Plot Synopsis

From Executive Producers Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, and Terence Winter, VINYL is a one-hour drama series that takes a ride through the sex- and drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco, and hip-hop in 1970s New York City. The show is seen through the eyes of a record label president, Richie Finestra, who is trying to save his company, American Century Records, and his soul without destroying everyone in his path. With his passion for music and discovering talent gone by the wayside, and American Century on the precipice of being sold, he has a life-altering event that reignites his love of music, but severely damages his personal life. Richie's wife, Devon, a former actress and model who was part of Andy Warhol's Factory scene in 1960s New York City, is now a suburban mother of two. Richie's personal and professional crises put additional stress on their relationship, inspiring a desire to return to her Bohemian roots. Meanwhile, as head of promotions and a partner at American Century, Zak Yankovich's experience in the industry and hundred-dollar handshakes make him an invaluable part of the company, though he works in Richie's shadow. Their professional relationship is strained by disagreements over how to guide the company through the music landscape of 1973. Together with his partners, Richie is on the verge of selling his struggling company to German Polygram, in a deal that includes an impending distribution agreement with Led Zeppelin. But after a disastrous meeting, it's clear that the sale is in jeopardy. Heading home to Greenwich, CT, Richie takes a detour to an unplanned reunion with Lester Grimes, a musical artist with whom he has a complicated history. With thoughts of Lester weighing on him, Richie heads to the office, where, in addition to the Led Zeppelin situation, he learns of another problem: Bombastic Frank 'Buck' Rogers, owner of a chain of radio stations, is about to boycott American Century due to a perceived slight by one of the label's artists. In crisis mode, Richie gives his A&R department the mandate to find new acts, prompting office assistant Jamie Vine to bring in The Nasty Bits, a proto-punk band unlike anything anyone has ever heard. Meanwhile, Richie enlists thuggish independent promotion man Joe Corso to help with the Buck Rogers situation. After a three-day coke binge, Corso summons the sober Richie to Rogers' home, where things go horribly awry. Despite American Century's troubles, Richie learns that Polygram has agreed to buy the company after all. That night, with both Lester and the Buck Rogers debacle on his mind, he goes violently off the wagon, trashing the den of his Connecticut home and severely jeopardizing his relationship with his wife, Devon, and their two children. Richie ultimately finds himself coked out and on his own, drawn by a crowd of young people to the Mercer Arts Center in Manhattan, where he sees The New York Dolls perform, a night that sets him on a completely new course.
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On Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT, HBO premiered the season finale of VINYL. In the season ender, "Alibi," feeling betrayed by Richie, Zak maps out a dangerous plan to bring down his partner as the Alibi label launch approaches. Kip's jealousy toward Alex threatens to derail the Nasty Bits just as they're about to take the stage for the most important gig of their career. Clark and Jorge's efforts pay off. Richie is privy to the birth of a legendary music venue.