Rhett Akins Re-Ups With EMI

(L-R): EMI's Tom Luteran, BMI's Jody Williams, EMI's Laura Wright, Rhett's son Thomas Rhett Akins, Rhett Akins, BMI's Leslie Roberts, EMI's Ben Vaughn, BMI's Clay Bradley, daughter Kasey Lee Akins, EMI's Josh Van Valkenburg, BMI's Beth Laird, EMI's Missy Wilson and BMI's Mark Mason

Riding high with a string of hits and two rising singles, songwriter Rhett Akins has extended his relationship with EMI Music Publishing. Under terms of the new co-publishing deal, EMI Music will continue to represent Akins’ future work and catalogue of songs which includes the No. 1s “All About Tonight” (performed by Blake Shelton), “Gimme That Girl” (Joe Nichols) and “All Over Me” (Josh Turner).

Akins, who first joined EMI six years ago, is a co-writer on the latest singles from Shelton (“Honey Bee”) and Rodney Atkins (“Take A Back Road”). “I want to thank my EMI family, co-writers, and music partners for giving me the opportunity to create music and live my dream,” he said.

EMI Music Publishing Nashville Executive Vice President Ben Vaughn added, “Rhett Akins is a guy that you love being in business with and working with everyday. He loves what he does and it shows. Our entire EMI Nashville family are proud to share in his on going success and proud to call ourselves ‘Rhettnecks.’”

Since moving to Nashville more than 15 years ago, Akins has had hits as a recording artist with “That Ain’t My Truck” and “She Said Yes.” He was named one of Billboard‘s top five country songwriters in 2010, and his songs have collectively sold more than 2.5 million digital downloads.

His other hits as a writer include “Farmer’s Daughter” (Rodney Atkins), “Put A Girl In It” (Brooks & Dunn) and “The Shape I’m In” (Joe Nichols).

EMI Music Publishing’s current Nashville hit-making writers include Dallas Davidson, Alan Jackson, Chris Young, Kelley Lovelace, and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott.