Hollywood Movies and Nashville Music Just Makes Sense

When I announced that I was leaving Los Angeles for Nashville six years ago, many of my L.A. industry  friends wanted to know “WHY?”  I noted the great music and the really cool people. In addition to the abundance of country music that the city is known for, Nashville has an amazingly diverse musical scene, and rich musical history. (Who knew that the nightclubs on Jefferson Street hosted R&B and blues greats like Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Otis Redding? Jimi Hendrix was even a regular on Jefferson Street.   I discovered that Nashville has cultivated a bristling rock scene, a white hot hip hop underground and a very healthy alternative scene featuring rock, Americana, and outlaw country.  As a music supervisor, I discovered that Nashville could be a one-stop mecca for servicing almost all of my music needs.

Nashville’s musicality is unsurpassed with approximately 200 recording studios in the area, 130 publishing houses, 100+ live venues and 80 independent and major record labels.  And the talent pool continues to grow as artists, musicians and songwriters are migrating to Nashville from places you wouldn’t expect, like New York and L.A. Matt Bednarsky, a recent transplant from the East Coast, told me candidly that the Nashville music scene is much more welcoming than he expected.  “Nashville is a great place for musicians right now,” he says,  “So many doors are open here, in terms of musical diversity and style, and the scene is growing rapidly.  I’ve discovered so much community here, so much openness and so many doors opened.“

And the film community is also taking notice.  Nashville is a musical goldmine for the indie film producer.  “If music is a significant part of a film’s story, producing that project can be a challenge,” says Linda Palmer of Runaway Productions, an independent production company in Long Beach, California.  “Music can be expensive and licensing can be difficult.  But working with Nashville based music supervisors, artists and producers was unbelievably easy. “

Palmer’s film, “Halloween Party” contained 28 cues - all but two from Nashville sources, none were country and eight songs were written specifically for the movie.   “The biggest acknowledgement we received about the wisdom of our choice,” she continues, “ was winning Best Soundtrack at the Laughlin Film Festival.  Audiences have been blown away by this music.”  So much so, that the song “Voodoo” from the soundtrack was in contention for an Oscar for Best Original Song.  Although, just a few votes shy from nomination, just being a contender for the award is a testament to the quality of the song.

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BEST MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG 


"Breath of Life" from Snow White and the Huntsman (Performed by Florence + The Machine) 


"This Gift" from The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Performed by Glen Hansard featuring Marketa Irglova & the Brooklyn Youth Chorus) 


"Learn Me Right" from Brave (Performed by Birdy with Mumford and Sons) 


"Never Had" from 10 Years (Performed by Oscar Isaac) 


"Not Running Anymore" from Stand Up Guys (Performed by Jon Bon Jovi) 


"Skyfall" from Skyfall (Performed by Adele) 


"Song of the Lonely Mountain" from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Performed by Neil Finn) 

"Voodoo" from Halloween Party (Performed by XX Bottom featuring Donna Britton and Forest Miller) 

"When Can I See You Again?" from Wreck-It Ralph (Performed by Owl City

From Oscar World

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Not bad company, if I say so myself!

“If you want music, go to Nashville, “ concludes Palmer.  “It just makes sense, Hollywood equals great movies, Broadway equals great stage plays and Nashville equals great music.”

I couldn’t agree more.