. 1 Hits
Top Row (Left to Right): Alison Junker (WC), Will Overton (WC), Matt Michiels (WC), Ben Vaughn (WC), Jon Platt (WC), Rhett Akins, Jess Rosen (Greenberg Traurig LLP), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Steve Butler (WC), Travis Carter (WC), Phil May (WC), Phil Graham (BMI).
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Lisa Boullt, Alicia Pruitt (WC), Jessi Vaughn (WC)
Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, today announced that it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with award-winning songwriter Rhett Akins. The two-time BMI songwriter of the year will rejoin Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn (EVP, Warner/Chappell Nashville) and Jon Platt (Chairman & CEO, Warner/Chappell Music), who worked with Akins while at EMI Publishing. Akins’ recent hits include No. 1 songs “Huntin’, Fishin’, & Lovin’ Everyday” with Luke Bryan, “Mindreader” with Dustin Lynch, and the most added song at Country radio last week, “Dirt On My Boots” with Jon Pardi. Effective immediately, Warner/Chappell will publish Akins’ future work as well as select catalog.
“I’m extremely proud and excited to work with the Warner/Chappell family,” said Akins. “I’ve had a long and successful relationship with Ben Vaughn and Jon Platt, and I can’t wait to continue my career with their talented team.”
“Rhett recently celebrated his 24th No. 1 song, which is an astounding achievement,” said Vaughn. “He lives and breathes songwriting—co-writers love working with him and so many artists call him a friend and mentor—and I speak for the entire Warner/Chappell team when I say how thrilled we are to be working with such a special songwriter and his incredible body of work.”
Akins is the recipient of 29 BMI Awards and was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2011 and 2014. His songs have been awarded BMI Song of the Year (2011 and 2012) and ASCAP Song of the Year (2012 and 2014), and Akins has received the Triple Play Award five times for having three No.1 singles in a 12-month period.
Akins broke onto the scene in 1995 with his critically acclaimed debut album, A Thousand Memories, which resulted in his signature hit “That Ain’t My Truck,” and a tour with country music icon Reba McEntire. Another studio album, Somebody New, followed, as did more chart-topping tracks, including the No.1 hit “Don’t Get Me Started.”
Beyond his success as a recording artist, Akins has written for many other artists, often as one-third of The Peach Pickers, a songwriting team that also includes Ben Hayslip and Dallas Davidson. Akins has written songs for many country artists, including Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, William Michael Morgan, Tyler Farr, Brantley Gilbert, and others, including Akins’ own son, singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett. Akins also wrote Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee,” which became the highest-selling digital debut by a country male solo artist. Akins has had 12 song placements with the country superstar.
On Wednesday night, Warner/Chappell Nashville and BMI co-hosted a dinner to celebrate Akins’ illustrious songwriting career, which includes a whopping 24 No.1 songs. The dinner was attended by Akins, Warner/Chappell and BMI staff, and Rhett’s attorney, Jess Rosen of Greenberg Traurig LLP.
