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Tim McGraw launches ‘Down Home’ a new media, entertainment, and marketing company with backing from Skydance.
Country superstar Tim McGraw has announced the launch of Down Home, a new media, marketing, and entertainment company headquartered in Nashville.
The company is a collaborative effort between McGraw and his management company EM.Co, with social content studio Shareability. Tim Staples, Shareability’s founder, is Down Home’s co-founder and CEO. EM.Co’s co-founder Brian Kaplan will serve as Chief Strategy Officer.
Down Home aims to connect McGraw’s country music audience with Hollywood and brands by producing film, TV, and digital media focusing on “relatable stories that capture the essence and spirit of everyday Americans.”
McGraw’s new venture closed an investment and deal with Skydance Media, David Ellison’s leading entertainment company. Skydance will develop film and TV projects with Down Home while sending IP and other material Down Home’s way.
Down Home has also secured a private investment from Nashville-based TriScore Entertainment and The Laurel Group, a boutique merchant bank that will continue to advise the company. Skydance founder and CEO David Ellison will 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. 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,” adds Ellison.
“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,” says Staples.
Down Home has two scripted series in development with Skydance, with plans for features and animation following. Joel Bergvall, Down Home’s Head of Film and Television, is heading that slate.
“People want stories that move them, and that starts with characters they can relate to,” says Bergvall. “We’re focused on underdogs, unlikely heroes, and people striving for their sense of family, community, and belonging.”
The company also plans to establish a social content studio in Nashville to nurture the community’s emerging talent, fostering connections across music, sports, entertainment, and brands.
“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,” concludes Kaplan.