Bug Music Signs Tonic Frontman Emerson Hart

Emerson Hart, solo artist and frontman for the alt-rock band Tonic, has been signed to Bug Music Publishing.

The Nashville-based Hart entered a co-publishing deal with Bug Music, which owns copyrights to songs by Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, and Wilco, as well as prestige artists like Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters and Townes Van Zandt. The deal will encompass Hart’s 2007 solo album Cigarettes and Gasoline, and all future recordings, including those made my the recently reformed Tonic. In the late 90s, the multi-platinum-selling Pennsylvania band scored mainstream rock hits with “Open Up Your Eyes,” “Casual Affair,” and “If You Could Only See.” Hart went on to co-write the theme song to the TV show American Dreams, for which he won an ASCAP award.

“I have always been impressed with the level of depth in Emerson’s music. He is the consummate artist, the songwriter’s songwriter,” said John Allen, Vice President, Bug Music Nashville. “An outstanding addition to Bug Music, we look forward to exploring and creating new opportunities for him, his existing works and future projects.”

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Bug Music family. Their creative vision, global reach across all genres and understanding of the artist and writer makes them an ideal fit,” said Hart.

Tonic will release an album of new material next spring on 429/Savoy Records.