If there is one artist that proves musicians do not need major label aid to find success in the digital age, it's Nashville's Ben Rector. Rector pummels the iTunes charts with every release and has built an enormous fan following by doing what he does best-- sing and perform. Combining influences from John Mayer, Ben Folds, and Bruce Hornsby, Ben Rector is the multi-talented poster boy for the new era of digital DIY artists, where talent and close connections with fans reign supreme.
Here is a Whitney Houston cover that was recorded by Ben before her untimely death. Rector's latest album, Something Like This, is available now on iTunes and other online retailers.
Rector is a 24-year old nobody. He's never been on a label, he's never spent a dime on promotion, he's never been on national television, and he's literally topping the iTunes charts. There's no catch; just listen to the music. With a rich voice and skillfully crafted songs that both befall his age, it's no wonder he's no longer a secret. In a world where everything is only a click away, the opportunity for a uniquely talented artist to take off is unprecedented. And so is the success of this up and coming Singer-Songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
Rector released "Into The Morning" in February of 2010, and it quickly climbed to #5 and #10 on the iTunes Pop and Overall charts. In a year and a half, the record went on to sell 15,000 albums, and over 60,000 singles independently, due solely to word of mouth and consistent touring. Rector is no stranger to the road; he has toured incessantly the last four years, rapidly growing a legion of fans and selling out most dates on his previous two headline tours. This rapid growth culminated in the release of "Something Like This" on September 13, 2011. The record was the #1 Singer Songwriter album 5 minutes after its official release, it climbed above Lil' Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" to the #4 spot on iTunes overall album charts, bested only by Lady Antebellum's same-day release, Coldplay, and Adele.
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