Best Music Industry Films To Watch While In Isolation

If you’re unable to go to live shows (you are) but are looking for some music industry entertainment, the Symphonic team here offers some of the top music business movies to enjoy from the comfort of your couch while social distancing.

Guest post by Randi Zimmerman of the Symphonic Blog

If anyone knows some good music industry movies, it’s our Symphonic team. We asked around and found some of the best movies available on the web to help you pass the time. Take a break, grab some popcorn, and tune in to these iconic music industry movies.

Music Industry Movies to Watch While Social Distancing

Kiva Alvarez [Senior Accountant in Finance] — Purple Rain

Love Prince? Check out his acting debut in Purple Rain, a 1984 American rock musical drama film directed by Albert Magnoli. A victim of his own anger, the Kid (Prince) is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music.

Click here to watch it on Netflix. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

Peter Barker [Director of Software Development] — Walk the Line

The rise of country music legend, Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), begins with his days as a boy growing up on the family farm, where he struggles under the scorn of his father (Robert Patrick). As the years pass, Cash ends up in Memphis, Tenn., with his wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin), and breaks into the music scene after finding his trademark sound.

Rebecca Graff [Chief Operating Officer in Management/Administration] — This is Spinal Tap

“This Is Spinal Tap” shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

Randi Zimmerman [Junior Content Specialist] — The Dirt

Based on the bestselling autobiography from Mötley Crüe, the film is an unflinching tale of success and excess as four misfits rise from the streets of Hollywood to the heights of international fame.

Click here to watch it on Netflix. For now, check out the trailer below.

Guillermo Bohorquez [Client Relations Coordinator] — 24 Hour Party People

Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester’s punk groups are clamouring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club.

Click here to watch it on Hulu. Before you do, check out the trailer below.

Rio Van [Client Services Coordinator] — Almost Famous

Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15-year-old William, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time. When his love of music lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview the up-and-coming band Stillwater — fronted by lead guitar Russell Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe William embarks on an eye-opening journey with the band’s tour, despite the objections of his protective mother.

Nick Gordon [Chief Client Officer & GM] — Krush Groove

In this movie based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings, up-and-coming manager Russell Walker manages all the hottest acts on the record label Krush Groove Records, which include Run-D.M.C., Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Kurtis Blow, while Rick (Rubin) produces the label’s records. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell doesn’t have the money to press records, he borrows money from a street hustler. At the same time, Russell and his brother Run both compete for the heart of R&B singer Sheila E.