| PolyGram Entertainment | |
| Parent: | Universal Music Group |
| Type: | Division |
| Location: | Santa Monica, California |
| Key People: | David Blackman (UMG head of film and television) |
PolyGram Entertainment is the film and television unit of Dutch-American music conglomerate Universal Music Group (UMG). Established on 11 February 2017 as the successor to both PolyGram and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and a revival of the "PolyGram" brand, PolyGram Entertainment co-produces and co-distributes music-inspired and music-themed productions featuring acclaimed UMG personalities, sub-label companies and record labels throughout its history/existence.
Originally defunct since 1999, the "PolyGram" brand was revived as a co-distribution label with StudioCanal on 15 September 2016 for the documentary . Polygram had on its slate as its first production The Story of Motown (a documentary about the record label's cultural and historical effects). Also on its slate was the co-production and financing of Mystify (a biography of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence).[1]
UMG had been dabbling in the documentary field, having a hand in producing the 2015 Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy, as well as HBO's Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. In January 2017, UMG hired David Blackman to head its newly formed film and TV unit, reporting to Universal Music Publishing Group chairman/CEO Jody Gerson and UMG Executive Vice President Michele Anthony.[2]
Republic Records, in working with PolyGram, appointed its first executive vice-president of film & television on 17 July 2017, to oversee film and TV projects and its Federal Films initiative.[3] On 5 June 2018, the company announced the appointment of Daniel Inkeles to the post of Vice President, Scripted Film & Television, who moved over from a sister Vivendi company, StudioCanal, to UMG.[4]
Lionsgate and PolyGram agreed to a multiyear first-look television deal on August 6, 2018, to develop projects for TV from UMG's portfolio of labels, artists and music, with UMG issuing the corresponding soundtracks.[5] Universal Music Group agreed on 17 April 2019, to allow Wondery a license to use the UMG music catalog and develop story podcasts of UMG artists, which would possibly be adapted for TV or film projects. Wondery would work with all UMG labels and with its PolyGram Entertainment film and TV production unit.[6]
| Release Date | Title | Co-production companies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2016 | Apple Corps, Imagine Entertainment, White Horse Pictures, Diamond Docs and One Voice · One World | documentary UK distribution only with StudioCanal | |
| 7 June 2019 | Pavarotti | Decca Records, Imagine Entertainment and White Horse Pictures | documentary Co-financiers: PolyGram, CBS Films International sales rights: HanWay Films[7] [8] |
| 5 September 2019 | Magnolia Pictures, Imagine Documentaries, Bell Media Studios, Diamond Docs and White Pine Pictures | documentary | |
| 3 April 2020 | Beastie Boys Story | Oscilloscope Laboratories, Pulse Films and Fresh Bread Films[9] | documentary distributed by Apple TV+ |
| 30 June 2020 | The Go-Go's | Fine Point Films | documentary distributed by Showtime |
| 12 December 2020 | HBO Documentary Films, K/M Documentaries, White Horse Pictures and Diamond Docs | documentary distributed by HBO | |
| 21 December 2020 | documentary / concert distributed by Netflix | ||
| 15 October 2021 | The Velvet Underground | documentary distributed by Apple TV+ | |
| 1 December 2021 | Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas | musical comedy-drama distributed by The Roku Channel | |
| 20 May 2023 | Love to Love You, Donna Summer | HBO Documentary Films, Motto Pictures, Federal Films and One Story Up Productions | documentary distributed by HBO |
| 2024 | Billy Preston That's the Way God Planned It | Concord Originals, Homegrown Pictures, Impact Partners, Chicago Media Project, Play/Action Pictures, Sobey Road Pictures, UTA Independent Film Group and White Horse Pictures | documentary |
| Year | Series | Production partner | Original network/channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Good Story Entertainment and Federal Films | YouTube Premium | Documentary / Concert | |
| 2019 | Showtime Documentary Films, Mass Appeal, Sony Music Entertainment and Endeavor Content | Showtime | Documentary | |
| 2020–2021 | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | Zijuatanejo Productions, The Tannenbaum Company, Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate Television and Universal Television | NBC | Musical comedy-drama |
| 2021 | [10] | Walt Disney Pictures, Apple Corps and WingNut Films | Disney+ | Documentary |
| 2021 | Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records | Interscope Films, K/M Documentaries and Universal Music Publishing Group | Epix | Documentary |
| 2023 | Dear Mama | Defiant Ones Media Group, Amaru Entertainment, DreamCrew Entertainment, MACRO, Interscope Films and FX Productions | FX | Documentary |
| 2024 | James Brown Say It Loud | Jagged Films, Inaudible Films, Two One Five Entertainment and Warner Music Entertainment | A&E | Documentary |
| 2024 | Concord Originals, HBO Documentary Films, Warner Music Entertainment, Laylow Pictures and White Horse Pictures | HBO | Documentary | |
| 2024 | Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE[11] | HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures | Netflix | Documentary |