- " I may have just burnt the house down, but I made damn sure you were in it when I lit the match "
- — Juliette Barnes to Jeff Fordham
Jeff Fordham is the former manager of Edgehill Republic.
Biography
Season 2
Jeff Fordham took over Marshall Evans's position as the CEO of Edgehill Republic around the time of Rayna's near-fatal car crash that put her in a coma. After her miraculous recovery, Jeff's response was to try to capitalize off of the extra media attention and fan support that Rayna was receiving as a result of the tragedy. When he attempted to release a new album against her will, convinced Will Lexington to sign exlucisvely to Edgehill (rather than Highway 65), put pressure on Scarlett to conform to a sexual image, and showed a general attitude of disloyalty towards his artists, Rayna had enough and bought herself out of Edgehill.
When Juliette Barnes was caught up in controversy surrounding her affair with Charlie Wentworth and a video on the internet edited to appear as if she claimed there was no God, Jeff was furious at the dropping sales and the cancelled tours that resulted. He demanded that she apologize during her induction ceremony at the Opry, but instead of following his apology script, she performed a powerful and defiant song directed at her critics. Jeff then dropped her from Edgehill.
Jeff's accomplishments include bringing country phenom Luke Wheeler over to Edgehill and signing up-and-coming artists Layla Grant and Will Lexington. However, these accomplishments pale in comparison to losing the company's two top-grossing artists.
Season 3
In the episode "I'm Lost Between Right and Wrong" Fordham was fired by Edgehill's Board of Directors after Rayna Jaymes revealed his wrongdoings at a corporate meeting, mostly concerning the near death of Layla Grant at a local party. Shortly thereafter, Edgehill Republic Records was dissolved.
He decided to help Layla Grant re-establish herself as a mature artist and she asked him to become her manager. He also wanted to be president of Luke Wheeler's new label but was dismissed.
Personality
Jeff is all about numbers and financial figures. His main priority is making a sale and he values revenue over the well-being of Edgehill's artists. He is not afraid to be manipulative and cunning to secure a coveted singer to the label, but as quickly as he secures an artist, so quickly will he drop them if they don't bring in a sufficient cash flow. He has a vision of what will sell and is determined to force everyone to comply to this vision, typically making them uncomfortable in the process.
It is unknown whether Jeff has any redeeming features.
Trivia
- He doesn't wear swim trunks in the pool