ABC Music Lounge To Release NASHVILLE Music Weekly, ON THE RECORD Web Series Debuts

ABC Studios and ABC's online music site, ABC Music Lounge, in association with Big Machine Records will release original music each week on iTunes and abc.go.com/music-lounge/homepage from the critically acclaimed upcoming series, NASHVILLE premiering Wednesday, October 10 at p.m., ET/PT on ABC. This week ABC Music Lounge will release three original songs for download beginning on today, Tuesday, October 9, 2012. The first single, "If I Didn't Know Better," was written by John Paul White -- an American singer/songwriter and a member of the Grammy® Award-winning band The Civil Wars -- and Arum Rae of the band White Dress. The song was performed by NASHVILLE's Clare Bowen as Scarlett and Sam Palladio as Gunnar.

Two more songs, "Back Home" and "Love Like Mine," will also be released on ABC Music Lounge today. "Back Home" was written by Kyle Jacobs, Lee Brice and Joy Yetton -- who is also a member of the band The Civil Wars. "Back Home" was performed by "Nashville's" Charles Esten as Deacon. "Love Like Mine" was written by Kelly Archer, Justin Weaver and Emily Shackelton, and was performed by Hayden Panettiere as Juliette. Grammy® Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett serves as the executive music producer for the series and worked closely with these bright singer/songwriters and NASHVILLE's cast members.

In addition, ABC Music Lounge launches ON THE RECORD today, a documentary web series that follows the life of original songs performed on "Nashville" written by singer/songwriters in the music scene, from the songs' inception to on-air premiere. The series offers an intimate look into the songwriting process behind this fall's most anticipated drama. Take a journey from guitar demo to music video -- and all the steps in between -- with special appearances by the cast and executive producers. This week's episode, shot on location in Nashville at The House of Blues Recording Studios and in Los Angeles, features interviews with executive producer and creator Callie Khouri, executive producer R.J. Cutler and cast members Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio. Check out the first episode here.

NASHVILLE follows music legend and entertainment icon Rayna Jaymes, who has been one of the industry's top female vocalists for two decades. After working tirelessly to elevate her game, Rayna suddenly discovers her passion for the business is not enough to compete with the new generation of talent lighting up the charts. She is reluctant to accept the emerging trend in the business and refuses to be steamrolled by her longtime label, which she helped build. When they give her an offer she can't refuse, Rayna is forced to accept the harsh reality that she'll have to start over and reinvent herself if she plans on being relevant.

NASHVILLE stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Robert Ray Wisdom as Coleman Carlisle and Powers Boothe as Lamar Wyatt.

NASHVILLE is executive-produced by Dee Johnson, R.J. Cutler, Callie Khouri -- who is also creator -- and Steve Buchanan. T Bone Burnett is the executive music producer. The series is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Gaylord Entertainment.