Tim McGraw Launches New Media Venture, Down Home
Tim McGraw. Photo: Robby Klein
Tim McGraw has launched Down Home, a new entertainment, media and marketing company headquartered in Nashville.
The company is a collaborative effort between McGraw, his management firm EM.Co, and social content studio Shareability. Tim Staples, Shareability Founder and Down Home Co-Founder, has been named CEO, while EM.Co’s Brian Kaplan, also a Co-Founder, will serve as Chief Strategy Officer.
Down Home will be dedicated to connecting McGraw’s country music audience with Hollywood and brands by producing film, television and digital media focusing on relatable stories that capture the essence and spirit of everyday Americans. The new venture closed an investment and a first-look deal with David Ellison’s Skydance Media to develop film and television projects with the new company as well as channel IP and other material. Ellison will also serve on the Down Home board.
“Country music has always been about storytelling,” says McGraw. “Our stories are honest vignettes of life and family and community. I think there’s a longing for that. For me, that’s Down Home. That’s how I grew up, those are the stories I like to tell, and that’s what I want our company to be about.”
“Tim McGraw is an outstanding artist and entertainer,” says Ellison. “He is truly gifted at telling stories across mediums that deeply connect with the audience and has built an unmatched community of fans around the world. We are thrilled to partner with him, Tim Staples, Brian Kaplan and everyone at Down Home as they have created a dedicated infrastructure to tell stories across film, TV and music, to fulfill a massive demand for authentic, inspiring stories.”
“From 1883 to Friday Night Lights, or songs like ‘Humble and Kind’, Tim McGraw knows how to connect with this audience in a way that can be really powerful for both Hollywood and brands,” adds Staples.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the next chapter in Nashville’s evolution, empowering artists and visionaries to create a new hub for storytelling that combines talent, passion and innovation,” says Kaplan.
Down Home has two scripted series in development with Skydance, with plans for features and animation to follow. The company also plans to establish a social content studio to nurture Nashville’s emerging talent, fostering connections across music, sports, entertainment and brands.
