Atlantic Films and You Know Films have announced plans to release the Roland TR-808 documentary, 808, simultaneously on Apple Music/iTunes and in theaters, later this year.
The film chronicles the story of the Roland TR-808 drum machine and its use in popular music. The film features commentary and contributions from Pharrell Williams, Afrika Bambaataa, The Beastie Boys, Damon Albarn, David Guetta, Phil Collins, Diplo, New Order, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), Rick Rubin, Jellybean Benitez, Hank Shocklee, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and others.
Here’s the official trailer:
“It’s only appropriate that a film about a machine that revolutionized how music is made be seen via a service that revolutionized how music is consumed,” said Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records Chairman & CEO. “The story of how the 808 changed the face of modern music is simply extraordinary, and the Apple Music audience is perfect for this compelling film.”
The feature-length documentary is a You Know Films production, in association with Atlantic Films. Alexander Dunn produced and directed the film.
The filmmakers spent about three years traveling around the world, interviewing iconic artists and producers and Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi.
The release date is TBA.
via Deadline
“It’s only appropriate that a film about a machine that revolutionized how music is made be seen via a service that revolutionized how music is consumed,” said Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records Chairman & CEO.”
….. says a man blindsided by the same company and tech that ruined his industry…. and possessed neither the foresight or vision to encompass or at least embrace it when it would have made a difference… 🙂
Lyle what are you talking about ? Apple did not ruin the record or musicbusiness. Apple in contrast helped the business evolve.
Floyd, I was referring to Mr. Kallman’s “personal” industry and job position…, NOT the music industry, sorry if I was fuzzy on that! … and I agree with you!
Lyle you were right, its floyd who is wrong. since the advent of iTunes and mp3 the share of money in the music industry have been concentrated in fewer hands, a fact that was reported on this very web site. whilst their was an argument that digital technologies would democratise capitalism the overall picture has been a greater concentration of wealth in tech companies like apple, amazon, Facebook.
for anyone interested here is an interesting book which i don’t necessarily agree with in total but raises some over looked arguments in to the consequences of digital capitalism.
https://punctumbooks.com/titles/the-critique-of-digital-capitalism/
on a slight tangent some may also be interested in this from bbc4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07752bx
The Pirate Ship
In the first of a two-part series, journalist and broadcaster Matt Everitt talks to record executives, industry insiders, artists and fans about the decisions that have transformed the record industry.
In the late 1990s, when Debbie Southwood-Smith was working as an A&R manager at the height of the CD boom, it seemed the money would never run out. She would stay in the Four Seasons Hotel every week, she’d follow bands around the world. But then, one day, she walked past her younger brother’s room and heard the sound of CDs spinning and hard drives whirring. “It was my job to notice trends – but Napster, I didn’t see that coming.”
The launch of Napster in 1999 shifted the power of the industry. Since then global music revenues have shrunk by 45%. MP3s and online file-sharing gave listeners the opportunity to take risks without having to buy a CD. Soon, a generation brought up on free music regarded the music bosses as overfed and considered that downloading was not stealing.
The industry struck back and took legal action – but what a different story it might have been if Napster had been co-opted and been turned into a paid service for the industry.
Secret talks would lead to the launch of iTunes – but people bought tracks, not albums, and revenues fell. The record labels fought digital, and digital won.
Record executives, managers and industry insiders including Roger Ames, Daniel Glass, Peter Mensch and Brian Message are asked, could the music industry have saved itself, or was it the inevitable victim of the sudden shift in technology?
Producer: Barney Rowntree
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4.
“filmmakers making a documentary about a drum machine” seems like a perfect set-up for a portlandia sketch
Don’t tell me, August 8th?
and what exactly is guetta doing in there?
the same with pharrel williams
Another “documentary” about the 808? Good grief. It’s even the same cast of 80’s musicians that are every other hip hop/techno retrospective. This just looks like another trip down the worn out trail of nostalgia. Gonna be boring.