BBC Studios and Universal Music's media division Mercury Studios have agreed a new deal to develop "a diverse pipeline of music-driven returnable IP". That's "TV programmes" to you and me. Documentaries specifically.
The deal with see Mercury Studios team up with the BBC Studios Documentary Unit on a range of subjects, all with music or music talent at their centre.
"When you combine two powerhouses - the global reach and musical heritage of BBC Studios with the capabilities and insight of Mercury Studios, it makes for a very formidable partnership", says Mercury Studios CEO Alice Webb. "Collaborating with BBC Studios opens the door for both sides to look beyond the usual artist-focussed documentaries and use music as a lens to create innovative content".
Alan Holland, Head Of Documentary Unit at BBC Studios Production, adds: "This partnership has the potential to deliver something incredibly special for documentary lovers and music fans alike. The sheer breadth of the BBC Studios Docs Unit's genre expertise and our skills in filmmaking means we can tell stories from a fresh perspective and in a range of new and unexpected forms".
Under the partnership, programmes will be developed for UK and international audiences.