HBO's $30M 'Vinyl' Pilot Becomes Biggest Failure in Network History

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HBO's 2016 drama series "Vinyl," which had a $30 million pilot episode directed by Martin Scorsese, has become the network's biggest failure in its history. The series, which explored the 1970s music industry, was cancelled after just one season despite an initial renewal order, as it failed to connect with a wide audience and struggled with creative issues behind the scenes.

Why it matters

Vinyl's failure is notable because it came from a team of high-profile talent, including Scorsese, Mick Jagger, and Terence Winter, the creator of Boardwalk Empire. HBO is known for its prestige dramas, so the quick cancellation of such an ambitious and expensive project raises questions about the network's development process and ability to identify successful concepts.

The details

Vinyl had a $30 million pilot episode, one of the most expensive in HBO history, and was seen as a surefire hit given the involvement of Scorsese, Jagger, and Winter. However, the series struggled to find an audience, with its niche focus on the 1970s music industry failing to resonate broadly. Behind the scenes, there were creative issues, with Winter being replaced as showrunner midway through production. Despite the talent involved, Vinyl never found its footing and was cancelled after just one season, a rare misfire for the prestige network.

• Vinyl premiered on HBO in February 2016.
• The series was renewed for a second season shortly after its pilot episode aired.
• In June 2016, HBO reversed its renewal decision and announced Vinyl's cancellation.