Nate Rau|USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
UPDATE: Lionsgate shopping "Nashville" to other networks
The ABC drama "Nashville"will not be renewed for a fifth season, bringing to an end a show that has been a boon for local tourism and film production work.
The show’s production reshuffled its creative team and negotiated in principal a lucrative government incentive package in making its sales pitch for renewal to ABC. But inconsistent ratings plagued the program, a fictionalized drama on the local music industry and city politics.
Still, “Nashville” made its mark on the local economy.
Tourism leaders say “Nashville” lured visitors from around the globe. The Bluebird Café, which was a regular setting for the show, enjoyed sell-outs and long, winding lines of fans hoping to gain a seat.
“We are incredibly disappointed to hear the news that ABC has not renewed the show 'Nashville'for another season," Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said in a written statement. "The show has been an enormously successful promotional tool for our city, which is why the state of Tennessee and Metro Nashville were prepared to support production for a fifth season to be filmed here.
"This is a loss for ABC and for the millions of fans across the world who have grown to love this show. We have enjoyed hosting the cast and crew of the show over the last four years and look forward to future opportunities for film and television production here in Nashville.”
The show was the brainchild of Nashville-based tourism and entertainment company Ryman Hospitality, which pitched the concept to ABC. “Nashville” had a three-pronged production team of Lionsgate, Ryman Hospitality and ABC.
Ryman Hospitality CEO Colin Reed said that despite being cancelled, "Nashville" has been hugely positive for the city.
"The syndication in more than 100 countries has inspired people from across America and around the world to visit Nashville and experience all it has to offer first hand," Reed said. "As originators of the show, we are extremely proud of the success it has had and will continue to have in syndication, and we are grateful to ABC and Lionsgate for their partnership, and especially thankful to our state and city government for their unwavering support."
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. President and CEO Butch Spyridon echoed Barry’s disappointment. The CVC, along with the city and Ryman Hospitality, stepped up in recent years to contribute to the incentive package.
The show had a unique music licensing component through a partnership with Nashville’s Big Machine Label Group. The cast has gone out on tour, and the show served as a platform for local songwriters and artists to spread their music.
“We are disappointed,” Spyridon said in a written statement. “We would have liked to have squeezed out one more season, but all in all it has been a tremendous asset for this city.We hope the cast decides to call Nashville home. They are family to the real Nashville!”
In addition to bringing tourism dollars, the show had a profound impact on the local film and entertainment industry. It required about 200 days of filming each year and employed about 500 people when it was in production. A spokesman for the local union said its members will turn their attention to whether the CMT comedy “Still the King” is picked up.
“It’s very unfortunate for all those people who have worked on the show,” said Peter Kurland, business agent for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 492. “It’s been a very good run for four years and done really well for a lot of people.”
In four years of production, “Nashville" brought in $45.65 million in incentives, mostly from the state. The state and Metro justified the incentives because they viewed “Nashville” as an hour-long commercial for visiting the city.
In that way, the show influenced the incentive strategy for film work, with a new focus on productions that might help boost tourism.
“The state has supported the show, and we believe it was an excellent marketing vehicle for Tennessee,” said Bob Raines, executive director for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. “The show had a great run, and it will live on through syndication and streaming services for people all over the world to enjoy. The show also leaves a terrific musical legacy that fans can continue to enjoy and associate with Tennessee and the city."
Tennessean reporters Joey Garrison and Jamie McGee contributed.Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.
