New Music Chief, Same Song Recipe For Season 2 Of ABC’s ‘Nashville’

Buddy Miller was named executive music producer of ABC’s Nashville after T Bone Burnett stepped down. Miller says he does some of the recording in his home studio near Hillsboro Village. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN

ABC’s Nashville missed out on an Emmy this week for its original music. As the second season premiers Wednesday night, the show’s head music producer says he’s not fazed.

The primetime soap opera – based on a rivalry between a reigning country music diva and an overnight sensation – hasn’t been a hit with viewers. But the music has. The soundtrack of country anthems and alt-country acoustic numbers – written mostly by local songsmiths – peaked in the top 5 iTunes downloads last December. “Nothing in This World Will Ever Break my Heart Again” was featured in the season finale and nominated for an Emmy.

“I don’t think there’s any proving that has to be done as far as the songs go at all,” says executive music producer Buddy Miller. “These songs are great, and I think downloads on iTunes and sales overall of this music, just the feedback that we’ve been hearing from season one, show that people love good music.”

Miller worked on season one but has moved into a larger role with the departure of T Bone Burnett.

Other big name producers have been brought on to work with individual cast members this season. Grammy-winner Tony Brown will be producing songs by Connie Britton’s character. Taylor Swift’s producer – Nathan Chapman – will be working with a new character named Layla.