Over the years, Apple TV has built up a surprisingly strong catalog for music lovers. From movies and documentaries to full series, here are some of the most interesting music-related titles on the service.
Directed and written by Todd Haynes (I’m Not There), The Velvet Underground pieces together rare footage with both archival and new interviews to tell the story of how one of the most influential bands in music history came together.
As a fan of The Velvet Underground, this is easily one of my favorite documentaries to date, on or off Apple TV. It also works remarkably well as an introduction to the band, even if you think you’ve never heard any of their music.
Watch The Velvet Underground on Apple TV
Narrated by Mike D and Ad-Rock, the two surviving members of the B-Boys trio, Beastie Boys Story also follows the familiar new-and-old-material-to-tell-a-story dynamic, but it adds a live performance aspect to it.
Shot in front of a live audience and directed by Spike Jonze (Her), Beastie Boys Story retells the story of how three rapper wannabes went on to create some of the world’s most recognizable songs.
Watch Beastie Boys Story on Apple TV
While I’ve never been an avid Billie Eilish listener, I did take note when she burst into the scene with Bad Guy. Which is why when I watched Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, I was surprised to see how much of her creative process and early career had been documented, mostly by her parents and her brother, who had quite a bit of confidence that she would make it someday.
Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry shows how that confidence and the pressure of stardom can be a risky combination, particularly in an era where privacy is such a rare commodity.
Watch Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry on Apple TV
Directed by the late Sacha Jenkins (Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men), Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues tells the beautiful and troubled story behind one of Jazz music’s most iconic voices and trumpets.
From his responsibility as a Black icon on the rise in a heavily segregated America, to the innovations he brought to Jazz, to music and even to cinema, Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues explores aspects of Armstrong’s story that had never been fully told. If you like music of any kind, this is a must-watch.
Watch Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues on Apple TV
I’m not an avid K-pop fan, which is to say that I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly listened to a single K-pop song from start to finish. But if that’s your jam, Apple TV has its own music battle competition, starring Psy and Megan Thee Stallion, and hosted by actress Soojeong Son.
KPOPPED takes the classic talent show format and adds an interesting twist: collaborations between Western artists (from Patti LaBelle and the Spice Girls’ Mel B and Emma Bunton to Vanilla Ice, Kesha, and Boyz II Men) and K-pop acts like Billlie, ITZY, and Kep1er, who remix and reimagine some of the performers’ biggest hits.
Watch KPOPPED on Apple TV
Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo.
Do you have a favorite music-related movie, series, or documentary on Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.
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