Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, along with Nashville-based music publishing company THiS Music, today announced that it has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with Nashville songwriter J.T. Harding. Harding’s latest hit is Dierks Bentley and Elle King’s “Different for Girls,” which has been one of the top country songs of the summer and is currently No. 1 on Billboard Country charts in the United States and Canada.
“Adding JT Harding to our THiS Music team is a dream come true,” said Rusty Gaston, General Manager/Partner, THiS Music. “His energy is electric, his creativity is contagious and his work ethic is second to none. We’re looking forward to getting his new songs on the streets.”
Harding has co-written several chart-topping country songs, including Keith Urban’s “Somewhere in My Car” and Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere with You,” which was Chesney’s first single to go platinum. Harding also worked on Blake Shelton’s platinum single “Sangria,” which reached No.1 on country charts in the United States and Canada.
Harding first moved from his native South Detroit to Los Angeles to pursue his music; there, he worked as Marilyn Manson’s assistant, made a demo tape with prize money he won on the VH1 game show “Rock & Roll Jeopardy!” and was subsequently signed by EMI and Atlantic Records. After penning his first hit, Uncle Kracker’s multi-platinum-selling single “Smile,” Harding relocated to Nashville, where he found a natural home in Music City’s songwriting community.
THiS Music was formed in 2006 by General Manager Rusty Gaston and songwriters Tim Nichols and Connie Harrington, and launched in partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.
