Music News 03/01/2012

L-R: Steve Hodges/Capitol, Marc Driskill/ASCAP, Frank Rogers, Darius Rucker, Ron Stuve/UMPG, Cyndi Forman/UMPG, Mike Dungan/Capitol. Photo Credit: Jim Wright

Darius Rucker recently celebrated his fifth No. 1 single, “This,” while in Nashville to work on his third album for Capitol Records. The song appears on Rucker’s sophomore album, Charleston, SC 1966.

“‘This’ was a special song for me because it was the first time I ever wrote a song on iChat,” Rucker shared. “Kara [DioGuardi], who had started writing the song with Frank [Rogers], was in Los Angeles and we were in Nashville! I just thought it was the perfect song to really bridge the gap from Learn to Live to this album.”

Rucker is currently in the studio with Rogers and expects to release his new album in Fall 2012. “I come from that ‘album age,’ so with this next record–while we’re writing a lot of material that’s different from Learn to Live and Charleston–we’re still focusing on creating an album fans will hopefully want to listen to from start to finish,” added Rucker.

For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com.

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Billy Dean and Ron Rainey

Billy Dean has signed an exclusive artist management contract with Beverly Hills-based Ron Rainey Management. He joins existing Rainey clients The Marshall Tucker Band, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Alvin Lee, and Kid Creole and the Coconuts, among others.

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Flat Earth Music has announced the signing of Canadian-born singer/songwriter Dawson Reigns to a publishing deal. Reigns scored a hit in 2010 with “If Crazy Wasn’t So Beautiful,” and also released singles “Someone Watching Over Me” and “Empty Handed.” Now a Nashville resident, Reigns has been working with other writers in town on material for his next album.

(L-R): David Wilson, Flat Earth Bus. Development Dir.; Reigns; Todd Wilkes, Flat Earth Creative Dir.

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Heath Forbes

Luna Chica Records International has signed country artist Heath Forbes to the artist roster. The Monroe, LA native is currently touring with former NFL player Kyle Turley and will be opening for David Allan Coe in spring. Complete tour dates at heathforbes.com.

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The great tradition of musical family was the theme of the day, when BMI toasted the team behind The Band Perry’s No. 1 song “All Your Life” on Monday, Feb. 27. The song was co-written by Clara Henningsen with her father Brian, and was performed by one of the top family groups in country music. Clara and Brian Henningsen were also saluted—along with Clara’s brother Aaron—for co-writing TBP’s hit “You Lie.” Additionally, The Band Perry celebrated its self-titled Republic Nashville debut album reaching platinum status.

“Brian and Clara wrote a great song and we are so happy that they pitched it to us!” says Kimberly Perry. “We get such a great reaction from it live and the fact that it stayed in the #1 position for two consecutive weeks proves what a well-crafted song it is.”

BMI Assistant VP, Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley presented the band and writers with silver cups for the achievement. BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta and Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen then presented TBP with a Platinum plaque for their self-titled album.

(L-R): (back row) BMI’s Clay Bradley, Republic Nashville’s Jimmy Harnen, Rainbow Skyline Music’s Paul Worley, EMI Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, producer Nathan Chapman, and Cactus Moser Music’s Cactus Moser; (front row) The Band Perry’s Neil, Reid, and Kimberly Perry; and co-writers Clara Henningsen and Brian Henningsen. Photo: Rick Diamond