'Smash': NBC, Columbia Records in Pact for Soundtrack

NBC

"Smash"

NBC and Columbia Records have signed a rights deal for music from the network’s upcoming drama Smash. In addition, Smash lead and former American Idol Katharine McPhee has signed a solo record deal with Columbia Records.

The deal guarantees worldwide, digital and physical rights to music from Season 1 of Smash, which NBC has scheduled for a midseason bow.

“Our Columbia Records partners will guide the soundtrack of Smash into a big component of the show’s success,” NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement announcing the pact Thursday. “The music will be a driving force of what promises to make a tremendous impact for NBC in January and we couldn’t have asked for better expertise and strategy than this company will provide.”

Smash, based on an idea by Steven Spielberg, revolves around a cross-section of characters who attempt to put on a Broadway play based on Marilyn Monroe. McPhee, Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston co-star. It features original and cover music written by Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

"We are thrilled and proud to be chosen by NBC to work on their amazing new show," Columbia/Epic Label Group chairman Rob Stringer said. "Music is at the heart of Smash, and with our wonderfully creative broadcast partners, we will develop innovative strategies to present this music to a huge audience."

McPhee got her start in 2006 as a contestant on Season 5 of Fox’s American Idol; she was the runner-up. Her self-titled debut album was released in January 2007 and bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Her second alum bowed in 2010.

Columbia Records also serves as the official music partner for Fox’s Glee and its upcoming Simon Cowell reality competition series X Factor.

Theresa Rebeck (NYPD Blue) penned the pilot for Smash. David Marshall Grant, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Hairspray) and Darryl Frank and Justin Flavey (United States of Tara) also serve as executive producers. Shaiman and Wittman also are on board as exec producers.

Smash is from Universal Media Studios in association with DreamWorks and Madwoman in the Attic. The soundtrack deal was brokered by NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group.

Check out McPhee singing Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” in a scene from Smash below.