Before the Music Dies
Next Broadcast on the Independent Film Channel: Sunday, Feb. 3 at 12:00 PM EST
Andrew's first film was the successful and critically acclaimed IFC Film, Before the Music Dies which was narrated by Forrest Whitaker and featured Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Les Paul, Erykah Badu, Dave Matthews, and Hubert Sumlin, to name just a few. B4MD premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin in March of 2006 and has since been touring the country with over 300 grassroots screenings prior to becoming an IFC film in 2008.
B4MD Synopsis
Never have so few companies controlled so much of the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores. At the same time, there are more bands and more ways to discover their music than ever. Music seems to have split in two - the homogenous corporate product that is spoonfed to consumers and the diverse independent music that finds devoted fans online and at clubs across the country.
Before the Music Dies tells the story of American music at this precarious moment. Filmmaker Andrew Shapter traveled the country, hoping to understand why mainstream music seems so packaged and repetitive, and whether corporations really had the power to silence musical innovation. The answers he found on this journey–ultimately, the promise that the future holds–are what makes Before the Music Dies both riveting and exhilarating.
At the heart of Before the Music Dies are interviews with musicians, industry insiders, music critics, and fans that reveal how music has reached this moment of truth. Featured performances from a truly diverse group of artists, ranging from The Dave Matthews Band and Erykah Badu to Seattle street performers and Mississippi gospel singers show us that great music is always out there… as long as you know where to look. Before the Music Dies will renew your passion for great music, and inspire you to play an active part in its future.
