Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced the signing of an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish fame. In 2008, Rucker launched a notable solo career in country music. His UMPG publishing agreement encompasses all of his writing for Learn to Live plus his future solo work, including his forthcoming solo album entitled
Charleston, SC 1966 due out on
October 12th.
Rucker's platinum-selling debut album, Learn to Live (Capitol Records Nashville), has sold nearly 1.5 million copies. It hit the No. 5 spot on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart and made the No. 1 position Billboard's Top Country Albums. It produced three hit singles ("Don't Think I Don't Think About It," "It Won't Be Like This For Long," and "Alright") that reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. All of the songs were co-written by Rucker.
In 2009, Rucker won top honors from the Country Music Association (CMA) by being named "New Artist of the Year" and "Male Vocalist of the Year" at the Country Music Awards, where he also performed at the award ceremony. The singer is currently performing on the H20 tour with Brad Paisley. "Come Back Song," the first single from his second album which is due to be released in October 2010, was recently released to radio and is already storming up the Country charts.
Rucker performed "Come Back Song" for the first time at The Darius Rucker & Friends Benefit Concert For St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The June 7 event featured performances by Radney Foster, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen and a surprise appearance by Kid Rock. It was held at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee - and raised close to $50,000 for St. Jude's cancer research program.
"We are so excited to add Darius Rucker to our roster of chart-topping songwriters," commented Pat Higdon, President, Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. "He is a great singer and a gifted songwriter and has quickly carved his own niche with Country music fans."
Darius is managed by Doc McGhee who is known for managing legends such as KISS and Bon Jovi (UMPG also publishes the KISS catalogue and Bon Jovi). In the U.S., Darius Rucker has sold over 20 million albums - both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Hootie & the Blowfish.
