Charlotte Ritchie
Self - Presenter
Series
Watch For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music (2026) Online
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Synopsis
The epic nine part docuseries from the award winning team at The Cosmic Shambles Network. From The Big Bang to AI, this is the entire history of music as you’ve never seen it before. Presented by Charlotte Ritchie and featuring over 100 exclusive interviews, rare archive interviews and brand new live performances from incredible performers.
Episodes
Series 1
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1. Somewhere in the SilenceNow viewing2026-06-251h 3mWe begin our incomplete history of music at the very beginning of everything, The Big Bang, where conditions come into being so that sound can exist in the first place. We explore the difference between music and sound and debate whether music is uniquely human or do birds and whales just sing for fun.
2. Numbers Fall2026-06-261h 9mWe explore the mathematics that underpins musical structure, how humans came to discover it and how it differs from culture to culture. We take a piano lesson and then try to make sense of why we humans like music so much in the first place.
3. Buried Treasure2026-06-271hWe head to deep caves in Germany to discover the oldest known musical instrument and explore the music of ancient civilisations from Babylon to Greece to Egypt. We look at how music has been taught across cultures and generations and answer that age old question, did neanderthals hum?
4. Build This Love2026-06-281h 10mUsing pianos and guitars as a case study we explore the evolution of musical instruments from ancient times to modern electronic devices. We then start to explore how we send music out in the world via the invention of sheet music and eventually recording and distribution systems like records and radios. Finally we make our own gramophone with a pin and a cone.
5. Yesterdays2026-07-021h 1mWe examine the role of religion in music and the rise of two of the major influences of western music, opera and classical music. We look at how classical music differs from region to region, from Europe to China to Africa and how it’s changed over time. We explore how deaf people enjoy music and it’s influence on film music and Bugs Bunny is also up for discussion…
6. Way Down2026-07-031h 3mThe massive global impact of African rhythms is the focus of this episode and how the barbarism of slavery, and the resilience of enslaved people, gave rise to genres such as blues, jazz, country, rock and roll and more. The episode also includes a dive into the rich musical history and tradition of a modern day musical Babylon, New Orleans.
7. Standing on the Outside2026-07-091h 20mWe meet with hip hop pioneers to discuss the origins of the genre and all that it gave rise to, particularly its influence on culture. A wider look is taken at music’s role in politics, social change and comedy as well as the darker side of music and how it has been used by some of history’s worst people.
8. Sing to Me2026-07-101h 13mWhat makes some music more popular and why do we all have different taste in music? We dig into this via a case study of two pop music juggernauts, The Beatles and Taylor Swift before exploring the behind the scenes process of crafting a memorable song. Finally we take a look at music for children.
9. Tomorrow2026-07-161h 24mIn a world of streaming and AI, what does the future hold for music? We look at some of the more recent phenomena in the world of music including raves, electronic music, the Broadway musical, crowd funding and musical therapy. We speak to astronauts and space legends about why music is so important we sent it into outer space and how the power of live music can never be understated.
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No legal streaming, rental or purchase options for For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music were reported for this region.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music available to watch online?
Vidbox does not currently have a legal streaming, rental or purchase option on record for For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music in this region.
How many seasons does For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music have?
For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music has 1 season and 9 episodes.
When did For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music first air?
For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music first aired in 2026.
Is For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music still running?
Yes, For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music is an ongoing series.
What genre is For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music?
For the Record: An Incomplete History of Music is classified as Documentary.