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Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide to the Music Business

Documentaries

Music

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Series in which three music industry insiders reveal how the business really works.

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John Giddings

Richard Bright

Colin Murray

Melanie C

Peter Rudge

Phil Collins

Peter Mensch

Carlin Wallace

Laura Deponio

Barry Ronan

Duncan Stingemore

Anton Jeffes

Francis McNeil

Tom Hayward

Noel Nelis

Berny McGurk

Neil Alan

Michael MacKinnon

Amanda Perry

Sharon Wood

Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide to the Music Business: Series 1: Episode 2: On the Road

On the Road

Episode 2

Episode 2: On the Road

Series 1

BBC Four - Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide to the Music Business, Series 1, On the Road

Music promoter John Giddings explores how live music became a billion-pound industry.

Series in which music industry insiders reveal how the business works. Music promoter John Giddings explores how live music became a billion-pound industry.

Music promoter John Giddings takes us on an entertaining ride behind the stage lights to tell the story of how live performance has become a billion-pound industry.

As the founder and promoter of the modern Isle of Wight festival and one of the world's biggest live promoters, John knows more than most how to put a show on the road. And how the world of live performance has changed.

Where once bands would tour to promote an album, in the age of downloads and disappearing record sales, the live arena is a huge business. Bigger than ever before.

For a genuine behind-the-scenes insight into the scale and logistics of the modern mega-tour, John takes us backstage at U2's latest stadium spectacular. We also join John behind the scenes at Isle of Wight 2017, the festival he runs and where Rod Stewart and Run DMC are among the big names on the line-up.

But we also travel back to tell the story of the original Isle of Wight Festival, where a bunch of young promoters with big ideas persuaded Bob Dylan, The Who and Leonard Cohen to perform. A tale of unpaid artists, frantic last-minute negotiations and general mayhem, it was an event that transformed the music industry. And for a young John Giddings, who was in the audience, it was the beginning of a whole career.

Along the way, some of the biggest names in rock and pop share their insights from life on the road and how the world of live performance has changed.

Phil Collins reminisces about his youthful trips to the Marquee Club. Earth, Wind & Fire reveal the extraordinary planning that went into their theatrical stage shows. Stewart Copeland recalls The Police's pioneering international tours, including a memorable visit to India at the invitation of a local women's organisation, The Time and Talents Club. Melanie C talks of her nerves taking to the road with the Spice Girls, who unlike most touring bands had no real experience of live performance. And Alex James remembers the thrill of live performance but also the reality behind some of their tours... not just to please the fans but to pay the taxman.

Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide to the Music Business: Series 1

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Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide to the Music Business

Series 1

Episode 2: On the Road

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