an epic new nine part docuseries from the award winning The Cosmic Shambles Network
Over four years in the making, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts, You, Taskmaster) viewers will take a jam packed journey from the very first sound waves at the beginning of the known Universe to the future of music in a world of steaming and AI. On the way we’ll look at everything from birdsong to blues, jazz to jungle and pianos to prehistory. This is the ultimate mixtape of music history.
There are few cultural universals quite like music. It has the power to invoke the entire gamut of human emotions in a way almost nothing else can. For The Record: An Incomplete History of Music is an epic new nine part docuseries from the award winning The Cosmic Shambles Network exploring the history of music like no series ever has before.
Featuring over 100 exclusive interviews with leading musicians, scientists, and historians from around the world, alongside rare archival recordings, For The Record: An Incomplete History of Music tells the ultimate story of how, when, and why music came to be. Director and producer Trent Burton (Rapid Motion Through Space, Curious People) reflected on the extensive project saying “After four and a bit years I can’t believe it’s almost time to release our series to the world.”
“ We always knew that this was going to be our biggest project yet but I don’t think we imagined it’d reach Ken Burns lengths! It’s been a real thrill getting to speak to so many incredible musicians, historians and scientists for this series and, along with the ever brilliant Charlotte Ritchie we hope to make you look at music in ways you might not have before. Some of my greatest memories in life are strongly tied to music and I’m very excited to add For the Record to that list”.
Interviewees include musicians Charlotte Church, Paul Kelly, Shirley J Thompson, Nitin Sawhney, Jim Bob, Sophie Galpin and prominent scientists such as Helen Czerski, Katie Mack, Chris Lintott and Chris Hadfield. Singer Charlotte Church said “I feel privileged to be a part of this … I think because music has always been extraordinarily powerful. Human beings need music. I think that music can enhance anybody’s life, absolutely anybody. If you’re sad, if you’re depressed, if you’re angry, if you’re stuck, listen to more music.”
“I feel like there’s a real remembering going on at the moment about the importance of music, along with stuff to do with the climate and nature and the planet. I think we’re being drawn back to remembering the way things have been and how do we care for ourselves because we are custodians of the planet. It’s not very complicated. Like anyone knows, you listen to a song you love and you just, for whatever reason, you just feel better. There’s something that happens that makes you feel better.“
For The Record also features Riki Lindholme (Garfunkel and Oates, Wednesday, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Big Bang Theory), Michelle Brasier (Pretty Woman: The Musical, Aunty Donna’s Big Ol House of Fun), Ann Druyan (Cosmos), Kelley Jakle (Pitch Perfect 1, 2 and 3, Woman of the Hour). As well as rare licensed archive interviews with Bob Dylan, Anna Kendrick, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Robert Smith, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Tim Minchin, Kate Nash, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Mick Jagger.
This nine part series clocks in at over ten hours, all free for you to enjoy, starting over the 2026 Glastonbury Fallow Weekend, 25th June with four episodes, then weekly. Alongside interviews, music fans can experience the thrill of Glastonbury Festival from home with exclusive new music from David McAlmont, Tanita Tikaram, Jim Bob, Sonny Tennet, SOFT LAD and more.
A bonus tenth episode will be available for Patreons.
