CW Developing Music Drama Produced by Scooter Braun (Exclusive)

The CW is getting into the music industry.

The network is teaming with uber-producer Scooter Braun and Tony nominee Todd Graff to develop a music drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The untitled entry, which has received a script commitment, is set in the ever-evolving world of music, entertainment and social media. It chronicles the rise of Gary Graham, a brilliant young manager with the talent and ambition to shake up the industry, which is a world gone viral: where stars are minted overnight, relationships are constantly tested and careers can be made or crushed with one perfectly placed phone call. Will he manage to stay true to himself while outmaneuvering the roadblocks put in place by clients, lovers and colleagues? It’s a fine line.

The drama will feature original songs and cameos from some of pop culture’s biggest names.

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Graff (Broadway’s Baby) will pen the script and executive produce the Warner Bros. Television entry alongside Tony Krantz via his Flame Ventures production banner. Braun, who manages Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Psy and Carly Rae Jepsen, among others, will also executive produce via his SB Films unit. Flame’s Drew Comins and SB’s Danny Rose are set as co-EPs.

Should the CW music drama go to series, it would mark Braun’s second TV scripted project alongside CBS’ breakout hit Scorpion, which has already been picked up for a full season.

For his part, Graff’s writing credits include Used People, The Vanishing and Camp, which was nominated in 2003 for the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize.

Krantz, who worked in the music industry during college, most recently produced NBC’s Dracula and counts 24 and Felicity among his TV credits. He’s also behind a Phantom of the Opera reboot in the works with Endemol as well as a horror anthology with Jason Blum at NBC, among other projects.

The CW’s music drama comes as the genre has been gaining steam again. While Fox’s Glee will sign off in the spring after six seasons, the network in January is launching hip-hop family drama Empire, while ABC will bow musical fairy tale Galavant next month before country music drama Nashville returns in March.

Krantz is with CAA and Gang Tyre, Graff is with UTA, and Braun is with CAA and Jackoway Tyerman.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit