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.
Background Originally defunct since 1999, the "PolyGram" brand was revived as a co-distribution label with StudioCanal on 15 September 2016 for the documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week. 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).
History 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Filmography Films Release date Title Co-production companies Notes 15 September 2016 The Beatles: Eight Days a Week Apple Corps, Imagine Entertainment, White Horse Pictures, Diamond Docs and One Voice · One World documentaryUK distribution only with StudioCanal 7 June 2019 Pavarotti Decca Records, Imagine Entertainment and White Horse Pictures documentaryCo-financiers: PolyGram, CBS FilmsInternational sales rights: HanWay Films 5 September 2019 Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band 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 documentary distributed by Apple TV+ 30 June 2020 The Go-Go's Fine Point Films documentary distributed by Showtime 12 December 2020 The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart HBO Documentary Films, K/M Documentaries, White Horse Pictures and Diamond Docs documentary distributed by HBO 21 December 2020 Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You Den of Thieves, SB Films, Story Syndicate, Si-Fi Films and Federal Films documentary / concert distributed by Netflix 15 October 2021 The Velvet Underground Killer Films, Motto Pictures and Verve Label Group documentary distributed by Apple TV+ 1 December 2021 Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas Zijuatanejo Productions, The Tannenbaum Company, Feigco Entertainment and Lionsgate Television musical comedy-drama distributed by The Roku Channel 28 October 2022 Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues Imagine Documentaries and Apple Studios documentary distributed by Apple TV+ 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 documentary27 February 2026Man on the Run Amazon MGM Studios, Tremolo, and MPL Communications documentary distributed by Prime Video
Television Year Series Production partner Originalnetwork/channel Notes 2018–2019 Motown Magic Grace - A Storytelling Company, Beyond Entertainment, EMI Music Publishing and Sony-ATV Music Publishing Netflix Animation 2018 Ariana Grande: Dangerous Woman Diaries Good Story Entertainment and Federal Films YouTube Premium Documentary / Concert 2019 Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men 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 The Beatles: Get Back 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 Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. Concord Originals, HBO Documentary Films, Warner Music Entertainment, Laylow Pictures and White Horse Pictures HBO Documentary 2024 Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures Netflix Documentary 2025 The Greatest Outlier Society Amazon MGM Studios Series
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