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Get Rich or Try Dying: Music's Mega Legacies

Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic takes you on a journey into the afterlife of pop. Join her as she discovers the dos and don鈥檛s of keeping the dream alive after a pop star is gone.

Both Bob Dylan and Nick Cave have testified in song that death is not the end. But, not all stories from the musical afterlife are created equal. Death may have its obvious downside. However, in the world of pop, shuffling off your mortal coil could be a unique business opportunity.

In this documentary, Scissor Sisters star Ana Matronic goes on a journey into the afterlife of pop. Think of her as music鈥檚 pearly gatekeeper of making it big in the ever after. But here鈥檚 the rub: this isn鈥檛 about the music; no, this is about the many other ways dead pop stars earn a living when they鈥檙e gone. So join her as she books in with the agents, publicists, producers and families to discover the dos and don鈥檛s of keeping the dream alive.

Using a combination of interview, archive and investigation, Get Rich or Try Dying peels back the complicated mechanics of the pop music industry, showing how it really works and who ultimately profits from it. Once the mansions, yachts, luxury cars, private jets and entourages are dispensed with, death ushers in a new cast of characters, not all of whom were party to creating the wealth in the first place, but all of them are interested in profiting from it.

The documentary reveals how Elvis was the architect of the entire legacy industry and how his lawyers, working on behalf of his family, changed American law to permit the surviving family members to benefit from his rights of publicity. It shows Prince鈥檚 story to be a cautionary tale for those without a will, and ponders how Bob Marley has retained his dignity despite attaching his name to everything from bath salts to electric goods and Californian marijuana. Linda Ramone professes her love of 鈥榤erch鈥� and explains how her dead husband鈥檚 influential but niche NY punk act, The Ramones, continues to stand for something way beyond their music. Finally, Frank Zappa鈥檚 son delves into the morality of hologram tours, as illustrated by his father鈥檚, before the immaculate planning of David Bowie sets out how to go about it the right way.

Last year, the top five estates of the most cherished 鈥榙eceased鈥� popstars earned an incredible US$0.5bn - this documentary shows you how they did it.

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Nov 2019 01:20
大象传媒 Four

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Tame Impala

    Elephant

  • 00:01

    Tame Impala

    Elephant

  • 00:05

    Elvis Presley

    Are You Lonesome Tonight?

  • 00:06

    Elvis Presley & The Jordanaires

    (You're The) Devil In Disguise

  • 00:08

    Elvis Presley

    Rubberneckin'

  • 00:10

    Janis Martin

    My Boy Elvis

  • 00:11

    Elvis Presley

    Jailhouse Rock

  • 00:15

    Elvis Presley

    Shake, Rattle And Roll

  • 00:16

    Gogol Bordello

    Purple

  • 00:18

    Sammy Davis Jr.

    Deep Purple

  • 00:21

    Dr. Dre

    F*** You

  • 00:23

    Sin茅ad O鈥機onnor

    Nothing Compares 2 U (2009 Digital Remaster)

  • 00:27

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Exodus

  • 00:28

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    No Woman, No Cry

  • 00:31

    Matumbi

    I Can't Get Enough (Of This Reggae Stuff)

  • 00:32

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Stir It Up

  • 00:32

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Stir It Up

  • 00:33

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Iron Lion Zion

  • 00:34

    Broederliefde

    Life

  • 00:34

    Cypress Hill

    I Wanna Get High

  • 00:37

    None

    Deleted Record

  • 00:39

    Ramones

    I Remember You

  • 00:40

    Ramones

    Poison Heart

  • 00:41

    Ramones

    Rock and Roll High School / Rock and Roll Radio (Live)

  • 00:43

    Ramones

    Baby, I Love You

  • 00:46

    Frank Zappa

    Montana

  • 00:47

    Frank Zappa

    City Of Tiny Lites

  • 00:49

    Frank Zappa

    Cosmik Debris

  • 00:51

    David Bowie

    Lazarus

  • 00:53

    David Bowie

    Where Are We Now?

  • 00:54

    David Bowie

    Little Wonder (Live)

  • 00:55

    David Bowie

    Fame

  • 00:55

    David Bowie

    Man Who Sold The World (Live)

  • 00:56

    David Bowie

    Life On Mars?

  • 00:57

    David Bowie

    Golden Years (1999 Remastered Version)

  • 00:58

    David Bowie

    Golden Years

  • 00:58

    David Bowie

    Lazarus

Credits

Presenter Ana Matronic
Production Manager Emily Ricketts
Editor Berny McGurk
Executive Producer Paul Murray
Producer Rod Tamime

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